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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.
Except that Android Wear isn't Android, its yet another half assed branching of the Android brand to try to sell a badly conceived product. Samsung's Gear is the thing to look at there, and its isn't Android, it's Tizen, with a net result that its easier to use, and more focussed on the task with a longer battery life than Google's crap.
Really, this is not an Android vs iOS thing at all, its an Apple watch vs Samsung watch market, with some also-rans running Google's stuff.
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 bought the original Apple Watch at launch, and have liked using it ever since... finally with the latest version I figured I should really update, as they've thinned them down again (almost as thin as the original), the screen is larger, and it has some nice new features.
As the summary mentioned I've also talked to my parents about getting an Apple Watch for them. It would give me a lot of piece of mind to know if something happened it could be detected quickly. The old saying about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure is very true, even to the point I would pay the (way too expensive) $10/month the US cell companies charge to connect an Apple Watch to the cell network (some countries the telcos only charge $5 which is I think a lot more reasonable).
I personally have never been that interested in watches that people claim are "better" - mostly I find them too big and heavy and not really worth carrying around. A smart watch always made more sense to me, and with the Pebble gone I'd say Apple clearly has the lead at this point by a huge margin.
On a side note, I've worn the watch all day and used it quite heavily, for maps and various timers. It's been on about 14 hours and the battery is still at 52%, I really look forward to being able to use this to capture longer hikes or runs than my old watch.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
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.
It's much more than $400. You need an Apple phone too. And a plan. For the $400 watch (with LTE), also a second plan with the same provider as your phone.
And a second watch for when it's on the charger, which will be quite often.
Sorry. Nobody serious about fitness I know of actually uses these things for fitness.
A friend of mine bought the Nike branded Apple watch since he had an iPhone, with the intent to use it for exercise. And stopped using it after a month, buying a Suunto watch instead. Those are far more geared towards training, and less towards displaying text messages and streaming music.
Watches are useful to tell the time, also when your hands are full or busy. Real watches, that is.
To me, 'smart' watches aren't any more useful than the dumb ones of the past. Everything has a clock now, and like clocks, the new functionality is already duplicated with better results on other devices.
Nope. My phone is a better phone than the iWatch.
Also, I can't wear one at work, and my $10 "Casio" which doesn't require charging has been 35m below the surface plenty of times.
I thought the Apple Watch was just another example of how Apple had gone to hell since Steve Jobs died with their not having a single cool new device since he'd departed in contrast to the years prior where it seemed like something world-changing came out every two years. Apple Watch looked like a joke. But now I do actually want one more than a new phone. I'm sick of phones. At this point I just want the functionality they provide without the necessity of carrying big rectangle around and sliding it in and out of pocket all day. Actually really excited about the watch. Feel like it will liberate me from phones which I've somewhat grown to hate.
I agree with you that Apple has been changed for the worse greatly by Cook. With Jobs they were releasing something that transformed the world practically every two years. Money was secondary. Now they're just a money-making machine that tries to retain the level of design they had under Jobs, to varied success. But I want an Apple Watch because I don't want to carry a phone any more and it actually replaces a phone. Seriously. I will have no need to carry a phone any more now. That's awesome.
I unfortunately get stuck in meeting rooms far more than I should. I am regularly involved in purchasing decisions for a million dollars or more at a time. I work in a Cisco world where everything is very expensive.
I generally am stuck in the room for about 45 minutes at a time while waiting for people to finally shut up. There's some screwed up rule that says "If I have an hour to talk with you, we have to spend the first 45 minutes in a powerpoint about our companies. And let me be brutally honest.... I wouldn't be in the meeting room to begin with if I hadn't already checked you out online. So you're just wasting my time.
