How to change the watch face on any smartwatch - Wear OS, Apple Watch, China

Recently, smart watches can be found more and more often on the wrist of Android users. Moreover, this applies to both global statistics, which we can see on the Internet, and my personal one. Most of the guys who have been playing with the Mi Band for several years have finally bought themselves a new Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Honor Band lovers are en masse looking at solutions from Amazfit. However, if you can get used to a smartphone in just a couple of days, then with a smart watch everything is not so simple. Considering that they are all different, it will be difficult to describe the operation of this or that function universally on all devices, but in general, all the features are implemented approximately the same.

If you've recently been in the market for a smartwatch, this is definitely the place for you.

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How to change the watch face on any smartwatch - Wear OS, Apple Watch, China

Advertisement This is a great widget that allows you to add multiple clocks to your Today at no extra cost.
Additional functions:

• Sort watches alphabetically, ascending by time, or create your own order.
• Change the name to something more convenient. For example, if your boss lives in Kaliningrad, name this watch “Ivan Alexandrovich” to immediately see if it’s too early to call him.
• In the application settings you can choose the appearance of the clock and choose between 24-hour format and DP/PP.
• When collapsed, the widget shows the top pair of clocks. Tap More to see the rest without going to the app.

The widget itself is free, but in order to remove ads you need to pay $0.99.

Usage

Each button in the menu is responsible for a specific function:

• On/off, home: if the watch is in sleep mode, only the time is displayed. You can exit the mode by pressing the power key.
• Confirm-reply: by clicking here, you go to the menu; This button confirms the action in the menu.
• Dial-menu: goes to the phone book in standby mode, when pressed again, goes to the menu. You can change the volume during a call or listening to music.
• Back-reset: sends to the previous menu, resets the call.

We recommend:

• Sony SmartBand 2 SWR12: review of new smartwatches
• Xiaomi Hey Plus: review, specifications, features, pros and cons + where to buy safely
• Apple Watch Series 4: full review of the new smartwatch

How to set the correct time on a smart bracelet

A fitness or smart bracelet is a device that monitors the condition of your body. It shows blood pressure, pulse, number of steps taken, meters and even calories. Setting up such bracelets is carried out in almost the same way as smart watches with a SIM card.

Date and time are important indicators of smart bracelets, because depending on the time of day, the body’s indicators can change. The M3 bracelet is configured using a smartphone. To do this, you need to download the appropriate application. This fitness tracker is a complete copy of the famous Xiaomi, so you will have to install the same application - “Mi Fit”. After installing the application, the bracelet will synchronize with the smartphone, and the time will be set automatically.

Important! When synchronizing, the application can show several devices - watch, bracelet, etc. To synchronize the fitness tracker, you need to select a “bracelet”.

Setting up this bracelet is similar to the previous one. You'll also need to install the MyFit app and set it up. The bracelet differs from the M3 version in a more ergonomic design and larger battery capacity.

Specifications

• Type – smart watch;
• OS compatibility – iOS, Android;
• Notifications with viewing or reply – SMS, mail, calendar, Facebook, Twitter;
• Vibration – yes;
• Case material – stainless steel. steel;
• Bracelet/strap material – silicone;
• Time display method – digital (electronic);
• Moisture protection – yes;
• Bracelet/strap length adjustment – ​​yes;
• Dimensions (WxHxD) – 44x53x12 mm;
• Weight – 62 grams;
• Presence of a screen – yes;
• Type – IPS, touch, backlit;
• Diagonal – 1.22 inches;
• Resolution – 240×240;
• Pixels per inch (PPI) – 197;
• Audio playback – yes;
• Video – yes;
• Speaker – yes;
• Microphone – yes;
• Camera – 0.30 MP;
• Headphone jack – missing;
• Phone calls – own SIM card;
• SIM card type – micro SIM;
• Interfaces – Bluetooth 3.0;
• Memory card slot – yes;
• Monitoring – sleep, calories, physical activity;
• Sensors – accelerometer, built-in heart rate monitor;
• Battery – non-removable Li-Polymer;
• Battery capacity – 280 mAh;
• Charging connector type – micro USB;
• Additional information – control of the smartphone’s camera and player, sedentary reminder, anti-lost function, pedometer, calculator, voice recorder, alarm clock, calendar.

Time Intersect – Time Zones

Time Intersect is another cool application that offers different widget styles, as well as three modes: light, dark and night.

Additional functions:

• Thousands of cities are available offline + access to time in any city in the world when connected to the Internet.
• Warning about transitions to winter/summer time.
• Swipe the screen to scroll through time. This way you can see what time it will be in each of the selected cities in three hours - a great feature for scheduling meetings or group calls with people living in different time zones.
• Add notes, change watch names and settings.

Time Intersect app is available for free. Upgrading to the Pro version via in-app purchase adds more features (including a smart meeting scheduler).

