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Apple Watch |OT| Apple invents the watch!
- Thread starter SuperPac
- Start date
Apple always releases a new model with in tandem with the new OS. Highly unlikely that major changes to watchOS (with required 3 or more months of beta status) if Apple releases new watch in June. More likely very minor OS changes to avoid bugs and not push new features for developers.
Apple's track record of second gen for iPhone, iPad, AppleTV was not an 's' model. Much more likely to expect a big external change. Perhaps not thinner case but still the earlier rumors of a FaceTime camera? (p.s. Appleinsider is a horrible source website)
infiniteloop
Member
Regardless of the site, Ming-Chi Kuo has a pretty decent track record. Watch clearly isn't comparable to iOS device cycles. Same with Apple TV.
Ming-Chi Kuo has a good record; agreed. Appleinsider just does a horrible writeup and commentary around those. Macrumors and everyone else is reporting the Ming-Chi Kuo note anyway, no point linking to Appleinsider since it's not an exclusive.
infiniteloop
Member
AppleInsider had it up before macrumors, hence linking to them.
If the reason you're interested in an Apple Watch is for third party apps, forget about it and just wait for future models. Apps are unbearably slow to the point where you'd never want to launch them. I've not launched one in months.
Just timed one and it took ten seconds for the Philips Hue watch app to load. That's an extremely simple app that displays a single button on screen. Ten seconds to load that shit. Or I could've just swiped down on notification center from my iPhone's lockscreen and accomplished the same task in one second using the iOS widget.
You might think to yourself "big deal, it's only 10 seconds" but it's very different when you're standing around holding your wrist in the air staring at a loading icon and knowing that you're also carrying a device that could accomplish the same task in a fraction of the time. It's almost always faster to pull your iPhone out of your pocket, login with TouchID, launch the app, and do whatever it is on there. Obviously a wristwatch will never be as fast as the newest iPhone, but it's often not even close to acceptable performance (which would be ~3-5 seconds imo).
I'm a day one Apple Watch user and I still wear it every day, but the only thing it's good for is getting notifications on your wrist and the built-in fitness stuff. It's definitely a first-gen/early adopter type product at the moment and probably will remain that way for a while.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
PM sent.
Well I'll contend that the thing I made does let me accomplish a task on the watch faster than I could do it on the phone - especially as I use it often enough that it doesn't have to load up every time I want to use it. I also think using Clear for shopping lists works better on the watch, as I don't have to occupy hands with the phone. But beyond that, and some word puzzle games, I don't think I use any 3rd party apps on the watch.
anyone know what process the chips on Apple Watch are using? Are they down at 14-16nm already? If not then there could be an opportunity for a thinner watch with faster performance. But if its already on a modern process, then they could do thinner *or* faster but not both.
Opus Angelorum
Member
28 nm.
Looks like Apple is continuing on their recent strategy of deemphasizing third party apps (and downplaying the Edition) as only Dark Sky and Argus referenced in these 7 videos. Apple Debuts 7 New Apple Watch Ads Highlighting Fitness Capabilities, Fashion and More
A year after its launch, it’s now clear that pretty much no one needs an Apple Watch
eh, i sniped out a bit of that article. He goes into Apple Pay and health tracking as uses worth exploring further
Alternatively: How Apple can improve the Apple Watch Without New Hardware
Somewhat related: There is still no jailbreak for the AppleWatch. It's the only iOS device (or Apple device?!) not to have one within at least the first year of its release. I can't help but feel that this affects developer and early adopter enthusiasm.
A year after its launch, it’s now clear that pretty much no one needs an Apple Watch
QZ said:
eh, i sniped out a bit of that article. He goes into Apple Pay and health tracking as uses worth exploring further
Alternatively: How Apple can improve the Apple Watch Without New Hardware
Tim Schmitz iOS developer said:
Somewhat related: There is still no jailbreak for the AppleWatch. It's the only iOS device (or Apple device?!) not to have one within at least the first year of its release. I can't help but feel that this affects developer and early adopter enthusiasm.
