The Apple Watch - wow

Archiver

Top Veteran
Hey folks,

I'm not an Apple person. In fact, I have staunchly refused to buy into the Apple system for many, many years because of their proprietary closed system and compatibility issues I have faced. In the 90's, Quicktime took over every single media process on my high end IBM and slowed it down like molasses on a snail. When I tried iTunes on a later PC, it kept crashing the system. The iPod, although seemingly cool, required that blasted iTunes and also needed a proprietary cable for connection. And the iPhone? More of the same.

But the Apple Watch might draw me into their pervasive empire.

I love watches almost as much as cameras. At least 15 years ago, I dreamed of a watch that was sleek and stylish, with a LED screen that could be customized with any dial or display that you might want. Beyond the LCD displays of years before, I wanted a watch that could be a digital today, a classic analogue style tomorrow, dual time when I'm traveling or anything in between. The unveiling of the Apple Watch punched all the right buttons for me. A clean and simple design with a myriad customizable displays and multiple interchangeable straps. Heck, I'd buy one for the watch functions alone.

As I looked at the design, I was reminded of the Ikepod watches of the 90's. Created by Marc Newson, Ikepod watches were very smooth and rounded objects with clean looks and innovative, contemporary aesthetics. By the commentary on the internet, I am not the only person who was reminded of Ikepod, and I was (not) surprised to learn that Marc Newson has joined Apple's design team.

The ability to change from an beautifully clean analogue dial to a full featured digital chronograph is amazing. That Apple did this is not a little perturbing. Will this be the product that brings me to their clutches???
 
I assume you (and the others) will come to their senses soon enough (around the time it becomes available). While I can understand the appeal of a well made timepiece, I fail to see how having a computer on your wrist is any better than having one in your pocket (and let me be clear.....I will never have either....so maybe I'm just not the target).

I think there will eventually be a backlash against this "connected all the time nonsense".

If it works for you, I'm happy they "invented it" (although I'm fairly sure that Dick Tracy wants his cut), but I can't see a serveal hundred dollar screen hanging on my wrist just so I can know my heart rate or who has "liked' my most recent interwebs writing.
 
and lest my last post marks me as some anti-Apple zealot (and I am), it's more that I think they effed up the form factor. We need FEWER screens. I don't want to see people looking at their wrists (or at their phones)...it's pretty effing rude if you ask me. Now a bracelet with a lot of the similar functions I understand.

Let's break the tyranny of the screens. Please.
 
Whether I buy this or not will probably depend on how many of the timekeeping functions I can access without having to buy an iPhone. I don't really see this as a smartwatch. To me, it is primarily a very customizable watch that allows me to choose from many display options depending on my mood or purpose. All the other stuff is almost superfluous to my wants.

If Seiko had made this as a standalone watch, with such a wonderfully customizable display, I'd put money on a preorder list right away. In fact, I hope that the Apple Watch prompts Seiko or Casio to make a standalone watch of this nature. Heck, it's what I've wanted for many years.
 
Smart watches have been a reality for some years, from Sony, Samsung, LG and others.. They all have the same basic drawbacks. Firstly, I wonder at the target market; Millennials just don't wear watches. I have three kids under 25 and only one wears a watch (and that because it is useful to his work). Watch-wearers tend to want to wear a timepiece, not a multi-function device. Second, battery life and durability. I wear a watch that just works. It needs periodic servicing and that's it. I wear it 24-7 for it is waterproof. It shows me the time at night without lighting up. It is a lifestyle choice but also a practical one.

To me honest, none of the Apple watch is new. I had a Casio with a switchable analogue/digital display in the 1980s. In the 1990s I wore an analogue Omega Seamaster with an optional digital display; dual time, stopwatch, countdown timer, day-date all selectable by turning the crown... I shall try to find pictures. Today, I either wear an Omega Seamaster, a Christopher Ward Makaira or a vintage Seiko Levant as the mood takes me. All are smart watches, but none is required to be "smart".

So this is a bit meh for me, and would be if I was an Apple fan for the reasons I have stated. There won't be a gadget watch of any make under my cuff anytime soon.
 
Smart watches have been a reality for some years, from Sony, Samsung, LG and others.. They all have the same basic drawbacks. Firstly, I wonder at the target market; Millennials just don't wear watches. I have three kids under 25 and only one wears a watch (and that because it is useful to his work). Watch-wearers tend to want to wear a timepiece, not a multi-function device. Second, battery life and durability. I wear a watch that just works. It needs periodic servicing and that's it. I wear it 24-7 for it is waterproof. It shows me the time at night without lighting up. It is a lifestyle choice but also a practical one.

To me honest, none of the Apple watch is new. I had a Casio with a switchable analogue/digital display in the 1980s. In the 1990s I wore an analogue Omega Seamaster with an optional digital display; dual time, stopwatch, countdown timer, day-date all selectable by turning the crown... I shall try to find pictures. Today, I either wear an Omega Seamaster, a Christopher Ward Makaira or a vintage Seiko Levant as the mood takes me. All are smart watches, but none is required to be "smart".

So this is a bit meh for me, and would be if I was an Apple fan for the reasons I have stated. There won't be a gadget watch of any make under my cuff anytime soon.

