Samsung today announced the first iOS apps for its popular Gear family of smartwatches, which were previously only compatible with Android phones.
The Samsung Gear S app brings iPhone connectivity to the company's Gear 2 and Gear 3 wearables, while the Gear Fit app offers similar compatibility for Gear Fit2 watches. The apps allow device owners to monitor features and manage applications installed through the Gear appstore.
While features and functions will vary by device, iOS users will be able to enjoy the Samsung Gear S3's timeless and stylish design, IP68 water and dust resistance, as well as the built-in GPS, Alti/barometer and Speedometer apps.
It is available in two bold models – the Gear S3 frontier, which takes inspiration from the active explorer with a rugged design, as well as the Gear S3 classic, featuring an elegant style with the balance found on luxury timepieces. Users will also be able to track their fitness by monitoring distance and route traveled, running pace, calories burned and heart rate.
Apart from being able to manage apps on their Samsung Gear devices, users can also adjust individual app settings, control update notifications and enable/disable automatic updates, as well as use the Find my Gear feature for lost watches. Syncing health and fitness data with S Health is also supported, as are iPhone notifications on the wearables.
Samsung Gear S and Gear Fit apps are available as free downloads for iPhone and iPad on the App Store.
Top Rated Comments
I had a LG G Watch R connected to my iPhones, needless to say Android Wear on iOS sucks badly but it worked with many limitations. When connected to an Android device, it was as good as Android Wear can be, on iOS, it was way too limited.
The Samsung OS Tizen is also not the greatest, but when connected to iOS it is better than an Android Wear device connected to iOS. It is obvious that an Apple Watch connected to an Apple phone offers the best experience like an Android Wear device connected to an Android phone.
It is my opinion that if you want a round watch and you have an iPhone, the Samsung Gear S2 or S3 is the way to go. There are far more watch faces, you can also download the face making app and make your own. On Android Wear for iOS, you were stuck with the crappy ones they offered. There are more apps for Samsung on iOS than Android on iOS, there are not many but it is better. It's a compromise when you want a round watch and love iPhones, Samsung is the better of the two choices as of now in my opinion.
And then you have the people that have proudly sworn off Apple and stick around here to tell us how we're all sheep. Which is understandable, being that this is the internet.
Me personally, I think it's cool that Samsung now has a line of smartwatches that work on both major mobile operating systems.
Another source is being left out in the cold, like having to take them to court to get a graphcis card problem simply acknowledged let alone fixed.