Smartwatch U8 equipment

The smartwatch U8 comes in a crafted box, packed with tape. Under the protective packaging there is already a product form made of thin coated cardboard with color printing. On the front side there is a large image of the gadget and icons depicting the main features and functions of the device. The emphasis is on the Bluetooth connection. The capabilities of the UWatch U8 are described in detail on the back, but everything is in Chinese, so it’s impossible to understand anything without instructions in Russian.

Standard contents in the box:

• watch with protective film on display
• cord with USB plug
• instructions
• metal tool for removing silicone plugs

The instructions for use for the U8 smartwatch are useful in only one way - there is a link to download the application to your smartphone. Otherwise, only those who speak English can use it. But this does not affect the ease of use, since the instructions for the U8 smart watch in Russian are available online in the public domain.

In various reviews you can find a clarification of the model, for example, the Wise U8 smart watch. This is a manufacturer's indication and not a variant of the device with additional functions. There will be only one model in the box.

How to easily change the screensaver on iWatch?

For some people, standard wallpaper isn't enough to make them stand out. To help lovers of original backgrounds, experts have provided the installation of personal photographs. Moreover, you can edit your own picture at your discretion.

The program does the following:

• adjusts the size of a personal picture to the smartwatch screen;
• adds twist or streamlining;
• adds additional layers.

Thanks to the effects, the result is an interesting screensaver that no one else has.

U8 smartwatch design

At first glance, it is difficult to say which model served as the prototype for the Chinese copy. If you believe the reviews of experienced users, the engineers stripped off little by little from everywhere. And surprisingly it turned out well.

The main advantage of the UWatch U8 smartwatch is that the body is made of metal. Very durable, wear-resistant and looks solid. The second plus is real glass, which is used to make the display. Thanks to special technology and a protective film applied at the factory, the device looks and works great. At the same time, the brightness is enough even to use the watch in sunny weather. But in bright light, of course, the picture fades.

Strap

The strap, made of silicone, has two profiles - a smooth outer side and a rough inner side - to ensure good grip on the hand and avoid slipping.

Upon further examination, the country of assembly and the lower price segment still make themselves felt. Reviews of the smartwatch U8 say that micro-scratches are visible on the case, and the strap is starting to peel, and the seams left over from pouring into the mold are also sloppily processed. This does not affect the functionality of the device in any way. The system for attaching the strap to the case is very reliable, unlike more expensive models.

Display

The color touch display is complemented by several buttons directly below the screen, these are “Menu” (also “Yes”), “Home Screen” (also “Volume Control”) and “Return” (also “No”). In standby mode, the display shows the watch face. The device most closely resembles a classic watch when the interface with Roman numerals is selected.

Buttons and components

If you look at the watch display, there is an on/off button on the right side, and on the left side there is a charging connector, closed with a plug, a speaker and a microphone. On the reverse side there is a button to reboot and reset all settings to factory settings.

Despite the fact that the model is very budget-friendly, it looks dignified and status-worthy, and does not feel like a Chinese counterfeit.

World Clock by timeanddate.com

World Clock by timeanddate.com allows you to add two cities to your Favorites so that they appear in the widget. More cities are available through in-app purchase.

Additional functions:

• Sort watches alphabetically, ascending by time, by country, or create your own order.
• View location details including map, coordinates, city information, sunrise and sunset times, daylight saving time, and more.
• Use convenient filters to add cities (for example, Capitals or Continents), or use a regular search.
• Flexible widget settings: appearance of the clock, show seconds or not, format (12 hours/24 hours), change favorite cities and enable/disable geolocation for automatic city detection.

The app itself is free, but supports in-app purchases to remove ads and the ability to add an unlimited number of cities to the widget.

Advantages of smart Smart Watch V8

From the variety of smartwatches, users choose the V8 model for a number of advantageous characteristics:

• rich functionality;
• attractive appearance;
• equipped with smartphone functions;
• greater autonomy;
• low cost.

This model is suitable for all genders and ages. Therefore, you can buy Smart Watch v8 both for personal use and as a gift for friends and family, which will definitely be appreciated.

Setting time and date on Chinese smart watches with Ali Express

Chinese smartwatches are practically no different from those sold in electronics and cellular stores. Depending on the model, they may prompt you to set the date and time when you first turn it on or after a full reboot. To do this, you need to remove the battery and SIM card and insert them back.

In other cases, setting the date and time is done in the “Settings” or “Setting” menu item if the gadget does not support the Russian language.

Having entered this item, you need to select “Date and time”. Now you need to set the necessary parameters. Depending on the model, the gadget will offer to save manually or the settings will be saved automatically.

Chinese smartwatches are synchronized with a smartphone. Install the desired application on your smartphone, synchronize devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The phone time will be automatically set on the gadget.

How to start using

Before starting use, it is recommended to do the following:

1. Install micro sim with internet. The security code must be removed from the card. This can be done by installing it in the phone, performing the operation and then inserting it into the watch.
2. Install a memory card. The gadget supports a card up to 32 GB, but 1 GB is enough to get started.
3. Install the battery.
4. Fully charge Smart Watch V8 from a computer, laptop or power bank.
5. Remove the protective film from the display.