Lord Error
Insane For Sony
IMO WatchKit 1 squashed the developer interest far more than anything. They really should have waited until WatchOS2 before making the app development available to the 3rd party developers. I think a lot of developers tried to do something, shook their head and left without much enthusiasm to come back. Users bought early apps, saw how terribly unresponsive they were, and would also second-guess any future purchase. Just a mess all around, I have no idea what was Apple thinking.
dragonflys545
Member
Guys, are the sports worth it? or should I go straight to stainless? My girlfriend is going to get me one for my bday but I'm not sure if the stainless steel watch is worth it.
LyleLanley
Banned
That entirely depends on your taste, I like my stainless steel watch but I think some of the sports look nice.
aparisi2274
Member
I have the sport and I love it. I was on the fence about a watch to begin with, but I received this one as a Christmas gift, so I like it.
I looked at the SS edition and I didnt think that the SS alone justified the price increase over the Sport, since everything on the inside is the same...
Get the Sport now and use the extra for bands or save for when the AppleWatch 2 is released.
LostMyNarbles
Member
Personally I'd get a Sport model. I liked the build quality of mine and while I have never owned a Stainless Steel model I just cannot see it being worth the cost difference.
Solideliquid
Member
I have the stainless steel and while it's great, I think I'll pick up the gold model next time. Matches all my other iOS thingies.
Sport Gold or Edition Gold?
I'm pretty sure he meant the Sport Gold. At least I hope. Because the iPad and iPhone (iOS devices) are not 24k of gold.
Solideliquid
Member
Oh yeah Sport Gold for sure, not the $10,000+ Edition.
Yeah heavens no.
Yeah heavens no.
esmith08734
Member
Sport Space Grey is quite nice.
It is, but barely goes with any bands. If you don't care about that it's a good purchase.
Chittagong
Gold Member
One year in, I must say I'm pretty disappointed with the sports capabilities of Apple Watch
- Doesn't work at all on the gym when doing squats etc. Heart rate shows constantly just 60 BPM. I know it's not meant for gym, which is disappointing to start with
- Today I did an aerobic session, my average HR was 60 BPM according to Apple Watch. Again, not a supported case, but it's not like aerobic is some obscure sport
- When running/hiking, which is an advertised use, it keeps losing the heart rate half of the time. In my recent uphills my BPM kept on swinging frm 179 to 85 or something.
- Battery burns in just over three hours of exercise. You can't even do a marathon, unless you are a world champion
- Activity app UI is a hot mess, very unintuitive compared to My Fitness Pal for example. They went for the looks, not the usabilty
Not good.
- Doesn't work at all on the gym when doing squats etc. Heart rate shows constantly just 60 BPM. I know it's not meant for gym, which is disappointing to start with
- Today I did an aerobic session, my average HR was 60 BPM according to Apple Watch. Again, not a supported case, but it's not like aerobic is some obscure sport
- When running/hiking, which is an advertised use, it keeps losing the heart rate half of the time. In my recent uphills my BPM kept on swinging frm 179 to 85 or something.
- Battery burns in just over three hours of exercise. You can't even do a marathon, unless you are a world champion
- Activity app UI is a hot mess, very unintuitive compared to My Fitness Pal for example. They went for the looks, not the usabilty
Not good.
SuperPac
Member
There might be something wrong with your Watch, because I have worn mine for workouts and after starting an exercise it's showing what I would imagine the correct HR to be and certainly not "60". I am not exercising for 3 hours, though.
Not even exercising regularly, so maybe that's more my issue.Agree that the Activity app UI is not great, very first-gen. I wish they'd give that some love like when they redesigned the Maps stuff to make that usable.
I really would like some kind of competitive/social aspect to Activity and Health in general that would plug into other apps. I've been using Lose It for years and it's been good but I have friends who are on FitBits and my wife has an Apple Watch and we can't compete against friends or each other for activity.
Congrats! Despite third-party apps being mostly terrible there are a couple good ones. If you're going to use that face, try out some complications like Dark Sky, CARROT Weather, Fantastical... Complications are the best thing the Watch offers IMO.
