Skip to content

Archive for

29
Dec

The best smart scales


By Shannon Palus and Melanie Pinola

This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter, reviews for the real world. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

Smart bathroom scales do the weight-tracking work for you, no typing or pen and paper required. After more than six months of researching and stepping on and off a dozen scales (a total of 35 hours and more than 550 weigh-ins), we’ve found that the Eufy BodySense Smart Scale is the best smart scale available today, with an app that’s simple to use and a reasonable price.

Who should buy this

Photo: Michael Hession

If you’re looking to keep track of your weight—whether you’re maintaining, gaining, or losing—a smart scale will make this much easier. The main selling point of smart scales is effortless weight tracking, which we quickly realized after having to jot down weight measurements manually for weeks with other scales. Gathering that data didn’t take any extra thought or leave room for error with a smart scale, and it’s one less barrier to regularly monitoring your weight, which is already enough of a hassle for most of us. Though weight alone isn’t a measure of overall health, it’s an important component.

Smart scales have more connectivity features, but aren’t necessarily better than all the other digital scales. However, only a few basic digital scales offer body-fat or other body-composition (e.g., bone-density) readings, so if you want a body-fat percentage estimate, you’ll need to invest in a smart scale.

The smart scales here require a smartphone to set them up, though some allow access to the data they gather through desktop interfaces.

How we picked and tested

As with basic bathroom scales, the two most important qualities in a smart scale are accuracy (the scale correctly reads your exact weight changes) and precision (the scale gives the same reading if you do two or more readings in a row).

We also looked at usability elements like maximum weight limits, platform size, display size, and what it was like to actually use the scale. We also looked for scales that had a comfortable, wide platform, used AAA batteries, and had weight limits of 400 pounds (or more). The experts we spoke with also recommended scales that can track weight history for at least a month, record weights for multiple people, and estimate body-fat percentage and BMI (but take these measurements with a grain of salt).

After narrowing the field of scales based on our criteria, we ended up testing eight different models. We followed the same protocol we used to test basic scales, although in the case of these smart scales we also connected the models to an iPhone 5 and Nexus 5 Android phone over Bluetooth (or, if necessary, Wi-Fi) using their apps. We tried all of the smart tracking systems and noted how easy the scales were to set up, how many different profiles they could track, what information they collected, and what their app interfaces were like.

Our pick: Eufy BodySense Smart Scale

The Eufy BodySense Smart Scale is easy to read and half the price of some of the smart scales we considered. Photo: Michael Hession

If you want smart-scale features without spending a lot of money, the Eufy BodySense Smart Scale is easy to use and less than half the price of other smart scales we considered. We found the layout of the app easier to use than those of our other favorite smart scales, especially if you aren’t focused on losing weight. This scale can measure weights between 11 and 397 pounds and is accurate to four-tenths of a pound, and it comes with a 15-month warranty, which is on the longer side. The BodySense is also precise: I consistently got the same reading for my body weight several times in a row, even when I recalibrated the scale between readings.

The BodySense app displays graphs that make it easy to see trends in your weight. It doesn’t push you to enter a weight-loss goal or congratulate you on hitting a new low, which are features in other apps that might be annoying or even counterproductive if you are trying to maintain or gain weight. The BodySense can track up to 16 users, and can also connect to Apple Health and Google Fit apps.

Unlike the competition, the BodySense displays body-fat measurements in the app rather than on the scale’s screen. We think most people will prefer this, as it can be hard to take in multiple figures at once. The app does need to be open to reliably sync to the scale, though we found it easier to sync than some of the competition.

Also great: Weight Gurus Bluetooth Smart Scale

Photo: Michael Hession

We also like the Weight Gurus Bluetooth Smart Scale. It has a larger platform than the Eufy by about an inch. It also allows for tracking for up to eight users, body-fat analysis, and can measure up to 400 pounds. It comes with a five-year warranty.

The Weight Gurus scale was consistently accurate with changes in weight of 0.6 pounds or more, and sometimes detected changes in weight of 0.4 pounds.

The Weight Gurus app features graphs and listings of your weight history, as well as a count of how many days in a row you’ve weighed yourself. However, it didn’t always automatically sync my weight data with the app—sometimes I had to trigger a sync by restarting the app. The app is now compatible with FitBit, Apple Health, and Google Fit.

This guide may have been updated by Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

29
Dec

Samsung and LG say they do not slow down older phones


Apple has been under fire recently over the revelation that the company was intentionally slowing down older phones in order to balance performance and battery life. Now, LG and Samsung have both clarified to Phonearena that neither company engages in this kind of practice. HTC and Motorola made similar statements yesterday.

