Fossil Q Explorist (& Q Venture) Stainless Steel smartwatch review

Since Fossil sent me two of their latest GEN3 smartwatches, one much more masculine than the other, I thought it would be fun to do a joint review. So I drafted a longtime gal-pal of mine to try out the bedazzled rose gold Venture since it was just too bling for me to handle 😉 . Kati isn’t the classic Gadgeteer tech-geek but does know and like her electronic gear to work when & where she needs it. We’ll see how the latest smartwatches from Fossil fair in a relatively niche and unforgiving market.

Dave’s comments are in black and Kati’s are in blue. Dave will be discussing the Q EXPLORIST SMOKE and Kati will be looking at the Q VENTURE ROSE GOLD-TONE both made from stainless steel.

Dave: the Q Explorist and Q Venture are both GEN 3 Android Wear smartwatches by Fossil featuring a solid list of features you’d expect in a modern wearable. Though there are a few features that are sadly missing as well.

Kati is a founding member and has been part of my wife’s Friday evening Wine Club forever. Sadly she’s had to listen to me go on about countless tech-toys I’ve reviewed over the years. Very glad she has agreed to join me on this review, cause, no matter how high-tech or futuristic something is, pink bedazzled just ain’t me…

Kati: Long-time reader, first-time reviewer, I am what you might consider a ‘late adopter’ of tech products, I like them to be well vetted and easy to use. My wearable tech experiences are mostly wireless earphones or Fitbit products. I am currently on my third iteration of Fitbit, using the Alta which I wear pretty much 24/7 to track exercise and sleep. Even for the tech I have, I use them sparingly (other than the Aervana electric wine aerator…but that’s a different review) and don’t want to work too hard to reap the benefits of my products, this is where I feel the Venture falls short, if I could access the tech faster and more intuitively, I might be more inclined to wear full-time. (see below for Apple vs Android comment)

Tech details

  • Storage: 4GB
  • Operating System: Android Wear™
  • Sensors: Light, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Optical
  • Compatibility: Android™ Devices 4.3+ and iOS 9+ / iPhone 5+
  • In the Box: Wireless Charger (USB Type), Quick Start Guide
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth® Smart Enabled / 4.1 Low Energy, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n – Powered by Android Wear™
  • Battery Life: Estimated all day

Functionality

  • Outside Temperature: Yes
  • Heart Rate: No
  • Activity Tracker: Built-In Fitness Tracker
  • Touchscreen: Yes
  • Notifications: Social Media / Text / Email / App Alerts / Multiple Time Zones / Alarm Clock / Calendar Alerts
  • Timer: Yes
  • Text and Voice: Yes

Physical details

  • Case Color: Black
  • Case Size: 46mm
  • Case Shape: Round
  • Case Thickness: 12.5mm
  • Case Material: Stainless Steel
  • Strap Closure: 2 Pusher Foldover Clasp
  • Strap Color: Black, Gunmetal
  • Circumference: 200 +/- 5mm
  • Strap Width: 22mm
  • Strap Material: Stainless Steel
  • Weight:

Wearability

Dave: Neither smartwatch is small by any stretch of the imagination. But the Explorist is HUGE, measuring in at 46mm in diameter, 12mm thick, and weighing a hefty 5.6oz (aka 1/3 of a pound). This behemoth makes my already small wrist look like a toothpick. Though I’m pretty sure I could stop bullets like Wonder Woman with this slab of tech.

Kati: The Venture is smaller than the Explorist but still bigger than I would normally wear and heavy, but after a while, you get used to it. I did need to shorten the band, but no instructions on how to do this unless you go to the internet. Eventually, I used the tool that came with my Fitbit to shorten the band and it fit like a charm.

Dave: I needed to shorten my band as well. This is something you typically do once and you’re done with it. Many folks would just have a jeweler take care of this. I took mine to an actual Fossil store in a nearby mall. The guys there were happy to help me out and took care of it in about 5 minutes. They were all very interested in my Gadgeteer review lifestyle. Bottom line is that I was impressed Kati adjusted her band by herself…cause she has people who do this sort of task for her (aka me) but has been truly embracing her first Gadgeteer review.

