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TLDR: no more smart watch data harvesting back to basics this year. nostr:nprofile1qqsqfjg4mth7uwp307nng3z2em3ep2pxnljczzezg8j7dhf58ha7ejgprpmhxue69uhhqun9d45h2mfwwpexjmtpdshxuet5qyt8wumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnswf5k6ctv9ehx2aqpr9mhxue69uhhxetwv35hgtnwdaekvmrpwfjjucm0d5klqft7 is right smart watches are just another tracker and data collector harvesting your info to sell.

So for Christmas my present was the new version of a Casio protrek watch. I had tried a Garmin the previous year. While the functionality is great it just isn't my thing.

I've been working on improving my privacy practices and it was just another tracking beacon with an account tied to it. I didn't put all the demographic information into the account correctly or at all. Still it collected data on me for a year.

Needless to say back to an analog/digital dumb watch for me. Main thing I wanted it for was the barometer and compass function. I can just estimate the rest of the information I got from it.

https://believeintherun.com/gps-run-tracking-privacy-policies/

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Discussion

The Beave 1y ago

I'm sad the founder of Pebble sold out. The Time 2 was the best smart watch ever made, IMO.

sword 1y ago

I used to have one of their original watches. So very cool at the time

ODELL 1y ago

PROTREK 👌

Lucas Maia 1y ago

Wearables are not even mainstream yet. It’s just the tip of the iceberg. And normies don’t even realize they’re paying for something that uses your data for free lmao

John 1y ago

I just want a step tracker that looks like a real watch but the only options are smart

Liberty Gal 1y ago

Same.

I did get a Garmin VivoSmart 4. It supposedly allows you to turn off blue tooth and I can manually sync if I want to. It tracks steps and sleep, but you really have to sync (can do through usb) to get sleep data. Unfortunately, they don't make the VivoSmart4 anymore and the VivoSmart5 doesn't have great reviews. I want to track steps and sleep, but I don't want to be irradiated or tracked. The person who creates a watch that will give you this information without any wireless links and only backups to a file on a personal computer, will definitely get my business.

Arjen 1y ago

Thanks for sharing!

I have a Garmin Inreach device which has satellite capabilities for sending out SOS messages if anything happens in the backcountry. Would love to one day have a sovereign version of that with the same navigation functionality.

The Bird 1y ago

What about something like this? I have buddies that use them and use them on their boats for offshore fishing

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PSKG7C3

Arjen 1y ago

This is of the same product line I have (66i). Unfortunately the problem with these is the same data collecting practices as the smart watches. It uses the same app to connect to a smartphone.

The Bird 1y ago

Okay got ya. My buddies pay for something separate for their boats that don't use the app. They set up on comp and activate if needed because 60mi offshore no cell service anyways.

Arjen 11mo ago

Ah makes sense

Arjen 1y ago

Still using it tho as it is potentially life-saving tech 😋 Trade-offs... ;)

deleted 1y ago

Checking out said protek

The Bird 1y ago

I've been really happy with it

McBit 1y ago

Get a nice mechanical watch 👌

PS - I didn't say expensive.

Din Djarin 1y ago

We need open source smart watches!

Alex 1y ago

I switched to a basic Casio watch with 10y battery life because charging a smart watch is a waste of time.

Blazar 1y ago

Yeah I went with a $20 one too 😅

Jon 1y ago

Gave my Fitbit up about 4 years ago as I didn't want to be tracked. I'm using a 20yr old Seiko kinetic instead. Can't fault it.

f32bc1d2... 1y ago

This is what I wear

The Bird 1y ago

This is the one I have but got a great deal on black Friday

Enki 1y ago

That's why I like my bangle + gadget bridge. Without having to do any soldering myself, it's about as open source as a watch gets. I can replace parts if I need to. I can code new applications for it if I feel motivated. And all the data that it collects stays on my device.

Bayman11771 1y ago

Remember a few years back when a basic Fitbit app doxed the locations of US soldiers in Syria. Now your Apple Watch has a barometer, altimeter, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, temperature sensor, and who knows what else. And not to mention your biometric data.

Θεόφιλος 1y ago

Appreciate you posting this. Was nearly about to connect an old smart watch of mine AS I READ THIS! Thanks for walking me off the edge 😮‍💨 Its off and back in the drawer I found it in lol. Zaps to that ⚡

Probabilistically Certain 1y ago

Not being snarky, built don’t get why anyone would wear any kind of watch these days …

The Bird 1y ago

I like them. Always have. Can wear it and not worry about it getting wet while fishing, hunting, or being in the water. I'm not going to keep my phone in the water with me.