It’s important to make clear that this isn’t exactly a 1:1 comparison. Apple manufactures both the hardware and software, whereas Android (the software that these other handsets use) is made by Google. Still, the vehement denials these companies are making are telling: LG flat out stated to Phonearena that “We care what our customers think,” implying that Apple does not.

Apple has since apologized for the confusion surrounding its performance-battery life decisions. While it’s good that Apple wants to extend the life of its handsets (especially as the company has come under fire that it intentionally slows down devices when new models are released), transparency is key here. People should be informed about issues like this, and perhaps it should be up to the user how the balance between battery life and performance is handled on a phone.

Source: Phonearena

29
Dec

Some mobile games are listening to what children watch


Just in time for the new season of Black Mirror, another report of a company using smartphones to listen in on users has surfaced. The New York Times reported this week that a number of apps are using software produced by a startup called Alphonso and it uses a smartphone’s microphone to listen for particular audio signals in TV shows, advertisements and movies. In many cases, Alphonso then has Shazam identify what those audio snippets are and all of the collected data can then be sold to advertisers who can use it to better target their ads.

Alphonso says that its software doesn’t record human speech and that its practices are included in app descriptions and privacy policies. Users also have to agree to open up their microphones and location services to the apps before Alphonso’s software does any data collection. “The consumer is opting in knowingly and can opt out any time,” Ashish Chordia, Alphonso’s CEO, told the New York Times. While the New York Times spotted over 250 games in the Google Play store that used Alphonso’s software, as well as some in Apple’s App Store, Alphonso says there are around 1,000 apps using its product. And although Chordia said that the company didn’t support the use of its software in kids’ apps, the New York Times found a few apps geared towards children that did integrate Alphonso’s software.

This certainly isn’t the first time a company has found itself in hot water for using people’s smartphones to listen in on what they watch. Last year, the FTC sent warnings to 12 developers whose apps contained Silverpush software, which used a similar framework to tap into users’ viewing habits, and didn’t inform customers. And earlier this year, Vizio paid the FTC and New Jersey $2.2 million to settle charges over tracking users’ viewing histories across 11 million smart TVs.

While Alphonso says its practices are on the up and up and in accordance with FTC regulations, others say that’s not really enough. “We have to be really careful as we have more devices capturing more information in living rooms and bedrooms and on the street and in other people’s homes that the public is not blindsided and surprised by things,” Dave Morgan, CEO of Simulmedia, which works with advertisers on targeted TV ads, told the New York Times. “It’s not what’s legal. It is what’s not creepy.”

Via: New York Times

29
Dec

US Representative calls for civics-focused social networks


In an article published today in TechCrunch, US Representative Rick Crawford called for a change in how elected officials engage with their constituents on social networks. He compared current options like Facebook and Twitter to a constituent trying to share their thoughts on a proposed law to a committee while a TV was blaring loudly in the background, spewing misinformation about the law and the elected officials. “Unfortunately, the incredible volume of highly politicized, paid advertising and misinformation diminishes the possibility for authentic communication before it even starts,” writes Crawford. “The American people and their government need a new platform – or a serious modification of existing platforms – to engage each other in a more effective way.”

Crawford goes on to explain that for-profit companies that create the social networks we use today will always take ad money, including funds from politically motivated groups. And he says freedom of speech protects their right to do so and the right of groups to promote their political opinions. “However, political advertising doesn’t leave much room for official communication with our constituents, communication that could inform the policy-making process and move us forward as a nation,” he says.

Though he isn’t sure what it should ultimately be, Crawford proposes a new type of civic social network or a new way to engage on civic matters through the networks we already have. It’s an interesting idea, even if it’s not fully formed, especially in light of the role social networks played in the last presidential election. Investigations into politically divisive, Russian-purchased Facebook ads are ongoing even a year later.

“I truly don’t know what it should look like, but as an elected official experiencing this problem right now, I know that platforms can and should change for the better,” Crawford writes. “What I do know is that we should put our collective minds together to create an idea-based debate in a space where money doesn’t overwhelm and distort the process. If we can do that, we’ll see better public policy, better relationships between officials and the electorate, and an overall improvement in government communication.”

Source: TechCrunch

29
Dec

Apple’s iPhone Easily Named ‘Best-Selling Tech Product of 2017’


The iPhone has been named the “best-selling tech product of 2017” by analyst Daniel Ives of GBH Insights (via USA Today).

