Matrix’s PowerWatch 2 needs no charger, uses body heat and solar power

[editor]

We’ve both thus far neglected to mention the killer argument: that this is the second generation of watch that this company has made using this technology, and people are walking around using them.

Unless the company is being *really* naughty, I think we can say pretty confidently that this works.

I'd say that's self evident to everyone but one poster here who is yet to back up his "bullshit" and "won't work" claims and prefers to insist that all the reviews are by "paid shills."

 

[8ball]

There is, quite obviously a battery in it. Its discharge versus recharge rate is what I'm questioning.

You know what I mean.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Sigh. Yet more pointless personal abuse in place of facts to back up your claims. Please stop.

I'm asking if you'll revisit what I said and reconsider your over the top reaction. I don't think it's too much to ask, but you seem incapable of accepting that my questioning of the tech wasn't a personal attack on you

 

[8ball]

I'd say that's self evident to everyone but one poster here who is yet to back up his "bullshit" and "won't work" claims and prefers to insist that all the reviews are by "paid shills."

Well, if you have something very hot in your house, like an Aga, you can usually claw just a few watts out of standard peltier units, so some scepticism isn’t too surprising, but seeing as this is the second gen, I don’t think it’s reasonable.

It’s certainly true that you couldn’t power an Apple watch with this kind of tech unless you were that guy from Fantastic Four.

 

[8ball]

I'm asking if you'll revisit what I said and reconsider your over the top reaction. I don't think it's too much to ask, but you seem incapable of accepting that my questioning of the tech wasn't a personal attack on you

I looked for a teardown on YouTube, but couldn’t find one.

 

[editor]

Well, if you have something very hot in your house, like an Aga, you can usually claw just a few watts out of standard peltier units, so some scepticism isn’t too surprising, but seeing as this is the second gen, I don’t think it’s reasonable.

It’s certainly true that you couldn’t power an Apple watch with this kind of tech unless you were that guy from Fantastic Four.

Of course, but then its made very clear from the start that this is a more basic kind of watch, that is fine tuned to run on the limited power it receives. But it clearly works to a reasonable degree, despite one poster's claims to the contrary.

I think it's really exciting tech and I look forward to future developments. I'd definitely be interested in a reasonably attractive smartwatch capable of displaying maps/notifications/step counts etc that didn't need charging.

 

[Saul Goodman]

There's plenty of reviews - both paid and unpaid, i imagine - showing that clearly the tech does work, even if the watch is something of a flawed monster. If someone is going to declare it "bullshit" it would be useful to see something that backs that assertion up other than self proclaimed expertise.

Ok. Supply me with one and I will do a scientific study of it.

 

[8ball]

Of course, but then its made very clear from the start that this is a more basic kind of watch, that is fine tuned to run on the limited power it receives. But it clearly works to a reasonable degree, despite one poster's claims to the contrary.

I think it's really exciting tech and I look forward to future developments. I'd definitely be interested in a reasonably attractive smartwatch capable of displaying maps/notifications/step counts etc that didn't need charging.

More than reasonable, considering that of the reviews of the existing watch, I haven’t seen one that mentions running out of juice.

It’s also interesting tech in terms
of wearables and medical devices (which is closer to my field).

I think displaying maps will be a little way off, but the other bits seem plausible (notifications may need a certain amount of lag tolerance).

 

[Saul Goodman]

Of course, but then its made very clear from the start that this is a more basic kind of watch, that is fine tuned to run on the limited power it receives. But it clearly works to a reasonable degree, despite one poster's claims to the contrary.

I think it's really exciting tech and I look forward to future developments. I'd definitely be interested in a reasonably attractive smartwatch capable of displaying maps/notifications/step counts etc that didn't need charging.

It isn't going to happen. GPS uses more power than could ever be replenished by the methods this watch uses.

 

[editor]

Interesting review here:



Far from being a "paid shill" fluff piece, the author criticises the step count which is way out, but praises the watch's lack of charging.

 

[Saul Goodman]

So, editor, how about you go back and rescind your 'bullshit' warning?

 

[editor]

Ok. Supply me with one and I will do a scientific study of it.

You're the one disputing everyone else's findings without having anything to back up your claims, so its very much up to you to do your own research. I know whose opinion I'd trust over yours.

What is your technical expertise in the smartwatch area by the way? Do you even own one?

