Apple Watch - I'm unimpressed

[Rakehellion]

wtf... it needs iphone? we have to exercise with our iphone in our pockets? no thank you.

I'd imagine you can just use the watch and sync later.

 

[SamQuint]

I love that they have taken the crown from analog watches and found a good use for it. I'll def have a closer look at this!

You will have to hope the watch can be worn on both arms. I could see a left handed person be out of luck if the watch can't be flipped so the crown can be on the left side.

Also using the crown is a pain. When I have to use the crown to adjust my watch I usually take my watch off. If you have to press it in or pull it out it will tug on the band and you will always be repositioning the watch on your wrist. Unless you like to wear your watch extremely tight.

Not impressed at all. Also it requires a special charger right? Does not use the Apple lightning charger?

 

[KeithP]

I was hoping the Apple Watch wasn't like all those other watches out there. However, the fact of the matter is that it seems just like everything else.

I am curious as to what, specifically, you were hoping to see?

The biggest problems I see with it is battery life and iPhone tethering.

Since it is still in development they probably don't have final battery life numbers. However, they probably have an idea where they will end up and if it was significantly greater than the competition we would have heard about it.

The other thing they weren't clear on is if the iPhone is required for its fitness apps to work. If that is the case, the device is worthless. None of my friends (or myself) take their phones along when exercising.

-KeithP

 

[Eug]

I am curious as to what, specifically, you were hoping to see?

That's just it. I was hoping Apple would surprise us, but they didn't.

 

[SamQuint]

I'd imagine you can just use the watch and sync later.

Maybe he was hoping to store music or stream music on the device to go out on a jog or something without having to take the phone along. Also if it had it's own wireless data it could do maps and navigation. Without the phone can it do any of that?

 

[Michael]

The keynote made it clear that it uses the iPhone GPS. So without an iPhone, no navigation.

No too fond of the rectangular look, but I will hold judgment until I see it in person.

Battery life had better be several days. I often take 16 hour flights and I need a watch that lasts.

I agree that twisting a watch crown while it is on your wrist is difficult.

Michael

 

[Rakehellion]

That's just it. I was hoping Apple would surprise us, but they didn't.

 

[Childs]

That's just it. I was hoping Apple would surprise us, but they didn't.

Thats a tough spot to be in...give everyone what they want before they even know what they want. Or surprise everyone when there is an industry built around knowing what you're trying to do. I kinda think if it was feasible to make it better now, they would have. The only negatives I see is that its not standalone or water resistant, and I'm not sure about water resistance. Its really just a fashion accessory, just like most watches have become. I have an analog Movado watch that doesn't even have numbers. Its not as good as my $30 Gshock that I got at Costco, but when I break out my suit I wear the Movado.

Its not for everyone, and I don't think it was meant to be. Maybe after a year or so they'll release a cheaper durable composite version. I was more disappointed in the stream quality than anything that was actually announced.

 

[Eug]

Thats a tough spot to be in...give everyone what they want before they even know what they want. Or surprise everyone when there is an industry built around knowing what you're trying to do. I kinda think if it was feasible to make it better now, they would have. The only negatives I see is that its not standalone or water resistant, and I'm not sure about water resistance.

And the apps look forced and mostly pointless, just like all the other wearables out there so far.

Its really just a fashion accessory, just like most watches have become. I have an analog Movado watch that doesn't even have numbers. Its not as good as my $30 Gshock that I got at Costco, but when I break out my suit I wear the Movado.

Except, this is a fashion accessory that becomes out of date in 1-2 years because it's an electronic device, but even more so than say an iPod.

Its not for everyone, and I don't think it was meant to be. Maybe after a year or so they'll release a cheaper durable composite version.

And still I expect it to get poor sales, regardless of what it's made of.

 

[dighn]

ditto. there are far better fashion accessories than a disposable mini-iphone. like a real watch.

I agree with the OP here that this thing is just underwhelming in every way. Though I do agree that expecting every product from Apple to be "magical" is a bit unfair. The fact of the matter though is that this doesn't appear to be a game-changer for smart watches, and doesn't alleviate the criticisms directed at this whole category of devices. It's almost just another "me too" product.

 

[Michael]

I have a variety of watches and my day to day watches are a limited edition Seiko Darth Vader watch (don't laugh, it is a classy black watch in appearance) and a G-Shock (Gulfmaster http://www.gshock.com/watches/Master_of_G/GWN1000-9A) . Both are solar powered, set time via radio signals from atomic clocks, last ages without charge and can easily change time zones. I have a few higher end mechanical watches and see watches from the 1930's that I also wear on occasion.

Michael

 

[Childs]

And the apps look forced and mostly pointless, just like all the other wearables out there so far.

What do you expect a smart watch to do?

Except, this is a fashion accessory that becomes out of date in 1-2 years because it's an electronic device, but even more so than say an iPod.

Thats the same with pretty much any gadget. Fashion also changes. Plus, an old iPod still works, just like an old MBP that isn't retina. YMMV on stuff like this, but if you spent the time to watch the stream live you will probably be watching it two years from now to see the next thing. Even most iPhones are essentially switched out for newer ones every few years. If you are considering a watch that supplements an iPhone, I would expect the same.

And still I expect it to get poor sales, regardless of what it's made of.

It depends on how big this market actually is. I would expect it to be the best selling smart watch, but I don't know how big that market is or if there is any real growth. I never thought it would be the next iPhone in terms of overall sales, but it may be the iPhone of smart watches, which would still be a success depending on how you look at it.

One thing I know for sure is I cannot tell what will be a successful Apple product. More times than not I think things are dumb, but time and time again I find out people actually want it.

