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Apple Announces Apple Watch Series 2 With GPS, Water-Resistance and Faster Performance (theverge.com)

In addition to two shiny new iPhones, Apple has announced its second generation Apple Watch today, calling it the Apple Watch Series 2. The appearance is nearly identical to the original Apple Watch, with the exception of the new (optional) ceramic build material. The biggest changes can be found under the hood. The Verge reports: "The built-in GPS allows the device to perform mapping on its own, no phone required. The company also upgraded the processor in the device, now called the S2, and the display. The Series 2 has a dual-core processor Apple says is 50 percent faster than its predecessor, with double the graphics performance thanks to a new GPU. The display is now 50 percent brighter as well. The company also renewed its longstanding partnership with Nike with a special Nike+ version of the Apple Watch. It resembles a fusion of an Apple product with Nike's discontinued FuelBand fitness tracker, and it's designed for runners and workout junkies. The aluminum sport version of the Apple Watch Series 2 will start at $369, as will the Nike+ edition. The original Apple Watch is being rebranded as Series 1 and will start at $269, though it will come with the upgraded S2 dual-core processor. Preorders start on September 9th, while the watchOS 3 update will go live on September 13th."

3 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Re:What, No Spy Camera? by EvilSS · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So Apple will actually get people to actually wear a GPS now.

    All Hail The True Masters

    I really don't get this. People always bag on Apple for stuff like this but they have never shown any interest in spying on their customers. They are not in the ad business like some other mobile OS makers, and they have shown that they are not exactly friendly to governments either. Yes, it has a GPS because, surprise, users, particularly runners, asked for it. Begged for it. Yelled and screamed for it. Not because Apple wants to track your every movement. Untighten the tinfoil a bit.

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  2. Re:Still too expensive by EvilSS · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ... but anytime I was at a desk typing I'd have to take it off because it simply wasn't comfortable hitting the desk, or worse me when using a laptop.

    I always had this problem with any watch, but the Apple Milanese band (or the $21 knock off I got on Amazon) is the best watch band I've ever owned. Light, thin, breaths so no sweaty wrist ring, and completely flat across the bottom of the wrist so it doesn't bother me while typing. It's the first band in decades I can wear all day.

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    I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
  3. Re:What, No Spy Camera? by DamnOregonian · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They are not in the ad business like some other mobile OS makers

    In all fairness, that only became true 2 months ago.

    Yes, it has a GPS because, surprise, users, particularly runners, asked for it. Begged for it. Yelled and screamed for it. Not because Apple wants to track your every movement.

    You're probably correct, given the above-quoted point you made, however, iAd was a full-time user of Location Services.

    Untighten the tinfoil a bit.

    Definitely agree there.