From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

The descriptions of smartwatches keep referring to them working with
Android phones. I usually turn my phone off when I'm home** Does that
mean the smartwatch won't make phone calls when the phone is off?

Or are there phpones like that, and wifi smartwatches that only need the
home wifi signal?

And off topic but do you kjnow of any low to medium priced smartwatch
which also has a fall detector?
And do you know if the time shows all the time or you have to touch something. I'm still using a Casio and I'm happy with it except I fell
and was stuck.

**I was very happy when I saw Whatsapp would still run on my pc while
the phone was off.)

https://www.amazon.com/Receive-Fitness-Tracking-Waterproof-Smartwatch/dp/B0BFQ36XPW/ref=sr_1_12_sspa
https://www.amazon.com/Watches-Activity-Waterproof-Smartwatch-Inteligente/dp/B0DZGPR5VJ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

micky wrote:

The descriptions of smartwatches keep referring to them working with
Android phones. I usually turn my phone off when I'm home** Does that
mean the smartwatch won't make phone calls when the phone is off?

Yes. Unless you get a smartwatch with LTE, and pay for its own eSIM
contract.

Or are there phpones like that, and wifi smartwatches that only need the
home wifi signal?

Not that I know of.

And off topic but do you kjnow of any low to medium priced smartwatch
which also has a fall detector?

I've only had my pixel watch just over a week, it does have fall
detection, but I haven't enabled it. It also has lack of pulse
detection, I haven't enabled that either. Probably doesn't count as a
*cheap* watch though.

And do you know if the time shows all the time or you have to touch something. I'm still using a Casio and I'm happy with it except I fell
and was stuck.

it has an "always on" display, the seconds display doesn't stay active
all the time, just hours/mins. Once it detects you're asleep it does
turn the screen off, battery life is basically 2 days.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

On 2025-10-22 20:32, micky wrote:

The descriptions of smartwatches keep referring to them working with
Android phones. I usually turn my phone off when I'm home** Does that
mean the smartwatch won't make phone calls when the phone is off?

No, most connect to the phone via bluetooth. Also, most do not do phone
calls at all, just tell you that there is a call incoming.

Or are there phpones like that, and wifi smartwatches that only need the
home wifi signal?

That needs more battery, so bigger and more expensive.

And off topic but do you kjnow of any low to medium priced smartwatch
which also has a fall detector?

AFAIK mine doesn't.

And do you know if the time shows all the time or you have to touch something. I'm still using a Casio and I'm happy with it except I fell
and was stuck.

Depends on the type of display. Mine is off most of the time, and lights
up automatically when I move my arm to see the time. It detects that
type of movement. Or I double tap the display.

There are watches, more expensive than mine, with a display always on.
Not LED, no light. The one I saw seemed to have an LCD display besides a
LED layer.

**I was very happy when I saw Whatsapp would still run on my pc while
the phone was off.)

https://www.amazon.com/Receive-Fitness-Tracking-Waterproof-Smartwatch/dp/B0BFQ36XPW/ref=sr_1_12_sspa
https://www.amazon.com/Watches-Activity-Waterproof-Smartwatch-Inteligente/dp/B0DZGPR5VJ/ref=sr_1_2_sspa

--
Cheers, Carlos.
ES🇪🇸, EU🇪🇺;
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

The descriptions of smartwatches keep referring to them working with
Android phones. I usually turn my phone off when I'm home** Does that
mean the smartwatch won't make phone calls when the phone is off?

Usually a smartphone is not turned off after pushing the on-off-button, only the display is turned of while the other devices are still running, f.e. to ring at incoming calls.

If you really shut down the phone nothing will work, neither WLAN/WiFi nor
BT, really nothing.

And do you know if the time shows all the time or you have to touch something.

Usually these watches can be configured to keep its display continuously active or to switch display off after some seconds. Fitbits seem to be able
to switch display on again after fast accelerations.

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

micky, 2025-10-22 20:32:

The descriptions of smartwatches keep referring to them working with
Android phones. I usually turn my phone off when I'm home** Does that
mean the smartwatch won't make phone calls when the phone is off?

Yes - but there are smartwatches which have an eSIM and can be used for
phone calls and internet access without a phone. This requires an
additional data plan or a second eSIM for you existing contract.

Or are there phpones like that, and wifi smartwatches that only need the
home wifi signal?

Usually smartwatches use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and not WiFi.
However some models can use WiFi als fall back if there is no Bluetooth connection available

And off topic but do you kjnow of any low to medium priced smartwatch
which also has a fall detector?

I did never look for a fall detector in a smartwatch, therefore I don't
know that.

And do you know if the time shows all the time or you have to touch something. I'm still using a Casio and I'm happy with it except I fell
and was stuck.

So - you need a smartwatch which can help you in an emergency situation?
Or what exactly do you mean with "I fell and was stuck"?

JFTR: Casio also has watches which connect via Bluetooth to syncronize
the time like the ABL100. And with "Oleewatch" you can even modify cheap
Casio watches to support Bluetooth and a simple heart rate monitoring.
--
Arno Welzel
https://arnowelzel.de
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com> wrote:

The descriptions of smartwatches keep referring to them working with
Android phones. I usually turn my phone off when I'm home** Does that
mean the smartwatch won't make phone calls when the phone is off?

Or are there phpones like that, and wifi smartwatches that only need the
home wifi signal?

I think the solution here is not to turn your phone off when you are at
home. Put it on silent or vibrate if you don't want it disturbing you, and plug it into the charger. Then get a smartwatch which will make and receive calls via the phone. That widens the pool of options considerably and
avoids the need for an additional SIM plan.

And off topic but do you kjnow of any low to medium priced smartwatch
which also has a fall detector?

It looks like some Samsung, Pixel, Huawei and Garmin watches have it.
Perhaps look for an older model on ebay or similar? Some listed here, but
note not all of them make phone calls, some only send messages:

https://www.makeuseof.com/which-smartwatches-fitness-trackers-have-fall-detection/

Some of the Garmins have more basic displays which are always on, and tend
to have better battery life than Samsungs or Pixels.

Theo
--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: comp.mobile.android

Theo wrote:

I think the solution here is not to turn your phone off when you are at
home. Put it on silent or vibrate if you don't want it disturbing you, and plug it into the charger.

I decided against getting an LTE watch, the extra SIM cost didn't feel
worth it. in the USA if you buy the Pixel4 LTE versions (even if you
don't pay for an extra SIM) it can use emergency satellite
communications, provided it has a view of the sky. I can't remember
whether Micky has mentioned hiking in the mountains previously, maybe
that someone else? Perhaps irrelevant if he's now concerned about
falls, or perhaps even more relevant ...

Then get a smartwatch which will make and receive
calls via the phone. That widens the pool of options considerably and
avoids the need for an additional SIM plan.

the Pixel watch4 does that, but even if the phone is one room away from
the watch, the audio quality isn't always good, so keep the phone in
your pocket and the watch on your wrist.

And off topic but do you know of any low to medium priced smartwatch
which also has a fall detector?

As I mentioned before, the PW4 can do that, you have to enable it.

Some of the Garmins have more basic displays which are always on,

You can disable always-on display, don't know how much that would
increase battery life, but would be annoying to have to poke the crown
to wake it up. if you set certain hours as "sleep pattern" the display
goes off then.

and tend to have better battery life than Samsungs or Pixels.

PW4 (large edition) has lasted me at 48h per charge so far, sometimes
60h (but small edition has smaller battery).

--- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2