Apple Watch 2 Rumored to Include Cellular Connectivity Amid Push for iPhone Independency

[viskon]

Nah, there are already smart watches with both cell functionality and bluetooth (which is the only sensible way of using them as a phone) that easily lasts 2 days of regular use today. The 1,5 year old Samsung Galaxy Gear S being a good example, still my favorite in the smart watch category by a huge margin.

Bluetooth these days does not need much power. Back in the day people used to turn off bluetooth on their phones when not having a device connected to save power, I just leave mine on all the time now, doesn't seem to make much of a difference.

Somehow I don't believe you... I'm sure it would last 2 days if you don't actually do anything with the watch, you have just claimed a watch that is older than the Apple watch, lasts double the time an Apple watch does currently yet with more battery draining features and a 300 mAh battery.

What's the talktime of the watch?

I am currently using a Samsung Gear S with my Note 3. The battery on the Gear S goes for 2 days with moderate use on bluetooth. On cellular, probably less than a day.

Cellular connectivity had been a game changer for me on how I view smartwatches. My first watch was an LG G Watch. Great Android Wear watch but for all practical purposes, just a glorified notification device. Had to have a phone with me for the watch to be of use.

With the Gear S, I can forward my calls and texts to the watch and go out for a long walk without having to carry my phone with me. It's got GPS with offline maps if I ever needed them. And I pay $3 a month on a prepaid Tmobile plan for this convenience. I can go on and on, but suffice to say, in this age of huge phones, a cellular enabled smartwatch is a very useful accessory.

 

[mwd25]

Reeeaaaalllllyyyyyy and tell me, just WHEN did you last see people walking around wearing bluetooth headsets then? I think taxi drivers use them so I'll give you that, are you a taxi driver?

Your solution is also stupid, you are saying why not use cellular on your tiny watch, then use bluetooth too to connect a headset to it at the same time! Wow, what's your target for battery life? An hour?

When did I last see someone wearing bluetooth headphones????? Lets see, 5 minutes ago and every single time I leave my house. Where are you from??? I dont know anyone who wears headphones that are wire connected. Bose, Beats, Jaybird, Plantronics, all make bluetooth headphones and they sell like crazy. Guess there are a lot of cabbies out there. Oh and if you read the whole thread, you would know my point was that the watch was released too soon. Ofcourse there would be battery issues, there are issues now in the current model........hence it wasnt ready for market. I guess Apple is reeeaaalllyyy insane and stupid because they are planning on getting rid of the audio jack for the IPhone. So you wont be able to plug in your WIRED headphones. They will be changing to bluetooth and lightning. Maybe you can ask a cabbie where to get a new pair of headphones cause your current pair will be useless.

 

[Bubble99]

When did I last see someone wearing bluetooth headphones????? Lets see, 5 minutes ago and every single time I leave my house. Where are you from??? I dont know anyone who wears headphones that are wire connected. Bose, Beats, Jaybird, Plantronics, all make bluetooth headphones and they sell like crazy. Guess there are a lot of cabbies out there. Oh and if you read the whole thread, you would know my point was that the watch was released too soon. Ofcourse there would be battery issues, there are issues now in the current model........hence it wasnt ready for market. I guess Apple is reeeaaalllyyy insane and stupid because they are planning on getting rid of the audio jack for the IPhone. So you wont be able to plug in your WIRED headphones. They will be changing to bluetooth and lightning. Maybe you can ask a cabbie where to get a new pair of headphones cause your current pair will be useless.

Well wireless headphones more future thing as you see in movies and such but is there some encryption for security reason? If two headphones are transmitting on same frequency it could be pick up by other headphone or an receiver. The FBI and government would love to bring out their receiver and monitor every thing.

So does these wireless headphones use some encryption? How good is the security? To stop people from picking it up?

 

[John Mcgregor]

I would be ok with it if I didn't have to pay for a separate plan. Otherwise, I don't have a compelling need for the watch to be independent of the phone since I rarely use the watch without the phone nearby or on the same wifi network.
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Not this round obsession again I really don't understand it. I guess you don't like to read text comfortably on the watch.

It's a watch.

 

[laurim]

It's a watch.

So what? You act like there have never been rectangular watches before. AND, it's WAY more than a watch and those functions are more important than telling time. Besides that, I don't use the analog face. I have evolved into the digital age where I can simply glance and see 10:36 rather than have to pause and decipher where the FAKE hands are and what they mean.
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Well wireless headphones more future thing as you see in movies and such but is there some encryption for security reason? If two headphones are transmitting on same frequency it could be pick up by other headphone or an receiver. The FBI and government would love to bring out their receiver and monitor every thing.

So does these wireless headphones use some encryption? How good is the security? To stop people from picking it up?

Huh? You have to pair the bluetooth headphones to your watch. It doesn't happen randomly. I own bluetooth headphones and have used them on occasion but I ended up carrying my regular headphones because I kept needing them for a plane's entertainment center.

 

[caskin8a]

The Gear S2 has had 3G/4G connectivity and GPS for a long time. I prefer the square but seriously Apple, if the second generation doesn't have cell connectivity and a revamped UI you've officially lost it.

 

[Grassgreen]

longer battery life is a must, or it´s a no go

 

[thewitt]

I dunno how an extra data plan could help,,,, Sim cards are not that tiny (yet). It somehow u could do the same as an email *add an alais to your account*. so mobile carrier could only need serial number of the watch or IMEI (since it would be a separate hard ware device ) and carrers add it to your iPhone account/contract.. that could be one way without needing to pay "an extra" thing for..


Or, a watch (with phone capabilities)

It won't use a SIM card. It will use the embedded SIM which is quite small.

 

[pitt1717]

i think the square face is already dated. and lets face it, even when it first came out it looked like only women should be wearing it. also, why do they care how thin it is? i would rather it be a little taller as again, it adds masculinity (wish g-shock would get in the game). and with that extra room, you could add more battery, gps, cellular etc. this is a platform they need to STOP shrinking.
if these wearables weren't in their infancy i would get the Tag, but for something that in 3 years will be obsolete ill just buy a moto 360 for 400.
as much as i love my apple products, they need to start getting off their hollyer than thou attitude and wake up because the only thing keeping the AW alive is the integration with apple only products. they are or going to lose a lot of market share if they stay status quo. this is a product that should work with MS, android etc.

end rant

 

[mi7chy]

About time. I won't even consider a smart watch without cellular capability to operate unthethered from phone. Hope Apple overhaul the 1980s Casio calculator design.

 

[AsherN]

I had a moto360. Round is nice, I prefer the analog face. But the extra real estate of the square format around the analog face is great for displaying information.

I wish we could create our own custom faces like android can.