On the recent ATP 166 - FITNESS TURD (pertinent part starts about 1:21) John joins Marco in dropping the Apple Watch while Casey defends it:
Poor Apple Watch
Wearables: one-third of consumers abandoning devices | The Guardian (April 2014)
Why Apple Inc. Doesn't Care Most Wearable Tech Ends Up As Junk | Fool (Feb 2015)
Fitbit CEO James Park Explains Why Your Fitbit Won’t End Up in the Junk Drawer | recode (Oct 2015)
Where Wearable Technology Ends Up (Hint: Not Your Wrist) | NYTimes (Jan 2016)
hmm... curious what the usage rate is for the Apple Watch...
Poor Apple Watch
Liss Is More said:
Wearables: one-third of consumers abandoning devices | The Guardian (April 2014)
Why Apple Inc. Doesn't Care Most Wearable Tech Ends Up As Junk | Fool (Feb 2015)
Fitbit CEO James Park Explains Why Your Fitbit Won’t End Up in the Junk Drawer | recode (Oct 2015)
Where Wearable Technology Ends Up (Hint: Not Your Wrist) | NYTimes (Jan 2016)
hmm... curious what the usage rate is for the Apple Watch...
ooh what color was the other band? what was the good price? that's a 38mm right? was that by choice or just the good price?
SuperPac
Member
I'm with Casey - I wear the Apple Watch every day and can't imagine being without it. Plenty of room for improvement, but I'm happy with the product I have.
jts
...hate me...
Thanks for the tips lads. Already enjoyed it a lot with the Apple TV. Very handy remote.
No, it is actually a 42mm, and costed just under 300 euro. Which I think is a sweet price already taking into account resale value in a few months, I reckon around 250 may be feasible when the gen 2 hits. I did make no concessions in the size, and the model would always be the Sport (for budgetary reasons, otherwise I'd take the regular SS). I would have accepted the space grey if the price was right but the silver was also my first choice. When I tried to import it via mail forwarding one year ago, it was already a 42mm silver with blue sports band.
The other band is white. Now I just need a darker understated band. Want that midnight blue one.
Hey!ooh what color was the other band? what was the good price? that's a 38mm right? was that by choice or just the good price?
No, it is actually a 42mm, and costed just under 300 euro. Which I think is a sweet price already taking into account resale value in a few months, I reckon around 250 may be feasible when the gen 2 hits. I did make no concessions in the size, and the model would always be the Sport (for budgetary reasons, otherwise I'd take the regular SS). I would have accepted the space grey if the price was right but the silver was also my first choice. When I tried to import it via mail forwarding one year ago, it was already a 42mm silver with blue sports band.
The other band is white. Now I just need a darker understated band. Want that midnight blue one.
Pretty much how I feel too.
Hidden One
Member
Scratched the screen on my Apple Watch Sport TWICE. One is barely visible but the other is a deep scratch. Had it less than 2 weeks .
.dragonflys545
Member
I got the SPORTS watch!!! and I gotta say I freaking love it! It looks amazing and I just love everything this watch has to offer. It's my first first smart watch... actually my very first watch in general xD Gonna so wear this everyday!
Any App recommendations? what are some must get apps?
Any App recommendations? what are some must get apps?
aparisi2274
Member
I live in NYC, so I use the Citymapper app which has a watch glance that lets me see what subway lines are being serviced... I use it every day.
I also use the MLB app for baseball scores, and I use a currency convertor app to keep tabs on the USD to Yen rates...
I heard Carrot (weather app) is amazing, but I have yet to pull the trigger on it.
dragonflys545
Member
Awesome! I live in NYC as well. I drive to work everyday, but occasionally I do take the subway on the weekends, so definitely gonna download that. Thanks.
aparisi2274
Member
the other cool thing about the watch is if you use maps for directions, it buzzes differently for when you have to make a right or left... this way you can walk to your destination without having to look at your phone or watch..
