Apple Watch 3 Won't Have 'Obvious Change' to Form Factor, LTE to Be Main Selling Point

profets said:
I think carriers that do support other cellular connected smart watches allow them to access an existing account & data for $5-10/month. Similar to other devices that you add on.

As for being worth it, I’d say that’s totally up to each individual. I can see people not feeling the need or want to have a cellular connection on their watch, while others will want to have it. I know I’d definitely like to have cellular on my watch
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The less I can carry the better.. I'd consider getting a new watch for that feature. But....it'd also have to open those watch faces. Where's that store at?
 
bodonnell202 said:
Makes you wonder what the AW lineup will look like in the fall. A few directions I can see it going:
-One new version, series 1 & 2 remain on sale (i.e. series 3 with LTE added to current lineup)
-Two new versions, series 1 & 2 discontinued (i.e. series 3 & series 3 LTE)
-Entire lineup receives internal update, 3 versions sold (i.e. no GPS, GPS & GPS + LTE)
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I think they will just drop G1 and add G3LTE
 
I will not even look at this product until it has a traditional circular watch design. When is the last time anyone bought a watch in rectangle shape?
 
Alx9876 said:
I will not even look at this product until it has a traditional circular watch design. When is the last time anyone bought a watch in rectangle shape?
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Casio, ground breaking and market leader in the 80s
From memory James Bond had one. In fact that would be excellent product placement for apple watch in next Bond movie due 2018
 
No matter what watch Apple puts out, people will always want it thinner. Its one of those things that can't be thin enough. Apple won't be chasing this shadow. But they'll try to make it thinner that what it is now though.
 
I see a lot of people talking about a new design but... what?

It's a tiny rectangle screen for your wrist with really limited batteries as it is. At most they can... what? Make a little more or less boxy? Squish it a little? And I think a huge number of existing users will be EXTREMELY irritated (including me) if they aren't compatible with the existing bands.

At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do with the dimensions that are there. I'm glad they continue to improve the OS. I have one of the originals and the thing works just fine.
 
cult hero said:
I see a lot of people talking about a new design but... what?

It's a tiny rectangle screen for your wrist with really limited batteries as it is. At most they can... what? Make a little more or less boxy? Squish it a little? And I think a huge number of existing users will be EXTREMELY irritated (including me) if they aren't compatible with the existing bands.

At the end of the day, there is only so much you can do with the dimensions that are there. I'm glad they continue to improve the OS. I have one of the originals and the thing works just fine.
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I agree. It's a Watch and there are only so many physical alterations that will be changed. Furthermore, Watches traditionally don't physically change much over the course of its life. (Even if it's a smart Watch.)

I actually believe Apple will retain the current design and form factor for the Series 3 if one does launch in September. And as far as the band connector is considered, I also believe that will remain the same, as Apple has executed this perfectly. The bands is where Apple makes their money as well, changing this now would be a poor decision and would not be a direct benefit to the consumer who owns prior Apple Watch models.
 
JarScott said:
Third party watch faces would be nice, but I don’t think battery life is why they don’t exist. Why do you need the face to be on 24/7? You’re not looking at your Watch every second are you, so what’s the benefit? The face lights up right as I raise it to look at it and turns off when I’m no longer looking. Frankly it would annoy me if it never turned off. It would draw too much attention, amongst other annoyances.
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Imagine a theater, museum, cinema or any other dim light environment with several displays always on.
 
$100 extra like LTE ipads? And a second data plan? No thanks. I can see the convenience of LTE in case you forget your phone, or want to go for a run without it. But it’ll be occasionally, and I can’t see the battery lasting all day if you use the radio a lot.

As such, it’s a very different value proposition than iPad and I don’t know if it would support an additional data plan. I would hope they persuade carriers to include it in your existing pool, as it really is a companion device to your phone, and wouldn’t be using lots of data (unlike an LTE iPad)
 
goobot said:
I thought they allowed for up to 2 gigs of on device music?
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1 GB for music I think.

