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AW in September because of WWDC?

F

Freida

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Original poster
Oct 22, 2010
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Hello guys,

I'm tempted to buy the AW but I don't want to first generation especially considering the complaints (speed etc.). The last even dropped the price and introduced new bands - all good here.
It got me thinking though. Is Apple moving the launch to september along with iPhones?
My thinking is this: WWDC always shows new iOS which is then given to developers to test and polish. Then september comes and new iPhones roll out with already new iOS. So is it safe to assume that it is what Apple is going to do now? After all, AW works directly with the iPhone and WWDC will preview new iOS for AW so it all makes sense, right?

Apart from speed, what else can we expect (no GPS please as that is a battery killer)? For me I would love to have more sensors and more health tracking benefits. Although Tim Cook said that he won't do sensors due to FDA silliness.

What do you think on both accounts, please?
 
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Freida said:
I'm tempted to buy the AW but I don't want to first generation especially considering the complaints (speed etc.).
Click to expand...

AW2 will still be slow with some 3rd party apps unless developers step it up and Apple improves the software. It actually has little to do with the hardware because Apple's own apps are fast. AW1 will be able to run wOS 3.0 so you'll be able to reap the improvements if you decide to buy now.

Don't necessarily count on longer battery life if the iPhone is any indication. The new iteration sometimes takes a dive in battery life depending on the specs (the iPhone 3G being the most notable example due to GPS).
 
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I really don't want GPS. I think that is not a good idea as it would bring too many sacrifices (battery, space etc.).
I want more sensors and faster CPU so its future proof when the developers will properly take advantage of the AW.

:)
 
It's coming out in September. No GPS, no new sensors, just a little thinner.

And if it doesn't, I'll just claim it was "delayed". ;-p
 
id like to see legit water resistance to the point where its very clear that swimming/shower wouldnt damage it or void standard AppleCare

that seems like the main necessary feature, everything else is nice to have
 
MrLoL said:
That's the thing, I don't see what would be updated apart from design or speed?
Click to expand...
Design is probably going to be updated with 3rd generation but we may see. iPad 2 was changed too and so was iPhone 3G so will be interesting to see.
Speed is actually the main thing. IF there is more powerful chip it means that you will keep the watch for longer (most likely) as it won't get slow and obsolete.
Thinking that I've managed to wait this long I think I will just wait a little longer and buy in september. I hope Apple will make me happy. :)

It will be almost 2 years since the announcement so they better have something worth it. :D
 
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I don't really think Apple needs to rush the watch update.

Apps have not been gaining momentum and the other smartwatches have not been revolutionary either.
In my opinion it will be released next March, not in September.

Even if the watch would be faster, the usability will always be limited.
Screen size and memory can not make this another phone.

I also do not believe in GPS/GSM/Data on the watch itself.
For maps you would need the routing, that needs CPU and RAM.
If you have a phone paired with the watch, there's really no need to duplicate all these functions.

I think Apple is happy having the watch as a companion device.
Other than a little more RAM and a better CPU/GPU package, I would not expect wonders.

Stable WiFi would be nice, but that requires CPU because of the hardware interrupts from the radio.
Right now, the watch can be in low-power mode most of the time, because it is so limited in hardware.

As you might have noticed, I agree with these design decisions and would love if Apple keeps it minimal.
 
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September is the safest bet if there will be new Watch this year. AW is just a 1st generation so there's plenty of things to improve. Speed is an obvious one. Sensors is another. Apple would be mad not to give us more sensors to improve health and fitness aspects. Who knows, Apple might surprise us with Bluetooth 5 if there's such a thing.
 
I can see a new one coming this year but I'm not interested in it. This one does exactly what I need it to do. Is it slow? Yes, but that's comparing it to your smart phone and that's just not fair! So I turn it on, let it load and login when it's ready. I hardly use any applications other then the fitness, messages, weather and mlb all of which show exactly what I need. So I can and plan to skip at least 1 generation if not two at this point. I really have zero need for a camera on it and as far as being thinner? Nah, its perfectly fine for my taste, I put a case over it anyway.
 
Freida said:
Hello guys,

I'm tempted to buy the AW but I don't want to first generation especially considering the complaints (speed etc.). The last even dropped the price and introduced new bands - all good here.
It got me thinking though. Is Apple moving the launch to september along with iPhones?
Click to expand...

I know you don't seriously think somebody would have the answer to this, right? Not trying to be a mean guy, but nobody can tell you that...
 
