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How Apple Watch Is Really a Regression In Watchmaking

Nerval's Lobster writes Apple design chief Jony Ive has spent the past several weeks talking up how the Apple Watch is an evolution on many of the principles that guided the evolution of timepieces over the past several hundred years. But the need to recharge the device on a nightly basis, now confirmed by Apple CEO Tim Cook, is a throwback to ye olden days, when a lady or gentleman needed to keep winding her or his pocket-watch in order to keep it running. Watch batteries were supposed to bring "winding" to a decisive end, except for that subset of people who insist on carrying around a mechanical timepiece. But with Apple Watch's requirement that the user constantly monitor its energy, what's old is new again. Will millions of people really want to charge and fuss with their watch at least once a day?

6 of 415 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How big a fuss is it, really? by RevSpaminator · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Years ago, when I wore watches, they had to be waterproof because I never took them off. One less thing to have to f' with in the morning.

  2. Re:How big a fuss is it, really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's a big enough fuss that people stopped using mechanical watches in the first place.

  3. Re:I really don't understand smart watches... by sexconker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Running, for one. Not having to carry a phone is useful. Yes, there are hundreds of fitness trackers. Why not a multi-purpose tracker that also lets me reply to the wife?

    You still have to have the phone on you. The watch talks to the phone.

  4. Re:I really don't understand smart watches... by Austerity+Empowers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Has there been some change over recent years that has made phones hard to get out of your pocket?

    Skinny jeans.

  5. Re:cell phones and notepads by bondsbw · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Would people complain as much if Apple called it the Apple WristComputerWithTouchScreenAndBluetoothSpeakerAndHealthMonitoring?

    I mean, that's what it is. But Apple's marketing decided on a somewhat better name.

    --
    All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
  6. Re:I really don't understand smart watches... by David_Hart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    5) You can have class and style and look a hell of a lot better for a lot less money. You just won't look like a trendy fanboi.

    This.... Anyone attributing a smart watch from Apple, or any other company for that matter, to class or style just do not understand class or style. Some people easily confuse popularity or celebrity with class and style. It's been my experience that people who have true class and style do not wear gadgets or toys that can distract from enjoying people and the event, whether intimate or in public.

    Personally, as a geek I think that gadgets are cool but very few actually have class or style...