Slashdot Mirror
Slashdot Asks: Anyone Considering an Apple Watch 4? (usatoday.com)
Long-time Slashdot reader kwelch007 writes:
I finally gave in, after years of Android loyalty, because the iPhone and Apple Watch just worked, so I was told (and it is true). I changed from my Motorola Maxx for an iPhone 7, because I wanted the Apple Watch. Shortly after, I purchased a second-hand Apple Watch Series 1. I have never looked back...and I'm happy with it.
Last week, I was able to buy an Apple Watch Series 4 with the exact specs I wanted... Wow! The screen is a ton bigger than my Series 1. I noticed right away when it asked me to set my passcode...the buttons were WAY bigger! It truly has the "side-to-side" screen...it's noticable... "Walkie Talkie" is super convenient (used with my associate who told me that it was in stock at Best Buy...)
Cool:
1) It's big, but not much bigger on your wrist than the 42mm versions previous...rather, the screen is bigger, brighter, and more usable.
2) The speakers and mics are far and away better than previous versions of the Apple Watch.
But they don't yet have access to "the highly-touted 'ECG' capability". (Fortune reports it was only approved by America's FDA the day before the launch event -- and isn't yet available for "international" customers.) And the software also isn't ready yet for "Fall Protection," a feature which calls emergency responders if it detects that you've fallen to the ground and you don't respond to prompts for the next 60 seconds. ("The feature is automatic with Watch owners who identify themselves as 65 and up," USA Today reported last week.)
"I spoke to several people in their 40s or 50s who said the same thing: they were already considering buying Series 4 watches for their parents for this feature alone," reported Daring Fireball, and both sites concluded that excitement was actually higher for Apple's new watches than it was for their new iPhones. ("We're talking about a device used by over a billion people -- the iPhone," writes USA Today, "compared with an accessory that analysts say have sold about 15 million units.") Daring Fireball acknowledges that the Apple Watch isn't the "nicest" watch in the world, but it's definitely the nicest if you compare it only to other smart watches and fitness trackers. (Though "that's like saying you're the richest person in the poorhouse.") But what do Slashdot readers think?
Is anyone considering an Apple Watch 4?
Last week, I was able to buy an Apple Watch Series 4 with the exact specs I wanted... Wow! The screen is a ton bigger than my Series 1. I noticed right away when it asked me to set my passcode...the buttons were WAY bigger! It truly has the "side-to-side" screen...it's noticable... "Walkie Talkie" is super convenient (used with my associate who told me that it was in stock at Best Buy...)
Cool:
1) It's big, but not much bigger on your wrist than the 42mm versions previous...rather, the screen is bigger, brighter, and more usable.
2) The speakers and mics are far and away better than previous versions of the Apple Watch.
But they don't yet have access to "the highly-touted 'ECG' capability". (Fortune reports it was only approved by America's FDA the day before the launch event -- and isn't yet available for "international" customers.) And the software also isn't ready yet for "Fall Protection," a feature which calls emergency responders if it detects that you've fallen to the ground and you don't respond to prompts for the next 60 seconds. ("The feature is automatic with Watch owners who identify themselves as 65 and up," USA Today reported last week.)
"I spoke to several people in their 40s or 50s who said the same thing: they were already considering buying Series 4 watches for their parents for this feature alone," reported Daring Fireball, and both sites concluded that excitement was actually higher for Apple's new watches than it was for their new iPhones. ("We're talking about a device used by over a billion people -- the iPhone," writes USA Today, "compared with an accessory that analysts say have sold about 15 million units.") Daring Fireball acknowledges that the Apple Watch isn't the "nicest" watch in the world, but it's definitely the nicest if you compare it only to other smart watches and fitness trackers. (Though "that's like saying you're the richest person in the poorhouse.") But what do Slashdot readers think?
Is anyone considering an Apple Watch 4?
And, as with Fakebook...if "the elderly" (according to the youth, that probably means anyone over 40) start wearing apple watches constantly, the "youth" will do like they are with Fakebook, and find something else LOL. Ewwwwww...granny has the same watch I do, yuck! I better find something else. I don't want an "old people's" watch.
My biggest issue is having to charge the damn thing every single day... Even more annoying since I like to use the sleep tracking feature...
It needs some sort of wireless on wrist charging tech... or a battery that lasts a day.... I know that's a lot to ask!
I got a free Android watch after evaluating some custom software on it. I gave it to my intern, since it did not add anything to my life, and required me to put on a watch, and charge it. Those were negatives. I was also constantly disappointed by the lack of features - the Android watch basically seemed like a phone extension that made it so I had three extra buttons for my phone, that I could control from my watch. Was this in case I was too lazy / disabled / intoxicated to control my phone? I don't see the value of controlling my phone from my watch, when I could reach into my pocket and control my phone. While riding my bicycle, and listening to audiobooks, or podcasts, I don't need to control my phone past what I can do on my bluetooth headset. I don't think an Apple watch would add anything to my life either, and it would subtract the exact same as my Android watch, but significantly more since I'd have to buy an Apple phone, and the watch.
I received a FitBit Charge HR for Christmas. It was fun to use especially with my girlfriend at the time. That one broke across the band, since in addition to owning a software company, I also own apartments and do my own repairs, with my hands. Having a watch while doing a lot of physical work is not convenient at all. FitBit replaced it, for free, since it was under warranty. Then, I broke this one in the exact same way. My mom gave me hers, and this one worked for a while, until I started getting a rash from it. I'd alternate it between both hands, and then both my hands had a rash. Then I started wearing it around my ankle, like a prisoner ankle bracelet. That one eventually broke across the bands as well. I could have purchased replacement bands, and fixed these. However, after 3x of them breaking, I decided these pieces of crap weren't worth the replacement costs, even in terms of me ordering a replacement band and using my small screwdrivers to put the sensor into a new band. They definitely weren't work buying a new one.
It makes me feel sad thinking that so many of my countrymen gain excitement from the crap that they buy, rather than anything that they do. How can someone seriously gain a sense of accomplishment, interest, wonder, or awe, from something Apple sells you? This type of fulfillment is designed to only last until the next generation comes out - and the device might actually stop functioning (by design!) when the next iteration is released. I can understand if you bought a book, tutoring session, telescope, or a power tool - something that extended your reach, your understanding, or your abilities. But something that saves you the trouble of reaching into your pocket to use your phone...? This just seems sad to me, especially when you consider the (after-tax) hours worked that normally have to be worked in order to buy a pair of these, based on median income.
You should be getting bored. It's not a watch problem, it's a person problem. If people care more about their watches, your meeting sucks and is either too long or too irrelevant.
It's taken this long for it to be slashvertised so it is obviously not important enough.
Admittedly the bs factor in the slashvertisement is quite impressive, but still, sorry, try harder next time Apple.
I tried an Apple Watch and switched back to Garmin.
1/ Battery life. My Felix 5 plus battery lasts all week. My Apple Watch died about once a week. A dead device is not real useful. Yes, I liked all the nifty âoesmart watchâ features and yes, I do multiple exercise sessions a day and yes, I need a device that can keep up with me and Apple Watch isnâ(TM)t it.
2/ Better health and sports metrics. I find sleep monitoring helpful, Apple Watch doesnâ(TM)t have it. I find V02max estimation helpful, Apple Watch doesnâ(TM)t have it. I find heart rate variability metrics for stress and training load helpful, Apple Watch doesnâ(TM)t have it.