When will Apple build a Watch for me?

I've been lusting after Apple watch for a long time, but so far I am not buying.

I just don't want another device that I have to charge every night, with redundant functionality to my iPhone.

I've been using Mi Band 2 for the past year, and it has been good - buzzing me when there is a message, but not being able to see the messages in detail made me reach for the phone way too often.

I just picked up a Pebble Time - for $47 it does everything Mi Band 2 did (minus the heart rate workout tracking) but I can now see the messages on my wrist! Sleep tracking is different too - turns out I have been sleeping more according to Pebble, and step counting is more accurate too (on Mi Band it used hand swinging motion, so if I was pushing a stroller, I was "not walking").

Is the Pebble my ultimate "wrist tech"? Of course not. The color screen is just an afterthought.

Update - Mi Band 2 can track my yoga workouts through "Treadmill" mode. Steps are bogus, but I get heart rate zones. I don't remember that from before, must be a recent sofware update for MiFit.

7-3-18 Update - the Pebble Time can be fooled when pushing a stroller into not counting steps, so that's that.

How many G's do you need? Apparently, not too many. MVNO Verizon LTE.

Yeah, all I need is reliable service, I don't give rats ass what "gen" it is.

For past couple months my T-mobile service has gone down the toilet - slow(er) and no signal (at the places where it used to be OK).

You would think that over time the phone companies would improve their networks and service, so how come it is going backwards?

Sprint was offering a $15 a month kickstart "deal" last week, but after doing some research with a weak signal on an overloaded network it was a no go.

So I went with Verizon LTE network, and so far I am pleasantly surprised. The service is cheaper, and  is better.

Prices from Verizon directly are quite high,

Direct prices from Verizon

but you can buy their service through MVNO - I use US Mobile. I am not a datawhore, so I can function on 1GB of data a month doing my Skype, Line and Viber communications. I also started streaming music in my car, so I might have to bump to 2GB tier.

Direct price for Verizon service through US Mobile

For all you Amazon Prime streamers there is limited "unlimited" tier(s) (read the small print)

So for a limited user like me, I get top speed when needed, can add more data if required and not be paying Verizon retail.

About Electric Cars

It's 2017 and my 18 year old Lexus started having intermittent problems.

So, I started looking around to see what I could replace it with.

I could buy another Lexus in 5-10 thousand range, but it's a gamble as the car is only as good as it has been taken care of.

Then I came across a $2500 2011 Nissan Leaf with 75k miles. I saw it, drove it, and liked it. I was going to buy it next day, but the guy who came after me bought it already.

That started my interest in electric vehicles in general, and curiosity why used are so cheap compared to new.

After months of research, this is the conclusion I have reached.

Early Leafs had battery capacity problems - but if you can find one cheap enough, new battery costs around 6k usd. The real range of the car is like 60 miles if you use AC or freeway, so that has to be taken into consideration. There is useful space in the trunk, back seat and there are 4 doors. If I was buying a Leaf, I would look for 2013+ model as it had a 7kw charger versus 3kw in 2011 and 2012. Higher kw charger equates in faster charges from 220v line. 110v connections are limited due to low Amps supplied by the household plug.

Update 6-19-18

So I bought a 2012  Nissan Leaf with 50k miles and a bad battery. Yeah, old battery took a dive and I was able to get a new one! So far I have driven couple thousand miles, and this car is a great commuter. I can get like 60 miles if I go 65 mph on the freeway, or 80+ on the streets.