This DIY undertaking turned an previous smartwatch into a bike sat nav

Should you’re not the type of smartphone person to all the time commerce your previous cellphone in in the direction of credit score on a brand new one, you’ve in all probability thought greater than as soon as about what to do along with your previous handset. Possibly it will get handed right down to a youthful member of the family, or saved as a backup gadget, however there are additionally numerous cool DIY tasks you are able to do with previous {hardware}, like repurposing it as a safety digicam. What about wearables, although? We simply checked out how one smartwatch person turned an previous mannequin into a elaborate gearshift for his or her automotive, and in the present day we’ve acquired one other vehicle-related smartwatch undertaking to share.

Vehicles could characteristic expansive dashboards which might be excellent for giant, screen-based methods like Android Auto, however that state of affairs couldn’t be extra totally different than relating to bikes. You’re typically fortunate you probably have something past only a speedometer and a tach, and including aftermarket screens can contain numerous awkwardly fastening attachments to crowded handlebars. Over on Reddit’s Galaxy Watch sub, nonetheless, person someones427 reveals off the intelligent approach they’ve repurposed a Galaxy Watch 4 so as to add a mini sat nav display screen to their bike.

On the {hardware} aspect, we’re actually not a lot right here: just a few 3D-printed enclosures so as to add a little bit little bit of safety and stability. To get it to truly stick with the bike, someones427 says they’re utilizing the magnet base of the charger itself, which you’ll see at the start of the video.

Having the charger in there’s essential to maintain the Galaxy Watch’s display screen energetic, to say nothing of creating positive it doesn’t die earlier than the top of your experience. However even with that bit sorted, there are apparently nonetheless just a few lingering issues with this construct, like sudden lag making the Watch 4’s map show get out of sync with the related cellphone. There are additionally points with auto-rotate inflicting the picture on the display screen to flip round at inopportune instances.

We’re hopeful that somebody’s capable of resolve just a few of these remaining complications (readers have already chimed in with some solutions of their very own) and get this working actually secure, as a result of it’s a neat concept that appears fairly good on this bike — and we think about would look simply as slick on numerous others, too. The unobtrusive measurement and spherical form simply really feel excellent for matching the aesthetic of many bike instrument clusters.

What else are you able to consider utilizing a smartwatch for, after you’re executed carrying it as a wristwatch? Share your concepts down within the feedback.