Connecting samsung gear s to xiaomi. How to connect a smartwatch Gear S3 and S2 to an iPhone

An iOS application for managing the watch appeared, though not in App Store.

It's been a long time since CES earlier this year, and Samsung still hasn't officially released its proprietary utility For driving smart watch on iOS.

However, progress does not stand still, and today every iPhone owner can fully start using the Samsung S2 or S3 wearable gadget by installing the unreleased official app Gear S3 to your iOS device. True, not through the official App Store, but also without any hacks and dancing with a tambourine.

Installation procedure

To connect your Samsung Gear S2 or S3 to your iPhone and forget about other smartwatches, you need a computer with iTunes. If you haven't launched it for a long time, it's time to update the program to the current version.

What should be done:

1. Download the Gear S3 application file from here
2. Connect iPhone to computer and launch iTunes
3. Drag and drop the downloaded file into the iTunes application window
4. Open the "Applications" section in iTunes and drag the Gear S3 application to the iPhone

After the sync is complete, the coveted Gear S3 icon will appear on the iPhone desktop. You can disconnect your smartphone from your computer.

1. Go to Settings on iPhone
2. Then open the Device Management section and confirm the use of the corporate certificate from Samsung

After these simple manipulations, you can launch the Gear S3 application and connect to your smart watch using it with one click of the "Connect" button.

What the Gear S3 + iPhone 6s can do

After successfully pairing the watch with a smartphone, customization of Samsung Gear becomes available to the user - you can download and install new watch faces from the built-in store right in the application.

The watch monitors your physical condition, counting calories, steps and heart rate. All notifications from the iPhone are duplicated on the watch, including notifications from games and iMessage.

You can customize the incoming stream of notifications in the Gear S3 app, where you have exactly two options: accept notifications or not.

At incoming call the watch displays the caller's number and the name, if the number is in the phone book of the iPhone. Using the joystick bezel around the screen, you can accept or reject a call. You will have to answer the call from the iPhone - you can't talk for hours.

The "OK Google" function does not work, as well as the function of calling Siri. Well, the application has not been officially released either, it may be added to the official release.

Unusual combination

The Samsung Gear S3 sets itself apart from the competition with its steel body and round AMOLED screen. It's large and crisp, and notifications are perfectly visible in the light, not to mention in the dark.

Back in, Samsung Gear S2, I wrote about an unusual control - a special bezel (ring), which is located around the screen and is a joystick for navigating the watch menu.

In the third version of the smart gadget, twisting this ring is even more pleasant, the smooth movement with tangible clicks is instantly addictive. Unlike a crown Apple Watch, the Gear S3 is a really handy solution for interacting with the device.

The two physical buttons on the watch have not gone anywhere, for quick exit to the menu and exit running applications... The buttons protrude noticeably, they are pleasantly pressed, with a clear click.

Another indisputable plus is the ability to replace the complete strap without effort and special costs. With the help of a special button, you can easily remove the rods and replace the strap with any other - all standard (20 mm) watch straps are suitable.

Welcome Samsung

All happy owners of stylish Gear S2 or S3 watches are lucky - they may not be wasted on an expensive accessory from Apple, but almost fully use their smart gadget from iPhone. Samsung is going to keep its promise to support Apple products - the application works smoothly, no crashes or freezes were noticed.

Minuses:

• Few applications and downloadable watch faces
• Not Paired with Medical Record on iPhone
• The application is installed only through iTunes
• Does not work voice assistants- both Google and Siri

Pros:

• Receive notifications, manage calls
• Large bright screen
• The clock looks like a clock
• Built-in NFC sensor
• Easy strap replacement
• Stainless steel case (316L)
• Dust and moisture protection according to IP68 standard
• Built-in GPS module

The third version of the popular Samsung smartwatch looks very good on the hand, and given the support for working with iOS, it is an excellent alternative to the controversial Apple Watch.

Important information for iPhone owners... You don't have to buy an Apple Watch, because Samsung has provided phone support for its Gear S2, Gear S3, Gear Sport and Gear Fit2 Pro smartwatches since early 2017 Apple iPhone... Of course, this also applies to new watches. Galaxy Watch which were released on August 9th.

For the first time about iPhone support was announced as early as 2015. Although, it took the company a little longer than expected to fully integrate Samsung smartwatches and iPhones.