 

[8ball]

It isn't going to happen. GPS uses more power than could ever be replenished by the methods this watch uses.

Maybe for occasional pulsed takings of bearings...?

With the solar backup?

 

[editor]

So, editor, how about you go back and rescind your 'bullshit' warning?

You're pushing your luck. I've put up with more than enough personal insults from you today. Either restrict your posts to the smartwatch under discussion or be banned from this thread.

 

[salem]

Interesting tech and I was and still am a bit sceptical about the energy harvesting side of things. I'd imagine the amount of energy that can be recovered is constrained by physics and it'd be interesting to know exactly how much energy is being collected by the watch from the user and how efficient it is as a % compared to how much energy is given out by the arm - i.e how much further can this tech be exploited.

It'd be interesting to see a side by side comparison where maybe someone would wear one of these watches on each wrist, with one over some thermal insulating material just to see how much this is low energy components and good initial charge vs how much this is energy recovery.

 

[editor]

Maybe for occasional pulsed takings of bearings...?

With the solar backup?

Some watches use the GPS off the paired watch to save power.

 

[8ball]

Some watches use the GPS off the paired watch to save power.

You mean the mobile? That could work. There are still some transmission costs - out of my area.

 

[Saul Goodman]

You're the one disputing everyone else's findings without having anything to back up your claims, so its very much up to you to do your own research. I know whose opinion I'd trust over yours.

What is your technical expertise in the smartwatch area by the way? Do you even own one?

My technical expertise is a degree in electronic engineering. What's yours?

 

[8ball]

My technical expertise is a degree in electronic engineering. What's yours?

Yeah, but being fair, did you specialise in this tech and also materials science advances in the last 10 years?

 

[Saul Goodman]

Maybe for occasional pulsed takings of bearings...?

With the solar backup?

GPS doesn't work like that. It needs a constant lock on satellites.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Yeah, but being fair, did you specialise in this tech and also materials science advances in the last 10 years?

I specialised in electronics. The principles don't change, regardless of the device containing the electronics.

 

[8ball]

GPS doesn't work like that. It needs a constant lock on satellites.

Well, it needs to find the things, true, but I’ve used my sat nav in an on-off fashion when I broke the charging cable.

Thing is, editor is talking about things from a very different angle to your knowledge of energetics.

It’s hard to argue with reviews from people who bought the first-gen watch.

 

[8ball]

I specialised in electronics. The principles don't change, regardless of the device containing the electronics.

I think the idea of carrying supercomputers in our pockets with immediate access to all human accumulated knowledge might have raised eyebrows not too long ago.

 

[Saul Goodman]

Some watches use the GPS off the paired watch to save power.

That requires Bluetooth connectivity. This charging system cannot cope with the power demand.

 

[8ball]

And as paid shills go, saying “this is so amazing, I don’t believe it exists” is pretty good copy for the people who make the watch.

 

[8ball]

That requires Bluetooth connectivity. This charging system cannot cope with the power demand.

Yeah, that seems plausible to me.
Though I do have some bluetooth headphones that charge in no time and seem to take practically forever to run down.

Of course, it’s all about the numbers, I’m not arguing with that.

 

[Saul Goodman]

I think the idea of carrying supercomputers in our pockets with immediate access to all human accumulated knowledge might have raised eyebrows not too long ago.

You're referring to actual modern tech. I'm also doing the same.

 

[salem]

From their FAQ it seems the internal battery has around a year built in so no surprise the reviewers haven't had issues on that front.

"In conditions where PowerWatch is unable to charge, it will work for up to one year."

They also "recommend limiting Bluetooth activity to one sync event per day while wearing the PowerWatch" which seems to reduce the potential functionality quite a lot if using the phone for heavy lifting.

They are very vague about how much actual energy is harvested though

 

[Saul Goodman]

From their FAQ it seems the internal battery has around a year built in so no surprise the reviewers haven't had issues on that front.

"In conditions where PowerWatch is unable to charge, it will work for up to one year."

They also "recommend limiting Bluetooth activity to one sync event per day while wearing the PowerWatch" which seems to reduce the potential functionality quite a lot if using the phone for heavy lifting.

Fucking thank you!
Apology incoming, I doubt!!!

 

[Saul Goodman]

So, editor , these reviewers who wore it for a week and didn't experience a situation where it went flat. With the above manufacturer FACT taken into account, is there any chance you may have been wrong (and an apology is forthcoming)?