Apple Announces Apple Watch, Available in Early 2015 From $349

[GuitarDTO]

Didn't like the design at ALL, but like most Apple products in person it will probably look and feel better. I'll at least look at it.

I wish it were standalone with no tie to iPhone. The market would have been huge. I really thought they would try to take a swipe at the fitness band and medical markets.

The biggest story by far today was Apple Pay. It will change how we pay for things. Yes, they aren't the first to try it, but I have a feeling they'll be the first to get it right.

 

[genovelle]

Motorola had no problem.

Round is dumb for a devicd showing lots of data. Even their demo was panned because the OS was designed for square devices and some text and objects get cut off. Yeah that's just a great idea. The other option is to shrink the text even further to stay within the circle

 

[deputy_doofy]

As always, it's fun to go back and read this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/

 

[Moonjumper]

Watches are round, but then usually extend to straight edges where it attaches to the wristband. So the footprint is square. Therefore I am not worried about the shape.

I think it will need a few product generations to be truly appealing. I would like to see it become thinner, and for the screen to take up more of the face (there does appear to be quite a large bezel), and expect a few more sensors.

 

[tl01]

I love it! I think it looks great! Can't wait to get one!

 

[grimmace]

I LOVE IT!! All you peeps bashing a watch in general can now "screw"!!

 

[harley3k]

No GPS?

I really wanted it to have integrated GPS so I could stop running with my iPhone. Other sports watches have this, so...not sure why they left it out.

The step-tracking stuff never seems accurate enough at all, and if I still have to have my iPhone (now an even BIGGER phone) strapped to my arm, what's the point?

 

[anthorumor]

You'd think Apple would have gone for e-ink to preserve battery life. Can't wait for 2016 when Watch 2 is released. New feature: a round face.

 

[AppleWarMachine]

$349



nope

and that's starting at $349, remember that they talked about 18k Gold (high end near $1000+)

 

[Moonjumper]

The live stream kept cutting out (once it was working at all), so I don't know if I missed it. Was anything said about security? There doesn't appear to be a lock screen. Does it identify the user by the biometric sensors and stop working if someone else uses it? It could be a mugging magnet otherwise.

 

[milo]

No mention of water resistant/waterproof?

 

[tripmusic]

No thanks. I actually liked the Nike Fuel band mock-up better

 

[anthorumor]

No mention of water resistant/waterproof?

It alluded to some sort of waterproofing - all the main electronics are housed in an enclosed box.

 

[milo]

http://www.apple.com/watch/

Page is up.

 

[manu chao]

My only complaint with this great new product....

I'm left handed and I wear my watch on my right hand. Using the digital crown would require me to reach across the screen.

I'm curious, can you get traditional watches with a crown on the left?

 

[Attonine]

The watch is interesting. Clearly the best smart watch out there. However, ultimately it is a digital watch. Digital watches are generally regarded as disposable, as are smart watches because they eventually become old tech that doesn't work. Is $350 too high for people. For me it is, (and I have Rolex Sea Dweller, a Patek Gondolo, an Audemars Royal Oak Offshore and a Vacheron Overseas - so I'm prepared to pay for a watch!). I will not pay $350 for a watch that could be unusable in 2-3 years time. This tech needs time to play out. At the moment I'm not convinced it is something people really want, and certainly not at this price.

 

[the8thark]

The watch is totally wirelessly glued to your phone. So without your phone on you the watch is mostly useless. That kills all point for the watch for me. I wanted something for the times I do not have my phone on me. Unless I use it as a pure timepiece. But I have an iPhone for that.

I really want the watch. But without a way to use this without being wireless glued to the iPhone, no sale from me. A real shame actually.

I'm sure the phone carriers are loving this, more ways to push overpriced data plans.

 

[Attonine]

I'm curious, can you get traditional watches with a crown on the left?

Yes. Penerai make a left handed watch with the crown on the opposite side. I'm sure other manufacturers do too.

 

[tl01]

Round is dumb for a devicd showing lots of data. Even their demo was panned because the OS was designed for square devices and some text and objects get cut off. Yeah that's just a great idea. The other option is to shrink the text even further to stay within the circle

Exactly! Circular seems ridiculous. How would that work for text? Pics? Most visual formats on a smart phone or tablet are square. There would be so much unused space with a circle.

 

[jamesryanbell]

Whatever. I like it. I'll probably own it the first week it comes out just because I'm intrigued.

What will REALLY be interesting is to see what this product will evolve into in about 5 years.

 

[Attonine]

No mention of water resistant/waterproof?

They did mention a waterproof speaker. But I agree, this is a critical requirement. Must be water resistant, must be able to swim with this watch.

 

[manu chao]

i'm not sure how Apple Pay works with the watch. One of the big things about Apple Pay was that it used TouchID to verify it is you. The watch doesn't have Touch ID. Will that make it even more attractive for theft? Beyond it being an expensive piece of jewelry, now it links to your credit card and can be used to buy things without needing biometric authorization.

There could be biometrics based on your heartbeat signature.

 

[GBrooks]

I'm curious, can you get traditional watches with a crown on the left?

Yes, absolutely

http://www.panerai.com/en/collections/watch-collection/luminor/34-luminor-base-left-handed-pam00219

 

[snorkelman]

no talk about battery life, huh?

they did talk of use during day charge at night, which suggests 16 hours minimum in my book (though under what usage pattern is always the key)

tbh anything substantially longer than the battery life of the phone its paired with is probably moot; other than for telling time or perhaps the nfc payments aspect Once the phones out of juice the watch isn't going to be doing much

 

[tl01]

The watch is totally wirelessly glued to your phone. So without your phone on you the watch is mostly useless. That kills all point for the watch for me. I wanted something for the times I do not have my phone on me. Unless I use it as a pure timepiece. But I have an iPhone for that.

I really want the watch. But without a way to use this without being wireless glued to the iPhone, no sale from me. A real shame actually.

I'm sure the phone carriers are loving this, more ways to push overpriced data plans.

I'm wondering if it can stand alone for workouts. Like can it track your heart rate etc and keep it stored and then reconnect to the iPhone after. If it can do that that would be good enough for me. I bring my phone everywhere anyway.

I don't think it looks as thick when people have it on. In the photos of people wearing it I think it looks awesome! I do wonder abut security. I'm assuming apple will discuss that at some point.