Mobile app

In general, let's move on to the main thing. How does it all work? First of all, you must download to your iPhone app Samsung Gear S. This will be your iOS portal to all Samsung smartwatches.

Due to the fact that Samsung smartwatches run on Tizen, the setup process for all of the above models is exactly the same.

Have you already downloaded the required application? Then go ahead!

Connecting Samsung Gear to iPhone

When you turn on the Gear for the first time, you will see a series of basic prompts, after which the watch enters phone pairing mode. This is the moment when it's time to open the Gear S app on your iPhone.

Then follow the instructions:
• 1 - click "Start Your Journey";
• 2 - Choose your Gear (choose your Gear);
• 3 - the application will automatically start searching for nearby Gears;

Your Gear name or model number should now appear.

• 4 - choose your smartwatch;
• 5 - confirm the access code;
• 6 - follow the prompts on the screen to complete the connection.

You will need to set up your privacy level and Samsung account.

Reset

If you want to connect your old Gear watch (previously used) to new iPhone, you will need to do a factory reset first. There are two ways.

Via the system menu:
• 1 - open Settings;
• 2 - go to the Information about the device (Gear info);
• 3 - select Reset Gear (Reset Gear);
• 4 - then Reset to factory settings (Factory reset);
• 5 - click OK and you're done.

Hardware method:
• 1 - turn off the Gear;
• 2 - hold down the power button until rebooting starts;
• 3 - press the power button several times to enter the boot mode (Reboot Mode);
• 4 - select the Recovery item;
• 5 - hold down the power button to select this item;
• 6 - hold the power button until the reboot is complete.

you did full reset settings. You can now connect to your iPhone.

Ready

Once you've successfully connected to your iPhone, you'll be able to set up notifications, install new apps from Samsung's catalog, track your S Health activity, and more.

Gear Fit2 Pro

Please note that if you have a Gear Fit2 Pro, you will need to install a separate app called Samsung Gear Fit. The rest of the instructions are identical.

The Samsung Gear S3 is without a doubt one of the best smartwatches in the world. Their secret of success is very simple: great looks and many useful features. If a lot of different information has been written about the first on the Internet (photo and video reviews), then about smart opportunities few hours are said. This Galagram article does all the secrets and tips for setting up your Gear S3 smartwatch.

This instruction will be useful both for beginners who have just purchased a gadget, and confident users hours. We think everyone can learn something new for themselves and use the device to the maximum.

How to turn on Samsung Gear S3

To turn on the watch, press and hold the Power (Home) button until the screen lights up and the Samsung logo appears. If the device does not turn on, connect it to a power source for at least 15 minutes and then try again. Perhaps the clock was simply discharged "at zero percent." To turn off the watch, also press and hold the Power button. In the menu that opens, select "Shutdown" or Power off. Everything is simple and clear here!

How to connect Gear S3 to Android and iPhone

The watch is connected to Android (Android 4.4 and higher) smartphones and Apple iPhone (iOS 10 and higher) via Bluetooth. So this instruction is suitable for both operating systems. To connect the Gear S3 to your smartphone, install the Samsung Gear app from the store Google play or AppStore. It is worth noting that some functions may not be available on the watch due to the smartphone model. Of course, phones from the line work best with the gadget. Samsung Galaxy.

• Turn on the clock
• On your smartphone, open the Samsung Gear app
• Update the Samsung Gear app to the latest version if necessary
• Click "Connect"
• Activate Bluetooth when requested by the app
• Follow the instructions on your smartphone to complete the connection

You can also connect a Bluetooth headset to the watch or wireless headphones... To do this, follow these steps:

• On the watch screen, tap "Settings"
• Then select "Connections"
• Tap the Bluetooth switch to activate the connection
• Rotate the ring around the screen and click on the Bluetooth icon
• When you see the name of the Bluetooth headset appear on the screen, tap on it to connect
• If you do not see a Bluetooth device, click Scan and then click the name of the device when you see it appear on the display

Well, the reverse action to disconnect from Bluetooth devices(speakers or headsets) do the following:

• On the Apps screen, select Settings
• Click "Connections"
• Click on Bluetooth device
• Click the "Settings" icon
• Click Disconnect

How to choose a different watch face

There are many different interchangeable watch faces for the Gear S3. Most of them are available in the Gear app on your Android device, directly from the application, you can see, choose the appropriate one and set it as the main dial.

