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Apple Has Explored Adding Positionable Cameras to Apple Watch Bands

Mac 128 said:
Define many. Many of us do want a camera on the device itself.
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Remember Google Glass? A huge reason that device failed was because people didn’t want other people wearing a camera that didn’t clearly indicate they were recording.

The issue isn’t that many people want a camera. The issue is that many people don’t want you to have one.
 
Cold_Beaver said:
What happens if your in the medical field and cannot have a camera out in the open?
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Presumably the standard strap would still come with the AW, and they'll be as interchangeable as they currently are.

I'm not fond of the idea as a whole, but then I never embraced the cellular version either.
 
Cold_Beaver said:
What happens if your in the medical field and cannot have a camera out in the open?
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You buy the model without a camera. If you want one off duty, buy two -- one with and one without. It's the Apple way.

4jasontv said:
Remember Google Glass? A huge reason that device failed was because people didn’t want other people wearing a camera that didn’t clearly indicate they were recording.

The issue isn’t that many people want a camera. The issue is that many people don’t want you to have one.
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Yes, this isn't the same thing. At all.
 
4jasontv said:
Clever, but the posture needed for extended observation of ones watch is painful.
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I think that on a Watch, FaceTime would be asynchronous video messaging. Rather than a long continuous call, you’d send each other short video clips. Raise to record, lower to cut the clip and send.
 
rmoliv said:
Enough with the cameras. People are obsessed with themselves and posting their mugs and bodies on social media. Enough!
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Hate to break it to you.... Cameras aren’t going anywhere. Also, human body is something that people have been showing off for centuries. Beauty and vanity are part of life. Being able to capture/record moments are necessary even if you don’t like selfies. Just gotta deal with it.
 
I called this a couple years ago and I think it has a lot of future potential. When Apple Watches become powerful enough, a camera on the bands far side can serve as an AR camera. Holding your watch up to get information on something (menus, maps, signs, etc) sounds much less cumbersome than using an iphone or ipad.
 
Cold_Beaver said:
What happens if your in the medical field and cannot have a camera out in the open?
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Exactly, I am a doctor. No way the hospital would allow me to wear an AW with a camera, I don't think, as we are not at that point yet, so I can only speculate. Also, I do not think my private patients would want me to have a camera on my AW while consulting with them.

This would be a huge HIPAA violation (I would imagine), and I cannot (at this moment) think of anyway Apple could address it. This of course is if we are talking about a camera built into the AW. This article is about a band with a camera, in that case you just change your band to a normal band while at work and then put the camera band back on when you are done.

:apple:
 
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AngerDanger said:
Great, now that double loop will have a competitor for the title of freakiest-looking-watchband.

PVZENtN.gif
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How about the entire wristband is screen space too, or more of it.

Maybe a "bangle" bracelet you can spin on the wrist with flexible screen all the way around eh?
 
B4U said:
Now let’s imagine going to the washroom and the camera on the watch turned on...
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Yes, now let's imagine walking in with a phone in your hand with the camera turned on ...

4jasontv said:
Yeah. This time it’s on your wrist. That one was on your face. Totally different.
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Yes it is -- one is pointed directly at the other persons face. The other is on a wrist generally pointed away from the person they are engaged with. Not the same at all.

SRLMJ23 said:
Exactly, I am a doctor. No way the hospital would allow me to wear an AW with a camera, I don't think, as we are not at that point yet, so I can only speculate. Also, I do not think my private patients would want me to have a camera on my AW while consulting with them.

This would be a huge HIPAA violation (I would imagine), and I cannot (at this moment) think of anyway Apple could address it. This of course is if we are talking about a camera built into the AW. This article is about a band with a camera, in that case you just change your band to a normal band while at work and then put the camera band back on when you are done.

:apple:
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The solution would be two own two watches -- one for work, one for personal. That's what Apple wants you to do if you need an iPhone and a tablet. Apple has been opposed to embedding technology in the band as they wanted the watches to all function the same without having to add features in the bands. This would be a major departure in that philosophy.

Plutonius said:
I don't think it's a great idea.

I can see it being used to take secret videos :(.

At least on the iPhone, it's usually obvious when you are taking video.
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And you don't think it would be with a watch? It would be even more obvious as someone holds their arm at awkward angles to get the proper shot.

