Exactly. Stand alone gps is THE single most important thing to sell this to runners (and there are a lot of us). I frankly wouldn't have even considered the original AW. I still think I'll stick with my garmin, but AW is at least viable for me now.
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Apple Watch Series 2 Reviews: 'The First Real Apple Watch' Thanks to Fitness and Processor Upgrades
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Well the video review answered one of my questions. If you have your phone with you, it's the GPS on the phone that is used, not the watch. I would like to know if Activity will still track your route.
So then, if I always have my phone with me and I don't swim, do I need to Series 2? I have the original Watch and never had a problem with the screen being too dim in sunlight.
I ordered the Series 1 and will pass my original AW to my wife. Will I regret not spending an extra $100 and getting the Series 2?
So then, if I always have my phone with me and I don't swim, do I need to Series 2? I have the original Watch and never had a problem with the screen being too dim in sunlight.
I ordered the Series 1 and will pass my original AW to my wife. Will I regret not spending an extra $100 and getting the Series 2?
I've been running for 20 years, 10s of thousands of miles, and have had maybe two times EVER that it would have been good to be able to call for help. I didn't have a phone and dealt with it. NBD. I do carry my phone on trail runs for the mapping, in case I get lost though.
Seems more like an AW 1s instead of a series 2, but whats in a name, anyway? In any case, I would certainly get it if I didn't already have the first AW. I've gone snorkeling in the Caribbean while wearing the watch, and swim all the time as well...fresh and salt water. No problems what so ever. I have no complaints with app access times, and am never without my phone, unless swimming, and I don't need gps for that, lol. I'll be hoping for a redesign in the aw series 3. But I could see where the new features of the aw2 would appeal to a great many.
No mention, so I would assume it still relies on the phone for the barometer. (Although GPS alone does report altitude--when outdoors at least.)
When I'm hiking, even before cellphones, I always carried a pocket camera. Now I carry my phone for that. I just don't understand in today's world being without a communication device, or a camera.
Maybe if you're running a marathon or bike race. But then the GPS is irrelevant - you know where you're going, the course is marked.
I'm not into running through unknown areas. I've never done that, so maybe I don't get it.
I'm into hiking and walking though. If I'm going through unknown areas, then I bring a GPS with me, but I'm walking slower to look at nature, and possibly take pictures. Still, it's irrelevant to have on a watch for me.
My point is there doesn't have to be one direction. We have iPod touch, nano and shuffle. I think multiple Watch models can co-exist. Right now we have the same mode just with different finishes.
I don't think Apple will allow that.
Imagine the lawyers getting all over that. You download a swimming app, use it with your original Apple Watch, and then it gets wet and dies. Lawyers will claim Apple didn't warn users they couldn't swim with the watch, that in fact they encouraged people to do so because of the swim app, and Apple must pay damages.
Lawyers are why we can't have good things.
Wow, to be perfectly honest, I've been complaining about the thicker dimensions from the moment I heard of it...but now watching it in a video, it definitely looks thicker. Not pleased whatsoever, I'll probably hold off until the redesign next year.
Following the publication of reviews for the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus yesterday, now the first official reviews for the Apple Watch Series 2 have begun hitting the web. Apple announced its second-generation Apple Watch alongside the iPhone 7 last week, and both devices will launch this Friday, September 16.
While there are varying opinions among reviewers, the consensus on Apple Watch Series 2 is epitomized in TechCrunch's straightforward headline, calling it "the first real Apple Watch." Reviewers think that the 50 percent faster processor, improved durability in water, and fitness-focused features have elevated the second generation of Apple Watch to become a more sensical purchase option, going beyond its previous status as a simple luxury item and into functional usability.