The gadget is ready to work independently. After synchronization with a smartphone, the functions expand. At the same time, the controls are intuitive and it will take very little time to set up the smartwatch.

World Clock Time Widget

Another application worthy of your attention. With World Clock Time Widget you can add all the cities you need to the widget and organize them in the order convenient for you.

Additional functions:

• Switch between digital and analog clocks.
• Select the format: 12-hour (AP/PP) or 24-hour.
• The widget constantly displays the time in 4 places. Click More to expand the full list.

The app is free, but for $1.99 you can upgrade to the full version to remove ads and access colorful themes.

How to change the watch face on an apple watch?

AppleWatch just recently went on sale, but has already become a boom in the technology market. Everyone wants to have a modern, interesting gadget. And of course there are questions regarding use. One of them is regarding the change in dial options.

Instructions. How to change the watch face on AppleWatch?

You can set it up by pressing well on the display while on the watch face of the AppleWatch itself.

To select design options, scroll through the options left or right. To be in the library with available pictures, select “Customize” or “Adjustment”. Here are the colors, component options, in general, everything. Some watch faces allow you to add items from various applications, such as Weather, Calendar, etc. Everything is adjusted by scrolling the wheel.

To access available applications, use swipe. For those who like something unique, at the end of the swipe movement, select “New” or “+”. Here you can combine modules and graphics to create your own unique interface.

Video. Watch face on AppleWatch.

Where to download watch faces

They are available directly in the Samsung Health software in the corresponding section. There are about 50 of them in total, but they are all varied and vibrant, so everyone will find something for themselves. The developers are constantly updating and improving the current list, so if you wait a little, you will receive new interesting offers. So far the most popular are:

• shadow in dark amber tones with the image of a black swan;
• simple – minimalism, stylized clock and status bar;
• love piggy and love pid - cute pink pigs, a boy and a girl, who will become a glamorous addition to the image;
• evening - a pink hare in a yellow suit is presented in this theme as a bright element of modern creativity, and standard symbols from the status bar are also placed on the display in the same bright colors;
• woven, tunnel, rings - tracker display themes for fans of geometry and bright modern colors;
• pop - standard clock face and status bar, designed in the style of the 80s;
• pixels - the elements of this design are created pointwise, but even small elements are displayed quite brightly and clearly;
• jewels - a display design that is suitable for lovers of bright diamonds and rhinestones;
• spunk is a wavy cartoon clock of different colors with hands.

How to add widgets to the Today panel

If you haven't added new widgets before, here's how to do it.

1. From the lock screen, swipe left to open the Today .
2. Scroll to the bottom and click on the Change .
3. Scroll through the list that opens to find the widget you need.
4. Click on the + icon to the left of it to add to the Today .
5. If necessary, move it higher or lower in the list to change the location of widgets on the screen.
6. Click Finish to save your changes.

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Main problems of smart watch U8

It is worth considering that this watch is a completely Chinese development, so questions or problems during operation cannot be avoided. The most common causes of user difficulties include the following questions and bugs.

How to view messages in smart watch U8?

The online watch displays on its display all messages that come to your Android phone (in iPhone, SMS works in sound notification mode). If you did not have time to look at them or want to read older notifications, you can use the corresponding points:

• The Massaging menu contains all the SMS messages from your phone
• the Notifier section stores all messages received by the phone from social networks and instant messengers

To switch between menu items, you can use the touch screen and special buttons on the side of the case. You cannot reply to SMS from your watch.

What to do when the message “battery error” is displayed?

In this case, it is recommended to restart the device. To do this, use not the usual on/off button, but the small hole on the back of the watch. You'll have to take a needle or toothpick. If these actions lead to nothing and the “battery error” message is still on the screen, this is a reason to contact the seller and replace the device under warranty.

It is also recommended to do this if your smart watch U8 does not turn on. If the warranty period has expired, try removing the battery and connecting it again. If this does not help, another option is to replace the battery with a new one.

What to do if your smartwatch U8 is frozen?

The first thing that will help is to turn off the device with the button. If the device does not respond to the button, use the reboot function. For this purpose, the U8 has a special hole on the back cover. You can press this button with a sharp, thin object, such as a needle. In some cases, you may need to hold the button down for a while.

How to setup?

To use the U8 smartwatch comfortably, you should find and download the instructions in Russian, then download the application to your phone and synchronize the devices. If the watch interface is not in Russian, flashing the gadget will help.

How to create a watch face?

Unfortunately, the developers did not add the ability to create a custom desktop screensaver, so you will have to act in a banal way - replace the standard file.

1. Download template for editing and AmazfitBipTools.
2. Unpack the archive.
3. Drag the template.bin file onto the Watchface.exe application. A folder of the same name will be created.

