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...and any new watch should be circular, not the "apple-like" rectangular shape the bangle 2 currently resembles.
Some of us prefer a rectangular watch while others prefer a circular one. Analog wristwatches used to be circular because they make better use of the space for the hands (rectangular watches also existed, but were less common). Digital watches since the 1970's have been usually rectangular because they make better use of rectangular displays (which are better from a hardware point of view and for displaying information). Circular digital watches are the "new trend" and in my opinion are worse for ergonomics and displaying information. I think that nearly all of us would agree that circular watches with rectangular displays (like Bangle.js 1) are the worst of both worlds.
I really like the Bangle.js 2 display, but I would prefer the display to be larger with thinner bezels.
Apple is the devil
Yes, but they didn't invent rectangular watches (like with most things people associate Apple with).
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Hi avanc.
@user156811 was asking for a Bangle.js 1 to buy for development testing purposes. I don't know if he already got one.
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On the charger front, I'm surprised you're having issues with it coming off - someone else complained recently, but until that point I hadn't really heard of anyone having issues
I have never complained because it is something that I can live with (and nothing you can done to fix it). But the connector is very bad: the connector in the watch side is not recessed, the magnets are too weak and the connector too tall. The connector twists and stops making connection with just a gentle movement of the cable or the watch. A USB-C is my ideal option, but it would take a lot of internal space.
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Do you know that you can change the screen orientation? that way you can have the button away from your hand. 'Settings'->'System'->'LCD'->'Rotate'
That's a nice suggestion, I will think about it. But pressing by mistake could also happen with the sleeve or whatever. It also needs new muscle memory for pressing the button.
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Looking for the Bangle.js 2 silicon cover side effects, I only found this conversation about charging:
https://forum.espruino.com/conversations/376087/
What other side effects the cover has? Specially I'd like to know:
- Button. I very often press the button accidentally while running (for example while I put on my globes). Is it more difficult to press the button by accident? Is it more difficult to press the button on purpose?
- HRM. Does the cover affect the heart rate readings?
- Button. I very often press the button accidentally while running (for example while I put on my globes). Is it more difficult to press the button by accident? Is it more difficult to press the button on purpose?
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I have been a happy user of a Bangle.js 2 for a year now. Both Bangle.js version of Gadgetbridge and the App Manager (https://banglejs.com/apps/) are nice.
One aspect that I don't think looks very professional is the question about updates. Knowing that Gordon does so much work in development and replying in the forums, I'd like to make some suggestions that I hope don't require much work and will decrease the work in the forums about problems with the firmware and apps that are old or incompatible with the installed firmware. I propose:
That the App Manager (as called in Gadgetbridge or bangle.js apps loader webpage) changes to the "My Apps" tab when there are any updates. It would be better if the apps that are going to be upgraded are more easily spotted (like using a yellow background). I would be perfect if Gadgetbridge could show a different icon for the "App Manager" that indicates that updates are available when apps or firmware updates are available.
That a popup shows in the "My Apps" tab when a a new stable firmware version exists. It could say that upgrading the firmware is recommended before upgrading any apps. It should allow installing from the pop up or exiting the popup. The development app repository could show any new firmware even RC (about this latter) or cutting edge versions. The "Firmware Update" "app" could be maintained for manual selection and installation of firmware versions.
That an RC version of the firmware is uploaded and announced in the forum (with the Changelog) so people could test it a couple of days before a stable version is uploaded. The forum message could also say for which bugs people affected are urged to update to the RC, in addition to anyone wanting to test it. I usually use cutting edge versions of the firmware, but I don't upgrade to every new version. With the announcement of RC versions I could upgrade to every of them and test the things I usually do with the Bangle.js 2 (or even things I don't usually do but could be affected by the changes reported in the Changelog).
For the points 1 and 2 I could tried to do them myself after returning from vacation.
And just as a question: Why is the advanced option "Automatically reload watch after app App Loader actions (removes "Hold button" prompt)" not the default? Any problem with this being automatic?
Thanks for any opinion or feedback.
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I only use the Bangle.js 2 for running or hiking. I don't like to wear a watch, specially at night, so I don't track my sleep. For step counting, I do enough training that the rest of my walking activity doesn't count much. I don't think that the support of the notifications is good enough to overtake my dislike of wearing the watch.
GPS: It's a bit annoying that the AGPS data lasts for just a few hours, so I download it just before going for the training session. With AGPS it takes like 5 seconds to get a lock, it seems to help that I only use the GPS network. It has a great precision while running outdoors. After the session I download the GPX files generated by the Recored App and I visualize them with the OsmAnd app in the Android phone.
HRM: Because I do my training with the excellent Polar H10 sensor, I'm not too worried about the internal HR precision. I would like to help in improving the algorithm anyway. For tracking the training sessions I use the proprietary Polar Apps, which are not great. I should start using open source apps for this also.
Apps: The Run/Run+ apps are a bit limited, but I use a slightly modified version of the former. I'd like to write a more complete app for running/hiking but no major work for this so far.
The Espruino framework is very nice, the main reason why I chose this watch (other alternatives are not even close). The hardware is good enough for a running watch except for only having one button, which is also of bad quality (sometimes I don't manage to start or stop the timer at the first try, very annoying for sprint reps).
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¡Damn! My bad (anyway, it was a normal question mark, the upside down one was at the end of the question). I was talking about "A-GPS Data Downloader App" but it seems that it only works with Gadgetbridge on Android. You can use "Assisted GPS Updater (AGPS)" which is not really an app but downloads A-GPS data from the App Loader.