I also use Fandango to have my movie tickets on my watch... same with my boarding pass for flights I am taking
dragonflys545
Member
Going on a trip tomorrow. This is perfect! Thanks.
JetBlackPanda
Member
Just popping in to say I love my WATCH so much! I can't see my life without notifications on my wrist.
aparisi2274
Member
From April 2015 to Dec 2015, I had no idea how I would use the watch in every day life, as I had never been into wearing a watch, and whenever I had one on my wrist it felt foreign to me, so I never pulled the trigger. Christmas comes along and my mom gets me the 42mm sport, and now, after using it for about 5months, I can't take it off. If I leave my house to run to the store and I forget to put it on, my wrist feels weird.
I use the watch for the following things:
1. viewing and replying to txts
2. living in NYC, I need to know what subway lines are being affected on any given day and I do that with the citymapper app and their watch glance feature makes is simple for me to see what is going on.
3. I use the MLB app to get constant score updates for my Mets which is nice
4. I use it for Fandango tickets, Apple Pay, and Boarding passes for when I fly somewhere.
jts
...hate me...
Some loose thoughts on it, 2 days later:
It's comfortable to use.
The display is amazing.
Battery in this is actually ace. Probably went to went to bed with about or over 50% juice (7am-11pm).
But then again I'm not using it as a smartphone. I don't care about using a apps like Instagram on it and whatnot.
It isn't nearly as slow as I was expecting. Had my expectations in check but it's zippy enough. Even loading 3rd party apps, I don't find those spinning circles to be that slow. It takes what, one second to load an app. Probably syncing info over bluetooth.
Standing time doesn't seem to be reliable at all but I can't be arsed with its activity gimmicks, or the activity circles, achievements etc. Can be a fun game for people wanting to kickstart some activity but I don't.
Still want it for fitness reasons, from timers to measure distance/pace, to manually log exercises, to measure heart rate, to play music (still need to get a BT headset though), etc.
Nightstand mode is nice, but I have a couple of issues with it:
Shines brighter than I expected (I love full darkness when I sleep) for a bit longer than welcome, and it's a bit cumbersome to palm it when it's standing on the night table, and it easily detaches from the charger. Also, after snoozing the alarm I didn't find a good way of stopping it altogether, without waiting for it to ring again.
Have had a lot of fun with the faces but I'm tending to stick with the modular. Seems to be the best for readability and information density. Can barely quick read an analog face anymore. Besides, sometimes clothes are covering half of the watch, so again it's better to read the modular face (or another digital face with the clock to the right side).
Siri is great on it, but that I expected. Set up timers, play music from Apple Music. Just great.
The way the UI hinges from screen to screen is a bit confusing, and not always logical I think. I'm getting the hang of it, but some choices are eh.
Wish there would be more complications and glances. For example for the remote app. But until then I've tucked it nicely on a corner (I've set up the app screen as an X).
Well that's it I guess. I feel like the watch is very nifty and handy at the right times. It's just not the class of device that you can "go to town" on when you're actively trying to enjoy it, like you can with a phone, a computer, a console etc. You have to let it be, which I think leads to frustration for some that dropped 500+ on a device and have expectations for a certain amount of interaction for that money. It will be useful in its own time. I swear these time puns are not intended.
Anyway I really like it so far. I was craving for a watch as well (was gonna go for a Withings otherwise) but this is, like, a real cool one. Thumbs up.
It's comfortable to use.
The display is amazing.
Battery in this is actually ace. Probably went to went to bed with about or over 50% juice (7am-11pm).
But then again I'm not using it as a smartphone. I don't care about using a apps like Instagram on it and whatnot.
It isn't nearly as slow as I was expecting. Had my expectations in check but it's zippy enough. Even loading 3rd party apps, I don't find those spinning circles to be that slow. It takes what, one second to load an app. Probably syncing info over bluetooth.
Standing time doesn't seem to be reliable at all but I can't be arsed with its activity gimmicks, or the activity circles, achievements etc. Can be a fun game for people wanting to kickstart some activity but I don't.