Switching between third-party watch faces can be done on the phone as well as on the watch itself. To do this without using your smartphone and app, long-tap the current option on the screen, then swipe left or right to view the preset watch faces. After installation, you can click on the "Styling" tab and select the display colors, as well as customize it to your liking.

How to pay with your Gear S3 with Samsung Pay

Highly useful function since you don't need to carry a wallet or even a smartphone with you. Just spend hours at a compatible payment terminal. Here's how to set it up. You must activate NFC and install Samsung Pay as your default payment method before using Samsung Pay on Gear S3

• On the start screen with applications, turn the frame to the "Settings" tab
• Tap Connections> NFC, then tap NFC to
  enable this module
• Now choose the payment method "Samsung Pay"

Great, the setup is complete. Now, to pay for your purchase in the store, do the following:

• On the Apps screen, rotate the bezel and select Samsung Pay (or press and hold the Back key)
• Scroll through the list of cards, select the card you want, and then
  click "Pay"
• Touch the top of the Gear S3 to the card reader
• Payment must be successful
• It's all!

How to enable the Always On display

Out of the box, the Samsung watch screen is configured so that it is activated only at your "request". In order to turn on the screen, you either need to raise your hand or press a key on the case. But there is one secret on how to keep the Gear S3's screen always active. It's kind of like Always On Display on. To keep your watch constantly “active” and showing the time all the time, do the following.

• Go to "Settings"
• On the watch and select the "Style" tab
• Click "Always On"
• Ready!

How to take a screenshot on Samsung Gear S3

Continuing the display customization topic, here's how to take a screenshot on this watch. First of all, all screenshots taken on your device are saved in the "Gallery". You can transfer screenshots from your Gear S3 watch to your smartphone. The screenshots transferred to your phone will be saved in the Gear folder in the Gallery.

To take a screenshot, simply press the Home key at the same time and swipe across the screen from left to right - very convenient as you can see! Go to the Gallery app to view all screenshots.

How to set the time

There are two ways: automatic, for which the time zone is automatically updated. And manual - when you set the time on the Gear S3 watch yourself. Below are instructions for these two methods.

Auto:

• Go to "Device"
• Click Date & Time
• Click on the "Automatic" tab to enable or disable the feature automatic update date and time

Manual:

• On the Apps screen, go to Settings
• Click "Device"
• Go to "Date and Time"
• If necessary, tap "Automatic" to turn off the automatic update function
• To manually set the date, click "Set date"
• Select year, month and day to manually set the date
• Then click "Set" (or install)
• To manually set the time, look for Set Time.
• Manually insert hours and minutes
• Now click "Set" (or install)

How to install apps on your watch

Since Samsung Gear S3 runs on Tizen 3.0 OS, popular applications such as Yandex Navigator, Google Maps and others can be installed on them. To download apps to your Gear S3, you must sign in to your Samsung account on your phone. If you don't have account Samsung, select "Register" and follow the instructions.

• You can download apps to your watch from your phone using the Samsung Gear app and the Samsung Galaxy Apps tab.
• Swipe left on the watch screen or rotate the frame until you get to the Get more apps icon
• Please select desired application
• Select "Install"
• Once the app has been installed, you can access it from complete list your watch apps

How to download music to your watch

On the home screen of your smartphone, go to Applications. Select Samsung Gear. The Samsung Gear app may be located in the Samsung folder on some phones. Then do the following:

• Go to the "Settings" tab
• Click "Submit Content for Transfer"
• Tap "Select Audio Tracks" (may be called differently)
• Check the box next to the audio files you want to move to Gear S3
• Then click "Finish"

To automatically sync new songs to your Gear S3 while the watch is charging, tap the slider next to auto sync to turn sync on.

How to set and reset a PIN

Since smartwatches do not yet have a fingerprint scanner, data protection is carried out using a regular PIN code. How to install the code and what to do if you forgot it, the tips below will help you with this.

