This seems like somebody in Apple legal realized that the risk of an Apple Watch Ultra failing as a dive computer and resulting in the death of a diver would be a huge liability and as preemptive CYA, Apple could get out ahead of it by offering free quality/safety inspections like this. Very few people will take them up on it because of the hassle, but Apple will have a stronger defense in the event a diver drowns because their Watch seal failed
Almost certainly there is a decent sized niche market for selling the watches. Recreational diving is a popular sport and it pretty much is mandated that people have a dive computer. Some of these cost more than the Apple watch!I get the need of a more rugged Apple Watch, but is diving so popular that it’s a market Apple is capitalizing on? I’d love to learn that it’s a pet project of an Apple employee who loves diving, and somehow, here we are.
Which is why they subbed the Dive Computer Application out to Huish. Hopefully many other dive computer applications will become available for the Ultra and Ultra 2, 3, 4...Nah, Apple's legal team is way ahead of you. The User Guide literally says the "Depth app is not a dive computer."
In fact, Apple says in multiple bold warnings to always use a "secondary depth gauge and timer/watch."
It’s a market conquered by the likes of Garmin, Shearwater, etc. Apple already “conquered” the regular watch market, so this is the next piece on the pie.
Kind of.Is there anyone who bought the Ultra that actually uses it for that purpose? It seems that everyone bought it just because it was the new shiny toy on the block. Have you seen some of the YouTubers that wear it? They haven’t stepped foot in a gym let alone in deep water.
Exacly.I wonder how for many years the watch is guaranteed to be water resistant.. outside of the Apple Watch ultra, my last 2 stainless steel Apple Watches were the series 4 and 5. Most people are going to have their 800$ Apple Watch for awhile, and we’d want to be able to trust it.
Not sure I really understand why you'd want this in place at pre-order time - this service is intended for an AWU that has undergone some type of incident that may have compromised its waterproof integrity, such as physical damage, over-pressure or significant ageing, it's not meant to be a QC check on brand new watches.Wow! This is some serious type of service. I wish it was offered when I pre-ordered my ⌚️ Apple Watch Ultra tho.
I registered an account just to respond to your last point.Not sure I really understand why you'd want this in place at pre-order time - this service is intended for an AWU that has undergone some type of incident that may have compromised its waterproof integrity, such as physical damage, over-pressure or significant ageing, it's not meant to be a QC check on brand new watches.
In terms of diving watches, periodic pressure-testing is pretty much par for the course. Until recently, most dive watches used replaceable non-rechargeable batteries, and you'd always get the unit pressure tested when getting the batteries changed.
What I'm not clear on though is whether the pressure-test is non-destructive. Is it a matter that the results of the test would either be 'yes, your watch is still working, so it's still waterproof', or 'your watch now is dead and full of water, so the seals were compromised' - or do they have a way of telling before damage to the watch occurs? If not, unless you're actually planning to expose the watch to high pressures (e.g. scuba diving) or have good reason to believe the seals will be damaged, then you might not want to take the risk of testing it. Plus, depending on how they offer this service in terms of price and warrantees, if might be quicker/cheaper to get it done at a specialist dive shop that offers pressure testing.
it’s not really that big of a question, since Apple outlines this in writing:The big question is just how deep is that watch guaranteed to go before leaking?
Absolutely and who would buy a rugged watch to have to be watching out for effectiveness of its functions. That’s why you purchased that type of watch. - not a fan of how they are going about this. Cheers everyoneThis seems like somebody in Apple legal realized that the risk of an Apple Watch Ultra failing as a dive computer and resulting in the death of a diver would be a huge liability and as preemptive CYA, Apple could get out ahead of it by offering free quality/safety inspections like this. Very few people will take them up on it because of the hassle, but Apple will have a stronger defense in the event a diver drowns because their Watch seal failed
To be brutally honest, you would have to be a complete moron and disregard every bit of training to die from any complications that could be a result of this watching failing in an open water scenario. I dove for a few years with a with nothing more than a Citizen Aqualand Promaster. Basically a depth gauge and a timer. Dove to the tables, and never had a problem. It wasn’t until I started getting in to more technical diving, enriched air, etc., that I even considered a dive computer.This seems like somebody in Apple legal realized that the risk of an Apple Watch Ultra failing as a dive computer and resulting in the death of a diver would be a huge liability and as preemptive CYA, Apple could get out ahead of it by offering free quality/safety inspections like this. Very few people will take them up on it because of the hassle, but Apple will have a stronger defense in the event a diver drowns because their Watch seal failed
A timer or proper technical dive computer is all you can use at that point. A dive computer that stops computing below 132 feet is worthless. I wouldn’t trust it to give me the date let alone decompression information.The big question is just how deep is that watch guaranteed to go before leaking?