Apple’s smartphone achieved the same ranking in 2016, and Ives said that the company will sell a total of 223 million iPhones in 2017, increasing from 211 million sold in 2016.

The iPhone was followed by Samsung Galaxy S8 and Note 8 (33 million), Amazon Echo Dot (24 million), Apple Watch (20 million), and Nintendo Switch (15 million).

The rankings include all models of iPhone grouped together, explaining why the gap is so large between Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and Note 8.

But all in all, Apple sold more iPhones total, although less than the peak year of 2015, when it moved 230 million units. (That was the year of the iPhone 6, a redesign that brought a bigger iPhone to consumers for the first time and enthralled the public.)

Ives thinks Apple will have an even bigger 2018, with a spring update to its compact SE iPhone and more new phones in the fall. Out of the billion-plus consumer base of the iPhone, “350 million of them will upgrade next year,” says Ives.

In the fourth spot, Ives described Apple Watch as a product that’s now “found its niche” in the wearables market, thanks to the LTE Series 3 update that makes it less reliant on the iPhone. The analyst also cited ongoing discounts for older models, improved battery life on the Series 3, and Apple’s pivot away from marketing the Apple Watch as a fashion accessory to one mainly used for fitness and working out.

Earlier this week, data shared by mobile analytics firm Flurry described the iPhone and iPad as the most popular items gifted around the world for the holidays. Flurry looked at device activations from December 19 to December 25 and noted that 44 percent of new device activations were for Apple products, with the iPhone 7 leading the pack at 15.1 percent of Apple product activations. For the newer models, the iPhone X was at 14.7 percent while the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus sat at 8.1 and 8.7 percent, respectively.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, iPhone 8, iPhone XBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now), iPhone 8 (Buy Now), iPhone X (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

MacRumors-All?d=6W8y8wAjSf4 MacRumors-All?d=qj6IDK7rITs

29
Dec

Snapdragon 845 leak reads like a dream list of 2018’s hottest phones


A leak has given us an idea of which phones will use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor in 2018, and presents a list of some of the hottest phones we’re to expect next year. The leak comes from a source on Chinese social network Weibo, and isn’t backed up by Qualcomm or any of the device manufacturers listed, therefore it should be treated as speculation for now. But what glorious, exciting, tantalizing speculation it is.

The list not only contains the name of the phones which will apparently use Qualcomm’s next top-of-the-range chip, but also the month in which they’re expected to debut. January is a damp squib, but February is going to be a monster, mainly due to Mobile World Congress taking place at the end of the month. Around that time, the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus will arrive, along with the LG G7 and LG G7 Plus.

This is interesting. LG missed out on the Snapdragon 835 for the G6 in 2017 because Samsung took control of the stock for the Galaxy S8. It doesn’t appear, at least based on this leak, this will happen again in 2018. Zipping ahead to April, and the Xiaomi Mi7 is expected with the Snapdragon 845, followed by the HTC U12 the month after. June may bring the OnePlus 6 — at odds with a recent rumor the phone would come in March — and the ZTE Nubia Z18, about which we have heard nothing, and the Sony Xperia XZ Pro-A.

In August, it’s the Nokia 10 that’s lined up to get the Snapdragon 845. This is notable because even the Nokia 9 is still only a rumor. The leak then shows the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is set for September, along with the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, and the LG V40. The latter three phones are likely to arrive around the same time as the IFA technology show in Germany. October is also a busy month, with the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, another ZTE Nubia phone, the Sony Xperia XZ2, and the HTC U12 Plus. In November a new Moto Z may launch, with a OnePlus 6T in December. December also shows a Samsung phone referred to as the W2019, which is a model number usually associated with its high-end flip phones launched in China.

There are few surprises on the list aside from the Nokia 10, although the list does contain several other phones we’ve yet to start hearing much about — from the HTC U12 to the LG V40 — but it’s a relatively safe bet they will come at some point. Plus, the suggested release patterns could easily have been worked out from previous years. This isn’t to say the list is inaccurate, just that it could also be put together by someone with a good knowledge of the industry. We’ll find out over the next 12 months.

Editors’ Recommendations

  • Meet the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, the power behind next-gen phones
  • Here is everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S9
  • Tune in here for Qualcomm’s December 5 Snapdragon Technology Summit keynote
  • Great balls of graphene: New Samsung tech could charge phones five times faster
  • OnePlus responds to privacy fears after hacker mode found on its phones




29
Dec

The best ergonomic keyboards you can buy


Sitting for hours on end staring at a desktop screen can do a number on your eyes, joints, and sanity. What’s more, there’s one office device (outside a document grinder) that can inflict huge amounts of stamina-draining damage: The keyboard.