As a few watch fan, I have NO interest in these things.
 
It's all a ploy, the governments are working /sponsoring the manufacturers of these watches as long as they include GPS as this gives them the ability to track wearers wherever they go!:D
 
Well, I realise you think you're being funny Iansky, but it's a well known fact that Steve Jobs was secretly employed by the Bilderberg Group in conjunction with the shadow NSA to enslave mankind and ensure the continuation of Capitalism.

(He didn't die btw, he is actually alive and well and living on Mars. With Elvis)
 
Funny, I AM an Apple guy through and through, but the watch leaves me cold. If it gets to the point that it can REPLACE an iPhone, I might get interested (always envied Dick Tracy!), but wearing something on my wrist that relies on a phone in my pocket to do nothing the phone isn't already doing? Nah, not interested personally.

-Ray
 
Funny, I AM an Apple guy through and through, but the watch leaves me cold. If it gets to the point that it can REPLACE an iPhone, I might get interested (always envied Dick Tracy!), but wearing something on my wrist that relies on a phone in my pocket to do nothing the phone isn't already doing? Nah, not interested personally.

-Ray

Ray,

I agree completely with your comments and at this stage have no interest in these watches as they are a very limited add on to the phone. I think it is great that the technology is moving on but it has a way to go before it has global buy in.

There will always be the "Gadgeteers" who must have the latest tech but suspect they are fewer in number than Apple may be hoping for especially at the price points rumoured and this is endorsed by Apple feeling the need to launch a gold cased version probably to help recoup some of the dev cost - 3yrs and who knows how many millions of dollars - for me, close but no banana!
 
There is a sexiness to it. I like the changing "time" screens. I like watches because it's easier to glance at a watch than to pull out a cell phone. My problem is that it's only really good for short messages or notifications. Otherwise the screen is just too small. For me, this is $100-150 item, not $400. Of course, I already wear a watch.
 
There is a sexiness to it. I like the changing "time" screens. I like watches because it's easier to glance at a watch than to pull out a cell phone. My problem is that it's only really good for short messages or notifications. Otherwise the screen is just to small. For me, this is $100-150 item, not $400. Of course, I already wear a watch.

I agree. I still wear a watch so I can glance at it to see the time without pulling the phone out of my pocket. But for most of the OTHER information this would be able to pull out of my phone, I'd be just as happy to pull the phone out and get it from there. Particularly since I'd have to be carrying the phone anyway...

-Ray
 
I'm mostly all-in with Apple, but I agree that the watch is not compelling at this point. I hate real watches, so I'm not the target audience I suppose.

Oddly enough, my wife, who is a non-gadget person, absolutely loves the idea of this watch. Her iPhone is in her purse, so the watch adds convenience. Apple usually has these things nailed, so I'm guessing the watch will be a hit with a broad audience.
 
I don't think Archiver has realised that you have to have an iPhone for it all to work. And iTunes. And probably iCloud. I have zero interest in the watch, especially not at $349 which will blow out to $500 or more in Australia... but I just dont want it. It will not do what I want it to (track my sleep) and my Fitbit Flex does. No deal. However, I am wanting a new phone. I'm still on a 4S and its starting to age. I havent decided beyond the capacity (I'll have 64GB since they dropped 32).
 
I have a bunch of Apple stuff, though I wouldn't identify as an Apple fan-boy. I love mechanical watches and I feel we can do without another screen to power up every day.

Also right now there just isn't a compelling reason to buy a smart watch, it does exactly what your phone can do, and it does it that bit worse. The only thing that's slightly fascinating to me, is that I can have a new watch face every day, but then that loses it's charm as soon as I realized that I have to poke at the screen to wake it up.

So as things stand, I won't be getting one.

Edit - "fan-boy" as one word showed up as ****** which was quite amusing
 
I'm a big fan of design, I think Apple have really good design but the Apple Watch appeals to me as much as pulling out my teeth.
 
I'm another all-Apple person (iMac, iPad, iPhone, iPod) because it all works well for me and all the pieces talk to each other nice. But the Apple Watch does nothing for me. In truth, the Apple Watch is being most-enthusiastically embraced by the app-development community. They simply want another area of growth and Apple has given it to them. Gadget-freaks and those who always have to have the latest thing will probably go for it. Myself, I think some of the Apple Watch's abilities to monitor your body are just a bit creepy. In fact, I'm not even motivated to upgrade to the iPhone 6. My 4s works well enough. iOS 8? Who cares?
 
I'm another all-Apple person (iMac, iPad, iPhone, iPod) because it all works well for me and all the pieces talk to each other nice. But the Apple Watch does nothing for me. In truth, the Apple Watch is being most-enthusiastically embraced by the app-development community. They simply want another area of growth and Apple has given it to them. Gadget-freaks and those who always have to have the latest thing will probably go for it. Myself, I think some of the Apple Watch's abilities to monitor your body are just a bit creepy. In fact, I'm not even motivated to upgrade to the iPhone 6. My 4s works well enough. iOS 8? Who cares?

I've updated my 4S phone to iOS8 last night (the GM) and I'm much happier with the transition to that than I was to iOS7. Battery life actually seems a bit better.
 
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