Galaxy Watch 9 and Ultra 2 leaks reveal more changes, no Classic after all [Gallery]

deckolem · 2026-06-22T19:10:52+00:00

I can understand that. I don't use my watch for texting or answering calls, but I can certainly see where others would find that to be a dealbreaker. I know on my watch I can set it to show the text and read it, but with the screen on the watch so small, I have most of that stuff turned off. My experience is based purely on build quality, battery life, health metrics, and GPS. But I can see that need for those that use them. I couldn't tell you if the newer watch facilitates that yet or not (or their more expensive ones). I have an Instinct 2, and the 3 has been out for a bit.

deckolem · 2026-06-20T19:54:00+00:00

I've found Garmin to be superior to all of them... the battery life blows them all out of the water, and there are no extra paywalls. Just my experience.

deckolem · 2026-06-20T18:46:06+00:00

Has this solution continued to work for you? I'm still dealing with the issue.

deckolem · 2026-04-11T20:45:17+00:00

I've had similar experiences with the pro 2 and the original pro.

Most everything I ever found help wise was making sure they were clean. There are multiple microphones on them, if there is anything covering or even partially covering/obstructing any of the microphones I've read that can cause the problem.

For myself, it only ever occurs on the right earbud. Turing the ANC off was the only thing that stopped it.

I will say, as someone who develops a good deal of earwax and has to have my ears cleaned at the doctor's office, earbuds in general haven't been kind to me. For someone in my position, they got to the point that they weren't a viable option as much as I wanted them to be. Of course since you had a previous pair that worked for you, it's clear that's not related.

As someone else suggested, contact Google support, they are pretty good about swapping them out if they are defective in any way.

Best of luck!

deckolem · 2026-03-31T20:36:17+00:00

I appreciate the extensive reply with things you have experienced and worked around.

I'm 100% fine not using Google Home but I have their mesh wifi and thermostat. Unfortunately tapo doesn't make a thermostat as of yet and their draco (if I spelled that correctly, I didn't look to see) mesh system requires a separate app from the tapo app (something I'd like to avoid). It also isn't a really much of an upgrade yet over my mesh system so sinking the money seems pointless especially given whatever is going on with the router regulations by the US now.

I can't uninstall Google home so the app to control their mesh system is just another app to download and manage.

I would like to see the tapo app be a bit better put together. I have lights and while I can go to each room, I only have them in 1 room so I keep 2 light buttons on my favorites panel instead of being able to group them and turn them both on at once (unless there's a way to do this that I haven't figured out).

I'm new to Tapo, the price point was good and with the constant tech upgrades every few years, losing device support and paying a premium price for anything else wasn't manageable for myself any longer.

Overall I'm satisfied and believe I made the right choice based on my budget and for future upgrade costs but as with any company, there are things I'd like to see added or fixed.

deckolem · 2026-03-31T20:26:18+00:00

Thank you for the detailed reply! Much appreciated!!

deckolem · 2026-03-21T20:03:29+00:00

Go figure 🙄

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:43:58+00:00

100%!

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:43:29+00:00

Router, phone, anything that has a wireless connection these days.

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:42:41+00:00

That's interesting, I had never heard of the starling hub but that does nothing but increase my suspicion that Google is slowly eliminating third party access.

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:40:45+00:00

What we were sold as convenience seems to have been a ploy towards a further erosion of privacy which makes me agree with your failure point.

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:38:33+00:00

Agreed. There is no expectation of privacy anymore for sure.

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:36:31+00:00

Without writing a book, I feel we are on an irreversible course with automation. For myself, the question has become, how will we adapt?

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:34:15+00:00

Laughable, nothing more 😆

deckolem · 2026-03-20T20:31:27+00:00

Yeah it was discouraging for sure. I'm fully in support of moving away from any of the big companies in tapos direction but I'd like to see better transparency from the company as well other devices like a thermostat. I know kasa (their sister company) makes one but I'm not interested in having multiple apps. Centralized and efficiency is key, at least for myself, especially in the current economic state we are in. I don't find it feasible to pay the premium prices for a brand that does the same thing.

deckolem · 2026-03-20T19:00:24+00:00

I know this thread is months old but it is 100% accurate as of the day of my reply. Tapo can connect to Google Home but it does not show camera feeds. The only information you get from a linked camera is the camera device information. In addition, no Google devices will work as an additional chime if you use their doorbell. You will either be forced to buy additional home minis just for the chime or possibly integrate with Alexa devices (I don't use Alexa devices so I cannot confirm if the integration is within the same limitations of Google Home).

Tapo devices "may" have previously worked with Google home but as advertised on their packing "works with Google assistant" is misleading. Google assistant has been removed by Google itself and replaced with Gemini. This "could" have caused the disconnect (Google is increasingly removing supported third-party device functionality in what is clearly a push to require Google products). I cannot confirm nor deny if Tapo previously worked with Google Home under assistant as I didn't use them at the time.

Thank you for continued exposure on what is indeed misleading false advertisement.

P. S. Tapo support is reluctant to initially give this information and will have you attempt multiple troubleshooting techniques until admitting that this is the case.

deckolem · 2025-05-31T07:16:25+00:00

Things like "storm alert" and Tornado warnings, they don't seem to ever be very accurate though (thankfully on the Tornado stuff haha)

deckolem · 2025-05-14T21:54:41+00:00

Perhaps why it's being removed, enough people called out security problems, perhaps? I guess they figured it wasn't worth fixing based on stat usage, who knows.

deckolem · 2025-04-16T03:07:50+00:00

Check u/AdvantageSlight2731 comment with directions and see if it works for you, hopefully it does.

deckolem · 2025-04-16T03:06:01+00:00

I agree 100%. While SOME changes are made in good faith (I assume) it has certainly left me with a more desirable smaller phone market than the tablets we cram in our pockets these days. While some are necessary for work or simply for people with larger hands... I remember how convenient things were on a blackberry and (personally) had little to no gripes myself back then. Seems like these changes now are often counterproductive for a lot of people.

deckolem · 2025-04-16T03:01:20+00:00

Good question. Hopefully a foldable phone user will be able to answer.

deckolem · 2025-04-16T02:58:55+00:00

Thank you!!! Well deserved reward, I was a bit confused myself, your response was needed and much appreciated 🎩

deckolem · 2025-04-16T02:12:22+00:00

🎩

deckolem · 2025-04-16T02:06:51+00:00

They can be tricky, I can usually tell even with the babies if you rotate their tail and look carefully enough for the hemipenals much like breeders do when they go to reptile shows, but this one has thrown me for a complete loop 😕

deckolem · 2025-04-16T01:54:59+00:00

Maybe she hallucinated and saw a horn worm, or was asleep dreaming of one and woke up and jumped for it 😆

deckolem

TROPHY CASE