Apple Watch - Suprising reviews....

Neilc28

Neilc28

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Well there's been quite a few reviews of the Apple Watch and not one was exactly glowing! In particular, the unresponsiveness, battery-life (The Verge got 15hrs before it hit 7% remaining with average use), and most shocking, the confusion surrounding actually using it, not something I have heard regarding Apple devices!

Quote from the Verge:-

" it’s disappointing to see the Watch struggle with performance. What good is a watch that makes you wait? Rendering notifications can slow everything down to a crawl. Buttons can take a couple taps to register. It feels like the Apple Watch has been deliberately pulled back in order to guarantee a full day of battery life. Improving performance is Apple’s biggest challenge with the Watch, and it’s clear that the company knows it."

It's a good in-depth read for anyone who's interested > http://www.theverge.com/a/apple-watch-review
 
I'm hoping they get them fixed with software, I'm in the market for a new phone and I think and iPhone and iWatch might be a package that can tempt me!
 
I love Apple IPhones and IPads but I'm not sold on the Iwatch, but I will be checking them out
 
I've been watching some of the streaming Q&A's on Periscope and I have to say I'm not very impressed with the whole watch concept especially since I stopped wearing a watch a year or two ago.
 
It will be interesting to see how it does. I think the whole concept of data gathering wearables is huge in terms of health and wellbeing, however the Apple Watch seems quite a long way from being what people need - so far. In that sense V2, V3 etc will be better, with this release being quickly obsolete. Which is the second point - at least for me a watch is something that lasts - you buy something you like and it lasts you years or decades. Will people be okay for that with Apple Watch? Even if not becoming obsolete, the battery dies eventually.

I think this first release will have big sales from a curiosity viewpoint, but will be interested to see where it goes thereafter. For sure being able to know blood metrics, HRV, movement etc will be useful, if and when it can do those things.
 
Is all this just a load of b*****ks though? Who actually needs this thing? Have they just tried to create a market thats not actually there nor required?
 
Ballyman said:
Is all this just a load of b*****ks though? Who actually needs this thing? Have they just tried to create a market thats not actually there nor required?
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Just like the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Personally, I would never buy one. Even my phone is an old Nokia with polyphonic ringtones, but Apple will sell millions, and millions will upgrade as soon as v2 comes out a year later with a couple of new pointless features.

That's business.
 
Ballyman said:
Is all this just a load of b*****ks though? Who actually needs this thing? Have they just tried to create a market thats not actually there nor required?
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I think there's a decent danger of that, at least as we look at watches & wearables today. Not until now was there the chance to create such a thing - I guess now we find out if there's a chance to create the need for it.

Possibilities are endless though - golfers, it could track each swing in 3d (like Zepp) and display yardages, track scores. Pick your sport or hobby, and there's an incredible amount that could be done with making relevant information easily accessible. Trouble is most of that takes power, which needs battery, and there's limited physical space for that.

What beats me is since the straps clip off, why not have small battery inside the phone and a bigger battery in the strap - you just have two straps and swap them daily (the internal battery keeps the watch alive as you do so). That's so obvious there must be a technical reason why it's impossible, but I like the idea :)
 
I have been keeping an eye on smart watches for some time. Until they solve the battery life issue, and make them actually do something useful I fail to see the point. Seeing as we are talking about the over-priced over rated Apple version, doubly so.
 
Moadib said:
I think there's a decent danger of that, at least as we look at watches & wearables today. Not until now was there the chance to create such a thing - I guess now we find out if there's a chance to create the need for it.

Possibilities are endless though - golfers, it could track each swing in 3d (like Zepp) and display yardages, track scores. Pick your sport or hobby, and there's an incredible amount that could be done with making relevant information easily accessible. Trouble is most of that takes power, which needs battery, and there's limited physical space for that.

What beats me is since the straps clip off, why not have small battery inside the phone and a bigger battery in the strap - you just have two straps and swap them daily (the internal battery keeps the watch alive as you do so). That's so obvious there must be a technical reason why it's impossible, but I like the idea :)
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I've always wondered why manufacturers don't embed batteries in straps. It just seems so obvious to make more efficient use of the space the product takes up especially since batteries can be made into all sorts of shapes these days.
 
DigitalRelish said:
I've always wondered why manufacturers don't embed batteries in straps. It just seems so obvious to make more efficient use of the space the product takes up especially since batteries can be made into all sorts of shapes these days.
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Surely the reason is that they can't pack enough power into the space to be useful.