To set a PIN:

• On the Apps screen, tap Settings
• Click "Security"
• Tap Screen Lock
• Click "Screen Lock Type"
• Click PIN.
• Enter your 4-digit password
• Re-enter 4-digit PIN to confirm

To reset your PIN:

• Make sure the clock is off
• Press and hold the power button until “Rebooting” appears on the display, then release the key.
• On the "Rebooting" screen, press the "Power" key to confirm the device reset
• After that, the clock will be reset to factory settings along with the PIN.

You must understand what Factory Reset will entail. complete removal data from the clock. Use this method as a last resort if the information stored on your watch is important to you.

How to properly charge the Gear S3

The most important thing to remember is always use the original charger and battery to maintain optimal battery performance over the life of your Samsung watch.

You can charge the watch through the original accessory that comes with the gadget. To do this, simply plug the USB cable into a power outlet and plug into a power outlet or USB port on your computer. The device charges faster from normal mains socket... From a laptop, the charging process will be slightly slower.

Place the watch on the charging dock, make sure it is properly connected to the gadget. The device will now start charging. While charging, the watch will display a battery charging icon with the amount of time remaining until the battery is fully charged.

How to improve autonomy

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your Samsung Gear S3. Follow these instructions and your watch will run significantly longer.

• Set minimum brightness
• Disable smart display activation
• Disable Always On Display
• Turn off continuous heart rate reading
• Disable in GPS settings
• Activate Power Saving Mode

High-quality error correction

In September last year, Samsung introduced the first generation of its smartwatches, dubbed Galaxy Gear... The product attracted increased attention from the press and gadget lovers, but after getting to know it closely, many (including us) were disappointed. However, the company did not stand still and after only six months announced new generation of watches: Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo.

This event took place at the end of February at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona... And two months later, the gadget went on sale (including in Russia).

The Gear 2 watch entered the market simultaneously with other Samsung innovations: a smartphone Galaxy S5, smart bracelet Gear Fit and a cheaper version of the watch - Gear 2 Neo (its difference is the lack of a camera, a partially plastic case, slightly less weight and a cost of 3000 rubles lower). We will consider in the article exactly the top-end version - Samsung Gear 2, but be sure to compare it with the above devices from the field of wearable electronics, and with competitors.

Let's take a look at the specs of the new item.

Specifications Samsung Gear 2

• CPU @ 1 GHz (2 cores)
• Touch display 1.63 ″ Super AMOLED, 320 × 320, 278 ppi
• Random access memory (RAM) 512 MB, inner memory 4 GB
• Bluetooth 4.0 LE
• Two microphones, 1 speaker
• Gyroscope, accelerometer, heart rate sensor
• 2.0MP camera, backlit BSI sensor
• Li-ion battery 300 mAh
• Tizen operating system
• Compatible with Samsung devices under Android 4.3 and newer
• Compliance with IP67 protection standard
• Dimensions 37 x 58 x 10 mm
• Weight 66 g (measured by us)

For clarity, we decided to make a table with the characteristics of other smartwatches (including the first version of Gear), adding into it those parameters that are currently key when choosing a device of this type.

* according to the manufacturer's information

From the table, one might get the impression that the difference between the new Gear 2 and previous version not that great. But in fact, Samsung has improved (more or less significantly) many parameters that are not included in the table. As for the comparison with competitors, here it is worth, first of all, to pay attention to the higher density of the points of the screen of the Samsung watch, as well as the presence of protection according to the IP67 standard (the protection class of competing products is lower). And of course, don't forget about the presence of a camera, microphone and speaker.

At the same time, the Samsung Gear 2 has more weight than its competitors, and in addition, the price is significantly higher. The official cost of the gadget at the start of sales is 12,990 rubles. However, the first version Galaxy Gear sold for 14,990 rubles (now its cost has been reduced to 11,990 rubles).

Let's get down to a face-to-face acquaintance with Gear 2, but first we ask you to brush up on the articles about Galaxy Gear and Gear Fit because we'll be referencing this stuff over and over throughout the Gear 2 story.

Equipment

The watch came to us without a box, so there will be no detailed story about packaging and packaging. But we will tell you about one element of the set, without which the watch cannot work. This is a charging dock attachment.

It connects to the watch from the inside - so that the contacts on the attachment coincide with the contacts on the watch. The attachment snaps into place with a slight click.

