Wow. There is another project doing a similar thing, but they don't have bluetooth nor an OLED display (they reuse the same display) so it's not nearly as useful in daily life, though still very impressive work nonetheless.
But this is really amazing work. I hope you find some collaborators to continue!!
I recently got an F-105W which I had when I was a teen (which is basically the F-91 but with a cool glowy EL backlight). And one thing that really surprised me how small that thing is. It seemed bigger at the time.
I'm really amazed how much technology this project managed to fit in that tiny case. Battery, OLED, bluetooth.. Just wow.
I would pay for this, I was thinking of buying that other project on crowdsupply but without BT connectivity I just don't really have any use for it.
oh hey, this is my project! Sensor Watch definitely has different goals — less smart, more watch — but I love this, and I love how the F-91W represents such a blank canvas for folks to project their vision onto. It's small and so very thin (at home on any person's wrist), water-resistant and vaguely indestructible. It's also so inexpensive and ubiquitous that you can take it apart and hack on it without feeling like you're breaking something important, and you can safely assume that anyone in the world can probably grab one at a local store and hack along at home. It's a wonderful object.
This is the barebones Android smart watch I want. As a side note why won't apple make it's watch work well with android - wouldn't that add a few million users? ~ or do they sell it as a loss leader for IOS?
I want a future where we have bare-metal versions of smart watches with low power screens, thin form factor and long battery life compete with full feature dick tracy phone watches.
> As a side note why won't apple make it's watch work well with android
This is the way Apple works. You don't own enough products so you aren't worthy of full functionality. Last time I checked you can't update Airpods firmware without another Apple device nor can you change settings on the pro XDR display without a device running macOS.
Yeah, for me, what I really want in a smartwatch are the following:
1. long battery life. (as in a week+)
2. Always on display.
3. Notifications. (Ability to display all notifications that make a sound/vibrate in android, ideally also providing access to notification's quick actions, and ability to dismiss notification from phone. It should also provide incoming call notification, with caller name or number and hang-up button support).
4. Media controls for phone. (I don't really care about this, but if a watch lacks it, it would be suspicious).
5. Basic watch functions, like time, date, stopwatch, timer, alarms. (Possibly synchronized with android device, but not is not a requirement).
Beyond those five, things health sensors, app support or whatever are just bonuses.
The display should probably be a reflective display with optional backlight triggered by tilt-to-view, or even a button. It probably should use something like epaper or memory lcd to be low power. Honestly color is not even critical, although would be a nice-to-have.
Pebble came somewhat close, although its notification support was somewhat more limited than I would have liked. But I've seen nothing else since then. Everybody is too focused on apps, fitness sensors, etc, and have laughable battery life, even without an always on display.
You might want to give the Amazfit Bip a go, it's as barebones as it gets. The only gripes I have with it is the craptastic app and the lack of vibration, it only has a beeper.
Very interesting. One thing I've pondered - this project contains various pieces of off the shelf hardware, and some custom 3D CAD files. These don't seem to fit as neatly into the way Git functions. Is there/has there been any attempts to replicate Git with Bill of Materials or 3D CAD data?
There are many softwares attempting to solve this problem. Airplanes, bridges, cars, robots, they are catalogued in these systems. They tend to fall under the "Product Lifecycle Management" or 'PLM' name of softwares. Or also "Product Data Management"/'PDM'. Tends to be enterprisey.
You can specify custom diff algorithms to git, so you could say all .dwg files get diffed with something which knows how to parse the binary data and present a reasonable diff between the two versions?
Very cool. I'd prefer Sharp's memory display which uses power like ePaper display, but looks and works exactly like a traditional LCD with high refresh rates. And bluetooth/etc is not a feature, but a bug IMO; goes against the philosophy of F91.
Bluetooth is a good mechanism for configuration, even if it is wholly turned off during normal operation.
Forcing all setup to go through the needle's eye of a couple of buttons is profoundly limiting, and a wired connection would violate F91 design esthetic more.
A transparent back for the watch, and optical components, could open biomedical opportunities. There, Bluetooth readout of logged data would be useful.
wow, amazing how much functionality they packed into this tiny case. this would be the only smartwatch on the planet that isn't comically chunky, while still giving you the two things you need (namely time and notification icons, so you can break the habit of checking your phone). I'd pay for this, no doubt, if only I could!
Have you checked out the Pebble Time Round? Pebble was purchased by Fitbit, who were in turn bought out by Google, but there is good community support (1). Recently, the original Pebble app was taken down by whoever last maintained it (Pebble? Fitbit?), so at the moment there's no iOS app. I'm using a Nokia Steel HR as a temporary measure, but it is nearly comically chunky. I can't wait to switch back - I miss the Pebble.
