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huntercarontoday at 4:09 PM11 repliesview on HN

Step counter seems like a bizarre thing to focus in on? are people passionately tracking steps without their phones?


Replies

SyneRydertoday at 4:14 PM

My father wears Casio watches almost exclusively, he's been tempted by a Fitbit so he can start tracking his step count, but even though I've bought him the Fitbit, he's finding the whole setup and app usage too intimidating, and so he hasn't used it.

This, in the silver ABL-100WE-2AEF model, is exactly what he wants. Same Casio, same interface, just now it has step count. He doesn't even need / want the Bluetooth.

(Me, I'll keep rocking my Pebble Time 2. Absolutely love it.)

Reubachitoday at 4:22 PM

Of all the things "smart watches" do, the one thing beyond time that most people actually perceive daily is their tracked steps.

IE; My apple watch ais the only one that goes out of it's way to make sure I know my steps for the day, and is always "accurate". Which is nice, but gimmicky for someone like me who doesn't analyze my steps.

I imagine Casio went after similar low hanging fruit, as an acceleromater is cheap/old tech, while still being able to feature compete with something like an apple watch.

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branontoday at 4:19 PM

People are, absolutely, yes! In the tech world there is an ever-growing focus on devices which can operate independently of smartphones, even to an offline/local-first extent.

The trend is trickling down into other circles as well. People are beginning to correctly identify needless hyperconverged connectivity as a burden rather than a convenience.

the__alchemisttoday at 4:13 PM

It's always been this way. It adds to the charm, to be realized in a few decades. Camp-chique.

Indiglo WATER RESIST 69m ALARM Chronograph

advisedwangtoday at 4:22 PM

I had this same reaction to past step counters. I keep my phone in my pocket, and it works basically perfectly as a step counter.

But then I realized that many people do not keep their phone in their pocket, especially women. For them, a watch, bracelet or ring really is the best option.

davzietoday at 4:11 PM

I am not passionate about it but I like to make sure I'm moving a lot. I like that I can at a glance just see how much that's happened each day. I have one of these. Had one a while now and its the only watch I've ever used that I've stuck with and kept using.

jbjbjbjbtoday at 4:34 PM

Grandpa kept a pedometer in a little pouch for decades. I got him a Fitbit but he didn’t like that, and more recently another cheap pedometer off of Amazon.

avgDevtoday at 4:29 PM

Not sure how old you are, but I am pushing 40. In order to stay healthy I need to track my steps and calories(somewhat), otherwise, I gain weight.

Tracking steps helps me stay on track.

jubilantitoday at 5:43 PM

You must be unfamiliar with the cult of the 10,000 steps a day.

bluGilltoday at 4:17 PM

My phone is sitting on my desk now connected to a charger - meaning any pacing I'm doing at the moment it not tracked. When I cook I often set my phone on the counter with the recipe - again while I'm moving all over. I often go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without bringing my phone.

I hate watches, but one would be better for step tracking - it is more likely to be on me to track information.

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TacticalCodertoday at 4:51 PM

> are people passionately tracking steps without their phones?

The least apps on my phone, the better. And the least I've got my phone on me, the better. I often leave the house without taking my phone.

I don't track my steps but the wife does... Using a watch.

Why do you automatically assume everybody on earth is as tied to his phone as you are?