AmazfitBipTools for MB4 867 KB 0.01

Version for Mi band 4 and example template...

The unique design is ready, all that remains is to install it. It will only take a couple of minutes.

If you have problems, watch the video. They clearly demonstrate the editing process.

Chinese software

Craftsmen from the Middle Kingdom have created software for quickly creating a dial. There is no need to learn .json markup and delve into the sources of ready-made screens. All you need is a background screensaver and a few minutes of time.

1. Download the application.
2. Let's install it.
3. In the settings we set the language to English. The translation will not work for all interface elements, but in the future the developer may add full Russian localization.
4. Using the selector, select English.

The result was not very good due to the bright background. With the help of modifications, you can make a cool custom watchface, change the date format and add a charge display in digital format.

The maximum weight of a file uploaded to a fitness bracelet is 329 KB.

Watchface Tool 7 MB 0.01

Partial translation in English. The software has been tested for performance...

Visual editor v1.0

A convenient visual watchface designer that is constantly updated. The developer is constantly adding new functionality. There are inconveniences, but the tool is being improved and that’s very cool.

1. Launch the application.
2. Select items to display on the splash screen.
3. Place the background in the Template folder.
4. Save the widget layout.
5. Start testing.
6. Give the watch face a name.
7. Save the project.
8. Install watcface using any application.

Visual watch face editor v1.0 755 KB v1.0

The visual part of the program and internal logic have been changed...

Online editor

An online builder with limited capabilities has recently appeared. With its help, you can create a screensaver without desktop software. But you will first have to find a basic watchface to assemble your version.

1. Loading background and JSON.
2. Code editor.
3. Displaying resources.
4. Creation of PNG.
5. View at true scale.

Go to editor

Visual Watchface Builder

Cool watch face editor with a vintage interface.

1. Analog and digital clocks.
2. Date output in 3 formats.
3. Setting up activity.
4. Step and heart rate indicators.
5. Bluetooth, lock, battery status.
6. Animation.

The kit includes a program for unpacking and assembling BIN.

When activating a section, first select pictures.

Images can be loaded from any folder ; when saved, they will be copied and placed next to the JSON file.

Visual Watchface Builder 24 MB v1.0.3

The display of the heart rate scale has been changed...

Other changes and innovations

Immediately after installing iOS 10, two points attract attention: the changed sound of the device locking and the updated sound of the keyboard. The new sounds do not seem alien, they perfectly correspond to the spirit of this version of Apple's mobile operating system and after a few minutes they cease to stand out from the general background.

If you actively use several Apple gadgets, you will appreciate the new clipboard that works between devices. We copied a piece of text onto the iPhone and pasted it onto a Mac running macOS Sierra. The integration doesn't end there: the iCloud Drive app on iOS 10 brings your Mac's desktop and documents folder to your fingertips. You just need to activate the appropriate setting on the latter.

In connection with the active use of iCloud, Apple has rolled out a new tariff plan offering as much as 2 TB of cloud space. This pleasure costs 1,490 rubles per month.

The improvement of 3D Touch capabilities has already been mentioned above, but we cannot ignore the symbiosis of this function with a simple flashlight. Now, if you hold your finger on the flashlight icon, you can select the brightness.

This is how iOS 10 turned out. Of course, Apple has done a lot of work and the new version of the operating system is a big step forward. In the future, we will probably expect intermediate updates with fixes, improvements and even new features. Traces of a dark theme were found in the iOS 10 code, so it cannot be ruled out that somewhere in iOS 10.1 we will be able to change the tones of the operating system to less light ones. There is still a lot of interesting things ahead!

The iOS 10 update is available to download and install on all compatible devices today. Owners can also update their smartwatches to watchOS 3.

All novice users of Apple technology make the same mistake: when they want to change the time and date, they go to the Clock

” and begin to explore it for a suitable section. Finding ways to set the time through this program will not bear fruit - without visiting the “
Settings ” of the device, such adjustments cannot be made
. To change the date and set the time on your iPhone, follow these instructions:

. Open Settings

" and go to the "
Basic
" section.

You will see a screen like this:

. Set the time format to 24-hour or 12-hour. Americans are more accustomed to the second option: they count 12 hours before noon and 12 after it. Therefore, the 12-hour format is the default. If a Russian wants to switch to a more familiar 24-hour time format, he needs to switch the corresponding toggle switch.

Step 4
.
Deactivate the "
Automatic
"
.
If you enable this option, it will independently select the time zone and determine the date/time, based on the data it receives through geolocation and from the Internet. There are a number of reasons not to use this option:

• Time may change spontaneously on days when most countries switch from summer to winter (or vice versa). What does this mean? At the very least, being late for work.
• Time is determined incorrectly when an iPhone owner travels across multiple time zones. This is due to the fact that the SIM card constantly loses signal and cannot provide the device with location data.
• The option requires the inclusion of geolocation services, which in turn leads to rapid energy consumption.

