Leaked iOS App Hints at Upcoming iPhone Support for Samsung's Gear S2 Smart Watch

Before all the bashing begins try to remember that cross compatibility is good for everyone.

I wonder if this is forewarning of the discontinuation of the Apple Watch.

It may be that Apple will now promote the Samsung Gear S2. It's certainly a much better-looking watch than the Apple Watch, sad to say.

There zero logic in that. Apple Watch sold better (by a lot) and they have a second generation coming out in the fall.

I wonder if this is forewarning of the discontinuation of the Apple Watch.

It may be that Apple will now promote the Samsung Gear S2. It's certainly a much better-looking watch than the Apple Watch, sad to say.

You. Cannot. Be. Serious.

This makes about as much logic as saying that since the HTC 10 supports Apple AirPlay, that maybe it's a forewarning of the discontinuation of the iPhone.

I own iPhones and Android phones, so I don't really have a dog in this fight. I understand some people like the rectangular design of the Apple watch, and I respect that; I happen to prefer the round (watch-looking) appearance of the S2. I love the Gear S2. I'm using my S2 now with a Galaxy S7 Edge. TBH, the iPhone vs Android phone experience is very similar, but the Gear S2 watch is AWESOME, and to me, has so many important features that the Apple watch is lacking. I have the 3G version of the S2 and hand-off between bluetooth and cellular functions on the watch are seamless. When I go running or biking, I no longer have to haul a clunky phone with me. The watch receives all notifications I'd get if I had my phone with me. I get GPS, maps, tracking of workouts (the S2 automatically figures out when you're running or cycling), incoming and outgoing calls and messages and (due to numbersync) all outgoing calls and messages effectively originate from my standard phone number. I can even reply to 3rd party notifications like Whatsapp (I have no idea how that even works, because I have no Whatsapp app installed on the watch). It's true that there are fewer apps for the S2 than the Apple watch, but there's only so much you can do on any watch screen. All the essential stuff is there and it's great to be able to leave your phone at home and still have a way of keeping in touch in case of emergencies. Honestly, there are so many cool features with this watch, I'd run out of e-ink with all the typing.

But here's what worries me about this article: "the Samsung Gear S2 Lite app has to be running in the background for the connection between the watch and the app to be maintained". I used to have a Pebble Time, paired with my 6S Plus. The connection was constantly dropping (either because the BT connection would drop, or because iOS would kill the Pebble Time app - which always happened on reboot/restart). It just meant that I couldn't 100% rely on getting notifications on the Pebble. I strongly suspect the iOS experience with the Gear S2 is going to be similarly crippled (intentionally or otherwise?) as a result of Apple's high-walled garden. My experience with the S7 Edge + Gear S2 has been absolutely flawless. As much as I love Apple, I can't remember the last time I had a flawless experience with an Apple product.

Ok, I love the Gear S2 and was unimpressed with the Apple watch. So perhaps I do have a small puppy in this fight...

would not get it - but at least not a chunky square like the AW.

except the Apple Watch is thinner than the Gear S2 with more usable screen area.

The Apple Watch does not look chunky at all next to the Gear