I reckon that a battery which fits into a watch strap can't be much bigger than about 120mm x 10mm x 1mm, and that's assuming you can use the whole strap. These people manufacture a lot of thin lithium batteries:
http://www.powerstream.com/thin-lithium-ion.htm
and judging from their parameters it looks like a watch strap battery might have a capacity of around 80 mAh. Meanwhile the Apple Watch is said to have a battery capacity of 400 mAh. If these figures are anywhere remotely near correct, it means that a watch strap battery would be too small to be useful.
 
ecoleman said:
Just like the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Personally, I would never buy one. Even my phone is an old Nokia with polyphonic ringtones, but Apple will sell millions, and millions will upgrade as soon as v2 comes out a year later with a couple of new pointless features.

That's business.
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Bit harsh, just because you aren't interested the iPod revolutionised personal music, the iPhone is just a phone, granted. But the iPad opened the tablet market. I have no interest in a watch that can't tell me the time for an extended period of time and with it, I agree with you.
 
Wayne Els said:
Bit harsh, just because you aren't interested the iPod revolutionised personal music, the iPhone is just a phone, granted. But the iPad opened the tablet market. I have no interest in a watch that can't tell me the time for an extended period of time and with it, I agree with you.
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What was harsh?

All of these I devices were developed even though there wasn't a market or a need for them, yet they all sold millions.
The iPad may have opened the tablet market, but we're we really all walking around saying "you know what, I really wish I had a portable touch screen device to stare at all day". Until the were invented, there was no market or need for them.

The same goes for the watch. Do we need a watch like this? No, but millions will buy one and it will revolutionise the way watches work, thus creating a need and a market.
 
ecoleman said:
The same goes for the watch. Do we need a watch like this? No, but millions will buy one and it will revolutionise the way watches work, thus creating a need and a market.
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Not happened yet and there's no shortage of smart watches available. Given Apple's offering is more of the same I doubt it will take off either unless of course the "Emperor's new clothes" effect is strong with fanboys...
 
StewartR said:
Surely the reason is that they can't pack enough power into the space to be useful.

I reckon that a battery which fits into a watch strap can't be much bigger than about 120mm x 10mm x 1mm, and that's assuming you can use the whole strap. These people manufacture a lot of thin lithium batteries:
http://www.powerstream.com/thin-lithium-ion.htm
and judging from their parameters it looks like a watch strap battery might have a capacity of around 80 mAh. Meanwhile the Apple Watch is said to have a battery capacity of 400 mAh. If these figures are anywhere remotely near correct, it means that a watch strap battery would be too small to be useful.
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I guess it depends on the watch strap. I was used to wearing a watch with a metal bracelet type of strap. Lots of bulk in one of those to house some batteries.

Looking at how Apple are continuing to drive down the physical dimensions of their other products, it wouldn't surprise me if they did eventually go down this route.
 
I've just seen the pre-order pricing [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I've owned my Tag Heuer for nearly 2 decades and there's no reason why it shouldn't still be going for another 2.

I wonder how long owners will keep these, given the pace of tech?
 
DigitalRelish said:
I've just seen the pre-order pricing [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I've owned my Tag Heuer for nearly 2 decades and there's no reason why it shouldn't still be going for another 2.

I wonder how long owners will keep these, given the pace of tech?
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Now you are talking, I own 2 Tag Heuers and I love them...
 
I just read that the Apple watch only works if you have an iPhone. That's silly. And puts the price up even more.
I waited to see if they had something compelling up their sleeve that would take off. But it's just another smart watch with a worse battery at a higher price, that most people can't even use.
 
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I don't wear a watch, so the idea is flawed for me. Unless it does something that I need, then the phone covers me. I was similarly cynical about the ipad and don't own one of those either. My kids do and like them though.

I'm sure they will be a success, but not for me.
 
But this is not like an iPad though. Crucial differences being:
  • There are already lots of watches on the market already.
  • The iPad does not need a iPhone to work.
  • The iPad battery life is not silly like the watch.
  • The watch doesn't do anything that you need, that a phone or tablet can't do.
Had they offered something new and compelling, then yes, it could have been a success. But it seems not.

Now it's been released and had limp reviews, I can't see any reason for this to catch on.
 
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My first smartphone was an iphone. It is a 4s and still my first. I now wouldn't be without one. I resisted having a mobile at all for many years. I had them when they were first out (Nokia 3310 or something), but then let it lapse after I worked from home. I watch movies and tv series on it at night, so found a use for it after all!

