That unfortunately is also exactly how they rolled iPhone upgrades throughout the years. They have always lagged behind competitors in terms of new features. I always felt annoyed that they finally added a feature, but it’s a valid tactic to keep people wishful and in their ecosystem
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Apple Watch Gets Over-the-Air Software Update Mechanism, But iPhone Still Required For Now
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That unfortunately is also exactly how they rolled iPhone upgrades throughout the years. They have always lagged behind competitors in terms of new features. I always felt annoyed that they finally added a feature, but it’s a valid tactic to keep people wishful and in their ecosystem
Well it’s not just that. It’s a “design thinking” approach where you commit to a product, start with a “good enough” and steadily build on it, as you learn from customer usage patterns. It’s a profitable approach but the motivation is not purely cynical - it’s a way of satisfying customers consistently and building connections with them based on a relationship rather than the up-and-down of throwing the must-have feature out, regardless of how the total package works.
Anyway good to have this baked in. I think I’m close to ready to hop into this product now.
Anyway good to have this baked in. I think I’m close to ready to hop into this product now.
So stupid that these require an iPhone. They are missing out on a huge audience because WearOS is so bad. I switched to iOS when the Apple Watch 4 came out. I had some heart issues and the ECG was interesting. However there was a laundry list of things I couldn't do on my iPhone, so I switched back to Android. However, I miss the Apple watch. It was great.
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There always should be room for de-coupling.
When Netflix comes toWatch, let me know. That's when the brain cells will pay attention.
You would really watch movies on your watch?
I think “decoupling” is more like separating iPhone from Apple Watch. For example using Apple Watch series 3, you don’t need iPhone around (or even on) to make phone call. But you still need iPhone to do initial setup and such.
“Uncoupling” is like treating Apple Watch as a stand-alone device that can run on its own without the need of an iPhone entirely.
But yeah, the difference is a bit subtle.
Sorry, I meant WearOS. Android watches.“Switched to iOS”? And watchOS is so bad? How?
I usually carry my phone for three important functions: take calls, receive messages, workout tracking. These three can all be done on the Apple Watch.
That said I usually carry around a computer like my Surface (which has cellular as well), which is why I think I can live without my smartphone; that's really it.
My workflow is different.
Yeah that’s a conclusion I’ve come to as well.
There was a time I would get gift ipods that would get lost or regifted. But the Apple Watch is the absolute best iPod Apple has ever made. It’s always one me. When I go to the gym all I need is my AirPods and I have everything I need. Listen to music, take calls, answer messages, my gym membership, heart rate monitor..
A regular watch is just jewelry now. I sometimes think about wearing one my old watches for the way they look, but I then I realize it’s silly to wear something because of looks when I have an Apple Watch. The Apple watch is an amazingly useful device.
I would love Apple to offer more design choice now.
Okay, I will bite, what was the laundry list you could not do?
If I moved to Android, here is what I would miss:
Handoff:
AirDrop:
Messages:
Integration with my iPad, iPhone, and AW3
A very strong database, TapForms
Numerous Apple apps
Timely iOS updates, while Android devices being one year old have updates issues. Android OS updates and security fixes are dependent on phone maker and carrier. Not so with Apple.
The list goes on, the above I cannot afford to lose. 99% of the folks I know, and for the first meeting folks are Apple users not Android, thus transferring needed data files and the like are a breeze; I need that ability.
And just like that you’ve killed an entire industry, based on exactly that premise of form over function.
As long as people chose fashion over functionality, the traditional watch will live on. Especially considering an iPhone provides better performance in almost all cases for anything one may use the Apple Watch for.
This is true, but you’re leaving out one og the most-used functionality on a moden snartphone: the camera.
The iPhone camera is the most used camera in the world. I use mine more than just for family or hobby photography, it’s also a visual note-taker and I save things into my notes app.
A couple years ago I experimented with having only a Samsung Gear S as my primary phone for about 4 months. It’s was really good but the lack of having a camera with me was the main reason I stopped. Before that point I’d never realised just how much I used my iPhone camera.
This I think will be the real advance that Apple could bring: to solve this gap with a better version of google glasses or a camera on board the watch - which will require major innovation to deliver close to the image quality level of the current smart phones, especially when indoors or lower lighting conditions.
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I think Apple just wants the phone to be a central hub to control everything else. so while de-coupling is a good idea, i won't expect it to be completely gone. It would be nice without Bluetooth, because you have LTE, but you really need a bigger screen than just the watch face to read these health details.
No they want iCloud to be the hub. That’s where Apple is heading as a company.
Current barrier to that On this device is battery life capabilities of the watch, which would create frustration for the average person if they totally untethered the watch. So the phone has been home base for now.
Current barrier to that On this device is battery life capabilities of the watch, which would create frustration for the average person if they totally untethered the watch. So the phone has been home base for now.
Yeah I agree, many of us wear things strictly for fashion. But it’s silly to compare the phone with a watch. Compare an Apple Watch to a traditional watch and that’s closer to reality.
That’s true. The phone has a camera, so anybody wanting to take selfies of their fashion choices for the day are going to carry a phone anyway. ;-)
In all seriousness, the watch isn’t going to replace the need to carry a phone until it gets a camera, despite the watch otherwise being a perfectly suitable replacement.
As long as I’m carrying a phone, it doesn’t really matter what’s on my wrist. Others clearly get a lot more out of the combo, but nowhere near the same number of people who are using an iPhone only.
I don’t think anyone ever said it would replace a phone. Or a phone a laptop. Like any new tool doesn’t replace another, just another choice.
And for those going on a jog or to the gym or on a hike and don’t want to bring a phone but stay connected, or track their workout, heart rate or listen to music it’s just another option.
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