Apple Watch - I'm unimpressed

[ControlD]

Eh, I think he would have eventually...

The main thing about smartwatches which isn't really done is to make them repositories for music. With smartphones better bigger, and with their storage limited, imagine how cool it would be if you could carry part of your music library on the watch and listen to it while jogging.

But what's the point of that without having everything else you would want in an exercise watch? No GPS, tracking apps, etc. You are better off using your phone or a dedicated device that can do everything already.

A smart watch might have some interesting uses, but it seems like a complete failure as an exercise device.

 

[desura]

But what's the point of that without having everything else you would want in an exercise watch? No GPS, tracking apps, etc. You are better off using your phone or a dedicated device that can do everything already.

A smart watch might have some interesting uses, but it seems like a complete failure as an exercise device.

Well then, why not move some sensors to a watch? You could put storage, a motion sensor on there. GPS probably is too much a power drain, but maybe in the future a more efficient chip will be invented.

 

[Kaido]

Didn't apple just demo like 20 different ways to use it on the 9th?

Yeah, but nothing really captured me about it - like Eug's title says, it's kind of unimpressive. Impressive technically, sure, but nothing really reached out and grabbed me and made me say "I GOTTA BUY THIS RIGHT NOW!!!", you know?

 

[ControlD]

Well then, why not move some sensors to a watch? You could put storage, a motion sensor on there. GPS probably is too much a power drain, but maybe in the future a more efficient chip will be invented.

Yeah, but it wouldn't be a smart watch if it could do something without being tethered to a phone. I think the very name for these devices is completely misleading to start with!

 

[Compman55]

Why would the watch require an iphone? That is dumb.

I wonder if it would work with an ipad / ipod instead.

 

[smackababy]

Why would the watch require an iphone? That is dumb.

I wonder if it would work with an ipad / ipod instead.

Likely, due to it not actually having all the hardware sensors it uses (GPS perhaps?) or the OS isn't full functioning on it's own. We don't know it it requires an iPhone for use at all times or if it only requires it every now and again to be functional. If it always has to be connected via bluetooth or whatever, that is a bit silly, but understandable if it is only running a minimal OS and doing a lot of processing via the iPhone, rather than wasting battery life doing it on the watch itself.

 

[SamQuint]

We should all start a pool as to the official release date for this thing.

My guess March 20th 2015

 

[Childs]

So I think I get it now. I was looking at the Health app and trying to figure out how to track steps on my iPhone 5. Apparently I need an activity tracker. While I was looking at them I noticed some do interesting things like heart rate monitoring and sleep analysis. The Apple Watch seems to make more sense in this context, versus a mini computer on your wrist.

What doesn't make sense is making it a luxury device. I would think they would have a killer product if they reduced it down to just the sensors, waterproof to 50m, and a simple monochrome screen to extend battery life, and put it around $100 - 150. Maybe they will after the Apple Watch is released. Kinda strange that no manufacturer seems to be able to make an activity tracker that does everything well. Anyways, I could see myself interested in the Apple Watch now, but not at $350. But I can see the need for something like it.

 

[amyklai]

What doesn't make sense is making it a luxury device. I would think they would have a killer product if they reduced it down to just the sensors, waterproof to 50m, and a simple monochrome screen to extend battery life, and put it around $100 - 150. Maybe they will after the Apple Watch is released. Kinda strange that no manufacturer seems to be able to make an activity tracker that does everything well. Anyways, I could see myself interested in the Apple Watch now, but not at $350. But I can see the need for something like it.

Maybe Intel's upcoming Basis Peak could be the right thing for you.

 

[Childs]

Maybe Intel's upcoming Basis Peak could be the right thing for you.

Yeah, I think so. I'd rather have the form factor of something like the Nike FuelBand SE, but the Basis Peak does everything I want.