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

R3k said:
Good developments. Im sure many people would sometime like to leave their phones at home and still have connectivity when they go out, say for a coffee.

Grab keys and walk out.
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I agree with this. When I am out running I do not always want to take my iPhone with me. It would be nice to get a text message, email or phone call when I only have the watch with me.
 
I said from the beginning, Apple released their watch too soon. For me, if I had to carry my phone with me....If I had to have my phone in my pocket for the watch to work, I may as well just use my phone. The thing that would make this a compelling product is NOT having to have your phone on you.

"Although such a feature would undoubtedly require an additional data plan, on top of one they might already have for both the iPhone and iPad"

WHY?????? Again, that defeats the purpose. When you buy your Apple Watch, your carrier gives you a extra sim card that you sync in Itunes. Now when you leave home you turn off your phone or put in Airplane mode, now everything gets routed to your watch. I should be able to share whatever data Im paying for on my phone, with my watch. Have two options, Have option one where your watch is connected to phone exactly how it does now, and your phone is with you. For the times you dont want to even bring your phone, allow it to just share the data you already have, like on a family plan. Now, you have me interested.
 
Black Magic said:
This baffles me. Why would you want the Apple Watch to have its own cellular connection? You really have an interest in calling folks from your watch? You want yet another device added to your mobile bill? Really don't get it.

GPS I can understand.

Waterproof I can understand.

Longer battery life I can understand.
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It may give another interesting way to use a communications device. It at least offers the question of why do we need a mobile phone with us at all times? why not communicate with this small device and consume content with another? like an iPad perhaps, something you don't have on you at all times. Bluetooth headphones easily dismiss that awkward wrist-to-mouth issue.

I'm honestly waiting for tech to be miniaturised enough for Augmented Reality glasses to be attractive in both feature set and design, but that'a another topic entirely.

Anyway, it may seem inconceivable that someone might want to live without a mobile phone, but it could be quite liberating for some. Paradigm shifts and all that jazz.

EDIT: I realised why it may seem untenable to some and interesting to others. I really dislike actually calling people. This would force written / short communication, even if it's dictated via Siri.
 
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Smaller AND a cellular connection? Seems doubtful...

And what am I going to have to pay for this cellular connection?

Gary
 
japanime said:
Hello. Can you hear me now? (Speaking awkwardly into watch face.)
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Sure, because that's totally different than holding a slab up to your ear (?). When cellular arrives in the AWatch it will be so widely known that everyone who sees you will know what you are doing.
 
I wouldn't pay extra to use my watch on cellular. I'm not even bothered by the lack of wifi because logging onto networks on the watch would be a pain without a keyboard. Standalone GPS would be a welcome edition, as would 16gb for music.

Maybe the next iPhone will have a bluetooth range of 1000 miles!
 
iConnected said:
Do you, on average, last longer than 1.5 days without sleeping?

If not, the current battery life is perfectly adequate for your needs.
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You must really be close to irfuel if you know what's adequate for his/her needs.:rolleyes:

Apparently, you've never been camping or hunting or forgot a charger. Better battery life is always a plus.
 
mwd25 said:
I said from the beginning, Apple released their watch too soon. For me, if I had to carry my phone with me....If I had to have my phone in my pocket for the watch to work, I may as well just use my phone. The thing that would make this a compelling product is NOT having to have your phone on you.

"Although such a feature would undoubtedly require an additional data plan, on top of one they might already have for both the iPhone and iPad"

WHY?????? Again, that defeats the purpose. When you buy your Apple Watch, your carrier gives you a extra sim card that you sync in Itunes. Now when you leave home you turn off your phone or put in Airplane mode, now everything gets routed to your watch. I should be able to share whatever data Im paying for on my phone, with my watch. Have two options, Have option one where your watch is connected to phone exactly how it does now, and your phone is with you. For the times you dont want to even bring your phone, allow it to just share the data you already have, like on a family plan. Now, you have me interested.
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And yet Apple has sold twice as many Watches as first generation iPhones in its first year. The initial iPhone was essentially "too soon," as well. Poor battery life, marginal performance, high cost, lacking in features, no app store, etc. It was labeled a "flop" by many.