WITH right side the attachment has a Micro-USB connector to which the charger is connected (any charger for a smartphone will do). Note that in the first version of the Gear charging block was decided in the form of an additional plastic case that was worn on the watch. This solution is much less convenient.

The new attachment is very similar to that of the Samsung Gear Fit.

Design

Let's say right away: Samsung's designers and engineers have done a great job. The appearance of the Gear 2 is much better than the first version, and almost the best on the market, but the continuity with the first version of the Galaxy Gear remains.

it vivid example quality work on bugs: here they improved a little, changed a little there - and in the end we got a much more pleasant and convenient product. Let's list the main changes.

First, there is a Home button. It is made of metal, has a nice texture and is located under the screen, on the metal zone separating the screen and the strap. At the same time, Samsung has removed the screws that were conspicuous on the Galaxy Gear from this area.

Secondly, the watch has become thinner. Moreover, the case itself is now less massive (this can be clearly seen in the photo above), and the strap has become more elegant. As for the strap, it is now removable - and this is the third significant point.

In order to make it possible to detach the strap, the company's engineers had to move the camera from the strap to the watch case. Now it is located on top of the screen (symmetrically to the Home button). And this is another important aspect. In addition, the camera's peephole now does not protrude, as it was before, but looks quite elegant.

Another design difference between the Gear 2 and the Galaxy Gear is related to the appearance of a new sensor: a heart rate monitor located on the back of the watch under the contacts. It works the same way as in the Samsung Gear Fit.

The last thing to say about the Gear 2's design is the placement of the microphones and speakers. The speakers are located on the left side, closer to the inner surface of the cabinet, which is in contact with your hand. Microphone hole - on the right edge (in the photo below - a small hole on the left side of the picture on the edge).

The watch's silicone strap has the same buckle type as the Galaxy Gear. The very same material of the strap (dense silicone) is quite pleasant to the touch. Its inner surface, in contact with the hand, is ribbed, and its outer surface has fine grooves.

Overall, the watch design is beautiful and functional. Gear 2 looks quite stylish and versatile: they are suitable for both men and women; both a student and a serious businessman. Of course, there is no such wow effect as in the case of the Samsung Gear Fit, so the Gear Fit is the main alternative to the Gear 2. On the other hand, if you want a gadget that looks like a watch rather than a bracelet, then Gear 2 seems to be the best option.

Screen

The Samsung Gear 2 display has the same characteristics as the first version of the Galaxy Gear watch: Super AMOLED, 1.63 ″, 320 × 320. Did the screen undergo any changes? This question will be answered by detailed testing by Aleksey Kudryavtsev, editor of the "Projectors and TV" section.

The front surface of the screen is made of mineral glass with a mirror-smooth surface that is resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective antiglare filter, which is superior in reducing the brightness of the reflection of the screen filter Google Nexus 7 which we use in our tests as a reference sample.

The doubling of reflected objects is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. On the outer surface there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (effective, no worse than that of Google Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

When the white field was displayed on the whole screen, the maximum brightness value was about 325 cd / m² (conditional value 6, or "outdoors" mode), the minimum - 5 cd / m². Considering the high efficiency of the anti-glare filter, on a sunny day outdoors, the screen readability will remain high, and in complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable value. The standard brightness (conventional value 4) is 150 cd / m², which is enough for a lighted room. This screen uses Super matrix AMOLED is an active matrix organic light-emitting diode (OLED). A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in equal numbers, which is confirmed by a fragment of a micrograph:

We observed a similar "structure" of the screen, for example, in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Gear. The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles - colors and brightness change very little even with large gaze deviations from the perpendicular to the screen. Black is just black at all angles. It is so black that the contrast parameter is simply not applicable in this case. However, there is a bluish halo around the reflection of bright objects, which is more extended along the arm. This halo in light slightly reduces the apparent blackness of the screen. The uniformity of the white field is excellent.

In general, the screen, apparently, remained the same as on the Galaxy Gear, without undergoing major changes (we tend to attribute the slightly decreased brightness to changed software settings).

At the moment screen samsung The Gear 2 is virtually unrivaled. Practically - because, on the one hand, you shouldn't forget about the Pebble screen, which has completely different qualities, and on the other hand, you can't say that the Gear 2's screen is better than that of the Gear Fit. But then again, the Gear Fit is completely incomparable and cannot be directly compared.

