Apple Watch isn't That Useful; Also Needs Major Design Change

[madgalaxy]

Could you imagine people having a grown up conversation about whether a product has a purpose. In fact, the purpose of smartwatches is a current running debate in the tech world. Many articles exist questioning the need for smartwatches. Smartwatches are far from foregone conclusions.

The same can be said for smartphones or any type of personal gadget - do we really NEED a smartphone over a Motorola StarTAC? Smartwatches and watches in general are very personal purchases. The AW was never meant to replace a smartphone, but rather compliment it. I find my smartwatch very useful so I DO NOT have to pull out my smartphone all the time. It is used for notification triage and at-a-glance information. Siri on the AW3 is simply amazing because it is so much faster (I rarely used it on the S0). So for me it has great value, but for some folks (like my wife) have no use for it - which is OK!

 

[booksbooks]

So many of you just do not get it. You keep posting the same thing which I understand. That the Watch was never meant to replace a smartphone, but supplement/augment it. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

The point is that the Watch has to offer enough over a smartphone for people to want/need to use it. And that is because people will have BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ON THEIR PERSONS most of the time. So the choice will be between which one gets used for X, and how often.

Apple is proposing that people, if buying the latest, dump $600 CAD + on an Apple Watch which is in addition to the expensive iPhone which also causes one to have to spend money on it every month for a service plan. Is there a reason for a Watch to live in a person's life given the smartphone? That is the question, and that question is still far from answered.

Nobody, nobody knows how many Apple Watches Apple has sold. We also don't completely know how much use the Apple Watches that have been sold are getting. We have also seen this before: when Apple releases a new model, some rumours of traction for the Watch. But sales have been spotty in terms of ebbs and flows since the Apple Watch launched.

I am keeping the Watch, and there are some nice to haves with it, but that doesn't change my opinion as discussed.

 

[OllyW]

does it do anything absolutely outstanding? no. but it does lots of things that are useful.

That's how I find mine. I'm happy enough with it but since the initial novelty wore off it's now just another one of my watches. I always wear it for work and when I'm out walking or mountain biking but the rest of the time it comes off and is replaced by one of my traditional watches.

 

[michaelb5000]

I like my watch for telling the time, so that puts me in the category of someone perfectly suited to have an Apple Watch. I find lots of the other things useful too. But to me the killer feature that is still yet to be realized in any significant way is Apple Pay. Particularly at ATMs and gas stations (it works at grocery stores for me now). I have a hard time coming up with a good reason for a "wallet" in the future; that future is just further off than it needs to be. And a watch is much, much better than carrying a "phone" to fill that function for identity and access in that hopefully near future.

 

[bbeagle]

The point is that the Watch has to offer enough over a smartphone for people to want/need to use it. And that is because people will have BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ON THEIR PERSONS most of the time. So the choice will be between which one gets used for X, and how often.

I'm really not around my phone that often. My watch is on me from the time I wake up until the time I go to bed.

My phone is on the passenger seat when driving to work, it's on my desk at work, and back on the passenger seat on the way home, inside my car for the 2 hours I work out, inside my car when I'm doing sports, and on the hutch when I'm home.

When I'm swimming in my pool, my watch is on, my phone is inside the house.

In all these instances, I'm available to all my contacts via phone calls or text messages. I'm very rarely using my phone anymore. I do not like carrying a chunk of metal/glass in my pocket, so I don't anymore.

I get news alerts on my watch, look at the time and get the weather.

I use my computer or iPad at home to facebook, twitter, email or anything else. I'm watching movies and TV on my actual TV. I'm never doing anything my watch can't handle on-the-go. If you're the type of person that needs to be face down into your technology all the time, then being without your phone like I am won't work for you. The watch is very liberating.

 

[newellj]

So many of you just do not get it. You keep posting the same thing which I understand. That the Watch was never meant to replace a smartphone, but supplement/augment it. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

The point is that the Watch has to offer enough over a smartphone for people to want/need to use it. And that is because people will have BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ON THEIR PERSONS most of the time. So the choice will be between which one gets used for X, and how often.

Apple is proposing that people, if buying the latest, dump $600 CAD + on an Apple Watch which is in addition to the expensive iPhone which also causes one to have to spend money on it every month for a service plan. Is there a reason for a Watch to live in a person's life given the smartphone? That is the question, and that question is still far from answered.

Nobody, nobody knows how many Apple Watches Apple has sold. We also don't completely know how much use the Apple Watches that have been sold are getting. We have also seen this before: when Apple releases a new model, some rumours of traction for the Watch. But sales have been spotty in terms of ebbs and flows since the Apple Watch launched.