. Select your time zone - click on the appropriate field.

Then enter “ Russia”

» and select the city in which you live or which corresponds to your time zone. We choose the option “ Moscow, Russia

"and set Moscow time (
UTC +3
).

. Click on the line in which the date and time are written in blue, and manually set the necessary parameters by scrolling through the peculiar reels. You can find out the exact time for any city, for example, using the Yandex service.

There is no drum that would be responsible for setting the year. Therefore, if you want to move the date back or forward several years, you will have to try.

After that, continue to use the gadget and don’t worry about the time being lost.

Bluetooth module

You can connect and disconnect Bluetooth directly through the smartphone settings. All devices that are available for connection will be displayed on the watch screen. Once the connection is complete, a window will appear on the watch asking for permission to read the address book and call history. Personal information will also be available for viewing. If you do not click agree, synchronization will not occur. For successful operation, the distance between two devices should not be more than 10 meters. If this rule is not followed, the smart watch v8 and the smartphone will automatically lose connection in a few minutes.

Tired of the old screensaver? Download a new picture for your desktop!

Each of us has our own idea of ​​beauty, comfort and coziness. We decorate our homes in accordance with our ideas of comfort and choose a specific interior design. The same applies to our workplace. Spending most of the day at the computer, you want your work area to provide some solace to your eyes. Therefore, most of us set the sea, mountains, animals, beautiful flowers or paintings as desktop pictures. click on the picture to enlarge and download (all pictures are in good resolution: format 1920 by 1080px)
Today you cannot do without a computer. Almost any position involves performing certain operations using this piece of equipment. But now the working day is over, the person comes home, and what does he do? He takes his favorite tablet, laptop, or sits in a comfortable chair in front of his home computer.

So, your computer desktop needs a beautiful screensaver, and it doesn’t matter where the device is located - at home or in the office. In any place it is much more pleasant to contemplate beautiful landscapes than a standard screensaver supplied by the manufacturer. And if you want to ensure a good mood, you can install funny pictures that will make you smile.

Of course, you can place photos on your desktop as a screensaver. For example, a photo of your beloved husband, wife or child; pictures of a happy vacation with the whole family. However, many users face a problem: it is impossible to place a photo so that it takes up the entire screen. You have to either make a splash screen consisting of several slides, or stretch the image, which is not very beautiful.

It is much easier to download a ready-made image in a suitable hd format 1920x1080, which will occupy the correct place on the screen. It won’t be difficult to choose a screensaver of a suitable theme; we have both nature (the landscapes are truly breathtaking) and cool pictures that you’ll enjoy sharing with your work colleagues.

Say goodbye to blurry photos and blurry edges. Screensavers in HD format have a resolution of 1920x1080, which means that you will see every leaf on the tree, every pebble on the beach, every drop of dew on the grass. There is no point in downloading pictures for your desktop, the theme of which is nature, in lower quality, because only the HD 1920x1080 format will allow you to fully enjoy the beauty of a ladybug sitting on a blade of grass, or the glare of the evening sun on the sea waves.

Review of GT08 SmartWatch - smart watch and dialer in one device.

Greetings, dear Muskovites, today I am pleased to present to your attention a review of the GT08 SmartWatch device, which is a smart watch with a telephone function (i.e. a watch phone). For those interested, see cat. So, smart watches. Nowadays this is a very fashionable gadget, along with fitness bracelets and other similar things that you can wear on yourself and somehow track your condition and activity. Smart watches also allow you to see what’s on your phone without taking it out of your pocket, but simply looking at your wrist (and with today’s fashion (damn it) for “shovel phones”, this is becoming even more relevant). I will demonstrate the device kit:

The set is rather poor, there was no box, but this was stated by the seller, everything arrived intact. However, the only thing missing is a charger, but often such a gadget is bought by the owner of a smartphone, and he has something to charge. You can also find fault with the fact that there is no headset, but one will cost at least a quarter of the price of the device.

The watch itself:

In front we see the screen and the camera eye, the cover is glass. I can’t say anything about “more precise”, but all sorts of “gorilla glass” didn’t seem to be promised. There was also a protective film, but I took it off.

On the right is only the power/back/lock button, styled like a scroll wheel, but this is only a decorative function.

On the left is a plug stylized as a button, underneath it is a microUSB connector, below it is a speaker, and above it (near the bracelet) is a microphone hole.

Back view. The strap is quite tight and occupies a position perpendicular to the surface of the back cover.

The battery is hidden under the cover.

Under the battery we can see slots for a microSIM card and a microSD memory card (support for up to 32GB is declared, tested 64GB - sees, reads).

Separately, the battery is 350mAh.

On the hand.

