I got a $20 Apple Watch knockoff. Here’s what happened  Pocket-lint
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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch line of wearables has long been Android’s answer to the Apple Watch, offering as close to a comparable experience as there is. With the recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic, that distinction is true for yet another year.
But for the first time, Samsung’s year-over-year innovation of the Galaxy Watch feels minimal. The Watch 6 Classic is still one of the best smartwatches but not much has changed since last year’s Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro.
It runs Wear OS 4; offers in-depth sleep tracking insights; uses Samsung’s body composition analyzer; and has a built-in temperature sensor, a sapphire crystal display, and an activity tracker. This is essentially the same feature list as the previous generation.
Even its actual new features, like a longer-lasting battery and rotating bezel, are things adopted from older models. The increased battery life debuted on last year’s Watch 5 Pro and the rotating bezel was last seen on the Watch 4. It does have the largest screen of any Galaxy Watch, measuring 3mm larger than the Watch 5 Pro.
Because of those slight improvements, my biggest takeaway after wearing the Watch 6 Classic is that it’s a great smartwatch, but not everyone needs to upgrade to it.
If you’re wearing the Watch 5 or Watch 5 Pro (or even the Watch 4), the new features may not be enough to justify shelling out $400. But if you haven’t upgraded in several years or you’re looking to buy your first watch that works seamlessly with Samsung phones, this is one of the best Android smartwatches you can buy.
What works