Still want it for fitness reasons, from timers to measure distance/pace, to manually log exercises, to measure heart rate, to play music (still need to get a BT headset though), etc.
Nightstand mode is nice, but I have a couple of issues with it:
Shines brighter than I expected (I love full darkness when I sleep) for a bit longer than welcome, and it's a bit cumbersome to palm it when it's standing on the night table, and it easily detaches from the charger. Also, after snoozing the alarm I didn't find a good way of stopping it altogether, without waiting for it to ring again.
Have had a lot of fun with the faces but I'm tending to stick with the modular. Seems to be the best for readability and information density. Can barely quick read an analog face anymore. Besides, sometimes clothes are covering half of the watch, so again it's better to read the modular face (or another digital face with the clock to the right side).
Siri is great on it, but that I expected. Set up timers, play music from Apple Music. Just great.
The way the UI hinges from screen to screen is a bit confusing, and not always logical I think. I'm getting the hang of it, but some choices are eh.
Wish there would be more complications and glances. For example for the remote app. But until then I've tucked it nicely on a corner (I've set up the app screen as an X).
Well that's it I guess. I feel like the watch is very nifty and handy at the right times. It's just not the class of device that you can "go to town" on when you're actively trying to enjoy it, like you can with a phone, a computer, a console etc. You have to let it be, which I think leads to frustration for some that dropped 500+ on a device and have expectations for a certain amount of interaction for that money. It will be useful in its own time. I swear these time puns are not intended.
Anyway I really like it so far. I was craving for a watch as well (was gonna go for a Withings otherwise) but this is, like, a real cool one. Thumbs up.
Some loose thoughts on it, 2 days later:
It's comfortable to use.
The display is amazing.
Battery in this is actually ace. Probably went to went to bed with about or over 50% juice (7am-11pm).
But then again I'm not using it as a smartphone. I don't care about using a apps like Instagram on it and whatnot.
It isn't nearly as slow as I was expecting. Had my expeditions in check but it's zippy enough. Even loading 3rd party apps, I don't find those spinning circles to be that slow. It takes what, one second to load an app. Probably syncing info over bluetooth.
Standing time doesn't seem to be reliable at all but I can't be arsed with its activity gimmicks, or the activity circles, achievements etc. Can be a fun game for people wanting to kickstart some activity but I don't.
Still want it for fitness reasons, from timers to measure distance/pace, to manually log exercises, to measure heart rate, to play music (still need to get a BT headset though), etc.
Nightstand mode is nice, but I have a couple of issues with it:
Shines brighter than I expected (I love full darkness when I sleep) for a bit longer than welcome, and it's a bit cumbersome to palm it when it's standing on the night table, and it easily detaches from the charger. Also, after snoozing the alarm I didn't find a good way of stopping it altogether, without waiting for it to ring again.
Have had a lot of fun with the faces but I'm tending to stick with the modular. Seems to be the best for readability and information density. Can barely quick read an analog face anymore. Besides, sometimes clothes are covering half of the watch, so again it's better to read the modular face (or another digital face with the clock to the right side).
Siri is great on it, but that I expected. Set up timers, play music from Apple Music. Just great.
The way the UI hinges from screen to screen is a bit confusing, and not always logical I think. I'm getting the hang of it, but some choices are eh.
Wish there would be more complications and glances. For example for the remote app. But until then I've tucked it nicely on a corner (I've set up the app screen as an X).
Well that's it I guess. I feel like the watch is very nifty and handy at the right times. It's just not the class of device that you can "go to town" on when you're actively trying to enjoy it, like you can with a phone, a computer, a console etc. You have to let it be, which I think leads to frustration for some that dropped 500+ on a device and have expectations for a certain amount of interaction for that money. It will be useful in its own time. I swear these time puns are not intended.
Anyway I really like it so far. I was craving for a watch as well (was gonna go for a Withings otherwise) but this is, like, a real cool one. Thumbs up.
Really cool impressions.
About spot on with what I experienced in general when I got mine (last year).