Freida said:
Hello guys,

I'm tempted to buy the AW but I don't want to first generation especially considering the complaints (speed etc.). The last even dropped the price and introduced new bands - all good here.
It got me thinking though. Is Apple moving the launch to september along with iPhones?
My thinking is this: WWDC always shows new iOS which is then given to developers to test and polish. Then september comes and new iPhones roll out with already new iOS. So is it safe to assume that it is what Apple is going to do now? After all, AW works directly with the iPhone and WWDC will preview new iOS for AW so it all makes sense, right?

Apart from speed, what else can we expect (no GPS please as that is a battery killer)? For me I would love to have more sensors and more health tracking benefits. Although Tim Cook said that he won't do sensors due to FDA silliness.

What do you think on both accounts, please?
Click to expand...
It's only safe not to assume.

I'm quite happy with the Watch now. Speed was improved considerably with Watch OS 2.2. This has been noted in mulitple threads here and I noticed too.

I doubt Apple is going to duplicate hardware components when you need a phone for the watch to work anyway. Not a lot of point putting a GPS in the Watch too.
 
I honestly can't think of too much that it's missing. It does seem a lot faster with the new update, the only thing I really use 3rd party apps for is complications which work fine. The battery seems fine not even sure what sensors they would add. Blood sugar would be cool but sounds like that kind of sensor is pretty far off. Blood pressure would be cool but not sure if that is even possible in this form factor. Blood oxygen is already in the watch they would just have to turn it on.

Most of the improvements I want is software just more watch faces honestly and more flexibility with complications like situationally aware would be awesome. Calendar only when I have a upcoming meeting, weather around lunch and commute, hue at home, that could be really cool.

I really don't have many gripes with the hardware. Honestly I don't want stand alone cellular that is a complete battery killer in buildings, would rather have battery than redundant for me GPS and would never use a camera on it. I actually agree with the compromises they made at least for my usage. I guess it would be cool to get an update but I think they have a lot more work to do on the software side than the hardware side.
 
Karnicopia said:
I honestly can't think of too much that it's missing.
Click to expand...

Owners of iPhones a few generations ago said exactly the same thing, then we got Siri, TouchID, Apple Pay, Force/3D Touch, etc. Bet you the AW will be significantly different hardware wise several years from now, but they'll involve technology that hasn't yet been invented. That's why we can't seem to think of anything else it's currently missing.
 
I suspect OP is right about the time frame. That's long enough after the initial release that first-generation users won't feel shafted and it draws attention right before Christmas shopping season. I hope I'm not being overly optimistic because I also want one and have been holding out for the second-generation product.
 
bluespark said:
I suspect OP is right about the time frame. That's long enough after the initial release that first-generation users won't feel shafted and it draws attention right before Christmas shopping season. I hope I'm not being overly optimistic because I also want one and have been holding out for the second-generation product.
Click to expand...
Well I expected some updates to the Mac desktops even if it was just spec bumps at this past announcement and there was nothing.
 
MartyCan said:
Well I expected some updates to the Mac desktops even if it was just spec bumps at this past announcement and there was nothing.
Click to expand...
Mac will get attention at WWDC. It only makes sense if there is redesign for rMBP. Thats why (I think) there was no silent refresh. They want their prime time for redesign and WWDC is perfect for that. If there is just a specs bump then they won't bother showing it at WWDC and will be silent update. I think that is what Apple is these days.
Something worth talking about - press event. Minor specs bump -> silent update.

AW should get update fairly soon. The thinking that there is "nothing" really missing is very bad thinking. Why? Because that kind of thinking stops innovation. There is always something missing and there is always something to improve. Apple is great at pursuing that so I hope that AW 2.0 will have something worth talking about. To me, GPS is pointless and so is the camera. If I want face time I will take my phone out as its bigger so I can see more etc.
What I would really like Apple to do is to push the AW to health direction. Making it your personal device like almost a doctor. Got a heartattack and there is no pulse? The AW will contact Emergency through your phone with your location. Having anomalies etc. in your pulse or other sensor reading data -> suggests doctor appointment.
As its personal device I would really love to have it like that. Doctors will have more data to work with and we will have something that "looks" after us a bit better. Thats where future lies anyway so lets hope Apple will push that direction.
With their healthkit initiative etc. it does seem like they do want that. :)
 
macdragonfl said:
I think maybe Apple will just up the internals in the present form factor and introduce a round version.
Click to expand...
I think Apple will stick with its current version - why create a round version that looks like the competition, not to mention all the current OEM and third party bands that won't fit a new design?
 
I don't understand the round version either. Square or rectangle gives you more space to work with. Round shape is not practical and I hope they will never change that. Maximum do 2 versions to give people options. :)
 
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