 

[Eug]

What do you expect a smart watch to do?

Not much that's truly very useful. This unit succeeds in meeting my expectations.

Thats the same with pretty much any gadget. Fashion also changes. Plus, an old iPod still works, just like an old MBP that isn't retina. YMMV on stuff like this, but if you spent the time to watch the stream live you will probably be watching it two years from now to see the next thing. Even most iPhones are essentially switched out for newer ones every few years. If you are considering a watch that supplements an iPhone, I would expect the same.

I buy phones because they are useful to me, not because they are fashion accessories. Although I got the gold because it didn't cost any more.

It depends on how big this market actually is. I would expect it to be the best selling smart watch, but I don't know how big that market is or if there is any real growth. I never thought it would be the next iPhone in terms of overall sales, but it may be the iPhone of smart watches, which would still be a success depending on how you look at it.

Best selling smart watch is not really great praise. Smart watches in general are ignored by consumers.

 

[Red Storm]

A smart watch needs to be a quick, accessible 2nd screen for your phone so that you can either dismiss or act on notifications very quickly and easily (at a glance info and only a few seconds of interaction).

It needs to be able to take voice input and process requests very quickly (weather, sports scores, local places, fact questions, create notes/reminders/appointments).

It needs to be water resistant.

It needs to be functional without a phone for anything fitness related.

It needs to easily last at least one entire day.

It needs to look nice. Personally I think any smartwatch that's rectangular is DOA.

It needs to be at most $300, preferably less, but definitely no more than.

To me, Apple is trying to do way too much with their watch. Anyone who buys it is going to quickly realize that fiddling with a tiny display for more than 10 seconds is a hassle. As of now Android Wear is much closer to how I think a smart watch should act, and the Moto 360 is the closest to what I think a smart watch should look like (but it needs a modern, more efficient SoC). My wife is an iPhone user, she's been wanting a bigger iPhone specifically because she says web browsing is much better on my larger screened phone than her 5S. I figured she would be interested in the watch, but she thinks the same as me. "It's ugly, expensive, and looks too complicated."

 

[Kadarin]

The million-dollar question: What were you expecting?

Unicorns. He was expecting unicorns.

 

[Rakehellion]

And the apps look forced and mostly pointless, just like all the other wearables out there so far.

So basically, you weren't interested in a smart watch, had no plans to buy one, but hoped you could be convinced.

 

[QuantumPion]

Except, this is a fashion accessory that becomes out of date in 1-2 years because it's an electronic device, but even more so than say an iPod.

How is this different from any other fashion accessory? :wub:

 

[Rakehellion]

To me, Apple is trying to do way too much with their watch.

What does it actually do? It's $350, but 90% of the work is done on your iPhone.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I find it hard to wrap my mind around the watch. I was impressed with the fitness/health stuff, but otherwise it seems like it would mostly be useful only if I had a lot of friends with them, but even then mostly in a gimmicky way (plus I don't think I have even one friend who would buy one of these).

I found it interesting that they are making an 18K version. Presumably it will cost $5K or more, and be useful only as scrap once its technology becomes obsolete (which will be only a few years away). I expect Apple will, if it continues making the watch, offer some kind of recycling/upgrade program for the customers who buy the 18K watch, but it still strikes me as odd. I gather this is mostly for the sultan/rap star demographic.

 

[Rakehellion]

I found it interesting that they are making an 18K version. Presumably it will cost $5K or more, and be useful only as scrap once its technology becomes obsolete

Gold plated, surely.

 

[Childs]

It needs to look nice. Personally I think any smartwatch that's rectangular is DOA.

Are there circular ones? Digital displays in general are rectangular. I'm not a fan of rectangular watches in general, but I would think all smart watches would follow this form factor. Circular watch with a smaller rectangular screen doesn't count.

I think one thing missing, assuming it wasn't covered during a time when the stream was crapping out, was a front facing camera. I can kinda get with the Dick Tracey functionality, even though I'm sure the novelty will wear off and I will just start ignoring FaceTime requests like I do on my iPhone.

 

[Red Storm]

What does it actually do? It's $350, but 90% of the work is done on your iPhone.

I'm talking about things like looking at photos on your watch. Remember, you need the iPhone on you to grab the data to get those pictures, so in reality you would just use your MUCH larger screen on the phone to actually look at pictures. Or looking around and zooming in and out on a map. These are all things that should not be done on a watch, especially one that's tethered to a phone. A well designed smart watch UI requires ~10 seconds or less of physical interaction IMHO. Anymore and you've made something that's too slow and better done on the phone. Smart watches should be all about decreasing the time spent staring at our screens. They're supposed to make things more efficient (the Moto 360 certainly did for the short time I had it).

 

[TuxDave]

Are there circular ones? Digital displays in general are rectangular. I'm not a fan of rectangular watches in general, but I would think all smart watches would follow this form factor. Circular watch with a smaller rectangular screen doesn't count.

I think one thing missing, assuming it wasn't covered during a time when the stream was crapping out, was a front facing camera. I can kinda get with the Dick Tracey functionality, even though I'm sure the novelty will wear off and I will just start ignoring FaceTime requests like I do on my iPhone.

The Moto 360 has a circular display. Unfortunately my OCD prevents me from buying it since the bottom of the circular display is cropped off.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Who buys this crap? I wouldn't even buy it if it was worth a dollar.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Gold plated, surely.

I don't think so. I believe they specifically said the case was made of 18K. Presumably if it were plated they would not bother to specify the purity of the gold.

EDIT: Yeah, the case is made of 18K - http://www.apple.com/watch/apple-watch-edition/