Setup

Dave: The Fossil GEN3 smartwatches run Android Wear 2.0 and are compatible with smartphones running Android 4.3+ or iOS 9+. I’ve set up my fair share of smartwatches over the years, using both Android and iPhone alike. For me, setting up the Q Explorist went well and was uneventful. Basic watch functions, notifications, music, and fitness tracking all happened quick and easy (15 minutes).

Kati: This is where my non-tech world collides with Dave. I typically rely on Dave for most of my upgrades (ok, all) and I use a mix of ‘read the instructions’ and ‘push buttons until something happens approach’. This was good for this particular watch as the instructions were minimal, at best. I easily set up the app and connected / synced both, however, the app was silent on all the bells and whistles this watch has to offer. It assumes I know what I am doing…I don’t.

Dave: As Kati said, she typically gets her tech support from me. It usually involves “here please fix it or could you get this working”. But we thought it would be more “fun” for her to jump off the cliff to see if the parachute would open…guess it didn’t. 

Kati: I did add my email (I think) but still looking to download music so I can have only the watch and no phone when out for a walk. And I don’t even know all the other cool things this could do to improve my life. Hmmm – maybe I am in the vortex (of pain) between iPhone and Android apps…**looking at the help section I think this may be my issue…everything related to Google products and not my prime music or apple apps…might be good at the outset to mention it is Google-centric and not universal – unless I am missing something.

Dave: Yes, Kati is correct…it is much easier to use this watch if you lived completely in the Google ecosystem. But its no worse than if you had an Apple Watch & an Android smartphone.

Hardware

Dave: Other than size, color, and a bit of bedazzling, the main difference between the Explorist and Venture are the two programmable buttons on the right side of the Explorist.

Kati: uh, it has two buttons??

Dave: No, not yours… Though both smartwatches are made from stainless steel with a brushed gunmetal and rose gold finish on them. Both bracelets are more of the same and have a 2-pusher foldover clasp to keep them securely on your wrist. Both are well made and have a classic wristwatch appearance (other than the front face that is). The stainless steel is thick and heavy with a quality heft and feel to it.

Kati: I like the rose gold and would wear this as a work or ‘fancy’ watch, but cannot see it as a daily experience as I fear I would bang it up as the face is so large. (I do like the whole ‘change the look of the face on a whim’ option of the digital watch – who knew?) 

Dave: The front face has a large touchscreen that is responsive, vivid, and can be seen in daylight conditions. The watches also have a built-in microphone and speaker that is surprisingly loud and clear considering its size.

Both the Venture…

…are available in a multitude of colors and band choices.

Functionality

Dave: The Explorist and Venture are definitely smart wearables giving you the all the basics of time, date, notifications, fitness tracking (aka steps), music, swappable/tweakable watch faces, etc. But Fossil has excluded what I consider some key functionality: heart rate monitor, GPS, waterproofing…what I “need” for my epic workouts. The GEN3 of Q series smartwatches are much more fashion focused and a lot less fitness based. A choice that definitely bucks the current generation of other wrist-based devices.

Kati: I pretty much only use it for time, date and looking at steps taken. Obviously, this is me as I can’t figure out how to download music to take up the 4gb of space, but for what it has/I use, I like it. I kept a ‘review diary’ and multiple times I wrote something to the effect of “it’s different than I expected, but I like it.”

Dave: Both Kati and I found the battery life lacking. Kati’s experience worse than mine. On the days I worked out with it, I streamed music for about an hour over lunch and it was down to approximately 20% by dinner time.

Kati: Where mine rarely lasted a full day worth of use.