Of course that could never happen with an iPhone right?

https://www.tmz.com/2016/11/04/dani-mathers-charged-crime-photo-gym-nude-woman/
 
dumoore said:
I think one main concern is privacy. I could imagine many stories about some creep finding ways to spy on people with just positioning his/her hand somewhere. Or secretly recording video in places that they shouldn't. At least it's a bit more conspicuous using a big phone and to record someone.
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Creeps are creeps and don't forget they don't need a camera, just their own eyes.

Stop being so frightened of people
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SRLMJ23 said:
Neat, but completely unnecessary - now and in the future I feel.

At this point, anyone who has an Apple Watch also has an iPhone. Use the iPhone for FaceTime and any other camera related things.

Plus, the screen is so small, and the speaker is not that great, so would the user experience be any good? My guess is no, and feel most people would use it for a little bit and then go back to their iPhones/iPads/MacBooks for FaceTime etc.

Do we really want cameras on EVERYTHING now?

Now I do like the idea if putting sensors in the bands to help with certain health monitoring, but I think Apple probably will design everything for now in the sensor module on the bottom of the AW. We may get "health bands" with sensors in the next major redesign of the AW, which probably will not be until around 2021-2022.

:apple:
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Whats the best camera?

The one you have on you.
 
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Mac 128 said:
Yes it is -- one is pointed directly at the other persons face. The other is on a wrist generally pointed away from the person they are engaged with. Not the same at all.
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You think these cameras were, or will be, pointed at faces?
 
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Cameras already exist on smart watches. I say this For no reason other than the fact that people seem to be worried about privacy. If someone wants to discreetly take photos of you, they can already. It's just a reality.

I don't think this implementation looks as bad as some are saying here but I'd likely never use it if it was limited to bands. I wear two bands; Milanese and sport loops. They're what I find comfortable and don't seem conducive to this type of camera design.
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KazKam said:
Tying core hardware functionality to the watchband... just a terrible, terrible idea.

So you wouldn't get camera features if you don't have an Apple certified $400 watch band? Just lame.
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I see it slightly differently. While the cost would be up for debate, I don't have a problem with giving an optional feature to optional hardware. I don't care about the camera at all. As such, I simply wouldn't tack on the extra expense. We've already seen Apple Watch take a considerable price hike this last iteration. I don't need to see another lol.
 
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lordofthereef said:
Cameras already exist on smart watches. I say this For no reason other than the fact that people seem to be worried about privacy. If someone wants to discreetly take photos of you, they can already. It's just a reality.
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You are correct, but the industry isn’t defined it. If Apple added one than people might assume all smart watches have cameras. People seem to fear not knowing if someone is recording them more than being recorded.
 
Just makes me think of the commercials for the first Galaxy Gear with the creepy guy taking pictures of some girl on his watch while skiing.
 
axantas said:
There were these mysterious contacts on the apple watch series 0, which never got used...
https://www.theverge.com/2015/5/4/8543033/apple-watch-hidden-port-charging-battery-strap
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They got used. A third party company made an external battery strap for the watch that Apple later deactivated the ports essentially shutting down the entire company. They're diagnostic ports for Apple's internal use. But again, Apple intentionally avoided putting any functionality in the bands as part of its design philosophy. This would be a major change. If I had to guess, I'd expect the bands would be self contained with their own power source, and a BT radio to transmit data to the watch.

Hastings101 said:
Just makes me think of the commercials for the first Galaxy Gear with the creepy guy taking pictures of some girl on his watch while skiing.
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Don't blame the device for poor marketing. Imagine if Apple marketed the iPhone with a bunch a creepy guys taking pictures of girls in bikinis around a pool without them knowing about it. It happens every day, yet that's not the image Apple presents.

Apple would present a commercial with two friends taking a smiling selfie together at the beach. And then everyone will want one of these phone liberating devices that take selfies and post to instagram right from the security of the wrist, without the worry of a wave washing the iPhone away.
 
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RE: "Apple has explored the idea of adding a camera to the Apple Watch, although not in the way one might expect."

NOT just the Apple Watch, but ALSO the iPhone !

They are called "Attachment" Cameras.

The concept is NOT new, & even the Essential Camera had one.

Many companies are working on them for Apple mobile products.
 
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