Battery life was better than I expected on mine (38mm), but I've had a couple replacements and the battery seems a little worse, so I guess mileage may vary. Note, it still lasts me the day. only time when it may not is if I do a workout - which means I've gone for like a 1-2 hour walk, and it's measuring heart rate the whole time.
Nightstand mode is one of those features that I deride or care not for in a product, but am happy to say I'm wrong and I love it. I have the official Apple wAtch stand, and that thing is ace, pricey, but ace.
Personally, I'm an analogue watch face and I originally used utility, but eventually narrowed down to simple (with no numbers, just a circle, and only 3 complications: activity, digital time, and temperature).
Just curious as to how you find the standing not accurate? Not saying it is, just wondering what is not working for you. Is it saying you're standing when you're not etc?
jts
...hate me...
Yeah I guess in 2 days I haven't fully tested the battery because I haven't even tried the workout feature.
Regarding standing not being accurate, that's exactly it. For example today at 12:40am local time it was saying I had stand up for 5 hours. I put the watch on after 7am, and I sat down for most of my day, so it's way way off.
That official Apple Watch stand looks sweet as hell. I don't want to splurge now, but give it a couple of months and maybe!
Interfectum
Member
Same here. I couldn't imagine not having it now.
jts
...hate me...
Tomorrow the local Lidl will carry bluetooth headphones and for 25€ I’m tempted to give them a go. They’re probably crap.
I remember there was some ghetto brand on Amazon/ebay selling some rated as “”decent”” bluetooth headphones for cheap. But completely forgot the name.
Want a cheap entry ticket into the bluetooth headphone game, and we’ll see from there. Especially because there’s a good chance that that market ramps up beginning later this year.
I remember there was some ghetto brand on Amazon/ebay selling some rated as “”decent”” bluetooth headphones for cheap. But completely forgot the name.
Want a cheap entry ticket into the bluetooth headphone game, and we’ll see from there. Especially because there’s a good chance that that market ramps up beginning later this year.
A year with the Apple Watch: What works, what doesnt, and what lies ahead?
Also, Ars doesn't mention ApplePay at all in that review. Is anyone using ApplePay on the watch or more so on phone? Are you running into this problem:
ArsTechnica said:About a year ago, Apple announced and released its first Apple Watch. The long-rumored product was Apples first all-new product category since the iPad and its first under CEO Tim Cook. To say that expectations were high would be an understatement...
After a full year of wearing the Apple Watch every single day, it's time to revisit the hardware, software, and some things I looked at in our original review to see where the platform is and where I think it ought to go in the next year or two.
Table of Contents
- Software updates: WatchOS 2.x
- Hardware updates and subtle repositioning
- What am I still using/what do I like?
- Its a watch
- I can use it to find my phone
- Some notifications
- Setting timers
- Weather forecasts and other Complications
- Fitness, kind of?
- Battery life isnt a problem
- What am I not using and why? What are the biggest problems?
- Siri
- Texting, e-mail, and other basic communication
- Heartbeats and drawing and those animated emoji things
- Apps
- Performance and consistency are big issues
- Hardware re-review: Hows it holding up?
- Software and hardware wish list
All of the above should make it clear that I dont dislike the Apple Watch, but I also dont think its really living up to its full potential. With that in mind,
- More speed
- More watch bands that match the non-silver watches
- Expanded APIs and app capabilities
- Better fitness features
- Third-party watch faces
- More independence
- The iPhone wasn't built in a day
Also, Ars doesn't mention ApplePay at all in that review. Is anyone using ApplePay on the watch or more so on phone? Are you running into this problem:
Walt Mossberg said:
infiniteloop
Member
I use Apple Pay on the Watch all the time. Never had an issue with any readers.
I have my Superdrug discount card configured as an alternative watch face (because the Stocard app is so slow). It can be really awkward to use at times, because it has to be scanned with the same scanner that operators use to scan the products. It just depends on what side of the counter the till is set up for.
Paying with Apple Pay is fine though.
Paying with Apple Pay is fine though.
WonkyPanda
Member
Ugh. So conflicted. Do I buy or wait?!