Apple Watch Hands-On: A First Look at Software, Apple Pay, Water Resistance, and More

[TWSS37]

Yeah! We can only wait till the next crop of Android wearables arrive (especially those that are iOS-compatible). There was a time when Apple used to dictate technical and design-oriented changes to Android and others. When it comes to wearables however, Apple may very well need to take a leaf or two from them for a change.

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But thats like Blackberry CEO who have to use a Blackberry device

I believe I read that Android Wear is being released for iOS soon, which should make all devices compatible.

 

[Siretman]

can it even do anything without a phone? like tell time?

How do you trolls always manage to be the first to comment on a MacRumors post? Do you have a life? Are you paid by the hour to monitor all posts and add your nasty useless comments like the one above.

You must be the stupidest troll I have ever come across. Tell time without iPhone? You think you are funny? No, you are an idiot troll. Go back under the rock you crawled out of.

 

[oliversl]

UI is a mess, real mess. The iPhone have only 1 button and big screen, the iWatch has 3 buttons: wheel, contact button and force press and a tiny screen.

Software is fluid, but UI is a mess, real mess.

What is this flash guy from Adobe showing us? Put another puppet on stage please. Flash? Really?

 

[TWSS37]

I agree it's different. I fully expect Google to have an iOS Android Wear app out in the next 6 months. Then we'll see how this all goes down.

I am willing to bet it will be ready prior to 4/10.

 

[ragermac]

I will stick with my titanium Omega Seamaster Professional. What a waste. And I am sure the next iteration will be slimmer and that will be a major selling point from Apple's standpoint and at some point it will not need to be tethered to an iPhone and that will piss off the guinea pigs who bought gen 1. Right now, it looks like a kids watch from a toy store.

This is a waste of resources and time. But, the apple loyalist will eat this up just to show it off, but this will not become a "thing".

 

[chrisbru]

So, Apple Pay isn't as easy as they made it look at the keynote. He just swiped his arm in front of the terminal and it beeped. They didn't show him going to his iPhone, opening the app, selecting Apple Pay, then swiping his watch. In all of that time on the phone, you could have just swiped it instead of the watch. As much as I like the Apple Watch, this is the kind of thing that makes it seem useless. Most of what it does is duplicate what the phone does but on a smaller scale. I think it's probably going to be a failure for Apple. It's probably the only new product that Apple has made that I haven't wanted. I'll likely stick with Pebble and maybe get the new color one.

You set it up via phone. You don't have to use the phone to use Apple Pay with your Watch. You don't even need the phone on you.

 

[samcraig]

UI is a mess, real mess. The iPhone have only 1 button and big screen, the iWatch has 3 buttons: wheel, contact button and force press and a tiny screen.

Software is fluid, but UI is a mess, real mess.

That was my assessment as well.

 

[elgrecomac]

I am trying to keep an open mind but I just dont understand what all the fuss is about . I don't see the watch as transformative or evolutionary but rather a device of convenience so one doesnt have to pull their phone out. The iPod was a transformative device as was the iPhone. This is more about jewelry when the exact same tech device can cost $350 or $10,000 depending on the case and band but not one bit of increase or enhanced capability for a more expensive version.

What's next, the Apple necklace and ear rings?

 

[MrSmith]

A watch that needs charging every night? Are they serious?

 

[Carlanga]

Unless you plan to buy a $10K watch, why do you care?

Who says I care what you think?

You don't know if I'm in the market for one nice lifetime watch. Your defending comment wout a proper answer for a real questionable price point for a limited device in the high price watch market means you prob don't have one nice watch. Btw even $10 watches nowadays can withstand use inside pools.

 

[Bubba Satori]

What's next, the Apple necklace and ear rings?

$400.

It whistles and vibrates every time something stupid happens in the social mediaverse.
One hour battery life.
Can be extended to four hours by lowering the stupidity threshold on the device.

 

[MrSmith]

I will stick with my titanium Omega Seamaster Professional. What a waste. And I am sure the next iteration will be slimmer and that will be a major selling point from Apple's standpoint and at some point it will not need to be tethered to an iPhone and that will piss off the guinea pigs who bought gen 1. Right now, it looks like a kids watch from a toy store.

