If smartwatches have one weakness compared to regular watches, it's their short lifespan.Most have promised only a few years of software support, and they're dependent on companion apps that can stop working at any time.But there are alternative companion apps out there that can keep your watches running longer and safeguard your privacy in the process.
GadgetBridge is your open-source alternative to wearable companion apps Connect to smartwatches and other wearable devices There are several reasons to seek out an alternative to your watch's companion app.One is that you have an unsupported phone.Alternatively, you may want to preserve a degree of privacy by not tying your watch to a company's software or services.
Perhaps you simply have a preference for free and open source software, or maybe you're just tired of juggling multiple companion apps.No matter your reason, it's time to download GadgetBridge.You won't find GadgetBridge in the Play Store, so if you haven't already, you'll first need to download F-Droid, an app store filled exclusively with open-source apps.
But before you do, there is a giant asterisk to be aware of.Not every smartwatch brand is supported.Samsung Galaxy watches, sadly, need not apply—even the abandoned ones running Tizen.
You'll want to first check the list of supported devices.Setting up GadgetBridge is simple.A series of splash screens will guide you through the process of connecting your watch.
Be warned—the app asks for more permissions than any other piece of software I've ever installed.This is understandable, given how much smartwatches track and how deeply interconnected they are with our phones.As open source software, an app like GadgetBridge also utilizes workarounds to replicate some of the features that would otherwise require integrating with proprietary parts of your Android phone.
GadgetBridge covers activity tracking and more Don't expect support for your smartwatch's full range of features Close There are two core parts of the GadgetBridge app.The primary dashboard shows you your daily activity.This will show you your daily steps, how much time you've spent active, and how far you've traveled.
The app will also show how many hours you slept the night before.GadgetBridge has an attractive way of displaying this information.Your steps, sleep, and active time are displayed on a 24-hour clock.
At a glance, you can see which time of day you were engaged in each activity.This allows you to see when you were most active and whether you got enough sleep without having to dig into menus or weed through numbers.If you do want to dive into more detailed information, you can.
The app can display data on graphs that show changes over time.The aforementioned metrics aren't all the app can track either.If your wearable supports it, GadgetBridge can also monitor stress levels.
GadgetBridge can pair to more than one device at a time.This saves you from having to have multiple different companion apps running simultaneously, each adding an additional drain to your battery life.It also grants you the ability to see fitness data from devices from different brands all in one place.
Take that vendor lock-in.If you have an iPhone, then you need SyncWear You aren't limited to the Apple Watch If you have a Wear OS watch but switched to an iPhone, or you simply want something other than an Apple Watch, you aren't locked in either.There are open-source developers working to keep your watch usable despite Apple's best efforts to deny you that freedom.
Still, they can't provide you with anywhere near the full set of features that GadgetBridge can on Android.Also, while the app is open-source, it's nonetheless a paid piece of software.SyncWear's focus is making sure that your calls and notifications still sync to your watch.
You can also expect media controls and contact syncing.There's also a feature to transfer photos.Sadly, activity tracking of any kind didn't make the list.
That means you won't be able to track your steps or your sleep.For some of us, those are superfluous.For others, SyncWear won't be able to cut it.
If you aren't put off, then download SyncWear directly to your watch and then pair it to your iPhone. The perpetual game of cat and mouse Except for Pebble, most wearable companies aren't interested in helping you use your wearable for as long as possible or connect it to alternative companion apps.Fortunately, where there's a will, there's a way.
With these third-party apps, you hopefully won't have to write your wearable off as e-waste.Yet even if you can't continue to wear it, there are still other good uses for an old smartwatch, such as converting that tiny screen into a smart home dashboard.
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