Pairing with a smartphone

Like the Samsung Gear Fit, the Gear 2 smartwatch only works with Samsung smartphones, and only on Android base 4.3 or more new version... To get started, you need to install Gear Manager from the Samsung Apps catalog.

Connecting a smartphone (Samsung Galaxy S5) to the watch went smoothly with us. As for the application itself, its functionality is generally similar to Gear app Fit Manager, which we talked about in the article on Samsung Gear Fit. The difference is due to differences in the functionality of these two devices and is enclosed in three main menu items: "My Apps", "Samsung Apps" and "Find My Gear".

Find My Gear sends a signal to the watch, causing it to make a sound (the Gear Fit does not have a speaker, so it cannot make a sound). "My Apps" is a list of installed applications, and for some of them there is additional settings... But the most interesting thing is Samsung Apps. This is a catalog of Gear 2 apps written primarily by third-party developers.

Apps are sorted into seven categories. On this moment the total number of applications exceeds a hundred. Installing them on the watch is elementary: select the desired application, click on the button with the price (if the application is paid) or the word "free". Once the download is complete, the app is already in your watch (Apps section) and also in the My Apps menu in Gear Manager. Delete installed application possible only through a smartphone. However, this is done very simply and intuitively.

Samsung Gear 2 functionality

At the moment, of the smartwatches on the market that are not an independent device (as Iconbit Callisto 100), Samsung Gear 2 has the broadest functionality. With the Gear 2, you can answer a call without taking your smartphone out of your pocket and without using an additional headset, take a photo, measure your heart rate, count the number of steps ... In general, there are really great opportunities. They overlap in part with the functionality of the Gear Fit, but the Gear 2 is a more versatile device.

The Gear 2 watch runs on a new operating system - Tizen. Recall that this is the brainchild of Samsung and Intel, based on the Linux kernel and working with HTML5 applications. Tizen traces its ancestry back to operating system MeeGo, which, in turn, is rooted in Maemo (you can read the history of these projects). On Mobile world Congress 2014 we saw a large Tizen booth, where engineering samples of smartphones on this OS were presented, and in the last months that Samsung is about to release a commercial sample of a smartphone with Tizen. However, rumors are rumors, and in watches this OS has already found application.

What does this mean for regular user? It doesn't mean anything. Externally, the Gear 2 interface is somewhere between the Galaxy Gear and the Gear Fit (neither there nor there Tizen is used). Moving icons here is the same as in regular Android, installing and uninstalling applications - only through a smartphone, working with files - again only through a smartphone, not counting the ability to transfer photos, videos and audio notes via USB to a computer. In short, if you are not aware of the Gear 2 being powered by Tizen, then you will in no way feel it. If you know, this knowledge will not give you any advantages.

Let's take a look at the clock interface and the set of pre-installed apps.

The start screen is the clock itself. Initially, many types of watches are available in the device, as well as in the Samsung Apps catalog, so that start screen and the presence of certain elements on it (weather, notifications from the calendar, etc.) can be configured.

Like the Gear Fit, the screen turns on when we make a hand gesture towards ourselves (because of this, it often happens that the watch turns on in vain - for example, when you zip up your jacket or get dressed). To move to an adjacent screen, you need to make a swiping movement to the left. You can always return to the start screen by pressing the physical button. Another press of the button - and the clock display turns off. So, on the second screen we see "Notifications", "Logs", "Dialing" and "Contacts".

Everything is clear here. Of course, dialing a number on a tiny screen is not very convenient, but overall the interface is good and quite intuitive. Although there is still room for improvement. Firstly, USSD commands from the watch are not supported. Secondly, you cannot delete the letter on the phone (it is deleted only from the watch). Thirdly, contacts are displayed only in the order of first name and last name, and the last name almost never fits. Therefore, the list looks like this: Alexander B .., Alexandra .., Alexander I ..., Alexander ... It is possible to guess who is who, but not very convenient. These are perhaps the main disadvantages. Another feature (it can be considered a disadvantage, or it may not be considered) is the fact that notifications come in a "closed" form. That is, you see who the letter or message came from in social networks, but you have to click on it to open the text. This is in contrast to Pebble, where notifications can be read immediately.