A huge amount of the bulk in smart watches is the health sensors and vibration motor. Can easily slim things down if those aren't required along with a big display.
The best thing about Casio watches was the battery life. It could last 7 years. While I can understand that this is a smart watch, the battery only lasts 15 days. So, there is still a very good reason to use those old watches.
Wow. Another project is doing something similar, but it doesn't have Bluetooth or an OLED display (it uses the same display), so it's not as useful in everyday life, but it's still very impressive work.
[+] [-] GekkePrutser|3 years ago|reply
But this is really amazing work. I hope you find some collaborators to continue!!
I recently got an F-105W which I had when I was a teen (which is basically the F-91 but with a cool glowy EL backlight). And one thing that really surprised me how small that thing is. It seemed bigger at the time.
I'm really amazed how much technology this project managed to fit in that tiny case. Battery, OLED, bluetooth.. Just wow.
I would pay for this, I was thinking of buying that other project on crowdsupply but without BT connectivity I just don't really have any use for it.
[+] [-] teraflop|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] vok|3 years ago|reply
https://www.crowdsupply.com/oddly-specific-objects/sensor-wa...
[+] [-] josecastillo|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jcul|3 years ago|reply
It's a pity that shipping and taxes outside the US effectively doubles the price.
[+] [-] unknown|3 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] redorb|3 years ago|reply
I want a future where we have bare-metal versions of smart watches with low power screens, thin form factor and long battery life compete with full feature dick tracy phone watches.
[+] [-] PaulsWallet|3 years ago|reply
This is the way Apple works. You don't own enough products so you aren't worthy of full functionality. Last time I checked you can't update Airpods firmware without another Apple device nor can you change settings on the pro XDR display without a device running macOS.
[+] [-] jsmith45|3 years ago|reply
1. long battery life. (as in a week+) 2. Always on display. 3. Notifications. (Ability to display all notifications that make a sound/vibrate in android, ideally also providing access to notification's quick actions, and ability to dismiss notification from phone. It should also provide incoming call notification, with caller name or number and hang-up button support). 4. Media controls for phone. (I don't really care about this, but if a watch lacks it, it would be suspicious). 5. Basic watch functions, like time, date, stopwatch, timer, alarms. (Possibly synchronized with android device, but not is not a requirement).
Beyond those five, things health sensors, app support or whatever are just bonuses.
The display should probably be a reflective display with optional backlight triggered by tilt-to-view, or even a button. It probably should use something like epaper or memory lcd to be low power. Honestly color is not even critical, although would be a nice-to-have.
Pebble came somewhat close, although its notification support was somewhat more limited than I would have liked. But I've seen nothing else since then. Everybody is too focused on apps, fitness sensors, etc, and have laughable battery life, even without an always on display.
[+] [-] deevious|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] aeolis_mons|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] digdugdirk|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] blamazon|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] googlryas|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] bmitc|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] dm319|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] user_7832|3 years ago|reply
Hackaday is something I'd definitely recommend to the average HN reader if they like the hardware side of things.
I'd also recommend N-O-D-E's channel for anyone interested in such things, here's his video on his F91 mod: https://youtu.be/cvtvm7N_qj4
[+] [-] visviva|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] elbigbad|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] systemvoltage|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ncmncm|3 years ago|reply
Forcing all setup to go through the needle's eye of a couple of buttons is profoundly limiting, and a wired connection would violate F91 design esthetic more.
A transparent back for the watch, and optical components, could open biomedical opportunities. There, Bluetooth readout of logged data would be useful.
[+] [-] b3nji|3 years ago|reply
I love Casio watches, I own many. I have dreamed about having an F91 with smart functionality, ideally, a private, security focused device.
I feel you might have hit the nail on the head.
Can't wait to see this grow.
[+] [-] nooumenon|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] red369|3 years ago|reply
Bad Casio and Pebble comparison photos: https://imgur.com/a/LrS8xI4
(1) https://pebble-help-legacy.rebble.io/help.getpebble.com/cust...
[+] [-] Gigachad|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] HKH2|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] fellerts|3 years ago|reply
Check out r/F91Ws_on_NATOs for inspiration.
[+] [-] malkia|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] coldblues|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] smelbe|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Melatonic|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cyberpunk|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] typeofhuman|3 years ago|reply
https://imgur.com/Dn6vQiY
[+] [-] joecool1029|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mr_o47|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] zczc|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] shriphani|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] room505|3 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Melatonic|3 years ago|reply