I am keeping the Watch, and there are some nice to haves with it, but that doesn't change my opinion as discussed.

If you're keeping it, recognize that there are design and functionality choices inherent in the tech at this time and give up whining. If it's half as bad as you say, you should have returned it the next day.

 

[bradbomb]

So many of you just do not get it. You keep posting the same thing which I understand. That the Watch was never meant to replace a smartphone, but supplement/augment it. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

The point is that the Watch has to offer enough over a smartphone for people to want/need to use it. And that is because people will have BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ON THEIR PERSONS most of the time. So the choice will be between which one gets used for X, and how often.

Apple is proposing that people, if buying the latest, dump $600 CAD + on an Apple Watch which is in addition to the expensive iPhone which also causes one to have to spend money on it every month for a service plan. Is there a reason for a Watch to live in a person's life given the smartphone? That is the question, and that question is still far from answered.

Nobody, nobody knows how many Apple Watches Apple has sold. We also don't completely know how much use the Apple Watches that have been sold are getting. We have also seen this before: when Apple releases a new model, some rumours of traction for the Watch. But sales have been spotty in terms of ebbs and flows since the Apple Watch launched.

I am keeping the Watch, and there are some nice to haves with it, but that doesn't change my opinion as discussed.

Ok, for me, the watch offers Fitness Tracking that the phone itself does not offer. Also, it offers me the ability to go out for a run or a bike ride without the need to travel with my iPhone. I can stay connected for emergencies, I can listen to music, I can make phone calls, I can even request Ubers, without having the iPhone nearby. At points where I do have my iPhone nearby, if I'm ever in meetings and have my devices on silent, the watch's vibrate alert is something I always feel vs the iPhone in my pocket. I can also quickly glance at the alert without ever pulling out my phone. I rarely ever use any apps on my Watch besides the Workout app, the Activity App, or the Music App. If they ever create a Podcast App that works over streaming, I would probably use that as well.

I think these things make it worthwhile over just having a phone. I can say my health has benefitted heavily by having my Apple Watch. In two years, it has helped motivate me to exercise more regularly.

 

[convergent]

If you're keeping it, recognize that there are design and functionality choices inherent in the tech at this time and give up whining. If it's half as bad as you say, you should have returned it the next day.

Having used a different design, I agree that Apple could do better on the UI, but I will be surprised if they change it.

 

[bodonnell202]

So many of you just do not get it. You keep posting the same thing which I understand. That the Watch was never meant to replace a smartphone, but supplement/augment it. I UNDERSTAND THAT.

The point is that the Watch has to offer enough over a smartphone for people to want/need to use it. And that is because people will have BOTH OF THESE ITEMS ON THEIR PERSONS most of the time. So the choice will be between which one gets used for X, and how often.

Apple is proposing that people, if buying the latest, dump $600 CAD + on an Apple Watch which is in addition to the expensive iPhone which also causes one to have to spend money on it every month for a service plan. Is there a reason for a Watch to live in a person's life given the smartphone? That is the question, and that question is still far from answered.

Nobody, nobody knows how many Apple Watches Apple has sold. We also don't completely know how much use the Apple Watches that have been sold are getting. We have also seen this before: when Apple releases a new model, some rumours of traction for the Watch. But sales have been spotty in terms of ebbs and flows since the Apple Watch launched.

I am keeping the Watch, and there are some nice to haves with it, but that doesn't change my opinion as discussed.

No, you don't get it. You keep saying that we don't get that it is not useful, even though we keep providing numerous examples of how we find it useful in our lives. I think you just want us to get on board with your whining about how useless it is, even though you are keeping it since you find the fitness tracking useful.
[doublepost=1508805886][/doublepost]And yes, I do agree that the Apple Watch is not an essential device. It is a nice to have for people who can afford it. Guess what - a Smart phone is also not an essential device. I lived without one for 30 years and I could do everything that I currently do on my iPhone with a cheap flip phone, some plastic cards in my wallet and my work laptop, yet I chose to spend my money on an iPhone and an Apple Watch for the convenience they provide.

 

[cwosigns]

Why did you buy it in the first place? All of the "issues" you pointed out were all well documented before you whipped out your credit card for something that would never meet your expectations.

 

[booksbooks]

Why did you buy it in the first place? All of the "issues" you pointed out were all well documented before you whipped out your credit card for something that would never meet your expectations.

To answer the question, why I bought an Apple Watch: it's because I'm in the software industry and stay up on what is happening. I use products not just for personal use, but to analyze technology, look for use cases and market opportunities, etc.

 

[edhchoe]

I always wear a watch.
A watch is a given on my wrist.
I have worn watches from $15 to $6K+.
Apple watch at $430 is well below the average price I have spent on a watch.