Ditto with the first MacBook Air - poor performance, features, memory, one port.

And all under Steve Job's leadership...

That's the way Apple works. By incrementally evolving products over time towards better performance and features. Design and engineering is about managing a set of compromises dictated by the technology available at the time.

The retina MacBook is another great example, following in the footsteps of the MacBook Air. The Watch will be no different.
 
Black Magic said:
This baffles me. Why would you want the Apple Watch to have its own cellular connection?
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Because then I dorm have to carry my phone everywhere. I would never use my watch to make calls as a primary device, but the ability to do so in an emergency would be invaluable.
 
djcerla said:
Means that the best form factor for a smartphone was the one we grown accustomed to, not the early Nokia Communicators or Palms, for example.

Also means that the best form factor for a smartwatch is square-ish, as watches used to be round due to a old technology that is no longer used; that did not stop watchmakers to build nice looking square watches, as the Monaco I linked to.
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You mean that ugly looking watch?

To each their own.

I don't necessarily have a disdain for all square watches - but for something (a watch) that is usually round and occasionally square, it does not bode well for all the people who really care about the looks of the device they're using.
 
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Unless I forget my phone its with me. LTE in my watch would be nice so perhaps it would leave it off unless I was away from phone and away from a known WiFi signal. LTE would be level 3 in the list for staying connected and not the primary mode.
 
Tech198 said:
hehe... speaking clearly

George Jetson reality hour. Users will see the battery drop faster than a led balloon. The watch gets a day (or so) now,,, isn't that the original reason, and probably still stands, as Apple *didn't* do any of this ?

So, what has changed dramatically ?
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In September 2016, it will be two years since they announced the first generation Watch.

Battery tech has improved, as has Apple's ability to shrink other components. The cellular radio won't need to be fired up all the time, only when the phone isn't in range.

Plus there's always the possibility they left it out of the first version, even though they had the tech to include it. I'm sure Apple were capable of including a camera in the first iPad.
 
Nice, but never felt I needed a direct connection to a cellular network. I don't want higher power RF attached to my body in that way. The BT and WIFI have done fine by themselves in my use case.

The only thing I would really like to see is faster speed overall, and, perhaps more individual case options.
 
This would be THE MOST POINTLESS feature ever, I hate watches with cellular radios, why? Whats the point? you look like an utter idiot talking into it, you can't hear anyone speaking back to you in noisy places, it's battery life will be even worst then it is now. It would also no doubt be thicker, unless they make the battery smaller!!

A smartwatch is supposed to be an extension of your smartphone, not replace it.
 
iZac said:
Faster, better battery, cellular capable.

I would love, but doubt we'll get all three.
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No but you might get two + it maintain the same battery life. 18 hours takes you from a 6am start to a midnight finish. Plus, loads of users report the Watch charges fast enough that if you were to come home from work and want to immediately go out clubbing, you could charge the Watch while you got ready.
 
apolloa said:
This would be THE MOST POINTLESS feature ever, I hate watches with cellular radios, why? Whats the point? you look like an utter idiot talking into it, you can't hear anyone speaking back to you in noisy places, it's battery life will be even worst then it is now. It would also no doubt be thicker, unless they make the battery smaller!!

A smartwatch is supposed to be an extension of your smartphone, not replace it.
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Or, I dunno, they made the other components smaller. Which is what Apple has got so good at doing, people yawn when they announce a new iPhone or iPad is thinner.
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deviant said:
it's a watch as much as iPhone is a telephone. let's stop fooling ourselves. they are both computers. and computer screens are not round for a reason.
apple watch is 5% a watch and 95% a computer. just like the iPhone is 95% a computer and 5% a telephone.
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Exactly! All your content (messages, photos, emails) is displayed on your other devices' square screens.

But don't worry too much, the user you're replying to is banned.
 
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