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I can't help much because I use Android. In my case it synchronize the time correctly. About GPS, ¿are you updating AGPS data in the previous 24 hours? There is an app that updates the data periodically and allows downloading it manually. It also seems to help using GPS only instead of more than one satellite system.
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Doing a little research, it looks like BLE support on the laptop may be a bit dodgy.
What is impressive is in smartphones, with all the high speed signals (memory, storage, usb3, sdio, mipi dsi, mipi csi), wifi, bt (including ble), gps, several antennas etc. all that cramped in a small volume and everything works so well. As Gordon said a few days ago, we are so used to have a gps in the smartphone that works so well and gets connection pretty much everywhere, that we forgot how unreliable was pre-smartphone gps.
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However nothing I could do would actually make the upload happen. I may be a bit stupid here, but why isn't there a big friendly "UPLOAD" button on the page?
From memory, I think that you have to touch the version you want to upload (the development version is at the end). Then an UPLOAD button appears at the end, you touch it and the upload starts. Yes, maybe not very intuitive. I hope this works for you.
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Are you talking about connecting to the Espruino IDE or to the app repository? Have you tried connecting to a smartphone? The connection to the app repository is very reliable for me with several android devices.
I know that in many USB3 wifi dongles BT is disabled, even if the chipset inside supports it, and for many dongles that don't disable it the connection is very unreliable. It seems that designing the circuit so USB3 and BT don't affect the other is quite tricky (for the frequencies that USB2 uses there is no problem).
Also, I don't know how good the BLE support is with BT devices in computers. Is that the reason why many BT mouses have their own usb dongle?
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I noticed that the watch never gets to “view” GPS satellites. Only BD and GL. Is that normal?
In A-GPS Data settings I have "GPS" selected, so I don't think I have BD or GL working.
Is it normal that I have to wait 5 min to start receiving data from the satellites?
I don't think so. With AGPS data updated I get a fix after 5 to 10 seconds. If APGS is not up to date it takes minutes to get a fix, sometimes it doesn't get a fix at all. This is all outside. Are you sure you have AGPS data updated.
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IP68 Waterproof: up to 10m underwater
It seems to me very likely that it has been tested for IP68 up to 10m. I agree that IP68 ratings are totally misleading, a lot of people will understand that it's suitable for swimming. This isn't new, in the 80's and 90's Casio days 1ATM watches would support 10m of water pressure but they were not recommended for swimming or diving. Take in mind also that IP68 doesn't imply that it has been successfully tested for IP65, IP66 or IP66K (water jets). If a device supports water jest it should specify it with a slash notation (like IP65/IP68, IP66/IP68 or IP66K/IP68). Any mint IP68 device should support light rain or splashes. No IP67 or IP68 device from any manufacturer should be used for shower or any water activity, unless specified otherwise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_code
This is just my understanding of IP ratings, not any position of Espruino in this matter. My self, I don't use the BangleJS 2 for shower or swimming and I try to cover the watch under the sleeve with heavy rain. In my wishlist for a possible future BangleJS 3 is water resistance for swimming https://forum.espruino.com/conversations/374260/?offset=125#16992573 (read also Gordon's reply to my comment).
Now that, under pressure, some water has entered, without opening it is very unlike that all the water will come out.
It would be ideal if the features page would clarify about this, something like "Accidentally only, do not submerge on purpose. Not suitable for water jets like shower or swimming". In the end, this is what IP68 means, but who reads the standards while searching for a watch?
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Hi.
My understanding of IP67 and IP68 is "don't put them underwater or under a water stream". The first number means dust insertion protected and the second number the same for water. IP67 is water resistant for accidental static submersion up to 1m (0.1 ATM) for 30min, while for IP68 it depends on what the manufacturer has tested. As I understand static means not underwater streams like swimming or under the tap and accidental means "don't do it on purpose". Both standards should protect against rain or splashes for a few minutes. In any case, all of this is tested with the device new and without any previous shock or wear.
For example, the Samsung Gear S3 is IP68 and the company says: "under specific conditions, the Gear S3 can withstand accidental submersion up to 1.5 meters underwater for 30 minutes [...] IP ratings are not indicative of a device’s ability to be used during aquatic activities such as swimming. This is where ATM ratings come in". My conclusion is: direct splashes of light rain probably OK, anything else don't do it.
I would trust more a 1ATM device than an IP68 one, but I would prefer 3ATM for showering and 5ATM for swimming.
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There is this conversation about the button not working and feeling soft:
https://forum.espruino.com/conversations/372404/And this about the button stuck.
https://forum.espruino.com/conversations/374874/Maybe after opening it you could reposition again the button.
If it is broken, I don't know if Gordon plans to sell the button assembly.Gordon has published instructions about disassembling the watch:
https://www.espruino.com/Bangle.js2+Disassembly -
The nRF iOS app
"nRF Device Firmware Update" on Android 11 worked for me. It seems that many people are having problems with nRF apps on iOS, sorry. See https://forum.espruino.com/conversations/370655/
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Hi Cthulhu.
I suppose that Gordon already fixed the notifications battery drain that was affecting you (and all of us).
https://forum.espruino.com/conversations/385629/?offset=25#17009482
I agree, Bangle.js 2 is more similar to Amazfit Bip smartwatches.