Many people find that their hands and wrists hurt after extensive typing, as typical keyboards force users to pull in and straighten their arm positions, bend their wrists, and hold that position for hours on end. The resulting soreness can spread like wildfire, moving to your fingers, elbows, and shoulders. Thankfully, ergonomic keyboards are here to save the day.

These keyboards are designed so that your arms and hands can rest on the desktop naturally. They take the stress off your wrists, and push keys into positions that keep your hands in one place. The jury is still out on whether they do or do not actually preserve users’ wrists, but many people find them more comfortable nonetheless. Here’s our list of the best ergonomic keyboards you can buy right now.

The best

Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop

While the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard may not be the fanciest keyboard around, it is easy on the arms, sporting a curved, cushioned palm rest to support the user’s wrists as they type. The keyboard is angled to keep wrists in a neutral position, and the keys are arranged in curves, emulating the curvature of human fingers.

Microsoft’s keyboard lacks customization options, but it’s a straightforward, reliable option — that’s rather inexpensive to boot. It’s currently as low as $66 over on Amazon, which makes it even better. Check out our review here.

Buy it now from:

Microsoft Amazon

The rest

Logitech K350

If you want a keyboard with a few more bells and whistles, the Logitech K350 may be the right choice. This keyboard is wireless, eliminating at least one of the annoying wires that drapes across your desktop’s surface. The cushioned palm rest and wavy keys gently cradle your hands, and are complemented by a solid construction ensuring the keyboard will survive frequent travel.

The K350 relies on a mere two AA batteries, but promises an “extended” battery life span of up to three years. The F-keys are fully programmable too using Logitech’s free software.

Buy it now from:

Logitech Amazon

Kinesis Freestyle2

For those who desire even more comfort mixed with an extremely unique design, the Kinesis Freestyle2 is your ticket to ergonomic goodness. Available for both Mac and Windows, it offers a fully split design, allowing users to position their hands as they see fit.

The Freestyle2 wirelessly connects to your PC via Bluetooth, and will even pair with Android or iOS devices. Although it doesn’t have the nicest keys, the freedom to adjust the two halves is a nice (and unique) feature. These two halves are connected by a single cable measuring nine inches by default, but Kinesis serves up a version with a 20-inch separation too.

Buy it now from:

Kinesis Amazon

Adesso Tru-Form 150

Backlit keyboards are definitely great for dimly-lit conditions, eliminating the painful key-hunting process for photo/video editors, gamers, and general cave dwellers. Some people find colorful keys a bit gaudy, but there’s a big market for customers who find white illumination even more boring than their boss’ assignment. If that’s you, the Adesso Tru-Form 150 will make you feel right at home with a choice of green, red, or blue backlighting, and an adjustable brightness.

The keyboard lacks a cushioned palm rest, but at least it’s curved, keeping wrists in a neutral position. The Tru-Form also possesses special function keys for adjusting volume and such. It’s not the most comfortable keyboard, but for those who must have lights, it should suffice.

Buy it now from:

Adesso Amazon

Matias Ergo Pro

While some people despise the loud clicking of mechanical keyboards, those who love it — and the thrilling ping of a key cap pressing against the switch beneath — may be unable to go back to standard keyboards. If you need a keyboard that is both mechanical and ergonomic, the Matias Ergo Pro offers everything you desire.

Like the Freestyle2, the Matias is a fully split keyboard, so you can maneuver the two halves into whatever positions you feel is most comfortable. This keyboard also sports a cushioned palm rest for maximum comfort, and an uncomfortable price tag at nearly $200. But hey, the Ergo Pro definitely has many virtues for the price.

Buy it now from:

Matias Amazon

Surface Ergonomic Keyboard

Finally, we round out this batch with another Microsoft ergonomic keyboard. It’s wireless, it’s pretty, and it’s pretty inexpensive compared to the Matias Ergo Pro. It works with any Windows 10 device that supports keyboard-based input via a wireless USB dongle, or Bluetooth Low Energy (4.0/4.1). It sports a natural arc and slope that’s complemented by a two-tone grey palm rest to relieve the pressure off your wrists and elbows.

