Got The Time? The SPOT Watch Review

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by guinness

Do the alarms go off on time? :wink:

Why yes, now that you mention it, they do. :wink:

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by guinness

Do the alarms go off on time? :wink:

Why yes, now that you mention it, they do. :wink:

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by David Prahl

Is there a coverage map on MSN's site anywhere? There doesn't seem to be service in my area, and I'd like to see where there is.

Not that I'm aware of...though you think it would be out there somewhere. I think during the sign up process they warn you if you're outside the coverage area - that's why they show you the map. But you want it BEFORE you buy of course, which makes sense.

Originally Posted by David Prahl

Seems to me that FM technology is kind of whimpy for such an application. Too expensive to roll out across a nation.

No, you misunderstand - the infrastructure is already in place, which is why it's so slick. No creating of a new standard, no licensing frequency, etc. It's brilliant!

[Jason Dunn]

Originally Posted by spg

I've never gotten appointment alerts while my watch was in the cradle, although I did get breaking news and message alerts. I think this is to make sure that you actually have the watch with you when you get a reminder.

Right - that's what I'm getting too. It was hard to figure out the difference there for a while though. ;-)

[bjornkeizers]

Excellent review. I've seen those spot watches before, but I've heard of a few problems with them..

Personally, I love watches - I own eleven watches, most of them chronos. I just don't like the looks of the spot watches. Too cheap. If they made one in all steel like a ani-digi combo [think Citizen promaster]... yeah, I might get one. The current ones just look too cheap for my taste. Besides, I don't think it's worth the $100 a year when I carry around a cellphone, laptop and a PDA anyway

[Sparkomatic]

Excellent review Jason. I bought one of the Abacus watches and used it for about a week and a half until I returned it and cancelled service. My main reasons for doing so:

1. The watch is pretty big. If you like big watches, then no problem. I had a pretty thin watch and got used to this one but the one thing that I never really liked was the connection between the watch and the band... too bulky for me.

2. My biggest gripe is that the watch would lose connection every other day. It worked at my home one day, then lost connection for the whole next day... then worked again the following day.

If the connection were more consistent, I would probably still be using this watch. I'm sure the technology and watch size will improve over time.

[lonesniper]

I wish I was still working in the USA, cause I would rush out and get one. I love the technology and the idea behind SPOT. I agree that SPOT should be integrated into a PPC, and it should be PPC2004 so we don't have to wait too long :lol:

I just hope MS launch it in the UK, should be easy for them cause we have TOTAL country coverage with FM radio and all radio stations already use data transmission on FM for RDS and other text to car radios.

[klinux]

I don't think being big is the problem. Panerai, an Italian watch brand, is huge but still looks good. I would not wear this on its retro looks alone (I know - snob!).

Retro looks can either be good (Eames) or bad (bell bottom). SPOT is in the bell bottom camp.

[David Prahl]

Originally Posted by Jason Dunn

No, you misunderstand - the infrastructure is already in place, which is why it's so slick. No creating of a new standard, no licensing frequency, etc. It's brilliant!

I'm just trying to find something to complain about because there's no coverage in my area!

[ctmagnus]

Originally Posted by David Prahl

I'm just trying to find something to complain about because there's no coverage in my area!

I'm in the same boat!

What I would like to see implemented in v2.0 is (as was mentioned earlier) Bluetooth! The ability to have your watch have a longish message (one that's longer than three or four screens on the watch) forwarded from the watch to your Pocket PC would rock.

[spg]

Originally Posted by ctmagnus

I'm in the same boat!

What I would like to see implemented in v2.0 is (as was mentioned earlier) Bluetooth! The ability to have your watch have a longish message (one that's longer than three or four screens on the watch) forwarded from the watch to your Pocket PC would rock.

I know Microsoft is looking at expansion possibilities, so if you guys yell loud enough they might hear you. :wink: Their focus right now though is not on adding coverage areas, but on making sure the current areas have solid coverage (they will be releasing a service update early this month). While I know there are quite a few like you guys who don't have coverage, I think it is good that Microsoft is not trying to get too big too fast, and instead are making sure they have a solid system in place before moving on.

Bluetooth... hmm, that is an interesting idea. I would have to wonder what the battery drain on that would be though...