What needs work

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 Classic has a round, stainless steel watch face and looks, feels, and functions like a premium smartwatch. It weighs just over 2oz which is slightly heavier than the Watch 5 Pro but I didn’t feel it was too heavy for working out or wearing to bed. The overall design is sleek, too, as it looks more like a high-end wristwatch than a sporty activity tracker. 
The watch also sees the return of a rotating bezel which was last used on the Watch 4. Navigation via the touchscreen is fluid and easy but I found the rotating bezel to allow for more accurate scrolling, especially during workouts when my hands were sweaty.
My review model came with one of Samsung’s hybrid leather bands, which features soft rubber on the inside and leather on top. I wouldn’t normally run with a leather watch band but considering its inside is rubber, the band actually made for a nice experience while working out. I never felt that it got too hot or uncomfortable while sweating. 
The other band I used was a dark green sports band with a perforated strap that’s intended more for workouts. I find it to feel almost identical to the hybrid leather band, although it’s lighter. It also gives off a bit of a stylish look but in a much sportier fashion.
The Watch 6 Classic offers solid smartwatch functionality but I did find it to be oddly laggy at times. I would often feel the buzz of a notification on my phone and when I raised the watch to see what it was, there was a delay of several seconds. While I don’t feel like this is a dealbreaker, it does slightly alter the overall experience. With almost any other smartwatch I’ve worn, I’m used to notifications popping up the exact moment they vibrate on my smartphone.
Beyond that, the Watch 6 Classic is a quality smartwatch. Its use of Wear OS 4 makes navigating the interface smooth and intuitive, and even first-time Android smartwatch users shouldn’t encounter a steep learning curve. 
The watch also allows for quick responses to texts and emails, and I found these suggested prompts to be legitimately useful. I especially enjoyed answering phone calls directly on the watch, which I used often when my phone wasn’t nearby or I didn’t want to fetch it from my pocket.
Another handy feature is the ability to customize not only what the watch face looks like but also what data is displayed or what I have quick access to. This can be easily done directly on the watch, and you’re able to change the different complications featured, the color of the watch face, and the overall style. The watch face can display a lot of various data but even with a full screen, it never felt too busy or crowded. 
The Watch 6 Classic can track a variety of fitness activities — many of which are rolled over from the Watch 5 Pro and its workout interface and tracked data functions in a mostly similar fashion. It’s easy to start, end, and interact with activities, and being able to use the rotating bezel in the middle of a run or bike ride is a nice touch as I found it to be a more accurate way to scroll through my data compared to using the touchscreen. 
However, its GPS syncing just isn’t very accurate or fast. Not only would it take around a minute to sync but the tracking data was often inconsistent. To the casual wearer, this may not matter all that much but to someone training for an event, it can really throw them off. Let me explain why.
Some days the watch’s GPS would be within .05 miles of my standard mile time and distance, while other days it would be closer to .1 miles or more. While you’d like to see accuracy closer to .01, .05 isn’t terrible. But for it to be off by as much as a tenth of a mile is a significant discrepancy. This spells the difference between me seeing that I ran an eight-minute mile when I really ran a mile closer to seven minutes.
If it’s accurate activity tracking you’re after in a Galaxy Watch, the Watch 5 Pro is a far better option with more reliable GPS. The Watch 6 Classic’s shortcomings as a fitness tracker shouldn’t be a dealbreaker to the ordinary active user but should cause advanced athletes, or anyone training for a specific race, to think twice about using it as their go-to training wearable.
The Watch 6 Classic has a number of health tools I use daily, including its in-depth sleep tracker and, my personal favorite, the body composition analyzer. 
With the body composition analyzer, the Watch 6 Classic assessed certain data like my body fat percentage, muscle mass, and skeletal muscle all via an easy-to-use, 15-second process where I put my middle and ring finger on the watch’s side buttons. Although the data isn’t considered medical-grade, and shouldn’t be viewed as 100 percent accurate, I did like that it provided another way for me to track my fitness progress. 
I used the sleep tracker often, too, and it provided similar data compared to the Watch 5 Pro. While it tracks the different sleep zones I entered each night (like REM, deep, and light), the most useful part was its sleep coaching which provided guidance on how to improve my habits and get the most rest. Some days it recommended I go to sleep earlier while on others it would offer things I could do throughout the day to sleep better at night.
Compatibility has long been a weakness of the Samsung Galaxy Watch, and the Watch 6 Classic is no different. I tested the watch using a Samsung Galaxy S21 and a Google Pixel 7 and although the watch is supposed to be compatible with any smartphone running Android 8.0 or later, the differences between the two were apparent.
First, there were syncing issues. With the S21, the Watch 6 Classic synced a Bluetooth connection right away and the setup process was smooth and easy. The Pixel 7 was the opposite. Syncing a connection required several attempts as the initial setup process failed repeatedly.
Once I got the watch synced with the Pixel 7, I then needed to download a wholly different app than what I used with the S21. While the S21 uses the Samsung Health Monitor, the Pixel 7 requires the Galaxy Wearable app — and it pales in comparison. 
While both centralize your health and fitness data, like workouts, steps taken, and calories burned, the Galaxy Wearable app is devoid of a few key health features native to the Watch 6 Classic. These include blood pressure monitoring and access to the ECG app. This meant I just didn’t have access to either while using the Pixel 7.  
Because of that, I felt as though the Pixel 7 delivered a watered-down version of the Watch 6 Classic, especially in terms of its health-tracking capability. For those wanting a full-featured health tracker, know that the absolute best experience is achieved via a Samsung smartphone.
One of the most useful features the Watch 6 Classic adopted from the Watch 5 Pro was its longer-lasting battery. Instead of needing to charge the watch each night, I would routinely get a full day and a half of battery life before needing to put it on the charger.
I didn’t think a half-day would matter all that much but I felt a lot less consumed by the idea of the watch dying while I was out or if I spaced on recharging it at night. The watch also charges fairly quickly, so if I ever did need to give it some juice in a pinch, I could get it charged to a half day of battery life in around 30 minutes. Even charging it full to 100% only took a couple of hours.
The Watch 6 Classic is another high-quality entry in Samsung’s Galaxy Watch lineup. It looks, feels, and functions like a premium wearable that excels in terms of smarts, health tracking, and battery life.
It’s not without a few drawbacks, though. Poor GPS syncing and compatibility issues with non-Samsung smartphones ultimately hold it back. It’s a great smartwatch but a mediocre activity tracker. 
This is why anyone looking for a reliable Android fitness tracker should opt for the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro instead. Not only is it still considered Samsung’s flagship wearable but it’s just $50 more expensive than the Watch 6 Classic. It’s durably built for the active user plus has the same long-lasting battery.
But if you do care more about smartwatch functionality, and are wearing something like the Galaxy Watch 3 (or older), then the Watch 6 Classic is a fine choice. Wear OS 4 delivers a smooth and intuitive experience that helps the watch function incredibly well as an extension of your smartphone.
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Originally posted 2023-11-04 01:30:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