It’s extremely thin too, measuring up to 1.36 inches at the height of its arc. Other notable features include a key switch life of 500,000 to 10 million presses, battery life promising up to 12 months, multimedia keys, 128-bit AES encryption, and more. It should be noted that the Surface Ergonomic Keyboard is purely wireless and must be charged via AAA batteries.

But it now from:

Microsoft Amazon

Editors’ Recommendations

  • The best iPad cases and covers for the new iPad (2017)
  • Black Friday deals to make your home smarter this holiday season
  • The best wireless mouse you can buy
  • Want the best car charger? Hit the road, Jack, with one of our favorites
  • Celebrate Singles Day the American way with these items for $1 or less




29
Dec

Looking for some mobile VR fun? Here are the top 10 Google Daydream apps, games


While virtual reality headsets from the likes of Oculus are said to offer the best virtual reality experiences, mobile VR is much more affordable and still boasts some pretty cool games and apps. Google Daydream is set to become one of the most used virtual reality platforms since all you need is a Daydream View headset that costs under $100, and you can use your Daydream-compatible phone.

Still, good Daydream apps generally cost a bit of money, and it might be hard to decide which games you should buy — although most of the paid games on Google Play can be returned within two hours of purchase.

Here are the best games and apps currently available on Google Daydream.

Games

Along Together ($10)

Along Together is a beautifully designed game for Google Daydream, in which you play the role of a kid’s imaginary friend. The premise of the game is that the kid’s dog is lost — and it’s up to you, his or her imaginary friend, to guide them through the different levels to find the dog. You use the controller to tell the kid exactly where they should go, as well as interact with boulders and trees to help clear the path. The game is beautifully written and immersive, and nice and colorful, too.

Download now from:

Google Play

Mekorama VR ($4)

Mekorama is a beautifully designed title that’s more of a puzzle game. In this game, you help a small robot through different puzzling levels. You do this through the Daydream controller, which allows you to both guide the robot and move different aspects of each puzzle. The game is really quite simple — but in this case that’s a good thing. It boasts a great design, and we loved every minute of it.

Download now from:

Google Play

Need For Speed No Limits VR ($15)

Prefer a faster-paced game? This may be the one for you. If you’ve played other Need For Speed games, you know the drill. You start fat the bottom of an underground racing league, collecting cars and parts along the way to build up the ultimate ride. You then race that ride through a number of different courses. It’s not perfect, but it’s certainly one of the best Daydream racing games out there, and a ton of fun to play.

Download now from:

Google Play

Eclipse: Edge of Light ($9)

Eclipse: Edge of Light has been hailed as one of the best games on the Google Daydream platform, and for good reason. In the game, you play the role of a stranded astronaut on a strange planet filled with alien artifacts and remnants of an old civilization. As you make your way through the different parts of the planet using your jetpack-enabled spacesuit, you explore the ruins to unlock the planet’s past. The design of the game is quite well done, and it’s very immersive.

Download now from:

Google Play

Video

YouTube VR (Free)

YouTube has long been a go-to way to experience video on your digital devices, and that doesn’t change when you put on the headset and enter VR. The YouTube VR app allows you to experience both 360-degree content, and standard 2D content in a cinema-style view. The app is pretty easy to use, especially in conjunction with the Daydream controller.

Download now from:

Google Play

Netflix (Free)

Netflix may not have a whole lot of virtual reality content just yet, but if you want to watch your shows and movies like they’re up on the big screen, then Netflix VR may just be the app for you. In the app, you can watch any content available on the Netflix library, and you’ll be placed in a cozy living room to do it. From Daredevil to Arrested Development, this could well be the most immersive way to watch Netflix.

Download now from:

Google Play

Sports

NextVR (Free)

Movies and TV shows aren’t the only content you can enjoy in VR — you can also keep up with your favorite NBA games, as well as concerts and other experiences through the NextVR app. While you’ll get highlights in VR, you can subscribe to watch full games in 360-degrees. It’s overall a pretty immersive and interesting experience. In fact, it feels a little like you’re sitting center-court.

Download now from:

Google Play

Fox Sports VR (Free)

Want to experience sports matches like you’re in your own VIP suite? Fox Sports VR puts you right next to the action, making it feel like you’re watching the game from the box itself. Not only that, but when live games aren’t being played, you can catch up on the latest highlights and other 360-degree videos. You will need to sign in with your TV provider login — so if you don’t already have Fox Sports as part of your cable subscription, you’ll need to get it.