Ease of use, build quality, secure fastening. Regarding this watch, I had doubts about the reliability of its fastening (fixation of the strap) - because here the “mechanism” is as simple as a stool. However, when I put them on, I realized that I was mistaken, the watch sits on my hand as if glued. There were no questions regarding the assembly and materials, everything looks very nice and is made of good materials: glass on the front, the “frame” of the structure is metal, the lid and insides are made of plastic, and the strap is made of rubber. The strap lock, by the way, is also metal. The watch, of course, is not the smallest, I think it will be very noticeable on a woman’s hand, but on a man’s hand it looks more than appropriate, especially in a strict color scheme. However, the watch is made to resemble Apple's, and seems to be true to size.

Screen.

It uses a 1.54″ matrix with a resolution of 240x240, which feels like IPS, since the viewing angles are about 180 degrees. In addition, I have the impression that the so-called mirror substrate of the screen is used, with the help of which it illuminates itself with reflected light, since even on a sunny day, under direct rays of the sun, the image remained clearly visible even at minimum brightness. Although, it is probably just a high minimum brightness. However, it’s unlikely that anyone will read on such a gadget before going to bed, so if so, it’s not scary.

Speaker, microphone.

I expected that there would be a “squeaker” that would be barely audible, but as it turned out, this thing can scream, so there are no questions about the sound. The microphone is also adequate, it is quite possible to talk without holding the watch directly to your head.

Gadget capabilities.

So, let's move on to its “filling”. When you press the power button, the screen turns on, with a screen saver in the form of an analog clock. There are 3 options in total (though one of them does not have hands on the date dials.

Using a wipe from the edge of the screen, we get to the “desktop” (if not from the edge, or just tap on the screen, we’ll switch the screensaver to the next one).

On the desktop there is a clock (digital), a status bar (on top), buttons for dialer, messages, menus and contacts. The status bar displays bluetooth status, network indicator, battery charge indicator, and current sound profile icon.

The dialer has fairly large buttons, but you still need to get used to it. And this is what the dialer looks like during a call:

This is what the list of messages looks like (there are 2 tabs, local messages and those received from the smartphone via bluetooth).

You can type messages on the watch itself, which has an on-screen keyboard similar to those in regular push-button phones. Is there Russian language.

Contact list (again, there is a local one, and there is one synchronized with the phone).

The menu consists of 3 screens, on each of which there is a round clock in the middle, and round “application” icons around them.

It is possible to control the player from your phone:

Moreover, there are 2 options: the sound can be played either by the clock or by the phone. But listening to music through a Bluetooth headset (as I do) while using a smart watch will not work.

And this is what the call list menu looks like. Each section has 2 tabs: local and received from the phone.

This is how the device shows notifications received from the smartphone.

Also among the functions related to pairing with a smartphone are “anti-lost” and “find phone”, as well as a program that shows all notifications received from the smartphone. Anti-lost is a program that allows you to set up a clock alarm about the removal of the phone within the communication distance with it.

For the “find phone” function to work, the BT Notify program must be installed on the phone; when you select this function in the menu, the phone, if it is connected to the watch, starts ringing.

For some reason, the program that displays the list of notifications is indicated in the menu with a satellite dish icon, which somewhat confuses the user.

There is also a function of broadcasting what the smartphone camera “sees” to the watch; for this, again, you need to install BT Notify. But I didn’t see anything sensible in this, in my opinion, it would be much more reasonable to do the opposite function - so that through the camera of the watch and using it as a headset, you could, for example, chat on Skype.

Health-related features include a pedometer, activity sensor and sleep tracker.

The pedometer is very simple and unpretentious; it shows travel time and distance traveled. can be paused. Synchronization with the phone is not provided.

The activity sensor can be set for any desired time, and the alarm method can be selected (vibration, vibration+sound, sound, vibration+increasing sound). If the function is enabled and there is no activity during this time, then the watch will notify its owner after the time has elapsed that it is time to “stretch the rolls”.

The sleep tracker is a simple function, like a stool. Went to bed, turned it on, woke up, turned it off. It would seem, but what’s the point? But sometimes at the end of the week you can be horrified looking at the results :)

Telephone functions. In addition to a smart watch, the device is also a phone-dialer, much like push-button dialers, in some ways better, in some ways worse. So, there is a player, a voice recorder, a camera (records in 240x240, so it’s not much use), a file and image viewer, an alarm clock, and a calendar. But they forgot to put the calculator, which is now in any self-respecting phone, here.

Player:

It is quite simple, it only understands mp3, ogg, in which my entire music collection was left out. There are playlists. By default, it reads only from the “My Music” folder, but you can choose from other folders and add it to the playlist.

Dictaphone:

Very simple, but it works :) Again, the microphone is enough so as not to speak directly into it. The recording can be listened to here.

The image viewer, unlike what we are usually used to, is just a shortcut for the file manager, that is, you need to open files one at a time, there is no scrolling. Can handle jpeg, png.

File manager.

Alarm clock, you can set 6 pcs.

Calendar. It fits the entire month, you can set reminders and all that, but in the absence of synchronization with the phone, it’s not convenient to set everything up on the watch itself, since the controls are still small.

There is also a function of displaying a QR code leading to the BT Notify program, which works on a smartphone with this gadget.

There is also a simple browser, but for some reason it can only be used with a SIM card, that is, the Internet can only be received from it, and here the limitation is GPRS, so given this and the small screen, I think this function is not very useful meaning. Although, if it were possible to receive the Internet from a smartphone via Bluetooth, it would still be “usable”.

Regarding telephone functions, you can make calls from the device (without connecting a smartphone, inserting a SIM card into the watch), write SMS, and generally use it as a dialer (except perhaps without a calculator and video). At the same time, you can talk both by “hands-free” - through the speaker and microphone of the watch, and via a Bluetooth headset, but you won’t be able to play music from the player to the headset. You can set up your own ringtones for calls and messages from the list of suggested ones, as well as from your music on the memory card (this will also work for calls from a smartphone). So, in addition to a smart watch, it is quite possible to use the device as a watch phone, which will also have the functions of a pedometer, activity sensor and sleep tracker, which is not found on regular watch phones, and watch phones on Android are very expensive.

Next, I will give a photo of the device settings.

There is a scheduled on/off function, like on MediaTek phones and smartphones (well, here too MediaTek).

Also, here are screenshots from the BT Notify program:

It is possible to select in the program which applications can send notifications to the watch (including system ones), as well as choose whether calls will be sent to the watch, or whether the watch will simply notify about the call (otherwise the watch works as a headset). This also seems to apply to messages, but there it does not matter so much.

Autonomy. The watch can work in paired mode with a phone for 3-4 days, if used as a phone with a SIM card, then 5-6 days (without using a Bluetooth headset, otherwise the same 3-4 days). If combined, up to 3 days. But it’s worth noting that the battery here is such that a charge will take 20-30 minutes from a good charge, which is very little.

Conclusions. I liked the device, but maybe because it was my first smart watch. So, it is very convenient to view notifications without taking the phone out of your pocket (although with my 4.7″ phone this is not so important), in addition, it is a stylish accessory. Controlling your phone's player from the watch is also a good idea, however, the watch "broke" me listening to music through my Bluetooth headset. Functions such as a pedometer, activity sensor and sleep tracker will also be useful for many who take care of themselves, although I would like synchronization with a smartphone. Well, “anti-lost” and “find phone” will be so appreciated by many “confused mashas” (or “confused petits”). At the same time, the device can be used as an independent gadget that will cope with the functions of a simple phone with a bang (minus the calculator, of course), and add to it the same pedometer, activity sensor, and sleep tracker. Well, the third use case is as a “satellite” to a smartphone, which synchronizes with it, and at the same time, has its own memory and SIM card - just working as a second phone, or a “spare dialer”, for example, for those who have a telephone for 1 SIM, or had to choose between the 2nd SIM card in the smartphone and a memory card.

By the way, if you leave the comment “maestrodan” with your order when placing an order from this seller, you can get this gadget for $14.59

Not so long ago, the same device, but under the Blitzwolf brand, was reviewed here, also under item 18 (now I can’t find that review) - but that device cost 3 times more.

PS: please don’t throw your slippers too hard, this is my first review of a smartwatch, and the first review of P.18

The product was provided for writing a review by the store. The review was published in accordance with clause 18 of the Site Rules.

Watch faces for Xiaomi Mi Band 5: how to install, configure and where to download?

Having already released the Mi Band 4 fitness bracelet, Xiaomi provided users with the opportunity to personalize their gadget by replacing the standard display design with their own dial option. With the release of Xiaomi Mi Band 5, this opportunity remains. But, some owners of a fitness bracelet encounter difficulties when replacing the dial. In this guide, we decided to explain in detail how to change the standard style to a custom one and what applications will help with this.

How to change the watch face on Mi Band 5 from the application?

Out of the box, the fitness bracelet offers three home screen design options with customizable widgets. 3 more custom options can be downloaded from the mobile app. There are about a hundred standard watch faces available.

The process for changing standard watch faces is the same for smartphones running the Android and iOS operating systems.

1. Open the Mi Fit / Amazfit application (applications are downloaded for free from the Play Store or App Store).

2. Go to the “Profile” tab and select the paired Mi Smart Band 5.

3. Select “Store”.

4. Select the watchface you like.

5. Click “Synchronize watch face.”

6. Wait a few seconds until the “Synchronization complete” notification appears and the watch face is already installed on your Mi Smart Band 5.

Three options for synchronized custom watch faces will be available in the “Administrator” tab and the bracelet memory. Each subsequent dial will overwrite the last option.

It is worth noting that different watch faces are available in the Mi Fit app for different regions. For example, many users cannot find animated options with SpongeBob. In this case, changing the region in the application or third-party software, for example Notify & Fitness for Mi Band, which we will discuss below, will help.

Principle of operation

Smart Watch V8 supports the 2 most famous platforms: Android (starting from 4.0) and iOS (starting from 7.0). The watchphone is synchronized with phones using the built-in Bluetooth module. It should be borne in mind that successful operation is only possible if the distance between the watch and the mobile device does not exceed 10 meters. If the distance is greater, the connection is automatically broken.

In addition, the gadget itself runs on Android 5.1.1 and therefore can work independently of a smartphone or tablet, including as a phone. Thus, by purchasing Smartwatch you can get a miniature smartphone on your hand. Therefore, a smart gadget is often chosen by athletes who are uncomfortable taking a massive mobile phone with them to training.

The battery capacity is 1-2 days of active use and 4 days of passive use. The battery is charged using a USB cable. The charging connector is located on the left side of the case. The connector is closed with a rubberized plug, which provides additional protection from dust and moisture.

On the bottom of the case there are slots for the battery, MicroSD and nano SIM cards.

How to customize widgets for stock watch faces?

By default, the bracelet comes with three options with customizable widgets. One of them has one place for a widget, two have two places each.

The following widgets are available for a single-area watch face:

• Steps(value);
• Pulse (value);
• Calories (value);
• Steps per hour (graph);
• Pulse (graph);
• PAI for 7 days (graph);
• Events (list);
• Weather;
• PAI (value).

The following widgets are available for watch faces with two locations:

• Weather;
• Sunrise/sunset (time);
• Humidity/ultraviolet (values);
• Air quality (value);
• Events (list);
• Alarm(time);
• Workout(shortcut);
• Steps(value);
• Pulse (value);
• Calories (value);
• PAI(value);
• Battery charge (value);
• PAI index for 7 days (graph);
• Steps per hour (graph).

Setting up widgets is very simple: select the option you like and hold your finger in the center of the screen for a few seconds. After this, a gear icon will appear under the watch face. Click on it and on the next tab click on the checkbox.

A short touch on one of the customizable areas switches available widgets, a long touch applies the selected widget. By the way, the widgets are interactive - clicking on them will take you to the corresponding bracelet menu.

How to set your own background on the watch face?

The application allows you to set your own background on the watch face. To do this, in the Mi Fit application, go to the “Profile” tab, select the connected bracelet.

Next, go to the “Store”.

The background can only be changed on watch faces in the Photo Watch Face collection.

Select the appropriate option for arranging information on the screen (5 styles available).

To add your own background, click “+” at the bottom of the screen.

Next, select “Snapshot” or “Gallery”.

Select the desired photo, the desired area and press the “OK” button (in the upper right corner).

The next step is to customize the font color.

Click “Sync watch face”

We wait a few seconds and the dial is installed.

How to install a third-party watch face?

The manufacturer of fitness bracelets does not recommend installing third-party watch faces. But who will stop? For the same Mi Band 5, hundreds of developers and folk “craftsmen” managed to “rivet” thousands of different watchface options over the course of a year. The same thing awaits Mi Band 5.

There are several ways to download and install a watch face from third-party developers:

1. By replacing files;
2. Using third party applications.

Replacing files

The first method is more complicated, although not complicated. First you need to download the necessary watch face files. It is advisable to download them from trusted resources, for example from the 4pda forum or the amazfitwatchfaces website.

Select the option you like and download its file with the .bin extension to your smartphone. Then, using Explorer, go to the following path: Android > data > com.xiaomi.hm.health > files > watch_skin_file > 59 (appears after saving any watch face) .

Next, we drop the previously downloaded .bin file into the folder with one of the installed watch faces (located inside the “59” folder). As a result, there should be 4 files inside the folder: 2 with the extension .bin, 1 infos.xml file and a preview in JPEG or PNG format.

Then we copy the .bin file name of the old watch face and delete it. Rename the downloaded watch face to the name of the deleted one.

In the Mi Fit application, go to the “Profile” > “Store” > “Administrator” tab. Here we select the preview of the watch face in which we changed .bin. Click “Sync watch face.”

Using apps

The second method is simpler, but requires the installation of third-party applications.

For ANDROID, you can use the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band app (download from Play Store), Mi Band 5 Watch Faces (download) or AmazFaces (download).

Let's look at setting up the watch face using the Notify & Fitness for Mi Band application as an example.

We connect Mi Band 5 to the application (it is not necessary to unlink it from Mi Fit).

Select one of the proposed options or click the “More” button.

Click “Custom watch face” and specify the path to the downloaded .bin file.

Click “Start update”.

We wait a few seconds until the dial synchronizes with the bracelet.

The dials in the AmazTools application for iPhone change in a similar way.

In the application, go to the “More” tab, click “Install from file”, indicate the path to the downloaded watch face and click “Install”. After this, all that remains is to change the theme in the Mi Fit application.

With the Mi Band 5 Watch Faces it's even easier. We install it, select one of the available options and click the “Install” button. The watch face will be automatically added to the Mi Fit app in the “Favorites” tab in the “Store”.