This is a waste of resources and time. But, the apple loyalist will eat this up just to show it off, but this will not become a "thing".

That is one fugly watch. Besides, why can't you just look at your phone - whatever it is - for the time like everyone else?

 

[kmichalec]

What some goofy colored watch bands. Makes them look like kiddie watches you find in a cereal box. No professional would be caught dead in one of those.

I'm not so sure about that. I've seen a number of "professionals" with the rubberized Health Tracker/watch bands on, like FitBits and such. So, why not just go with the black rubberized band on the Sport here, and replace the FitBit if you were already looking at one of those? I do agree the other color bands on the Sport version are rather kiddish, though.

 

[Recognition]

I'm loving all the hate for the Apple Watch!

I'll have no trouble pre-ordering a stainless steel one next month!

Keep up the hate guys!

 

[MrSmith]

It also pairs with wifi so you are really only using bluetooth when you don't have a wifi signal.

So you're suggesting that's just a few minutes a day, then?

 

[jaison13]

i think the watch is really cool and does a lot, but $399 is really high for entry level. al those prices it should look a lot better. i look at it and don'tthink watch. i think computer device trying to be a watch. either it should look more like a watch, or more like a device.i was REALLY hoping for more like a device with curved design like some of the "guesses" before it was shown. it looks thick. at that price i wanted much more. i'll be waiting for watch 2.0. hopefully a lot of other people buy this so there is a watch 2.0!! only way i get one is if one is added to viggle as a reward. that's how i got my ipad air 2. i wasn't gong to buy a new ipad either until i see some major inovation to it!!

 

[jhande]

I must admit that I'm a bit disappointed in the Apple Watch. I won't argue about the price--it's in the high end, but not too crazy (apart from the Edition, but 'nuff said about that).

However, I don't really buy the interface as a whole--it's too app-centric. I like what Pebble has done with the Pebble Time (PT), where the interface is the timeline. Whether it works or not I have no idea, but they're at least thinking different. And the price is OK, so it isn't a big risk for me to try out the PT when it comes out ($159 early bird on Kickstarter--not bad).

I also think Pebble's 'pins' are fantastic. I went through their SDK, and the implementation is like a mix between RSS and iCal notifications which can be inserted into the timeline (and morph, depending on the time itself), without the need of an app. Again, something different (that I haven't seen before, at least).

While the Apple Watch is leaps and bounds ahead of the PT in build quality, I think they fumbled the ball wrt to interaction. I don't need a second screen for my iPhone, I just need to have a simple way of seeing what's worth pulling the phone out of my pocket for 50 times a day. My use case, of course

And the battery life--I don't want to have to take a charger with me for an overnighter (or if I fall asleep wearing it).

Having said that, I'm going to be in SF in May, so I'll definitely have a look at it. Maybe I'll eat my words and buy one anyway, who knows.

But it's the first time I've seen a keynote in a long time where they weren't trying to show the essence of something, but rather everything and the kitchen sink. Felt kinda weird. In fact, the difference in the presentation between the Apple Watch and the new MacBook were completely different in terms of 'purity' feel, if you know what I mean. Sure, I know that one is new and the other is a variation on a theme, but look at the original iPhone announcement in 2007. Completely new paradigm, but the essence of the phone, the 'why' came through loud and clear.

 

[LincolnsiPod]

I don't typically wear a watch and wasn't interested in this when it first was reported.... But as with you I do get a ton of notifications daily and it would be nice to be able to flip the wrist to see what it is rather than pull out my 6+. This is pretty much the reason I'll be getting one. Some may not think it's a big deal but when you're dealing with patients, charts, meds, ect ect sometimes your hands are full and it's tough to pull out the phone.

I agree, for those who don't get a lot of notifications I see less value in it, but I have clients I like to keep happy by showing how responsive I am, but without a watch solution I'm incessantly checking my iPhone every chance I get. I'll be relieved when the watch finally comes out.

 

[SaraMac95014]

How about doing your readership a service and post both positive and negative reviews instead of just the usual Apple boot lickers?