So, it took years to get used to people checking their phones in meeting rooms all the time. But then it got to the point where we consider it pretty normal behavior... though the person who should be active and engaging will turn their phone off or simply choose to check their messages once or twice under the heading of "Let me check for that on my phone"
Now, people have the watches. And I don't really know whether they realize they're doing it or not, but every time they look at their wrist, they're sending signals of :
1) How much time do I have left
2) I have somewhere else to be
3) I'm getting bored
Among many other things. Checking your watch all the time says that you're not engaged or even listening to what's going on here. I've been at dinner tables where people keep checking their watch because people post things on twitter or facebook and their wrist is constantly being looked at. Every time they do that, people stop talking and wait for them to return to the conversation... at least at first... but when people finally realize what's happening, things get awkward because you're trying to continue talking while not being disturbed by that thing.
When the watch starts turning itself on for notifications even when the person who has it is tasteful enough to ignore it... the people paying attention to that person are distracted from their work.
I have never respected watches...at least not since around the turn of the century. The reason why is that I know you're carrying a clock in your pocket and wearing a watch either shows of vanity because you have a fancy shiny expensive thing... not interested. Or, it means that you have to constantly remind yourself of what time it is which is extremely poor planning and unprofessional.
I can safely say I've seen people ruin sales meetings because of those watches.... customers love nothing more than being constantly signaled that they're not the most important person right now. And sales people end up easily distracted when they think you're constantly checking on other things.
I've also seen as well as heard of job interviews where the person didn't get the job because the candidate actually looked at their watches... in the interview. That's a huge "OH NO HE DIDN'T".
I don't really like the fitbit thing ever... it's kinda lame... it's like "I'm going to wear a watch to find out if I walk enough"... ummm... no... go take a walk and spend some time away from the TV or computer... or if you must... do what I do which is to walk and listen to an audio book instead. When I see people with fitbits... I see people who are so focused on prolonging their lives that they forget to live them.
You kids and your fancy mainsprings and escapements in my day we used the sun and were happy about it.
Yeah, but how many human sacrifices did you have to make to make sure it came back the next day?
Care killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
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.
There's actually people in Gitmo where the only evidence against them is wearing a Casio F-91W.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
No sig today...
A sundial is smarter than him and more reliable.
Even at night.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
Right. So the Samsung watch and the Apple watch are both completely out of the question. My Casio watch has those fgunctions built it and doesn't need to be registered.
Of course, the whole point in having a 'smart' watch is for it's connectivity, so your paranoid quip is ludicrous.
Almost. I have found 2 or 3 uses in which my phone connected wristwatch gave me improved user experience. Most notable is a feature to buzz on my wrist when I leave Bluetooth range of my phone. Saved me from forgetting my phone numerous times. In addition, media controls (volume/seek/track) while playing audio with my phone not directly within reach is also nice. Last and not least - pressing a button on my watch to cause the phone to buzz or sound a tone is also useful. Both to find it when it's misplaced, and to override any game/media when my kids hog my phone... In those examples, it all comes down to a control device which is more likely to be physically on my person than my phone is. BTW, all these were experienced using a Pebble, not a crazily expensive, walled garden dwelling Apple device.
Agreed. I've never even been convinced of the need to pay the money for a smartwatch with a screen. Just the other day I picked up a replacement for my old Sony SWR10, for $12, which I lost when the band broke a couple years ago. All it can do is vibrate, use a motion sensor, and handle button presses. But that's all I need of it. It functions as a virtual tether to my phone so I can't lose it, it vibrates when my phone gives notifications or the alarm goes off even if I'm not nearby, etc.
I don't even care about the fitness / sleep tracking uses; I mainly just don't want to lose my phone. My last phone was run over by a bus several days ago after it fell out of my pocket while I was helping some people on the side of the road (they were in the bus lane next to a bus stop). Drove off, realized the phone was gone half an hour later, figured out where it was with Where's My Droid, drove back, and there it was, smashed to unusability. Had I still had my smartband then I would have noticed the instant I tried to drive off, if not sooner.
"Who the hell is Nietzche? It's a question stupid people are asking." -- Newscaster, "Jesus Christ Supercop"
Yeah let's get a super expensive watch combined with a super expensive phone that needs a super steady access to charging dock.
Or I could spend less than $100 for a certified device to look after my aging mother which doesn't need to be on a charger constantly.
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.