Without a decent data plan on the cheap nobody is going to like streaming music over LTE to their Watch S3 - never mind horrible battery life.

Sync over BT on charger is just fine even if slow.
 
At its most basic I'd expect LTE to provide the same functionality as wifi does now. I have wifi calling on my plan so if I leave or forget my phone but am near a known wifi signal, I can still make/receive calls, see incoming notifications etc

I'm not sure it is enough as it isn't full functionality - too many apps don't let you reply or start things on the watch. It would be enough to plug the gap when you aren't near wifi and will be away from your phone for a short time - going on a run etc, but I don't see it being something (yet) that would allow you to leave your phone at home every day

Battery life would be a worry too. Perhaps it doesn't do push notifications and instead polls every 15 mins or so? And obviously would switch off LTE if you're connected to wifi or in range of your phone.
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cmaier said:
So you think I'm the only one who wishes for third party watch faces or that the watch always displayed the watch face instead of turning off?

That explains why everyone is still wearing those LED watches from the 70's that you had to press a button to show the time.
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Always on is my biggest missing feature. It was great on the android wear watch I had. I often just glance at my watch or don't flick my wrist just right and it's frustrating when I can't see the time
 
now i see it said:
There's no way anyone's gunna be able to pry an iPhone out of an iPhone junky's hand or pocket and tell them to go naked with just a A-watch. Apple doesn't understand the addicts it's created.
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Just because it got a LTE radio built doesn't mean it's going to support voice calls; it's going to be for data only. If you don't think Apple doesn't cripple/streamline the potential of it's hardware think about the iPhone. It's got a NFC chip inside yet Apple doesn't let developers use it.
 
jclardy said:
Intersting how many people want a "slimmer design." The Apple Watch is already thinner than most mechanical watches, unless you compare it to cheap quartz movement watches.
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As a guy who lives in Switzerland, I'm really giggling at your statement.
 
JarScott said:
But the battery is fine? How long do you need it to last? My S0 finishes up the day with about 20% left, and I’ve heard the Series 2 has much better battery life than the Series 0. I think you’re probably expecting too much from a smart watch like this, it’ll never have a battery life that lasts a week. You don’t need the battery to last longer than about 12 hours surely.
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I decided to go for a decent walk not so long ago (~12 miles - decent to me) and I used my Apple Watch for the activity. I set an outdoor walk going and before I got to my destination the battery had gone flat from 100% - that was less than 4 hours later.

What’s the point in positioning the Apple Watch as a health & sports companion if the battery gives up whilst you’re trying to be healthy?

If I’m sat on my backside for most of the day and don’t use the Watch then, I fully agree, I have battery left over at the end of the day. If I try to use the Watch for it’s advertised purposes then it will not last.
 
jclardy said:
Intersting how many people want a "slimmer design." The Apple Watch is already thinner than most mechanical watches, unless you compare it to cheap quartz movement watches.

Otherwise, having LTE on AW seems interesting. I really wonder how it will affect battery life, and how decent reception will be. Having the option to not carry a phone at all, and just take AW + AirPods is a pretty interesting thought.
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I couldn't agree with you more. If the rumours are true and the Apple Watch is completely independent of the iPhone, what an amazing piece of tech it becomes. Plus maybe one day add in the (rumoured) glasses that are in development and the Air Pods and I am lost in Apple Land.

I wear and use my generation zero Apple Watch every, single, day. I was very close to getting the Nike Edition 2 but if this does connect to the internet out in the real world AND works in rip off Britain then I am up at midnight with my finger hovering over the PRE ORDER button.
 
deany said:
And Fitbit killed Pebble, they just wanted the few staff left and Intellectual Property.
Hope Pebble founders came away with a life changing lump sum, respect to them as Pioneers.
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In a sense, Pebble actually killed themselves. They failed to market their products and expand into other major retailers. When they finally tried to innovate their watches with more health oriented capabilities, it was too little too late. They were already sinking before hand and it was rumored the CEO Eric Migicovsky was pulling loans to stay afloat, which was short lived.
 
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