Positives

  • Quality stainless steel casing and band
  • Feels like a classic timepiece
  • Bright, vibrant color screen
  • Android Wear 2.0
  • Will be upgraded to Oreo

Negatives

  • Heavy and huge
  • Lacking heart rate monitor/GPS/waterproofing
  • Instructions are nearly nonexistent
  • No LTE option

Final thoughts

Kati: I’m like a magpie, easily distracted by sparkly things. This watch is all that and more. Anytime I wore it, I received positive compliments and I have to say, as a fashion watch, I quite like it. As a functional, everyday watch, I can’t commit as I want something that can take me from morning to gym, to work, and then bed to track sleep. Since this is ‘smart’ the charge did not last enough to track sleep. Plus there is no way that I would wear this gem to the gym for fear of damaging it and ruining what makes it so lovely. I do think if I was able to fully unlock all the functionality of the watch then I would use it more. But for now, it will be relegated to a beautiful, functional work or evening watch that is pretty, but more jewelry than high-tech wearable.

Dave: Fossil’s GEN3 Smartwatches are decent players in a crowded field but I say that with much subjectivity. It really boils down to what type of person you are and wearable you want/need. I completely agree with Kati about fashion vs function and perhaps features. As the workout enthusiast, I am, I want heart-rate, GPS, waterproofing (or at least sweat-/rain-proofing), to even consider a wearable on my daily wear list. Plus considering it’s size, the Explorist (or Venture) should have better battery life, all the additional features I mentioned, and heck LTE too. Apple, Samsung, and Huawei can do it…why can’t Fossil??? That said, as a smart fashion watch the entire GEN3 Q series of wearables would meet most people’s needs as a wearable but more as jewelry than fitness tool.

Price: $275.00
Where to buy: Available at Fossil or Amazon
Source: The samples of this product was provided by Fossil.

Never lose your pen again with the Journal Bandolier

If you have trouble keeping up with a pen or pencil for writing in your journal or planner, you’ll be interested in the Journal Bandolier.  The Bandolier straps around your notebook, journal, or planner, and it keeps your pens, pencils, or markers corralled in loops.  You’ll always have your favorite writing implements handy when you need them.

In addition to the reclaimed rubber and elastic version shown here, the cleverhands Etsy shop offers the Journal Bandoliers in leather and fabrics, and they are sized to hold just a couple or many pens, depending on the style you select.  Journal Bandoliers are available from about $17 to about $26 in the cleverhands Etsy shop.

The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 3)

We’re back this week for the final installment of The Gadgeteer team’s favorite gadgets of 2017. Don’t forget to check out the earlier posts too so you can see all the productst that the whole team liked from this past year.

The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 1)
The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 2)

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Yubico Yubikey 4 hardware security key

I reviewed the Yubikey 4 Nano and Yubikey 4 back in May, and appreciate the peace of mind I get when logging into my various software services. I make sure to use two factor authentication on my most important accounts such as email, password manager and anywhere I’m able to on the web. I highly recommend getting one if you haven’t already to protect yourself online as much as possible. You can buy a Yubikey for $40.00 from Amazon.

Satechi USB 3.0 hub and card reader

I enjoy using the Satechi USB 3.0 hub and card reader on my Mac at home. It makes uploading my photos from my digital camera’s SD card easier as well as gives me better access to plug in USB drives. I don’t have to fiddle behind my desk for the computer’s USB port. It’s super stylish as well! You can buy one for $29.99 from Amazon.

Audio Technica ATH-SR5BTBK Wireless On-Ear High-Resolution Audio Headphones

After getting a job in New York City and traveling on the train every day, I wanted to invest in a good pair of Bluetooth headphones for the freedom of wireless. I fell in love with the Audio Technica ATH-SR5BT wireless on-ear headphones. The sound quality is awesome – clear, not too full of bass, and with a good range. The battery life is absolutely amazing, lasting well over a month, and they’ve never disconnected from my iPhone 7 Plus. I’ve owned Audio Technica headphones before so I recommend any of their models if you’re willing to invest in a pair! You can buy them for $119.00 from Amazon.