Because failing to appropriately praise Apple could affect access to information and products. That's how Apple works because its products can't stand on their own.

So, any publication who reviews Apple products before they are available to the customer is licking boots and can't be trusted.

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So, Apple Pay isn't as easy as they made it look at the keynote. He just swiped his arm in front of the terminal and it beeped. They didn't show him going to his iPhone, opening the app, selecting Apple Pay, then swiping his watch. In all of that time on the phone, you could have just swiped it instead of the watch. As much as I like the Apple Watch, this is the kind of thing that makes it seem useless. Most of what it does is duplicate what the phone does but on a smaller scale. I think it's probably going to be a failure for Apple. It's probably the only new product that Apple has made that I haven't wanted. I'll likely stick with Pebble and maybe get the new color one.

The new Samsung Pay is much easier and already had about 100 times the available merchants.

I agree that this will fail and lead to Cook's resignation.

 

[technosix]

And in just a few short weeks after the original iPhone was launched, Apple lowered the price by $200.

I kind of expect the same thing to happen with this watch. Maybe not by $200, but a price reduction of some sort.

I remember that quite clearly as I got screwed out of $200 by Apple. Yet being a long time customer that's accepted Apple's greed as "just the way it is" I no longer focus on price. It's the Apple Tariff that one is expected to pay for what I'm sure Apple views as "the privilege of owning Apple products."

 

[laurim]

I will stick with my titanium Omega Seamaster Professional. What a waste. And I am sure the next iteration will be slimmer and that will be a major selling point from Apple's standpoint and at some point it will not need to be tethered to an iPhone and that will piss off the guinea pigs who bought gen 1. Right now, it looks like a kids watch from a toy store.

This is a waste of resources and time. But, the apple loyalist will eat this up just to show it off, but this will not become a "thing".

I enjoy the way Apple makes products that make people with OTHER products insecure enough to need to bash them (and call people who like them names). It's awesome, lol.

But, hey, I'm sure you and Joe Biden will enjoy your Seamasters Does it have special James Bond features?

 

[laurim]

So you're suggesting that's just a few minutes a day, then?

I'm not suggesting anything, just saying wifi is an alternative to bluetooth if you feel like bluetooth is too draining. I work out of my house most of the time so I have wifi all day, almost every day. When I'm working in other cities I also usually have some kind of wifi available. Pretty much only need bluetooth when I'm outside or in the car. Other people will have something else. It's nice to have options.

 

[ragermac]

I enjoy the way Apple makes products that make people with OTHER products insecure enough to need to bash them (and call people who like them names). It's awesome, lol.

But, hey, I'm sure you and Joe Biden will enjoy your Seamasters Does it have special James Bond features?

I also enjoy the way apple loyalist defend every bad idea apple comes up with. My watch Will retain value over time and is hand made unlike the sweatshop mass produced apple watch that WILL be obsolete by next year when the slimmer, faster, version comes out. I own several apple products but this is a waste of resources.

Oh and the special feature of my watch is that it doesn't make me look like a geek.

 

[laurim]

I also enjoy the way apple loyalist defend every bad idea apple comes up with. My watch Will retain value over time and is hand made unlike the sweatshop mass produced apple watch that WILL be obsolete by next year when the slimmer, faster, version comes out. I own several apple products but this is a waste of resources.

Oh and the special feature of my watch is that it doesn't make me look like a geek.

Now we know why you named yourself Ragermac. No, your watch doesn't make you look like a geek. Might make you look like a grandpa to some people. Which is lovely if you are one.

Be careful expecting you can get a lot for an old watch:

http://www.quora.com/Which-luxury-watch-brands-hold-their-value-best

Here are people selling your watch:

http://www.watchrecon.com/?query=omega+seamaster+professional

How do the prices compare? I don't know the answer since I would never pay that much for a watch, especially one that only tells time.

 

[iWe]

I think it looks great in Apple's promo vids, but not so great on 'real' people.

Things very rarely look as good on 'real' people as they do in perfectly lit, professionally shot and professionally edited videos featuring perfectly skinned professional models.