Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
So nothing's changed... most of us are better off with a phone and leaving the iWatch out of it.

to a large extent I think that will be the case.

where the smartphone has become a need, the smart watch won't ever be more than a want, imho.

and with that said, I want one. :D
 
Okay, I get you. I think you are right that for this generation of the Watch, which requires an iPhone, a lot of its functions, like the pictures, and making phone calls, seem superfluous. But I think Apple is designing the Watch software as if it was for an independent device. That way, when the hardware gets to the point where we can ditch our phones and just carry the Watch, they don't have to redo the software to make it a stand alone device.

do you honestly think we'll ditch our phones for a watch?

Consumer demand for large screened phones is increasing so to me that contradicts the idea that people will ditch their phones for a watch.

look at the tablet...the tablet has acquired an incredible amount of functionality over the years but doesn't look like it will supplant the laptop.
 
do you honestly think we'll ditch our phones for a watch?

Consumer demand for large screened phones is increasing so to me that contradicts the idea that people will ditch their phones for a watch.

look at the tablet...the tablet has acquired an incredible amount of functionality over the years but doesn't look like it will supplant the laptop.

I want to ditch my phone and just carry my Watch + iPad.
 
Now that is a pocket full.:eek:

Who said I'd put an iPad in a pocket?

Basically, there are two use cases -- I go out with a bag, or I go out without a bag. If I don"t have a bag, then yes, I want an iPhone in my pocket. But when I have a bag, I don't need an iPhone if I have an independent aWatch plus my iPad.

So I'm thinking, a Watch that is my "phone," and a iPod touch (which I hope Apple will update at some point), and an iPad. No need for an iPhone, see?
 
Last edited:
Battery life, I'm fine with. I plug up my 6+ at the end of every day. No problem. The killer for me is going to be the waterproof-ness. If it can't go in the shower, that's a deal killer for me. It's the reason I returned my Fitbit Force (that and a terrible skin rash).

Now, if it tracks sleep, then I'm not sure when I would have time to charge it... hmm....
 
People don't need watches any more

Many people don't use watches any more. Day to day what's the percent of people you see wearing a watch?

Enough to make several watch brands multi-Billion dollar businesses. Most of what people spend money on (in 1st world countries) they don't really "need".
 
do you honestly think we'll ditch our phones?

Of course not!

So I'm thinking, a Watch that is my "phone," and a iPod touch (which I hope Apple will update at some point), and an iPad. No need for an iPhone, see?

Nope. I definitely don't see.
Briefly, when the iPad came out there was a flurry of people that wanted to convert a cellular one into their phone. They quickly became a laughing stock... the idea was preposterous. Five years later, I have seen precicisely zero people walking around with only an iPad as their phone. You are part of the flurry wanting to convert a watch into their phone. Five years from now I will see precisely zero people with a Smart Watch as their phone. *yawn*
 
Enough to make several watch brands multi-Billion dollar businesses. Most of what people spend money on (in 1st world countries) they don't really "need".
Well, the question is will people "want to need" an iWatch.

Of course not!
Nope. I definitely don't see.
Briefly, when the iPad came out there was a flurry of people that wanted to convert a cellular one into their phone. They quickly became a laughing stock... the idea was preposterous. Five years later, I have seen precicisely zero people walking around with only an iPad as their phone. You are part of the flurry wanting to convert a watch into their phone. Five years from now I will see precisely zero people with a Smart Watch as their phone. *yawn*
Didn't Samsung have an Ipad Mini-like phone? If so, whether or not it did any good is another thing entirely of course.
 
Last edited:
Briefly, when the iPad came out there was a flurry of people that wanted to convert a cellular one into their phone. They quickly became a laughing stock... the idea was preposterous. Five years later, I have seen precicisely zero people walking around with only an iPad as their phone. You are part of the flurry wanting to convert a watch into their phone. Five years from now I will see precisely zero people with a Smart Watch as their phone. *yawn*

The thing is, I don't really need a "phone" per se. I need a device that is connected to the Internet all the time. I'm not denying that a pocketable tablet the size of current smartphones is ever going away. But the Internet connection part can surely move to the Watch. Might take some time to get there -- I think the main obstacle will be battery life. So maybe not five years from now, but maybe ten years from now, the watch will be the main device, and the phone-sized tablet will be the accessory to display data from the watch when people want a larger screen to view things on.
 
Most smartwatches aren’t standalone devices, and therefor you still need a smartphone to make the most of it. Because of this, owning a smartwatch means you have another device to pay for, charge, and take care of. For some this isn’t a big deal, but for others these things are real drawbacks.

Another potential problem with many smartwatches today is the fact that a lot of them aren’t exactly the most stylish things on the planet. It’s true that companies are improving on this as time goes on, but many smartwatches still look like toys strapped to your wrist.
 
I was thinking the battery. But if the watch only lasts a day, same as my phone. Then it doesn't really matter. I'm not buying the watch to look at the time. And also since it's dependent on my phone and looses features if my phone dies. I have no problem charging it every night. I always take of my watches when going to bed anyway. So a day of battery is fine by be. I'm wonder though how strong the magnets are on the bands. By kid likes playing with my watched while I'm wearing them. I'm guessing this wit not be possible.
 
The thing is, I don't really need a "phone" per se. I need a device that is connected to the Internet all the time. I'm not denying that a pocketable tablet the size of current smartphones is ever going away. But the Internet connection part can surely move to the Watch. Might take some time to get there -- I think the main obstacle will be battery life. So maybe not five years from now, but maybe ten years from now, the watch will be the main device, and the phone-sized tablet will be the accessory to display data from the watch when people want a larger screen to view things on.

