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Apple already has Watch in their labs that doesn't require iPhone?

T

thekeyring

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 5, 2012
3,508
2,188
London
It strikes me as odd that we hear leaks that imply Apple struggled to finish the watch on time. That they were worried about battery life. That the launch could be late. This doesn't quite tally with the company which supposedly has nearly two year's worth of products waiting in the wings. It's like the leaks are there so we believe this is cutting edge.

I think there is an Apple Watch inside Apple that works independently of iPhone. It might be as far away from release as 2017. It might still need tweaks, or fixes, and a little more development.

Haven't Apple said "native" watch apps are coming later this year? Presumably, these won't need an iPhone near by, as they'll run directly on the Watch.

With that in mind, it's not that big of a leap to assume that, within two generations, Apple will also add GPS and a micro-sim tray, and that Apple have a battery that will support these additions.

What do you think?

Edit: If they make it work independently, but works best with iPhone, then it will be like when iPods started working with Windows PCs, right? Android phone owners will be able to buy one.
 
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I think I want a status update on my Space Grey 38mm Sport aside from that crummy email saying "hey buddy, no one quoted 4/24". I ordered it at 3:04am Eastern, no charge and still on processing.

I think you're right though, but this is the big test. It's obvious that there is a huge following for the Watch and Apple is picking up on that. Now they will invest more $ and R&D in the wearable field hopefully.

And hopefully next time they'll manu enough of the damn Space Grey!
 
Probably. I think these will really take off when they can replace our smartphones (not entirely, just when needed). I expect them to get cellular access in a couple of years, while remaining tethered to your contract. Soon this version will look like a joke. It already kinda does since it's easy to see where they're headed.
 
Robert M. said:
Probably. I think these will really take off when they can replace our smartphones (not entirely, just when needed). I expect them to get cellular access in a couple of years, while remaining tethered to your contract. Soon this version will look like a joke. It already kinda does since it's easy to see where they're headed.
Click to expand...

Good point. I guess like iPad replaces laptops (in certain situations) these will have their place. When you don't want your iPhone with you, but don't want to be completely cut off.
 
You know how Tim Cook was wearing a Stainless Steel model that had a red crown?

I'm pretty sure his can shoot laser beams.
 
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They will release one independent of the phone. Right now their customers are iPhone owners. They will want more customers though. Maybe they aren't ready to release it yet as they want to get it right.

I'd like one phone free although thinking about when I'd use my watch it would probably be near my phone almost all the time anyway.
 
shox2k2 said:
They will release one independent of the phone. Right now their customers are iPhone owners. They will want more customers though. Maybe they aren't ready to release it yet as they want to get it right.

I'd like one phone free although thinking about when I'd use my watch it would probably be near my phone almost all the time anyway.
Click to expand...

The best phone free feature for me will be GPS, so I could map running/cycling/walks without my giant phone. By the time 3AM on 4/10 rolled around it was the biggest thing making me hesitate in case it comes out next year. Luckily at 3AM my inhibitions were lowered and I ordered it.

As it is, I was very happy that they calibrate your stride etc. if you carry your phone with you at first, and it will get better at tracking distance while you don't have your phone. No map, but in many cases I am fine with that. I heard it as a rumor at first but it's in the latest batch of videos they posted. The SIM card would be nice, but GPS is the main feature on my wish list that will make my wife mad at me roughly a year from now.
 
One thing for sure if it is to be iPhone free. The carriers will attempt to gorge us on data or make it the final straw in getting the remaining unlimited data users onto the shared plan.
 
thekeyring said:
It strikes me as odd that we hear leaks that imply Apple struggled to finish the watch on time. That they were worried about battery life. That the launch could be late. This doesn't quite tally with the company which supposedly has nearly two year's worth of products waiting in the wings. It's like the leaks are there so we believe this is cutting edge.

I think there is an Apple Watch inside Apple that works independently of iPhone. It might be as far away from release as 2017. It might still need tweaks, or fixes, and a little more development.

Haven't Apple said "native" watch apps are coming later this year? Presumably, these won't need an iPhone near by, as they'll run directly on the Watch.

With that in mind, it's not that big of a leap to assume that, within two generations, Apple will also add GPS and a micro-sim tray, and that Apple have a battery that will support these additions.

What do you think?

Edit: If they make it work independently, but works best with iPhone, then it will be like when iPods started working with Windows PCs, right? Android phone owners will be able to buy one.
Click to expand...

Within 5 years, the watch will be the phone.
Mark it.
 
thekeyring said:
Apple already has Watch in their labs that doesn't require iPhone?
Click to expand...

I would be very surprised if they have not at least looked into this - I think it is the logical next step to simply move the cell phone to the wrist.

After all, there is already smart watches on the market that have both gps and sim card support and can do lots of 'regular cell phone stuff' without being connected to a cell phone.
 
Robert M. said:
Probably. I think these will really take off when they can replace our smartphones (not entirely, just when needed). I expect them to get cellular access in a couple of years, while remaining tethered to your contract. Soon this version will look like a joke. It already kinda does since it's easy to see where they're headed.
Click to expand...

Yeah good point. I would probably dump my phone and just keep a watch and an iPad. The iPhone is my least favorite Apple product TBQH.
 
I don't know how to break this to you.

But Apple already has, and has had, for a long time a watch that does not need the iPhone to operate.

It's the model they are just starting to sell to anyone now :)

Apple, have, and can write any piece of software they like to run independently on the Apple watch, RIGHT NOW.

The pulling data from an iPhone is only a made up, artificial thing that uses software to pull the data over and display it.

There is no need for the iPhone to run anything, from Apple's point of view, even today.
Apple could even have Doom running on it right now :)

It's only a limitation they have placed on it for normal customers, not themselves.
 
Agreed....Samsung first addition was no Sim Card and now they have both additions.

Apple will have it----Apple will also need it if to maintain a market. Most will get tired of using the Watch when the phone is near.

Trust me the watch will be cumbersome once the hype wears off
 
If it replaces the iPhone, it will need a bigger screen with which to fully interact- no way to do it on wrist, so this leads to holograms? Is that something that could happen?
 
McCool71 said:
I would be very surprised if they have not at least looked into this - I think it is the logical next step to simply move the cell phone to the wrist.

After all, there is already smart watches on the market that have both gps and sim card support and can do lots of 'regular cell phone stuff' without being connected to a cell phone.
Click to expand...

I keep seeing this statement but can't for the life of me figure out why. You're talking about a device which has a screen that's a couple of inches across at absolute most. How on earth is this expected to replace a smartphone screen? How do you type or view anything bigger than a few lines of text or use a web site or manage any media with a complex list (music, photos etc) or play most games or... well just about any task that's made smartphones so popular.

Now I can see some use cases for having a device that can operate independently from a phone but, sorry, I really think they're only going to affect a minority of users.
 
ALittleDrive said:
If it replaces the iPhone, it will need a bigger screen with which to fully interact- no way to do it on wrist, so this leads to holograms? Is that something that could happen?
Click to expand...

Holograms? That is so 23rd century... everybody knows Steve received neural-transmission nano-spore technology from the aliens before he died. I think it's about time they start using it.
 
FWIW Apple Watch 2 is done and they are working on 3. I would tell you how I know that but you wouldn't believe me anyway. :apple::rolleyes::cool:
 
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