And the Apple watch beats all of them in terms of functionality and usefulness.

 

[Alvi]

I think the OP is upset that he/she spent several hundreds of dollars and didn't get the functionality of an iPhone/iPad.
In my opinion the Watch is a passive device that gives you neat information during the day.

I never spend more than 1-2 minutes per day tapping any menus on it. I think about it as a heads up display on a car, it doesn't bring you much joy but it gives you super valuable information every now and then.

I use it for two things constantly, just two:

• I developed this custom in which I check the temperature outside instantly form my watch instead of unlocking my phone. Which is awesome.
• Siri to turn on the lights around my house. It's great because I don't always have the iPhone with me around the house and I obviously have the watch on.

To me, those two reasons make it worth its price tag, remember that you can get a normal watch for the same price and it only tells you what time it is and that's where your expectations should be, not in iPad territories.
Obviously I also love fitness tracking at the gym and the whole activity app made me a more active person over the years but mostly I spend time looking at it for passive information and that's how it should be judged.

 

[satchmo]

It's simple.
No need to overthink and over-analyze the merits of the watch. Most know what it can and cannot do (i.e. you're not going to edit a document on it)
Everyone has different uses and in some cases, it certainly can do a better job than a phone.

 

[44267547]

I always wear a watch.
A watch is a given on my wrist.
I have worn watches from $15 to $6K+.
Apple watch at $430 is well below the average price I have spent on a watch.

And the Apple watch beats all of them in terms of functionality and usefulness.

All that matters is what somebody is happy with with their purchase and how it benefits them. No one cares about a price tag when it comes to something that somebody spends if the Product doesn't offer the owner any satisfaction. In the case of the Apple Watch, the reason it's so successful, is because It can offer so many capabilities and suits everybody differently in terms of customization.

 

[OllyW]

Moderator Note:

The thread has been cleaned up as some of the comments were getting personal. Please ensure your posts comply with the MacRumors Rules for Appropriate Debate, especially...

Show respect for your fellow posters. Expect and accept that other users may have strongly held opinions that differ from yours. In other words, basic human courtesy.

 

[newellj]

To answer the question, why I bought an Apple Watch: it's because I'm in the software industry and stay up on what is happening. I use products not just for personal use, but to analyze technology, look for use cases and market opportunities, etc.

OK, that makes sense. But the fact that a product could be improved (nearly always true) or that you don't find a product useful for your purposes (a matter of personal opinion and preference) doesn't mean anyone else has to agree.

I think the Watch probably has a lot of development ahead of it - like most tech products. But I also think that with Series 3 Apple has gotten the Watch to an iPhone 4S moment, where function and speed and usability for most people come together and mark a turning point in the development of a mature (maturing) product.

 

[Veridis]

Is there a reason for a Watch to live in a person's life given the smartphone? That is the question, and that question is still far from answered.

I just typed a post explaining to you exactly this and you say you get it but then ask the same question again. Speechless.. If it doesn't work for you, don't buy it. It's okay.

Here's a few things it's better for, for me:

1. Making/answering phone calls around the house without having to pick up my phone.
2. Making/answering phone calls when I'm out with my son. Many times my hands are full and I would have missed the call otherwise.
   
3. Timers any time. Timers for cooking, alarms to go out.
4. Stopwatch to keep track of my piano practice time.
5. Workouts.
6. Calendar
   
7. APPLE PAY!! No need to dig my bag for my wallet.

Short of hanging the iPhone on your neck I don't see anything more convenient.

 

[satchmo]

Moderator Note:

The thread has been cleaned up as some of the comments were getting personal. Please ensure your posts comply with the MacRumors Rules for Appropriate Debate, especially...

Thanks, it was beginning to sound like Reddit in here.

 

[convergent]

• The design is terrible. It's too thick and the Crown and second button complicate the design and use. I hardly ever use the Crown to scroll; the other button is jarring and I only really use it for Apple Pay. The screen is also too small.

...

If Apple dumped the Crown and second button, and offset the screen to make it larger, and thinned out the device with better battery life, it would help. But it still wouldn't change this into anything more than it is: a bit of a gimmick computing category with some nice to haves.

So trying to steer the discussion back to something productive and not just a battle about the usefulness... the UI design of the AW could be greatly improved. This was made better with WatchOS 2, but the crown as a part of the UI is a bad design. When your hands are sweaty, the combination of crown, and screen swipes on the curved screen don't work well.

I was shocked when Apple changed the UI in WatchOS 2, because they actually admitted they were wrong... something they don't typically do. What do you think the chances are that Apple will come out with a next version of the watch that attempts to change the UI a bit to make it easier.

