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Apple Watch Battery Life Currently 'About a Day', but May Improve for 2015 Launch
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Pebble says it has a 1 week battery life but it has nowhere near the functionality.
The android based ones seem to have 1/2 day limits
Based on rumors, I have two mild disappointments:
1. Sensors only measure heart rate? Apple bought a company that researched sensor tech for blood glucose monitoring, so I expected more than heart rate. Maybe new sensors will show up in a later revision.
2. No battery in strap. A leaked iWatch video featured a watch that blended seamlessly into the bands in a sort of bracelet form. It looked like it would get killer battery life. Apple also has patents for flexible batteries.
I find the watch design beautiful, with a form that is somehow very balanced and striking. The day-glo GUI and icons are hideous, and quite jarring when juxtaposed with the elegant watch design. I believe this lack of cohesive design reveals the challenges Apple will face without Steve's impeccable taste and perfectionism.
Skimming the tech sites, the general reaction seems to be that the watch is UGLY. Maybe it's the icons and GUI that elicit the reaction? Or maybe I have no taste, lol. Whatever the case, I expect this watch will require a few revisions before sales pick up. It also could be that without new battery tech that enables a Smart Watch to duplicate the functions of a Smart Phone, they will be relegated to niche market status.
1. Sensors only measure heart rate? Apple bought a company that researched sensor tech for blood glucose monitoring, so I expected more than heart rate. Maybe new sensors will show up in a later revision.
2. No battery in strap. A leaked iWatch video featured a watch that blended seamlessly into the bands in a sort of bracelet form. It looked like it would get killer battery life. Apple also has patents for flexible batteries.
I find the watch design beautiful, with a form that is somehow very balanced and striking. The day-glo GUI and icons are hideous, and quite jarring when juxtaposed with the elegant watch design. I believe this lack of cohesive design reveals the challenges Apple will face without Steve's impeccable taste and perfectionism.
Skimming the tech sites, the general reaction seems to be that the watch is UGLY. Maybe it's the icons and GUI that elicit the reaction? Or maybe I have no taste, lol. Whatever the case, I expect this watch will require a few revisions before sales pick up. It also could be that without new battery tech that enables a Smart Watch to duplicate the functions of a Smart Phone, they will be relegated to niche market status.
Well, winding it takes a few seconds and you can do it anywhere, without equipment, and without removing the watch from your wrist. Also, self-winding analog watches have been around since the 1920's; going for one that needs to be wound is a choice. As for myself, I've used digital watches since the early 80's. Ones that required battery replacement every one or two years. The low maintenance is one of the sales points.
Then along come digital smart watches which maintenance-wise take us back to, well, back to nothing really, because not even 16th century pocket watches required daily maintenance that put them out of commission for an hour or two.
Hence my comment re: "utter madness". I realize it does a gazillion things that makes it hard to compare to a regular digital watch, and that tradeoffs are inevitable. I just like making observations about the paradox of technology that aims to make our lives easier, but at the same time introduces chores and hurdles we didn't have to deal with before. Those times when you discover that pen and paper are amazing inventions.
2 to 3 days would be acceptable.
1 day is just to short for a watch. Better add a wind up feature
Why is this? When I used to wear watches before the iPhone made traditional watches obsolete, I always removed them at nights. This is really no different from charging your iPhone.
I wouldn't hold my breath for GPS on the second-generation watch either. Think about the relative size of the iPhone battery and how quickly using GPS will kill your phone. I do see cellular capabilities in the second generation, with the ability to triangulate Location untethered, but that likely won't do for my accuracy requirements on a bike or running.
There were a couple of rumors circulating about batteries implanted in straps. Apple obviously went the fashion route, and the customizability of this watch will not allow advanced technologies in every possible strap combination you can purchase. So, this is just my opinion, but we are likely waiting on Tesla or a similar company to achieve battery technology breakthroughs before we see any GPS.
It needs both, so I'll take either. I think the watch face is far too thick for people who prefer a more feminine, delicate watch. But I'm guessing it'll take a few years before they're able to miniaturize components enough to allow this.
But yes, anything less than a full 24 hours of battery life is a failure. Having to plug in your phone, plus your watch, every night is just silly.
Me too, and while I doubt they will achieve 24 hour life by release date, I'm confident Apple will figure out a way to fully charge of the device in an hour. You do it every evening or morning before work or going to bed and that's a reasonable compromise at this point.
The lack of waterproofing is certainly limiting, but I don't understand why you would need to have an iPhone with it on a run. An iPhone is only needed if you want to use the watch for iPhone-related functions. It will still work as a fitness watch without an iPhone.
It is more like 1/3 than 1/10, and aplle watch definitely will have much more third party apps. But If technology is not ready to provide decent battery life with color display, gps, and other stuff - it is better to limit number of features and add them later, when it wouldn't affect battery life so much.
Is there any technology available which would provide 2-3 days usage in a (smart)watch, I dont think there is? If its lithium-ion then this is the best it gets.
What else would there be? Chemical energy? Gas?
Once battery tech and processor efficiency improves, and components get smaller, they could combine the rotor from an automatic watch to generate power inside a 15mm thick case. Don't laugh....remember how big cell phones used to be? Now they're 6.9mm thick,
You think 'about a day' will be longer in 2015? Let's get serious people. Any usefulness of such device is minimized by the need to charge it. Same with iPhone. If you're really busy during the day and use your iPhone for everything it's dead in 8-10 hours.
Stop living in an illusion.
I was really hoping it was like the fit bit.
-Small, thin black band so it could be worn as a watch or with a watch
-vibrating motor for alarms/calls
-doesn't need a phone but works with a phone
-small OLED screen that could scroll messages, calls, directions
-mic for calls, voice to text and voice detection
-2-3 day battery life
-fitness tracking without a phone
I am sure there are people who want animated emoji, taps, sending hearbeats, and having tiny pictures on their watch but not me. I wanted a tiny wrist communicator/health tracker.
-Small, thin black band so it could be worn as a watch or with a watch
-vibrating motor for alarms/calls
-doesn't need a phone but works with a phone
-small OLED screen that could scroll messages, calls, directions
-mic for calls, voice to text and voice detection
-2-3 day battery life
-fitness tracking without a phone
I am sure there are people who want animated emoji, taps, sending hearbeats, and having tiny pictures on their watch but not me. I wanted a tiny wrist communicator/health tracker.
I agree!
"Give us a gold watch that's more advanced than a $5k Rolex, and lasts a week. It needs GPS and be a fully functioning phone. Oh, and keep it under $500"
I guess one day is what you get with today's technology. I would like to have 50 plus hours at least.
Doesn't mean I don't get one. I like the design a lot and I want one for running mainly.
On apples page they say I can use it for music playback and I do assume Bluetooth technology.
So basically for me it would be a better iPod for running...
Doesn't mean I don't get one. I like the design a lot and I want one for running mainly.
On apples page they say I can use it for music playback and I do assume Bluetooth technology.
So basically for me it would be a better iPod for running...
That's better if you don't need to carry the iPhone for a run. My understanding the watch doesn't have GPS so how it will track your run?
Still the waterproof is a huge bummer. I swim most of the time and spend a lot of time on water. I would love to have these activities being tracked. Well, maybe will come up at some point down the road.
I agree here. And the simultaneous charging method should have been something Apple thought of and presented yesterday.
I'll still be getting the watch and new iPhone though... my new electronic crush.
If the battery lasted 2-3 days, most people would charge nightly. A one day battery requires more frequent charging, since most people will be uncomfortable with a device that is nearly completely discharged.