How Apple Watch Is Really a Regression In Watchmaking

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How Apple Watch Is Really a Regression In Watchmaking

Posted by timothy on Thursday October 30, 2014 @07:00AM from the maybe-they-could-merge-with-timex dept.

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?

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How big a fuss is it, really? by daemonhunter · 2014-10-30 07:02 · Score: 5, Informative

I take my watch off at the end of the day. I put it on in the morning. How big a difference is it to set it "on a charger on my nightstand", instead of just "on my nightstand?"
Much ado about nothing.
1. Re:How big a fuss is it, really? by RevSpaminator · 2014-10-30 07:07 · 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 · 2014-10-30 07:08 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  It's a big enough fuss that people stopped using mechanical watches in the first place.
3. Re:How big a fuss is it, really? by Wycliffe · 2014-10-30 07:23 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  It's a big enough fuss that people stopped using mechanical watches in the first place.
  People stopped using mechanical watches because other watches were better. Also many
  high quality mechanical watches self-wind as long as you wear them. Not wearing them
  is actually a problem. They actually sell special cases to wind mechanical watches when
  not in use: http://www.rakuten.com/prod/4-...
  If the apple watch is better (in any sense of the word) then it has a chance. The only problem
  I see with nightly charging is that (at least with smart phones), that usually means that
  heavy users have to charge midday which IS a pain.
Do you charge your phone every day? by mveloso · 2014-10-30 07:07 · Score: 5, Informative

Back in the day, you didn't need to charge your phone every day. Now you do. Big deal?
Re:I really don't understand smart watches... by sexconker · 2014-10-30 07:11 · 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.
Re:Are Apple watches the only ones? by sexconker · 2014-10-30 07:13 · Score: 4, Funny

Do none of the other smart watches require to be charged?
How is this a problem restricted to Apple?
Because the Apple Watch is the only one that is expected to sell well. (Not because it's better, but because it's Apple.)
Re:Bleh by OzPeter · 2014-10-30 07:14 · Score: 4, Informative

This "article" could have just been jammed in the summary
Nerval = Dicevertisment
That says it all.

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Re:Bleh by Anrego · 2014-10-30 07:28 · Score: 4, Informative

Wow, I assumed you meant like he suspiciously makes a lot of dice related posts, but it's not even subtle.
Identified as "works for slashdot" and entire history seems to be nothing but dice.com posts. It's like this guys job is literally to post dice shit to slashdot all day.
cell phones and notepads by goombah99 · 2014-10-30 07:39 · Score: 4, Interesting

Analogously, cell phones are a throwback to old crank phones because you have to charge them before you use them. We used to have perfectly good powered land lines. Cell phones with their short battery lives and constant attention are for eclectic hobbyists I'm sure.
And don't get me started about notepads when a paper and pencil pad can store your information for a century or more with no format changes impairing data retreival. current ipads are the equivalent of undecipherable babelonian cuniform clay tablets. Ludicrous anyone would want to go back to such fragile formats for information storage

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Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
1. Re:cell phones and notepads by bondsbw · 2014-10-30 08:13 · 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.
Re:I really don't understand smart watches... by Austerity+Empowers · 2014-10-30 07:42 · Score: 4, Insightful

Has there been some change over recent years that has made phones hard to get out of your pocket?
Skinny jeans.
Re:I really don't understand smart watches... by David_Hart · 2014-10-30 08:57 · 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...