Move on. The next screen contains the icons "Applications", "Camera", "Options" and "Management". The presets in the Options menu are almost identical to those of the Gear Fit. "Control" as a whole duplicates the possibilities available in "Parameters" - it's just quick way adjust screen brightness and sound volume. Applications is a list of all installed applications.

The next screen contains “Deleted. WatchON ”,“ S Voice ”,“ Music ”and“ Voice Note ”. The first is the ability to use the watch as a remote control remote control TV. Doubtful possibility, since it is difficult for me to imagine a person who will sit at home in a watch, but without a smartphone at hand. However, as they say, let it be. S Voice - voice control. In principle, a really working thing, including one that understands Russian-speaking contacts, for example (you can say "Call Anton" - and the application will start calling a contact named Anton, if he is alone). But for now, it is too brooding and unstable, so the same thing is faster and easier to do in the traditional way.

"Music" is one of the most interesting possibilities. If the Gear Fit can only control music playback on the smartphone (Gear 2 also has this function, but the application is called "Media Remote"), then we can use the watch as an independent MP3 player. Tracks can be loaded into the watch's memory via a computer or transferred from a smartphone via Gear Manager - and then you can listen to music using the watch without using a smartphone. True, you need wireless headset(unless, of course, we seriously consider the built-in speaker of the clock).

The last screen of the main menu includes the Pedometer, Workout, Heart rate, and Sleep icons. We talked about the functionality of the first three applications in Gear review Fit - there are no changes here. As for the "Sleep" application, it should record the phases of your sleep, but, we admit, sleeping with a watch is both inconvenient (they still get in the way, compared to the same bracelet), and fearful for their safety (suddenly somehow unsuccessfully press the screen or throw your hand back?).

In addition to the above, the Applications menu includes Find My Device, Gallery (view photos from the Gear 2's memory), Media Remote (control music on your smartphone), Weather, Schedule (synchronizes with the calendar; source calendar can be specified in Gear Manager), Timer, Stopwatch, E-mail and Messages (here the functionality is similar to Gear Fit everywhere). New applications are installed here, but any application (both preinstalled and new) can be taken from the Applications menu to the main menu.

PC connection

The watch can be connected to a PC to rewrite voice memos, photos and videos from the camera, as well as to record music on the watch. Windows treats Gear 2 as 2.81 GB removable media, of which 2.64 GB are free (apparently 170 MB are hidden system files).

At the first connecting windows For a long time it searches and downloads drivers from the Update Center, but in the end everything goes smoothly.

When connected to a computer, the watch battery is recharged.

Camera

The only camera on the watch is located in the metal area above the screen. To take an even shot of what you see in front of you, you need to position your hand as if you were a schoolboy sitting at a desk - that is, parallel to the floor.

By default, the camera shoots with an aspect ratio of 1: 1, the images are taken with a resolution of 1080 × 1080. To obtain images of maximum resolution, you must set the 16: 9 mode in the camera settings. Then the pictures will be obtained with a resolution of 1920 × 1080.

Examples of test shots are shown below. Note that the first 5 frames were taken in autofocus mode, and the last (with flower) - in macro mode. Comments on the pictures and video were prepared by Anton Soloviev, the author of the Digital Photo section.

From these pictures, we can say that the miracle has not happened again, and Samsung has not yet managed to endow the tiny module with decent quality. Anyway, the camera hasn't gotten better than the Samsung Galaxy Gear. There is still a noticeable coarse grain from the noise reduction, and even noises appear in places. The sharpness of the pictures is poor. The main reason for these problems is low resolution. And, of course, weak optics. These are all significant disadvantages of the camera. Color rendition and work with exposure cannot be praised either.

It remains only to conclude that the camera is not yet completely suitable for any practical tasks, and its pictures can be viewed without frustration unless on a smartphone screen.

The camera can shoot video with a resolution of 720p. An example video is shown below.

The video, in contrast to the photo, is very good for the camera. Even freeze frames look quite clear, the sharpness is acceptable, there are no noticeable problems during posting. Perhaps the manufacturer did the right thing by limiting itself to 720p, since in this case, most likely, a video in Full HD resolution would look much worse.

On the other hand, the resolution of the video makes one think about the interpolation of photographs, which can also be indicated by a certain “soapiness” of thin lines in the photo. If our assumption is correct, then 1 megapixel images would look better. However, then they would be completely useless.