Ryan Pagel

iStorage datAshur PRO

I am in love with this password-protected flash drive. It was simple to set up and is easy to enter my customized passcode to access my data. I no longer worry about my information being compromised should I lose it or accidentally leave it behind in a conference room. It is high quality, personalized with my name and is resistant to dust and water when in the cover. You can’t go wrong with this! You can buy one for $75 – $135 US from Amazon.

VAVA Voom 22 True Wireless Speakers

These speakers have become the only sound source we use in our living room and kitchen. The stereo sound quality is outstanding and they are easily taken from a shelf to our patio when we are outside. We use them individually and as a pair and have quickly become our favorite way to listen to music in our home. I highly recommend these. You can buy a pair for $219.00 from Amazon.

IQAir Atem personal air purifier

This air purifier has become a fixture of my desk at work. I love that it pairs with my phone and turns itself off when I leave my office and back on when I return. I am constantly changing the percent output setting to give me the amount of air movement that I need and am also in love with the aesthetics of it. Since writing the original review, no fewer than 20 people have asked me what brand it is and for more info about it. I know of at least two people in my office who now own one. If you are looking for a great way to keep the air in your office, bedroom or kitchen clean and like gadgets that interface with your smartphone, look no further! You can buy one for $399.00 from Amazon.

Smythe Richbourg

Much of my “favorite gear” is not the flashy, gee-whiz kind of items that you usually read The Gadgeteer for. They tend to be the ones that quietly do the things you need, without hassle and complaint. The first of these has been sitting on my nightstand since it was unboxed. Kanex Apple Watch charging stand review I don’t charge my watch every night, but when I do, it’s there to deliver the goods without a hassle. I do use a cable plugged into the USB port on the back to charge my phone every night. I love not having to fish around under the bed for it – it’s just right there, ready and waiting.

Survival Hax Tactical Flashlight

The Survival Hax Tactical Flashlight sits atop the refrigerator by the back door and accompanies Jack and me out into the wilds of the night every evening at precisely 10 PM. (The dog is like an alarm clock!) I’ve yet to have to put new batteries in but use the zoom quite frequently to point out a rabbit cowering in the underbrush or to make out an owl in the trees. Even though I have to cycle through the modes, it’s still the best balance of heft, power, and size I’ve found. You can buy one for $29.99 from Amazon.

Aukey SK-M12 SoundTank Bluetooth outdoor speaker

I have quite a few Bluetooth speakers hanging around and have given away many more. When I need to connect to an iPad or want to play music on the desk for a group, I usually grab the Aukey SK-M12 SoundTank Bluetooth outdoor speaker. It has really well-modulated sound for speech, movie or game sounds, and the AUX port is hidden behind a cover if not in use. You can buy one for $45.99 from Amazon.

Raul Sanchez

Serbags Army Courier Vintage Bike Messenger Bag

I still use and love my Bike Messenger bag fromSerbags. Since I received it I have been using it as a camera bag for my camera gear when I am on shoots and assignments.I love the pockets, because I love lots of pockets in all my bags, and this bag has the right amount and type of pockets that I need. believe me, from time to time I window shop other messenger bags to see if there is anything comparable. But as of yet, I have not found any messenger bag with the same set-up. You can buy one for $47.99 from Serbags.

SuperTooth HD Voice In-Car Speakerphone

I really like having this car speaker in my car since I don’t like to hold the phone to my ear as I am driving. And in some states, it is the law for the driver to use a hands-free earpiece in a moving car. But with the SuperTooth I don’t have to fumble around to find my handsfree earpiece, turn it on and stick it in my ear. With the SuperTooth speaker, it is always on and ready to go making it safe, and legal, for me to have my phone calls. Plus, I don’t have to keep it in my ear and look like a call center agent. You can buy one for $103.09 from Amazon.

Epson Expression XP-640 Small-In-One printer

Since I take a lot of pictures, naturally I like to print some out from time to time. With the Epson Expression XP-640 Small-In-One I get great looking printed photos. I really like the print quality, plus the ability to print on CD’s and DVD’s, scan photos and documents, and one of my favorite features is its wireless printing capability. The XP-640 can print several different sizes and on various types of paper from plain white paper to specialty print paper. And since it is small and doesn’t take up much space I can keep it on the shelf under my computer. You can buy one for $79.99 from Amazon.

David Ferreira

Eufy RoboVac 11

This is hardly what you would call a “sexy” gadget, but it is without a doubt the hardest working machine I have ever seen. In a charming and quirky style, it does exactly what it says it will do – vacuum your house – and it does it effectively, even through the massive amounts of dog hair we seem to accumulate. We were so impressed with the little guy that not only did we anthropomorphize him, we bought him a sister to clean upstairs. you can buy one for $269.99 from Amazon.

Microsoft Surface Book 2 (13.3 inch)

I have had a love-hate relationship with the Surface line of products. On paper, they look great but often in practice, there are enough idiosyncrasies to drive any person mad. I have been using the Surface Book 2 for about a month now and am happy to report that Microsoft finally hit the mark with this one. It is fast, light (other than the increased size and weight of the power brick) and the battery lasts a good 10 hours. There is enough here to justify the high price tag if you need the raw computing power this workstation replacement brings. Price varies depending on configuration. Check them out on Amazon.

Leslie Hosmer

Archeer 2 in 1 Apple Watch Stand and iPhone Charging Dock Station

Since I completed the review of this product I have moved it to my night stand where I put my watch and phone to charge every night. It is the first gadget I use in the AM and the last used at night. While the phone is plugged in I can still use it as an alarm clock, or to ask Siri any questions I may have. I won’t soon part with this one! You can buy one for $39.99 from Amazon.

PureSwitch Wireless Smart Plug

I have used this plug to control various appliances in my home since I reviewed it. It is currently turning my Christmas tree on and off via the timer, and if I want it on during other times I just ask Siri to help me. Setting it up to use with other devices is so easy that after Christmas I will use it to control my reading light. The options are endless with this smart plug. You can buy one for $49.95 from Amazon.

FABRIQ Chorus Portable Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa

This is my favorite speaker this year. I use it every day wherever I am in the house and even outside by the pool or when I’m weeding my flower beds. Being able to just ask Alexa to play what I want is easy, fun, and helpful if your hands are busy or your elbows deep in cookie dough for example. You can buy one $99.95 for from Amazon.

Steve Holt

myCharge HubPlus C portable charger

I have used this gadget multiple times a week ever since I have had it. No cable to carry around, easily plugs into the wall with the built-in plug for charging, small enough to literally carry in my pocket if I want. And it fully charges my phone at least twice before needing to recharge. Plus, I am considering getting the Google Pixel 2XL which means I’ll still be able to use this charger with the included USB-C cable. You can buy one for $79.99 from Amazon.

Seneo Qi wireless charging stand

This gadget is at my office and I use it daily. I love that I can still use my phone while it is charging because it stands the phone upright. I love it! You can buy one for $26.99 from Amazon.

Lentz leather briefcase

I use my Lentz briefcase every week. It smells divine, it has high-quality build, and my laptop, charger and file folders fit just right. Plus, it makes me look good, which is important, right? You can buy one for $318.00 from The Mr. Lentz Shop.

Howard Sneider

V-MODA Forza Metallo Wireless Bluetooth headphone

these really are a great sounding, long lasting pair of BT headphones. They are light enough that they can be forgotten, have great fitting earbuds, and if a bud falls out it’s attached to the other side, not in a pile of leaves somewhere. You can buy them for $169.99 from Amazon.

Logitech Spotlight Wireless Presenter

Sometimes the simplest gadgets are the most appreciated, and this item fits the bill. People are always amazed that I don’t need to fiddle with the laptop to move the pointer and are always asking me “how did you make that zoomed circle during the presentation. You can buy one for $99.99 from Amazon.

Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt door lock review

Knowing the cleaning service came (and left after a reasonable amount of time) is reassuring. Being able to answer the question, “is the front door locked?” halfway through a 2-hour trip is great. Being able to lock the door remotely is fantastic. You can buy one for $197.00 from Amazon.

I hope you enjoyed these team posts and please be sure to check the others:

The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 1)
The year in review – Favorite gadgets of the Gadgeteer team for 2017 (part 2)

808 HEX TLS Bluetooth speaker review

There’s a lot to be said for Bluetooth speakers. We review a goodly number here at The Gadgeteer, but I daresay few of us as reviewers stop and consider the fact that just 10 years ago, having a full-power speaker system embodied in a single device and your phone was a dream as yet unrealized. Sure, there have been speakers out there for a while, but they weren’t this powerful, this small, or this cheap. The latest unit I have been asked to review is the 808 HEX TLS speaker, which measures smaller than most of the cookbooks in my kitchen. At 6″x4.75″x 1.75″, it’s easy to slip into a day bag, a bike pannier, or most parka pockets. You can play it while traveling, or wait until you’re somewhere you want to fully set up shop.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

I have been using it around the house for a week or two, when I’m wanting to listen to some music or a podcast while cooking, installing various security upgrades to the house, or playing a game. The size belies the amount of sound this little unit can put out. We have two public rooms in our house that are nearly 30″ long each. The sound playback from a phone, laptop, or even a newer iPad can thin out over that much space. The 808, however, fills it quite well, and the sound has a full, rich quality, due to the size of the speakers. While there is no thumping bass, there is a loudness switch, which gives the illusion of bass. This afternoon, I was listening to a Diamonds and Rust from Joan Baez playlist Stefan Larsson on Spotify curates. The close-mic-ed acoustic guitars of Baez, Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Simon and Garfunkel, and Neil Young, as well as the easy swing of Dire Straits and the Mamas and the Papas all sounded better than I’ve heard in years. When I finished my listening session, I still had well over 75% of the battery left. Actually, I’ve had several sessions of an hour or more on this charge.

There are volume controls on the top of the unit, as well as the on/off and loudness buttons, but what is missing is a speakerphone control. If I could add one thing, it would be the ability to start, mute, and end calls without having to fumble for the phone if it rings. For $59.99, this is a really nice size, weight, and sound space.

The rear of the unit has the AUX in, a microUSB charging port, and an LED that indicates charging. There is a single blue LED that lights on the top center of the front grille when it’s up. While there are slightly irritating startup and shutdown sounds, those can easily be silenced through the controls.

Positives

  • Really good sound
  • Easy access ports on back for charging or connecting non-Bluetooth sources
  • Loudness button boosts bass

Negatives

  • No dedicated phone controls or mic
  • Without using the Loudness button, sounds can be a little thin

Final thoughts

Being just a bit larger than a paperback novel, this speaker will not crowd your gear bag while you’re running off for a weekend getaway or midweek hike. While there’s no phone control, the sound is pretty good for whatever place you find yourself. It definitely improves the sound to have the speaker stand upright. Larger diaphragm gives more consistent low notes than many similar powered speakers.

Price: $59.95
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by 808Audio.

Kuna announces new Maximus floodlight camera

Kuna has recently announced a follow-on to their Smart Security Light (that I reviewed a few years ago), the Maximus Floodlight Camera. The new Maximus Floodlight Camera can detect motion in a 270-degree arch within a 70-foot range. It has 2400-lumen floodlights (5000K color temp) and a 1080p HD security camera (H264) built into its housing. Like their Smart Security Light, the Kuna Floodlight will have Push-to-Talk, Play Pre-Recorded messages, set Automated Greetings, and sound 100dBA alarm, all via the Kuna smart app. The floodlights can be activated by motion, dusk till dawn mode, via the smart app, and by voice courteous of Alexa. Sadly we’ll have to be patient, the Kuna Maximus Floodlight won’t be available till the summer of 2018. No price as of yet but will be available in black and white.