gear2
Latest
Someone got Android Wear running on Samsung's Gear 2 watch
Don't despair if you bought Samsung's Gear 2 smartwatch, only to realize that you wanted the Android-powered Gear Live instead -- there might be a solution in the works. XDA tinkerer biktor_gj has successfully loaded Android Wear on the Gear 2 after four months of work. It's in a very rough state, as you might imagine. Only touch and rudimentary Bluetooth support are working right now. Android Wear doesn't have an open source project the way that regular Android does, so any support for audio, the motion sensor and other features will likely be tricky to implement. Biktor is hopeful that he'll get those working, however, and even this crude port is proof that your smartwatch isn't necessarily limited to its original software.
Google reportedly confronted Samsung over its approach to smartwatches
The strained relationship between Google and Samsung over Android customization has been apparent for a while, and it now looks like this discontent has spread to the wearable world. The Information claims that Google CEO Larry Page confronted Samsung last week over its decision to invest more in its Gear 2 and Gear Fit smartwatches than the Android Wear-packing Gear Live. While the details of Page's discussions aren't available, it's clear that Google wants its biggest hardware partner to devote more attention to its Android-based platform. Reportedly, Google had even wanted Samsung to avoid dipping into wrist-worn technology until Android Wear was ready. As we know now, the Korean company didn't exactly honor that request -- instead, it released the Galaxy Gear (initially using a heavily customized Android) and quickly threw most of its energy into peripherals running Tizen and other platforms.
What the Galaxy Gear taught Samsung about smartwatches
With countless (well, a lot of) Gear 2 watch straps and just under eight wearables -- a mix of Gear 2s, Gear 2 Neos and Gear Fits -- on the table in front of us during our interview with Samsung designers, the impression is that the company taking its wearables very seriously. There were just six months between it announcing the original Galaxy Gear and its sequel; that's a pretty short lifespan. To make matters more... interesting, Android announced its own wearable platform, months after Samsung's Gear announcements. (For those not keeping notes, these Gears run on Tizen, a new mobile OS that hasn't yet appeared on a mobile.) Min Cho, Samsung's marketing director, explained that its wearables wouldn't be limited to the green OS. "We'll continue to work on the best solutions for our customers, including collaborating with Google and Android," he says. He slows his voice and looks at me: "We are working on it." Samsung already confirmed that it's got plans for Android Wear, but what about the current crop of wearables? What did Samsung learn after half a year of the Galaxy Gear?
Samsung Gear 2's battery is pretty easy to replace
After having their way with Amazon's Fire TV last week, the tool-wielding maniacs educators at iFixit are back, this time inspecting the insides of Samsung's Gear 2 smartwatch. While iFixit neglected to give the original Gear the teardown treatment, its sequel garners immediate favor by moving the camera module from the strap to the watch's main body, making band replacements trivial. A screwdriver and "a bit of light prying" were all that was needed to crack the thing open, and following the initial breach, most components were found to be easy to remove (and therefore replace), particularly the battery. The only sticking point, really, was a fused display assembly that would require replacing in its entirety if damaged or defective. Overall, though, the Gear 2 scored an impressive 8 out of 10 on iFixit's repairability scale, though we doubt your local jewelry store horologist would agree.
Sprint gets the Galaxy S5 and Gear smartwatches April 11th, pre-orders go live today
Sprint's getting the Galaxy S5, too. And like fellow underdog T-Mobile, the carrier plans to offer Samsung's flagship handset for no dinero upfront on its Easy Pay plan. Which means, you still have to pay, but just in 24 monthly increments. Those pre-orders begin today for folks visiting Sprint's retail stores -- that is if you can still find one that isn't shuttered -- and begin shipping on April 11th. And to sweeten the pot a little for those that aren't entirely sold on the GS5, Sprint's even tossing in zippy 4G LTE for subs that live in Spark markets, as well as a "free" Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 for qualifying Framily (ugh, that word!) members. Though note you'll have to open a separate two-year agreement to get it. But there's even more Samsung gadgetry on the way. On the same day the GS5 becomes available, Sprint will also add Samsung's new line of Gear smartwatches -- the Gear 2/Gear 2 Neo and Gear Fit -- to its portfolio. As a relatively low-end impulse buy, you'll be able to get the Neo and Fit for $200, while the more "luxe" Gear 2 will go for $300.
Meet Samsung's new smartwatch family: the Gear 2, Neo and Fit
Samsung's new Gear smartwatches are no longer card-carrying members of its Android Galaxy. That's because Tizen, the company's open-sourced OS, has taken over the reins for the line begot by the barely five-month-old Galaxy Gear. And, in typical Samsung fashion, the company hasn't released just one new Gear, but three with very specific areas of focus: the fashionable Gear 2, the functional Gear Neo and fitness-focused Gear Fit. The newly announced trio was on display here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, giving us a chance to get acquainted with their particular quirks and let you know whether or not to free up some space on your wrist.
Samsung Gear 2 smartwatches coming in April with Tizen OS and better battery life
Even in an industry known for evolving at an impossibly quick pace, it's rare for a product to be replaced in just five months. If you've read our review of Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch, however, it probably makes sense why the manufacturer would want to antiquate it as soon as possible -- while an interesting concept, the wearable was clearly half-baked. This morning, Samsung is starting off Mobile World Congress by announcing the Gear 2 (shown above, right) and the camera-less Gear 2 Neo (above, left), both of which (the company hopes) will address most of its predecessor's pain points when it arrives in stores worldwide this April. The absence of Galaxy branding is no typo, by the way; the new Gear will run on the Tizen operating system, a platform which Samsung has been investing large amounts of money and resources into. It's not the company's first device running that OS -- that honor goes to the NX300M camera -- but regardless, it's hard to know exactly how different the user experience will be on a Tizen-powered smartwatch instead of an Android-based one. According to Samsung, we can expect a battery life of 2-3 days (two to three times better than the first Gear's one-day life), an "enriched application ecosystem" and some sweeping changes to the external design. Check out the gallery below and join us after the break for more details.
