Those people are complaining too much against something that aren't available. If they want exquisite, then you'll have to wait for the actual Moto sanctioned metal band. Otherwise the other only option is leather, and leather look is too common these days.

The reason why those folks think Pebble Steel bands looks cheap because of the metal looking matte rather than slick and shiny. Just like that pictured Moto advertised photos. In real life, it isn't. It's simply a matter of taste. And in the case of the Moto360, it's also a matter of availability as well. A lot of the metal bands you can search via Amazon states that their bands are compatible with the Moto360 but when you look at their photos, their bands are missing the middle notch. Which means it's incompatible. A lot of these metal band third party manufacturers assumes that compatibility is the same as the other smartwatch bands without realizing that middle notch thing.

Either way, it's up to the personal preference. I'd PREFER the Luminox band I have to work but Luminox doesn't have bands with middle notch.

Or wait for November for the metal band 360 to be available.

Personally to me, I'd take what I can get. Being picky about it looking cheap and all isn't gonna help when choice is limited. And also, I don't treat my 360 as a luxury watch, something that matches the look and works is plenty fine enough for me. To others, that may means just sticking with the Horween leather band itself that comes with it. No matter how you dress it up with the slickest or shiniest metal band, the luxury watch crowd will still look at it as "just a smartwatch".

P/s: I hate luxury watches. My most ideal watch is a watch that have multitudes of function besides telling time. Paying the price of a luxury car for a watch that is just a piece of jewelry glammed up to tell time isn't my cup of tea.

It seems that you too take offense when I call out the common-sensicality of a luxury watch. Same case applies to you. To me, if I had to pay that much, it has to do more that just being smart. The only reason it commanded that price is because it is no longer just a watch, its jewelry. And the value of jewelry depends on how perceive how valuable a piece of jewelry is.

The logic(and or reason) why three AW is in my possession is that it is my policy not to just listen to other people's impression of them: I want to use them myself and form my own opinion. Reason being, people are always susceptible to fanboyism, defending their purchases and consciously/subconsciously condemning other brands they did not buy. I have no loyalty to any brands/models, other than perhaps how it performs and how it fits my subjective "looks" preference. Despite the emphasis on looks, I would never pay a luxury watch price just solely on looks. Function trumps form.

As for the rest of the gadgets in my signature, look it up. They have best-in-class in terms of performance. If I'd go for looks, I'd be HTC ONE M8 instead of LG G3 or S5. If I'd go for looks, I'd anytime go for Retina MBP than a Razer Blade or that bulk ugly MSI GT60. Performace and function trumps form anytime for me. If any of the device of my choice fits both the function and form category as well, then it's a bonus.

Performance trumps form any time. Others don't mind if it looks gorgeous but deflates on performance.

As said earlier, I had no troubles putting my own Pebble Steel metal band and I don't have any professional training as per jeweler or watchmaker profession. Watches are delicate, you have to be delicate as well. I took out my bands delicately. You never know how delicate or rough the guy who did that in that example. And rest assured, once the Moto sanctioned metal bands are out, I'll be getting it and installing it myself too. No difference.

If I sound insistive , it's because I'm elaborate on my description and clear on my preference. I don't really care what others spend on their money, I care about not my in to myself when it comes to my own convictions. Other folks may take words from MKBHD or similar reviewers as gospel or truth, but from my own experience, my preferences rarely do fit the popular opinions of others. Depending on opinions of others on your own purchase and asking about those opinions in forum as basis for purchase often results in buyer's remorse. Hence "experience/try everything and then form your own opinion and judge it for yourself" stance I take. After all, I'm buying this for myself, not to reaffirm the popular opinions of others.

That said, I'm interested to see how the GOLD 360 would turn out. But again, appropriately priced with some premium. Otherwise, no thanks. I never subscribe to the whole jewelry side of watches.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Sep 26 2014, 07:35 AM

I can tell you straight off right off the bat now that those straps won't work with the Moto 360, if they are shaped that way.



No notch in the middle. You will end up forcing the leather into the hole, bunching it up, putting unnecessary stress to the spring bar and ultimately break the holes where the spring bars resides. No wonder la those reports on broken Moto 360s!



Here is the original Horween leather strap that comes with the 360. Notice that notch in the middle? That allows its placement into the strap well without bunching up. All metal bands must have this notch as well, and common metal link bands are manufactured without this notch. So far only the Pebble metal link band has this notch, therefore confirming compatibility. Those posted on Amazon, may say that they're compatible with the 360, but zoom in on its band construction, and I can bet the majority of them do not have this notch.

Like I said before, if the choice is scarce, wanna complain about the Pebble's supposedly cheap construction of the metal band also no point, coz it's the only one available in the market so far, until Moto releases its own replacement metal band. Personally IMO it's fits/looks/feels fine and sturdy to me. For the picky ones, then wait for the Moto replacement metal bands loh.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Sep 27 2014, 02:37 PM

Got that latest update on my 360, and now it runs Ambient Screen (renamed to that now) to ON, it ran as good as running it on Ambient Mode Off on previous firmware. Ambient Screen OFF will further stretch its battery life.

I can safely say, it is now as good as my past LG G Watch with this new update. Just had the up date 2 days back, so I'm testing this further to make sure the result isn't a fluke/placebo.

This post has been edited by stringfellow: Sep 30 2014, 03:08 PM

The same. I'm fine with how it performed until now.