40m/132ft is not deep, that's just the point at which it stops recording depth.
If someone were to wear that watch and dived, say, to 80m/265ft, would it survive? There's good reason to do this as the watch might be useful at decompression depths, above 40m/132ft.
That’s just lawyers lawyering. You can suggest they take a second device, but you can’t protect yourself with that statement if there is a failure of some kind and that failure specifically led to an open water death. Like I mentioned above, in open water diving you would pretty much have to ignore every iota of training for that to happen.Nah, Apple's legal team is way ahead of you. The User Guide literally says the "Depth app is not a dive computer."
In fact, Apple says in multiple bold warnings to always use a "secondary depth gauge and timer/watch."
By providing a test, Apple actually increases their exposure to risk because they're now verifying functionality. However, that's balanced against getting potential customers inside the store and buying another Watch.
Exactly, I have two Shearwater Perdix’s that are ~$2k each by the time you add sensors, but the diving I did (and plan to get back in to) require it. In diving two is one, and one is none.Kind of.
However, when faced with purchasing a backup dive computer (they're very important, so you bring two) it's quite compelling to buy an Apple Ultra as a backup dive computer as its priced much lower than Garmin's Ascent and Shearwater's Teric. The drawback is the depth limitation on the Ultra.
All dive equipment is subject to periodic tests and certification, but you would already know this if Apple’s tests applied to you.Absolutely and who would buy a rugged watch to have to be watching out for effectiveness of its functions. That’s why you purchased that type of watch. - not a fan of how they are going about this. Cheers everyone
I wonder how for many years the watch is guaranteed to be water resistant.. outside of the Apple Watch ultra, my last 2 stainless steel Apple Watches were the series 4 and 5. Most people are going to have their 800$ Apple Watch for awhile, and we’d want to be able to trust it.
Two things. $9.95??? And that guys is THE standard for “rolling with it.” Doesn’t miss a beat. Masterful.I'm reminded of the old Timex commercial where they put the watch on the propeller of an outboard boat motor in a water tank and it disappeared.
I seriously need Apple to release some new Apple Watch Ocean Bands, please. I own all 3 colors and they are starting to get dirty and looking rugged 😓
That just means you’re doing it right. 😉I seriously need Apple to release some new Apple Watch Ocean Bands, please. I own all 3 colors and they are starting to get dirty and looking rugged 😓
That makes me want to buy a Timex. That dude was unflappable.I'm reminded of the old Timex commercial where they put the watch on the propeller of an outboard boat motor in a water tank and it disappeared.
❤️ Yes sir! That’s actually what I pre-ordered my Apple Watch Ultra with. At that time it was almost sold out everywhere. Finally took it out of the box last night. The color is classy, elegant, and subtle. My favorite ones are the White and Yellow Ocean bands tho.Even the Midnight one 😦?
That's the one I was going to pick up.
Originally I was going to get a cheap amazon knockoff but I don't think I would trust it surfing.
Midnight is the one I will get.❤️ Yes sir! That’s actually what I pre-ordered my Apple Watch Ultra with. At that time it was almost sold out everywhere. Finally took it out of the box last night. The color is classy, elegant, and subtle. My favorite ones are the White and Yellow Ocean bands tho.
Why? It is a useful but not mandatory secondary service. Not SOP for instance with all other dive computers.Seems like a necessary secondary service Apple should have mentioned on day1