with this feature becoming available sometime in 2016.
❯❯ When you’re ready to recharge your Gear S2, you use the charging dock that comes with your watch. (You learn more about your charging dock in Chapter 2, when you charge the Gear S2 for the first time.)
❯❯ Both smartwatch models have the same version of the Tizen OS and the same apps preinstalled.
❯❯ Last but not least, you can select from a variety of watch face designs so that when you see the time on your Gear S2, you’ll be reminded about how cool your Gear S2 is.
So what are the differences between the two models? I’m glad you asked.
Meeting the plain ol’ Gear S2
The “standard” Gear S2 has a more streamlined design with a plastic wrist strap that Samsung calls Elastomer as well as a flat bezel. The Gear S2 comes in only two colors: Silver and Dark Gray, as you can see in Figure 1-1.
Source: http://www.samsung.com/us/explore/gear-s2/?cid=ppc-
FIGURE 1-1: The Silver Gear S2 on the left and the Dark Gray Gear S2 on the right.
If you already purchased your Gear S2 at your favorite data carrier, such as Verizon or Sprint, you already know the kicker: You can purchase a 3G or 4G version of the Gear S2 so that you can make voice calls, text, send email, and receive notifications through your phone without a smartphone nearby.
As a result, the Gear S2 is a little heavier than its Classic counterpart because it contains a speaker, an electronic SIM card, and a 300mAh battery – 50mAh more than the Gear S2 Classic.
Fancying the Gear S2 Classic
The Gear S2 Classic is so named because the design of the watch evokes a more classic watch look. For example, the bezel has little serrated “teeth,” which you also find on many standard watches. The Gear S2 Classic rounds out the classic look by sporting a leather wrist strap.
The Gear S2 Classic comes in three colors: black, platinum, and 18-karat rose gold. In addition to the slick black look, you can also purchase a black 3G version so that you can communicate with the Internet using your carrier’s data network. (Sorry, there is no 4G version as of this writing.)
The platinum and rose-gold Gear S2 models, shown in Figure 1-2 along with the black model, come in Bluetooth only and will set you back another $100. The rose-gold model has an added benefit: You can impress others by telling them that the 18-karat rose gold gets its color through a combination of three metals: 75 percent gold, 21 percent copper, and 4 percent silver.
Source: http://www.samsung.com/global/galaxy/gear-s2/
FIGURE 1-2: The black, rose gold, and platinum Gear S2 Classic models.
Like the mystery of where your missing socks went after you put them in the dryer, the Gear S2 Classic doesn’t allow you to connect with the outside digital world through a data carrier’s wireless network. Instead, you have to use the Gear S2 Classic’s Bluetooth connection to connect with your Android smartphone.
Pairing Your Smartphone
So the Gear S2 hasn’t quite reached the standards set by Dick Tracy’s wrist radio/TV. That is, you can’t use the Gear S2 by itself to get the most out of it – you need to use your Gear S2 with your Android smartphone. Samsung says Gear S2 supports most Android smartphones that run Android 4.4 (also known as KitKat) or later, and your phone needs to have at least 1.5GB of memory.
If you’re unsure about whether the Gear S2 supports your phone, here’s the short answer: If you have a Samsung smartphone running KitKat or later, you’re good. You can do anything you want with your Gear S2, including sync your email between your phone’s email account and your Gear S2, as well as share the Wi-Fi profile with your phone on your Gear S2. (If you’re excited about Wi-Fi profile sharing, hold tight: I cover that topic in more detail in Chapter 4.)
If you don’t own a Samsung smartphone, connecting your smartphone to your Gear S2 is a more interesting experience. For example, if you don’t have a Samsung smartphone, you can’t sync your email messages between your phone and your watch. Other features such as Wi-Fi profile sharing and receiving text messages may also be limited (or not work at all). If you’re not sure whether you have these capabilities, you should pick up your smartphone and give Samsung a call at 1-800-SAMSUNG (that’s 1-800-726-7864).
Getting to Know the Gear S2 Apps
Your Gear S2 comes with a number of preinstalled apps that enable you to do things on the smartwatch that you may find useful. Table 1-1 presents a list of preinstalled apps that you can use on your Gear S2:
TABLE 1-1 Pre-Installed Gear S2 Apps
Making Your Watch Yours
Samsung loves to provide you with options to personalize your devices, including the Gear S2. All you have to do is visit the Gear S2 accessories website on your computer or smartphone at http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/wearable-tech-accessories. The Wearable Tech Accessories page on the Samsung website (see Figure 1-3) shows you a list of bands that you can purchase to replace your current band.
Source: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/wearable-tech-accessories?filter=smartwatchbands
FIGURE 1-3: Samsung has seven replacement bands to choose from.
The Gear S2 model you have determines the watch straps you can purchase. If you have a Gear S2 Classic, you can choose only a brown or gray leather band. The other bands are for the plain old Gear S2. Granted, Samsung has pretty slim pickings when it comes to bands, but plenty of other bands are available. Just type Samsung watch bands into your favorite search engine and enjoy visiting online stores just waiting to sell you watch straps.
Discovering What’s in the Box (Hint: It’s Not Jack)
If you’re reading this book, chances are that you’ve received (or picked up) your Gear S2 already and you’ve probably opened up the box with the excitement you remember as a kid opening up a gift for yourself. But if you’re reading this book wondering what you’ll get in the box, or if you’re waiting for my permission to open the box, keep reading! Here’s what you find inside:
❯❯ The watch itself, with the wrist strap attached.
❯❯ A small bag that contains a smaller wrist strap in case the default wrist strap is too big. I tell you about swapping out the wrist strap in Chapter