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We just completed a new Python-based GShockTimeServer project. The server runs on any desktop, Raspberry Pi-type device, or even on Pi Zero. It keeps your watches with correct time without any mobile app.
I think we can do better than the official G-Shock Connected App! This app provides the following extra features:
- Sets watch's reminders from Google Calendar
- Automatically sets correct timezone when travelling. No need to switch between Word Time and Home time
- Use your watch to trigger actions on your phone remotely, like taking pictures, dialling a phone number, etc.
- Auto-configure most watch settings from phone's configuration.
- Phone's alarms can be synced with watch's alarms.
- Super fast connection time: 3.5 seconds vs 12 seconds for the official app.
This app supports the G-Shock Square Bluetooth 5600 and 5000, as well as the 2100 series watches.
The app works by sending commands to the watch via Bluetooth (BLE). The watch data is not persisted on the phone, but instead is read from the watch each time
a connection is established. Any changes on the app are sent back to the watch, only when the Send to Watch button is pressed.
The local time can be set from the main screen by pressing the Send to Watch button next to the current time display. The app uses your current location to get the local lime.
You can then set the watch time accordingly, without having to change your World Time selection on the watch.
This screen also shows your Home Time location and battery level.
The B5600/B5000 watches have 5 alarms and a Signal or chime setting. They are first read from the watch,
and displayed in the app. The alarms can be updated by pressing on the time display of each alarm.
A dialog will appear which allows you to select the time.
Once the alarms have been set, you can send them to the watch, or send them to the Alarm Clock app on the phone.
Unfortunately, there is currently no way to read the alarms from the Alarm Clock app programmatically,
so we cannot set the watch alarms from this app. However, we can set the Alarm Clock app with the watch's alarms.
Make sure you have set your phone to auto-sync to your google account. Otherwise, adding events in your phone will not be reflected to the Google account, and you will not be able to see the events in the app.
This screen displays Events from your Google Calendar and allows you to send these events to the watch's reminders.
(don't confuse these with reminders in the Google Calendar app. These reminders are special features and are not accessible programmatically).
There are many ways to set calendar events in Google Calendar. Events could be one time, repeating daily, weekly, monthly
or yearly, or some complex period such as every second Thursday of the month. There are also events which occur number of
times only (count events), like repeat this event 12 times every Monday. Not all event types can be supported on the watch, but this app
attempts to adopt the calendar events to the watch as much as possible. The only not supported event types are daily and complex events,
such as every second Thursday of the month. Count events are simulated on the watch with a start and end date,
matching the event start time, count and frequency. In case the calendar event cannot be adopted to a watch reminder,
the app will display the event as Incompatible. Only future events and recurring events which have not expired are displayed.
The watch only supports all-day reminders. However, if the Google calendar event has a specific time,
it will still be used as a day reminder on the watch.
The selected actions are run when the user short-presses the lower-right watch button from disconnected mode (initial screen). Using these actions, the watch acts like a remote control for your phone.
This screen allows you to set up the watch's settings. You can auto prefill the values using information from your phone.
For those who want to build their own Android app for interfacing with the G-Shock 5000/5600 watches, I have also created an API (library) project here.
If you rather not use a mobile app, but still like to set the time on your G-Shock to the correct time, here is a Python program which can run as a server on a regular PC or Raspberry PI with Bluetooth interface. The project is still WIP, but you can give it a try.