Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Are smartwatches useful? It depends, says Valley developer

Luke Hutyler likes wearing the LG G Watch. (Tom  Sowa)

Some tech industry watchers say Tuesday’s announcement of Apple’s new smartwatch could change how people think of wearable technology.

The “smart wearable” Apple devices – which will come in three versions – will start at $350. They will be available next year.

Spokane Valley resident Luke Hutyler, a developer for area startup Weckey, has been testing one of the LG G smartwatches, released this past year. Here are his thoughts on the appeal and limits of a smartwatch.

Q: How did you get that LG G smartwatch?

A: My boss (Mitch Williams) came to the office and gave me and two co-workers these watches. He said, “Here, wear these for a while.”

Q: What’s your reaction to wearing one?

A: I was self-conscious at first because I never wear a watch. It took a while. It felt bulky.

Q: What do you like about it, if anything?

A: It syncs with my LG smartphone. Any notifications that would come to the phone are also displayed instantly on the watch.

That helps when I’m driving. If I need to get a message and my phone is in my pocket, I just look at the watch and see the notification.

Q: You are still wearing it, despite initial reservations?

A: Yes. It’s funny how subtle it was (in making me accept it). I didn’t see it as all that helpful, until I didn’t wear it for a few days. My phone would buzz a notification and I’d look at my wrist. I realized then how much I got used to it.

Q: What other apps are useful for that LG device?

A: There are lots of apps but I haven’t installed that many. One cool one, PixtoCam, lets me use the watch to take a photo from my phone or just control the phone camera (if it’s within about 20 feet of the watch). If someone has my phone or is playing with my phone in another room, the watch shows me who it is.

Q: Would you buy one of these devices, since they cost around $200?

A: I can definitely say that I would purchase another LG G Watch for the $179 currently listed on Best Buy, but probably not the $229 on the Google Play store.

Q: What’s your reaction to the newly announced Apple phone?

A: With a pricing point starting at $349, it’s definitely out of my ballpark, but that’s how most Apple products are. I think the price definitely allows them to pack more features into the device than any smartwatch to date, however.

I think it is probably the most feature-loaded device yet and is tastefully done. Features I do see being useful that are currently unavailable on the LG G Watch will be the payment option and the heart rate monitor (which is also available on the Samsung Galaxy Gear Live).