Autonomous work

The first version of the Galaxy Gear watch with battery life was not the best way: With heavy use, the battery could be discharged in a day. Gear 2 has taken a big step forward in this regard: with an average intensity of use, the watch will last three to four days, and if you use it actively (but without a conscious purpose to drain the battery), then less, but you can safely count on two days.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have a methodology that allows us to objectively compare the duration autonomous work different smartwatches, because, firstly, the functionality of these devices is completely different (for example, somewhere there is a camera, and somewhere there is not; somewhere there is offline music playback, and somewhere not), and secondly, they are not intended for any continuous continuous use, such as reading, surfing the web or playing games. Therefore, the only way to somehow measure the battery life is to simply use the watch for a while in real life.

I walked with the Samsung Gear 2 for four days. Before that, they were fully charged, by the end of the fourth day they were discharged. In the process of using it, I studied the interface for a long time, looked through some notifications, answered several calls. The camera was not used at all (the photos in the article were taken earlier). Fitness functions - too (except that the pulse was measured several times). In general, we can say this is a medium intensity use, due to the real needs of the user and the characteristics of the device (for example, why use a mediocre watch camera when you can use an excellent smartphone camera?). And with such operation, Gear 2 is in no way inferior to the same Sony SmartWatch 2 and may well compete even with Pebble (if, again, you use the watch in the same way, that is, do not use the capabilities that are not available with Pebble). Decent result!

conclusions

We are now witnessing an interesting period: a new market for smart watches is rapidly emerging before our eyes. If six months ago, the devices on sale were more like experimental engineering samples, now it is not only the freedom of technologists, but also ordinary users there is plenty to choose from. And if earlier there was a choice according to the principle of "fishlessness and cancer", now, on the contrary, several devices may be attracted at once.

So, for example, Samsung Gear 2 certainly attracts with the ability to make calls and answer incoming calls without reaching for a smartphone, use voice control (well, until you play enough), and also listen to music without a smartphone at all. In turn, Gear Fit amazes curved screen unusual shape and convenience. Pebble Steel stands out among the competitors, but there are much more severe rivals ahead: LG and Motorola watches on Android Wear, as well as the long-awaited Apple iWatch. One way or another, if you, living in Russia, decided to get a smartwatch right now, and at the same time own a relatively new Samsung smartphone (or are ready to purchase it), we can safely recommend Gear 2, as well as Gear 2 Neo or Gear Fit ( the choice here, by the way, is not easy). Actually, the main obstacle here is precisely the connection to the Korean manufacturer. Another limiting factor is price. Still, for a toy (which is still a smartwatch) Gear 2 is expensive. But the price for Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit is already much more acceptable. We'd recommend the Gear Fit if it weren't for the lack of support for third-party apps on this unusual device. Therefore, in terms of the combination of qualities, the most attractive option seems to us to be Gear 2 Neo (the camera, in general, is an extra thing for a watch - at least at this level of implementation). Perhaps, in terms of price and functionality (coupled with ease of use), this is the best offer on the market today.

But you need to be prepared for the fact that in six months your gadget will become obsolete. And it is possible that Android Wear devices and Apple iWatch will have such killer features that will immediately reduce the attractiveness of the current Samsung line... However, this, we repeat, will only happen in a few months, and it is not a fact that these new devices will turn out to be as balanced and successful as the Samsung Gear 2 / Gear 2 Neo. And we have no doubts that the new Samsung watch is really successful.

Good design (yes, this watch is not a shame to wear in any society!), Convenient and pleasant software, wide functionality, stability of work (we have not noticed any freezes, no crashes, no slowdowns, except for the slow work of S Voice), excellent the screen - all these are undoubted advantages. Minor flaws, of course, do occur (for example, the camera is still far from perfect). Well, the binding to Samsung devices (and only on Android 4.3 / 4.4) is upsetting. But this is the market strategy of the Korean manufacturer: apparently, the watch is still considered by him more as an additional incentive to buy a smartphone, rather than as an independent market.

In conclusion, we suggest you watch our video review of the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch:

Samsung does not often receive the Original Design award from us, but in this case we believe that the Korean manufacturer deserves it in full.