Well...
We both agree that the phone sized form factor is sticking around. I just can't imagine my main internet connected device being the one with the smallest screen. Unless you plan on spending the next 5-10 years learning how to squint better, or voice texting ALL your communication, I don't see how you do either. I can't think of a single advantage of the scenario you describe where the phone/watch switch roles in the main device/accessory factor.
 
Well...
We both agree that the phone sized form factor is sticking around. I just can't imagine my main internet connected device being the one with the smallest screen. Unless you plan on spending the next 5-10 years learning how to squint better, or voice texting ALL your communication, I don't see how you do either. I can't think of a single advantage of the scenario you describe where the phone/watch switch roles in the main device/accessory factor.

I think for me, the advantage of the smaller device being the main connection is that I will always have it with me. I sometimes wear clothes with no pockets, or just don't feel like taking my phone with me when I make a run to the grocery store. And then, most of my screen time is spent on my iPad. So if the connection was the watch, I can use either the small screen, the bigger screen, or the biggest screen, and pay only one cellular data bill. Whereas at the moment, I'm paying for two data plans, one for my iPad and one for my iPhone.
 


oh and one more thing I forgot to add as far as our previous discussion on having the apple watch "do too much" is that how much it does will probably impact battery life.

the less Apple has the watch do, limiting it just to what people find most essential, I assume the more battery life we can eek out of it. And I think that's going to be crucial to the success of this product.
 
OLED screen burn-in could be in issue. Or uneven pixel wear due to the majority of pixels not being lit (again due to using OLED).
 
OLED screen burn-in could be in issue. Or uneven pixel wear due to the majority of pixels not being lit (again due to using OLED).
Not much if any chance of burn-in (probably >99.9% FUD) especially with the small amount of screen on time the display will have. OLEDs have been used in phones for years and haven't had any significant reported burn-in issues.

Blue is the most sensitive color in OLED and will likely give you 15K to 20K on hours before any problems. That is = to over 2 years of 24/7/365 always on time. That would probably be 15 or 20 years of heavy :apple:Watch use.

There are even rumors that Apple is investing in a multi billion dollar Foxcon OLED display factory to switch the iPhone (hopefully the iPad too) over to OLED.
 
Last edited:
Two big possible downsides for me:

1) Poor battery life. It needs to be at least 1 day with normal use. Idealy 36 hours. I travel lots, I don't want to have to charge my watch mid journey.

2) Feeling like a D**K when using it. Tricky one to explain. I hate conventional bluetooth headsets. I pop one in and feel like a right plonker. They just feel unnatural to me, there is something forced about them. I can't explain it, but the end result is I won't use one. I'm just not sure if the apple watch will feel "right". I hope it does.
 
Not a fan of the look of the apple watch. Looks too dorky and would problem appeal more to women. Hoping google woukdn bring android wear to iOS so I could use my moto 360 on the iPhone!

Also not too sure about the digital crown but we will have to wait and see.
 
Here are some of the biggest barriers IMO to the AWatch success

1) Price: The starting price is nearly double the flagship iPhone price (people don't think about subsidies) which this is an "accessory" to.

2) Embarrassment/Geek Factor: Smartwatches are still kind of a geeky thing. Will people want to be displaying this fact all day every day? Especially at a time when Apple has been losing its "cool factor".

3) Lack of ruggidization: Are you comfortable running in the rain with it? Are you comfortable skiing with it? Are you comfortable rock climbing with it? What about rafting? What about playing football? What about wearing in extreme heat/cold? Washing hands? There are a large number of conceivable scenarios that would give a person pause (even if the watch could handle it).

4) Battery life: Another device to charge daily? Kind of a drag

Good points. I think it looks fine as a sport watch, but it's definitely a geeky thing when you dress it up. But, as a sport watch, can you justify a high price? And then durability, as you also mentioned. Do you really want to wear this thing around the weight room?
 
Is it worth me pointing out THE most fundamental "downside" with the Apple watch?

The one we all know?

Ok, well I guess I can state the obvious :)

You need to own and iPhone, and in reality be carrying an iPhone with you to make the Apple Watch any good as a device.

That, as we say is the "Elephant in the room" downside.

It's an iPhone accessory.
 
It's an iPhone accessory.

That many will perceive as costing more than the iPhone. I agree, this, coupled with the lack of a clear and obvious answer to why I (the general masses, not people here) would want it, are the reason it could struggle after the initial launch.
 
That many will perceive as costing more than the iPhone. I agree, this, coupled with the lack of a clear and obvious answer to why I (the general masses, not people here) would want it, are the reason it could struggle after the initial launch.

Hmm, given the previous Iphone commercials, and some Ipad ones, I'm sure they'll come up with some compelling arguments for the iWatch. Taking a page out of a recent Iph commercial...

... fitness tracker, pedometer, weather widget, see who's calling without taking out your Iph, ditto with text messages.

However, if this ends up being more than $200 or $250, then it'll be a hard sell, and one of their most expensive accessories to date given what it does.
 
... fitness tracker, pedometer, weather widget, see who's calling without taking out your Iph, ditto with text messages.

This is my point actually. None of that is unique, and none of it is compelling for the price.

Pretty much every smart watch available does those things, often for less money (Pebble/Moto360), or n addition to filling a genuine need (Garmin Vivoactive/920XT/fenix3/Epix).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.