Download now from:

Google Play

Experience

Google Expeditions (Free)

Looking to experience a little more of the world? Google Expeditions puts you in various locations around the globe, whether it’s an underwater reef, on the set in a TV studio, or some other cool place. The overall interface of Expeditions is super-easy to use, and you’ll get interesting information about the different locations along the way. Best of all, Google is always adding new experiences to the list.

Download now from:

Google Play

Discovery VR (Free)

The Discovery Channel has long been a go-to for great nature documentaries, but now the company has stepped into virtual reality — through Discovery VR. In the app, you can experience tailor-made short documentaries in locations around the world, including content from properties like Shark Week and MythBusters. The app is also pretty easy to use, which is always helpful.

Download now from:

Google Play

Editors’ Recommendations

  • How does the original Google Daydream View compare to the 2017 version?
  • Google’s Daydream View 2 VR headset more design refresh than big upgrade
  • Google Daydream View (2017) review
  • Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go — which will be the better VR experience?
  • Google’s learn-and-loan program targets aspiring Daydream content creators




29
Dec

Samsung’s next-gen Exynos 9810 chipset will be unveiled on Jan 4


The chipset powering the Galaxy S9 will be unveiled next week.

Samsung shed early details on its Exynos 9810 platform last month, revealing a third-gen custom CPU core, upgraded GPU, and a Category 18 LTE modem with a maximum bandwidth of a staggering 1.2Gbps that’s achieved through 6x carrier aggregation. The company has now announced that it will formally unveil the chipset on January 4.

Discover #TheNextExynos that goes beyond a component. Stay tuned. pic.twitter.com/542sWnQ7EZ

— Samsung Exynos (@SamsungExynos) December 28, 2017

The “Beyond a Component” tagline suggests Samsung will likely integrate AI smarts into the Exynos 9810. Huawei kicked off the trend earlier this year with the Kirin 970, which features a dedicated Neutral Processing Unit. Qualcomm is also leveraging machine learning to boost the performance of the Hexagon 685 DSP in the Snapdragon 845.

As for the Exynos 9810, the chipset is expected to power the global versions of the Galaxy S9 and S9+, with the U.S. variants likely to feature Qualcomm’s latest. With the unveil just under a week away, we should know more about what the Exynos 9810 brings to the table soon.

In the meantime, let us know what you’re looking forward to seeing from the Exynos 9810 in the comments.

29
Dec

How to download and play music on the Huawei Watch 2


Whether you’re going to the gym or out on a run, being able to leave your phone at home is a huge convenience.

Audio controls are a huge convenience of Android Wear, allowing you to pause or skip tracks from apps like Spotify or Pocket Casts on your phone. But even more convenient is the ability to load music directly onto your smartwatch and listen to your favorite songs on the go, without needing your phone at all.

huawei-watch-2-music.jpg?itok=k0WRhJg-

Here’s how to download and listen to music on the Huawei Watch 2.

Install Google Play Music

Before you can start downloading music, you’ll need to install the proper software. At the moment, Google Play Music is the only Android Wear app that lets you store songs directly on the Huawei Watch 2.

Press the upper button on the Watch 2 to view all apps.
Tap Play Store.
Find and install Google Play Music. You can find it by tapping the search icon at the top of the app, or simply scroll down the list of Apps on your phone until you find it, then tap the install icon.

Download music tracks

Now that you have Google Play Music installed, it’s time to start downloading music for offline playback and free yourself from the clutches of your phone. You’ll need to connect the Huawei Watch 2 to WiFi for this process.

From the watch face, open the apps list again and tap Play Music.
Sign into your Google account, then follow the short setup process.
Press and hold on any songs, playlists, or albums you want to save. The tracks will immediately begin downloading to the watch.

Keep in mind throughout this process that setting up the Huawei Watch 2 for offline music playback will count it as part of Google Play Music’s 10 device limit.

Connect to Bluetooth headphones

Since the Huawei Watch 2 doesn’t include a built-in speaker (and really, you probably shouldn’t be blaring songs out loud from your wrist anyway), you’ll need to connect a Bluetooth headset to listen to your music.

From the watch face, swipe down and tap the Settings icon.
Tap Connectivity.
Tap Bluetooth.
Tap Available devices.
Find your Bluetooth device in the list, then follow the prompts to pair it with the watch. Depending on the device, you may need to enter a PIN while pairing.

That’s it! Once your songs are downloaded and you’ve paired your Bluetooth headset, all there is left to do is open the Play Music app and pick a song. Whether you’re going to the gym or out on a run, you can leave your phone behind and just rely on your Huawei Watch 2 for music playback.