The watch may have a specialist app that does something that is useful to someone at some point. It is just that we can't all see it at the moment.
 
That's typical fanboy talk. 15% is not everyone. Androids 80% is closer.

blue max said:
The watch may have a specialist app that does something that is useful to someone at some point. It is just that we can't all see it at the moment.
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Yes. I agree. But so far nothing compelling, and nothing on the crucial launch day. So I'm not too hopeful.
 
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Out of curiosity, what compelled you to buy one? The concept of a watch that requires I carry a charger with me is somewhat alien!
 
I am in need of a new watch anyway. I would like a Panerai but at £5000 it's way out of my league. I like the design which in my opinion is beautiful and as for the battery life. I am not awake for 24hrs, won't wear it for 24hrs also back in the day you used to have wind your watch up daily. So for me it's not a problem.
One function which I will find useful is the watch will vibrate when receiving calls which to me is helpful as most of the time I don't feel my iPhone vibrate.
 
I've used Mac's since 1987, my first Mac was a s/h Plus fitted with a Radius accelerator and graphics card, hard disk sat underneath and external 15" FPD. Loved it, and everything I've used since. Will I buy an Apple Watch, no! Unlike other Apple kit I've got no use for it, I'd prefer to put any spare cash towards a new macro lens.
 
blue max said:
What's a fanboy? There are only Apple users and those who have yet to become one.
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A fanboy is someone who irrationally believes something is more than what it actually is. Like belief that everyone has, or will have Apple products, or that Apple invented everything. And sucks up all the hype.
There is nothing wrong with being an Apple fan. But much of Apple's good marketing does tend to feed the fanboys.
 
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ianp5a said:
A fanboy is someone who irrationally believes something is more that what it actually is. Like belief that everyone has, or will have Apple products, or that Apple invented everything. And sucks up all the hype.
There is nothing wrong with being an Apple fan. But much of Apple's good marketing does tend to feed the fanboys.
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Only messin' with you. And being a touch ironic (I hope!).

This watch may just be a little more than the mighty Apple marketing machine can sell - much like selling snow to the eskimos. :)
 
ianp5a said:
Too late. I've got you down as a staunch fanboy now.
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:)

I have got four mac minis, four iphones, two ipods, two ipads, one monitor, two airport extremes, two airport express, two apple tv's along with keyboards and mice. Sounds like Jobs Arc :)

So, I certainly have bought into them. I actually bought my first pair of macs in 1991, so think I have the right to be viewed as an early adopter! Back in the day when networking was 10 base t and you had to terminate!

But I haven't bought into everything. I had a laptop for a few months, but got rid. I've never had an imac either. I don't and won't buy one of the new mac minis, sticking with my previous versions.

And I'm actually doubtful whether the watch is going to be half the success they would hope and certainly won't be buying one.

So, they have a struggle on their hands if even Apple Affectionado's are hesitant.
 
Watches like these are the shape of things to come - like it or not. Huge potential in terms of UI and apps. Wait till app developers get their heads around what the watch can do. I won't be buying one yet, but I can see I may in the future (few versions down the line).

Someone mentioned iPads earlier in thread - inferring we never really needed them - iPads have been a truly revolutionary device - not invented by Apple, but perfected by Apple. iPads now used is hospitals, used for remote health care provision, for those with visual impairment, for fun, for work....amazing devices......more application than even Apple even dared to imagine I bet ! Will be same with watches .....the best will be to come !!
 
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The best app would be the one that quadruples the battery life. Without that it's going to be tricky to get people to rely on it for anything.
 
I mentioned ipads. Still nothing for me really. I don't play games and have access to a computer, so apart from the potential to watch a movie on (although the atv and phone works fine for me), there is no reason to purchase one. I was cynical and have not felt the need to buy one for all those years, so it was well founded.
But who would have thought it would go on to be such a success. I'll no doubt be wrong about the watch, but it needs a killer app to win me over. Something that nothing else I already own can do. Oh, and be a lot cheaper too.
 
Moadib said:
What beats me is since the straps clip off, why not have small battery inside the phone and a bigger battery in the strap - you just have two straps and swap them daily (the internal battery keeps the watch alive as you do so). That's so obvious there must be a technical reason why it's impossible, but I like the idea :)
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Perhaps you ought to give Jonny Ives a call :)
 
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