Yep, It was me. 
As promised my review.
I went with the steel band, which is a much more versatile look than the two-toned dark band (although it is a very good looking watch/band combo).
The package arrived on Saturday in the midst of a rather nasty respiratory infection, so I didn't even open it until Sunday. The packaging is nicely put together and what I'd expect from a watch company as opposed to a tech company.
Other than the watch itself, the first thing you notice is the charging bed/cradle/pillow thing. In many of the reviews the opinions ranged from "um, okay, whatever" to "WHAT THE F%^K WERE THEY THINKING". I don't see what all the fuss is about. So you have to pick it up to slide the band around it? That it looks like a footstool for a miniature poodle? Hey, it's unique and it works and if you don't like it, then just use a different charger. I tried the original Moto360 charger and my Anker hockey puck and they both charge the watch.
You know what? The watch looks so nice, who gives a rat's fossil what the charger looks like?
The watch itself is what I'd expect from Fossil ... now. I should explain. Back before Fossil was trendy -- just another fish caught in the tar pits (late '80s) -- my wife bought me a Fossil watch which I absolutely loved. The only problem was that the band was cloth and leather and got very dirty very quickly. And, it was very hard to find bands that both fit and matched the watch. Then Fossil got all full of themselves in the '90s and started pumping out some bizarre designs and I lost interest. It's only been within the last few years that I've thought Fossil was a brand worth consideration again.
So ... It's round like a watch should be. It's a little bulky, but no more than the 360. The bracelet is nicely finished with a substantial weight and sturdy, easy operating clasp. The crown is nicely knurled like a traditional watch crown, even though it doesn't turn. It's just a button, but a good looking one. In other words, this thing feels like a real watch, not a piece of watch-like tech strapped to your wrist.
As a smartwatch, it's incredibly average. No heart rate monitor and it does the same "flat tire" thing the 360's do for the ambient light sensor. First off, the heart rate sensor on the 360 was rather inaccurate. Depending on the time of day, position on your wrist, color of your skin and alignment of the planets it could easily tell you that you are running a marathon while you are sitting on your porch drinking a beer. I doubt I'll miss it. As for the flat tire business, that's already been discussed to death, so either it bothers you or you can live with it. 'nuf said.
Performance wise -- mind you I've only been using it for less than two days -- it seems fluid and responsive. I'm not sure what the definitive speed test is for a smart watch. It works pretty much the same as the 360, which I was perfectly happy with. Battery-wise, it's been on my wrist since 8:00 a.m. (it's now 4:00 p.m. here) and it's down to 63%. Not bad considering I've been showing it around and using it a little more than I normally would. My moto would have shut down already.
The Fossil Q app ... installed it ... used it ... trashed it. Move along, nothing to see there. I suppose for the other members of the Q series that aren't Wear devices it is necessary, but it doesn't do anything for the Founder.
While you do get some Fossil specific faces like goober here (or what ever his nickname is)
I'm sticking with my TAG Calibre face for now.
That's all for now. I'd have to agree with the the majority of the reviews ... it's only an average smartwatch, but it's a great looking watch. That's fine by me and I hope to be wearing this for a long time.
As promised my review.
I went with the steel band, which is a much more versatile look than the two-toned dark band (although it is a very good looking watch/band combo).
The package arrived on Saturday in the midst of a rather nasty respiratory infection, so I didn't even open it until Sunday. The packaging is nicely put together and what I'd expect from a watch company as opposed to a tech company.
Other than the watch itself, the first thing you notice is the charging bed/cradle/pillow thing. In many of the reviews the opinions ranged from "um, okay, whatever" to "WHAT THE F%^K WERE THEY THINKING". I don't see what all the fuss is about. So you have to pick it up to slide the band around it? That it looks like a footstool for a miniature poodle? Hey, it's unique and it works and if you don't like it, then just use a different charger. I tried the original Moto360 charger and my Anker hockey puck and they both charge the watch.
You know what? The watch looks so nice, who gives a rat's fossil what the charger looks like?
The watch itself is what I'd expect from Fossil ... now. I should explain. Back before Fossil was trendy -- just another fish caught in the tar pits (late '80s) -- my wife bought me a Fossil watch which I absolutely loved. The only problem was that the band was cloth and leather and got very dirty very quickly. And, it was very hard to find bands that both fit and matched the watch. Then Fossil got all full of themselves in the '90s and started pumping out some bizarre designs and I lost interest. It's only been within the last few years that I've thought Fossil was a brand worth consideration again.
So ... It's round like a watch should be. It's a little bulky, but no more than the 360. The bracelet is nicely finished with a substantial weight and sturdy, easy operating clasp. The crown is nicely knurled like a traditional watch crown, even though it doesn't turn. It's just a button, but a good looking one. In other words, this thing feels like a real watch, not a piece of watch-like tech strapped to your wrist.
As a smartwatch, it's incredibly average. No heart rate monitor and it does the same "flat tire" thing the 360's do for the ambient light sensor. First off, the heart rate sensor on the 360 was rather inaccurate. Depending on the time of day, position on your wrist, color of your skin and alignment of the planets it could easily tell you that you are running a marathon while you are sitting on your porch drinking a beer. I doubt I'll miss it. As for the flat tire business, that's already been discussed to death, so either it bothers you or you can live with it. 'nuf said.
Performance wise -- mind you I've only been using it for less than two days -- it seems fluid and responsive. I'm not sure what the definitive speed test is for a smart watch. It works pretty much the same as the 360, which I was perfectly happy with. Battery-wise, it's been on my wrist since 8:00 a.m. (it's now 4:00 p.m. here) and it's down to 63%. Not bad considering I've been showing it around and using it a little more than I normally would. My moto would have shut down already.
The Fossil Q app ... installed it ... used it ... trashed it. Move along, nothing to see there. I suppose for the other members of the Q series that aren't Wear devices it is necessary, but it doesn't do anything for the Founder.
While you do get some Fossil specific faces like goober here (or what ever his nickname is)
I'm sticking with my TAG Calibre face for now.
That's all for now. I'd have to agree with the the majority of the reviews ... it's only an average smartwatch, but it's a great looking watch. That's fine by me and I hope to be wearing this for a long time.