A BRITISH boy drowned in a swimming pool on a Greek holiday after wandering from his hotel room while his parents slept, an inquest heard.
Theo Treharne-Jones was discovered face-down in the pool at Atlantica Holiday Village in Kos.
The five-year-old is believed to have left his hotel room before breakfast as his parents slept.
A full inquest will look at how Theo got to the pool and investigate any safety measures in place.
Coroner Gavin Knox will also examine the door locking mechanisms after Theo's parents claimed they could be opened from the inside by simply turning the handle – even though it was locked.
The doors also had no chain locks, with mum Nina previously saying guests could use a "little finger" to touch the handle and open it.
Pontypridd Coroner's Court heard Theo's parents will be called to give evidence, as well as TUI reps and hotel staff.
The inquest will also hear from the witness who found the youngster and those who rushed over to help with CPR.
The horror unfolded in June 2019 when mum Nina and dad Richard woke to screams that a boy had fallen in the pool.
Fellow guest Adam Holmes, 39, who runs a first aid training business, was one of those who tried to revive Theo.
He said he asked what appeared to be the hotel manager for a defibrillator and was told it was "on the way".
Mr Holmes added: "After a couple of rounds of CPR the defib still hadn't arrived so I asked again."
He then went to reception but the member of staff at the front had no clue what he was talking about.
The witness eventually had to run to a nearby doctor's surgery to get the life-saving equipment.
Mr Holmes added: "That probably took about four minutes.
"To be honest, time stood still, but it was extremely frustrating that there didn't seem to be any emergency action plan."
The hearing was adjourned ahead of a full inquest on a date to be set.
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The Environment Agency will immediately start monitoring the water quality at the 27 new sites
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A section of the River Cam in Cambridge is amongst several locations to be officially recognised as bathing sites in England. The Government made the announcement just in time for the warmer season.
The Environment Agency is set to begin monitoring water quality at 27 newly proposed bathing sites, including the River Cam at Sheep's Green, following a consultation earlier this year.
This will increase the total number of designated spots for the 2024 bathing season, which spans from May 15 to September 30, 451 across England. The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has also disclosed plans to hold a consultation later in the year on potential reforms to the regulations governing bathing waters in England.
Read more: Popular Cambridgeshire National Trust site launching special boat tours
These reforms aim to enhance water quality at bathing sites, improve monitoring processes, and offer greater flexibility regarding the dates of the bathing season. Additionally, Defra intends to gather opinions on broadening the definition of "bathers" to include other water users such as rowers, kayakers, and paddle boarders, beyond just swimmers.
According to Defra, last year saw 96 per cent of England's bathing waters achieve the minimum annual standards, with 90 per cent rated as either "good" or "excellent". However, there is mounting public frustration over the condition of England's rivers and coastal waters, which are affected by pollution from sewage discharges and agricultural run-off.
The UK has seen the addition of new bathing waters, including a dozen river sites. These locations are regularly monitored by the Environment Agency to assess pollution levels and devise strategies for improvement in collaboration with local communities, farmers, and water companies.
Speaking at the time of the consultation, Anne Miller, a member of Cam Valley Forum said: "Our surveys showed that hundreds of bathers enjoy swimming in the River Cam on peak days in summer, although, because the water is cold, one only sees a few people in the water at a time. Designation is important because we know that water quality is currently poor, and if Defra approves our application, this will trigger a 'driver' for much needed investment from Anglian Water."
In what was described as the largest ever rollout of new bathing sites, Water Minister Robbie Moore said: "The value our bathing waters bring to local communities is incredibly valuable providing social, physical and positive health and wellbeing benefits to people around the country and I am pleased to have approved a further 27 new bathing water sites for this year. I am fully committed to seeing the quality of our coastal waters, rivers and lakes rise further for the benefit of the environment and everyone who uses them."
Alan Lovell, Chairman of the Environment Agency, added: "Overall bathing water quality has improved massively over the last decade due to targeted and robust regulation from the Environment Agency, and the good work carried out by partners and local groups. We know that improvements can take time and investment from the water industry, farmers and local communities, but where the investment is made, standards can improve."
The newly designated bathing water sites include:

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A West End swimming baths is hosting an event with a difference – pool sessions mixing science and music. 
‘Swimming with Gravitational Waves’ takes place this Saturday evening at The Arlington Baths Club.
The sessions will bring together physicists from the University of Glasgow, musicians and sonic artists.
Visitors will learn how scientists in the city contributed to the historic first detection of gravitational waves in 2015. 
They can get into the pool and enjoy music and sound art which will be audible both above and below the water.
Dr Andrew Spencer, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow’s Institute for Gravitational Research, said: “I’m delighted to be bringing this event to Glasgow, which is home to the UK’s largest gravitational wave research group.

“The ripples on the surface of swimming pools are similar to the ripples in spacetime caused by gravitational waves. 
“The event offers attendees a unique opportunity to really feel how sound passes through them and consider how, until very recently, spacetime was regularly ringing with the sounds of massive astronomical events that we just didn’t have the ability to hear. 
“Now, thanks to gravitational wave observatories around the world, we can listen to the universe in an entirely new way.”
Leon Trimble, who devised the event, said: “As soon as I heard that gravitational wave detectors ‘listen’ to the universe for signs of ripples in spacetime, and that signals are interpreted as characteristic ‘chirps’, I knew that astrophysics could be the foundation for some fantastic music.
“Swimming with Gravitational Waves fuses music and physics with physical activity in a really unique way. 
 
The event offers attendees a unique opportunity to really feel how sound passes through them and consider how, until very recently, spacetime was regularly ringing with the sounds of massive astronomical events that we just didn’t have the ability to hear. 
 Dr Andrew Spencer
 
“I’m excited to be part of it and I’m looking forward to playing at the Arlington Baths Club.”
The event is supported by funding from the Institute of Physics Scotland that aims to promote the role of physics in education, health, the environment, technology, and scientific literacy.
Gravitational waves – ripples in spacetime caused by massive cosmic events like the collision of black holes – were predicted to exist by Albert Einstein in his general theory of relativity in 1916.
Researchers at the University of Glasgow played a key role in that historic first detection at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory in 2015.
Glasgow scientists helped to build the delicate mirror suspensions which made the detection possible. Twin sets of mirrors reflect lasers which measure the tiny changes in distance between the mirrors when gravitational waves pass through them  – a process known as interferometry.

A version of that interferometry technology is found in audiovisual performer, Leon Trimble’s ‘gravity synth’, which he will play during the event at Arlington Bath Club.
His performance will be followed by a ‘sonic journey’ played through underwater speakers, designed by the developer of the Wet Sounds aquatic sound system, Joel Cahen aka PluronOvarian.
The Swimming with Gravitational Waves event will take place in three sessions beginning at 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm on Saturday 18 November. 
The first session is family-friendly, with half-price tickets available for children. Attendees are advised to arrive dressed for swimming and to bring towels. The event will take place at the Arlington Baths Club, 61 Arlington Street, Glasgow.
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Originally posted 2023-11-15 01:00:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter