Listening to the Voices in My Head

I have been using/wearing a Samsung Gear2 smart watch. It worked great, only needing charging every three to four days, and the version of Samsung health could measure pulse, blood oxygen and a few other things.

Along comes update on phone. Now Gear2 doesn't work, not because of hardware, but because of software. The new Samsung Health does a 'check version' on the watch, and blocks it from connecting. I email Samsung about why they're using software to block the watch. They said internet security reason. What? The watch didn't connect to the internet, just phone. I called bullshit, and pretty much told them so, but in polite language. They replied with a snarky comment about watch being 'obsolete'. THEN WHY THE F**K IS IS LISTED IN THE ACCESSORIES!

(deep breath)

Samsung suggest I get one their new smart watches, as the prices of $399 to $499. Uhh, no. I told them I don't buy items that have deliberate obsolescence built it, as you can't change the battery if it stops charging.

Dilemma: What to do.

Solution: Either buy one of my old model smart watch, that had has different OS flashed on it, and can be used with the OS makers own health software, or go in search of an 'old' model that is still compatible with the new phone.

I chose option two. at 1/4 the price of the new ones. I miss a great many features and abilities I had on my old watch. Like being able to choose a photo background AND what display of watch. Can't do that, so picked the least eye-bending color.

The only good thing I have found so far, it's great at reminding me to get up and walk around.

Setting up the MyGov, the MyGovID, and SafeWA apps on my phone. After 8 different codes, and multiple attempts to import my COVID vax proof... ARGH!

I would fully understand, that although the information is important, why some people would just say "Screw it!".

My S7 has a glitch, a known one, without one apparent cause or cure. It also affects S7 Edge. The phone will turn the lock screen on all by itself. After a few seconds it will shut off. And this glitch is rather draining on the battery life.

I have read on forum after forum about this for days. I applied every fix and suggestion, short of factory reset, as those who said they tried that final option discovered it didn't fix the problem. There doesn't seem to be any publicly known reason or fix.

So after days of searching, silly me headed to Samsung online chat support. Spent two hours being told do do everything I had already done. Then I got hit with the "back up and factory reset". To me, that's like killing a gnat with a nuke. Also, you see, the latest Samsung back up software, (not so) SmartSwitch sucks big time. All it does is back up your contacts, messages, email and photos. Everything else.. nope. Samsung KIES at least did a full device back up. So, I said no.

Moving on: It seems that both Samsung KIES and SmartSwitch have an issue with one of my external harddrives. It's a Samsung S2 1tb drive. But both of the above programs identify it as a phone. Also, I can't have that HD plugged in the same time I have my S7 because there seems to be some sort of weird Device ID conflict, and neither will work.

Techs' great solution? "Do you really need to have the drive plugged in the same time you need to transfer something to your phone?" I took several deep breaths, and politely answered. How about they fix the problem with their device ID/Drivers?