The Gear S3 model works very well. The rotating dial is very big so easy to deal with. The organization of the apps, widgets, etc.. is logical. The top button is "back", so that makes sense. Having never used it before, anyone can figure it out by just moving the dial around. The bottom button has a couple of different functions which are no different than the non-intuitive part of Apple Watch... you just have to remember what they do. I also just like the round face better which seems strange, but it works well.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The Apple Watch evidently is not for you. I’m a watch guy too and if I want design over function I have other watches that are nicer looking than my AW3. I use my AW for the health app and as a notification device. I don’t respond to emails or texts on it beyond writing OK. I occasionally answer calls on it but not often.

It’s a cool gadget but anybody who thinks it’s an iPhone replacement is in for a shock. Don’t buy it if you want that.

 

[bodonnell202]

So trying to steer the discussion back to something productive and not just a battle about the usefulness... the UI design of the AW could be greatly improved. This was made better with WatchOS 2, but the crown as a part of the UI is a bad design. When your hands are sweaty, the combination of crown, and screen swipes on the curved screen don't work well.

I was shocked when Apple changed the UI in WatchOS 2, because they actually admitted they were wrong... something they don't typically do. What do you think the chances are that Apple will come out with a next version of the watch that attempts to change the UI a bit to make it easier.

The Gear S3 model works very well. The rotating dial is very big so easy to deal with. The organization of the apps, widgets, etc.. is logical. The top button is "back", so that makes sense. Having never used it before, anyone can figure it out by just moving the dial around. The bottom button has a couple of different functions which are no different than the non-intuitive part of Apple Watch... you just have to remember what they do. I also just like the round face better which seems strange, but it works well.

I will admit that before I owned an Apple Watch (I held out until the 2nd generation and then gave a Series 1 a shot) I thought the crown was stupid. I was wrong. I use it all the time to scroll through things on my watch as it's faster/easier than swiping to scroll on the tiny screen. I still don't really know what the lower button is for beyond using it to activate Apple Pay, so it probably could be more useful. I also didn't care for the original App launcher, but since switching to list view I find it easier to navigate. There are a few quirks that I think could be improved upon as well (for example, with watchOS 4 there is now no way to start music playback on your phone), but overall the UI is pretty good from my perspective.

 

[convergent]

I will admit that before I owned an Apple Watch (I held out until the 2nd generation and then gave a Series 1 a shot) I thought the crown was stupid. I was wrong. I use it all the time to scroll through things on my watch as it's faster/easier than swiping to scroll on the tiny screen. I still don't really know what the lower button is for beyond using it to activate Apple Pay, so it probably could be more useful. I also didn't care for the original App launcher, but since switching to list view I find it easier to navigate. There are a few quirks that I think could be improved upon as well (for example, with watchOS 4 there is now no way to start music playback on your phone), but overall the UI is pretty good from my perspective.

Have you used anything else. My point was I thought it was OK until I tried something that had a much better UI. The crown is not good, especially with sweaty or dirty hands.

 

[bodonnell202]

Have you used anything else. My point was I thought it was OK until I tried something that had a much better UI. The crown is not good, especially with sweaty or dirty hands.

Yes - I've used a Gear S2 (tried one that was owned by a friend) and at the time (before owning an Apple Watch) thought the rotating dial was a way better idea than the crown. I've also had a Pebble which is controlled entirely by buttons on the side. I personally prefer the crown, although I feel like the people who don't like it aren't using it like I am. Most UI elements on the Apple Watch are now vertical scrolling lists (such as the App switcher or starting a workout) and I use the crown a bit like a scroll wheel on a mouse (which I think the scroll wheel is the best addition ever made to mouses) by just placing my index finder on the side of the crown (the bit facing the screen) and scrolling up or down - I actually think it's pretty slick and intuitive. Not sure how sweaty or dirty hands would impact that? Using a touch screen in general with dirty hands isn't great so having a physical button that you can use to minimize rubbing greasy fingers over the screen seems like a plus. Am I missing something?

 

[44267547]

The Apple Watch evidently is not for you. I’m a watch guy too and if I want design over function I have other watches that are nicer looking than my AW3. I use my AW for the health app and as a notification device. I don’t respond to emails or texts on it beyond writing OK. I occasionally answer calls on it but not often.

It’s a cool gadget but anybody who thinks it’s an iPhone replacement is in for a shock. Don’t buy it if you want that.

I agree. The Apple Watch only acts an as on between the iPhone. Originally when the Apple launched, Apples goal was to allow it to function with the convenience of communication and fitness. Now it's slowly expanding to being furthered separated from the iPhone, but isn't entirely independent a device as the iPhone is.