Image via The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal refers to Series 2 as a product you still don't "need," but it may now be something you "want." As many have focused on when testing Series 2, the site spent a lot of its review on the fitness features of the Apple Watch, referring to the new on-board GPS as the device's "greatest strength and greatest downfall." This is because while being able to leave an iPhone behind while running is a major plus, it comes at the cost of battery life. TechCrunch's reference to the Series 2 as "the first real Apple Watch" comes from the site's idea that a wearable should be able to accomplish little tasks throughout the day in 1-3 seconds, which the original Apple Watch struggled with due to long app loading times. But thanks to the additional processor speed, and bright display, TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Matthew Panzarino says he has "already found myself using the Watch for interactions more often." While a similar fan of the new fitness abilities, The Verge reminded potential buyers that "familiar hassles remain" with Apple Watch Series 2. These include raise to wake not working consistently, troubles with syncing music into the 2 GB of storage, and the consistent fact that you have to charge the Apple Watch every day, particularly if you use it during workouts.
Although these are all qualms that can be dealt with for most people, the site argues that any professional athlete, or someone more serious about fitness, might become frustrated with the device. Early adopters of the Apple Watch Series 2 will be able to check out the wearable device for themselves beginning this Friday, September 16, when it launches to the public. On that day, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will also debut, and so far reviews for the smartphones have generally noted that while the devices might not be essential upgrades, they are nice advancements and form an important foundation for the iPhone's future.
Check out more reviews for the Apple Watch Series 2 at these websites:
- Mashable
- The Independent
- USA Today
- BuzzFeed
- Daring Fireball
- The Loop
- Pocket-lint
Article Link: Apple Watch Series 2 Reviews: 'The First Real Apple Watch' Thanks to Fitness and Processor Upgrades
My AppleWatch 1 has been an important part of my digital presence, that I have enjoyed for nearly a year and a half...that's a year and a half of taking my phone and computer out less, less technology intrusion and more time enjoying the benefits of technology. all of you naysayers and haters are missing the thrill early adopters experience, and my sense is it is more out of jealousy than anything else.
One of the video reviews I saw this morning said it uses the phone's GPS if the phone is within range.
Edit: I see someone further up the page already answered this but I'll leave it in case you missed it.
GPS in an Apple watch is useful for tracking your excercise, not navigation. It’s not for preventing you from getting lost, it’s so you can get realtime speed during your exercise and recording the data so you can review afterwards.
If apple really wants to cut the cord then I think wireless charging for all it peripherals would really help. Instead of having seperate charging cords for an iphone, ipad, apple watch, air pods, etc...they should make it easy and have some sort of wireless charging pad that people can place on their night stand and simply place their devices over to charge. This NEEDS to be part of their next round of upgrades otherwise it's just getting ridiculous.
I am beyond excited to get my AW Series 2! I am a fitness guy and have had a Charge HR for a while not and I am so excited to retire it. I am so done with my Fitbits consistently breaking when I do take care of them a lot. Friday can't come soon enough!
Right, and these are three distinct products each designed from the get-go to cater to distinct markets with some overlap of course. In the case of the Watch it's a single product with moving targets: skewed towards fashion at first and now mostly fitness. IOW a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. These should have been two separate products IMO, each laser-focused on a single market.
Since there will be alot of folks continuing to use the Series 0's, it'll be interesting to see how the sales are over the next year.
I didn't get the original, but will buy now (probably the holidays) - with the AW replacing my watch and sport tracker.
As an aside the Apple Watch would seem made for the high low CPU architecture introduced on the iPhone 7 (but sized for the AW) - wonder if the dual core is already that way? (i.e. one high and one low)
I didn't get the original, but will buy now (probably the holidays) - with the AW replacing my watch and sport tracker.
As an aside the Apple Watch would seem made for the high low CPU architecture introduced on the iPhone 7 (but sized for the AW) - wonder if the dual core is already that way? (i.e. one high and one low)
I still think the Series 1 is the way to go for me. I don't swim and I have GPS on my iPhone -- and I always have my phone on me. And honestly how bright do you need a watch? So for a hundred dollars less, you still get an improved processor. I've been salivating for an Apple Watch since release, but have held off. My only reservation of picking it up immediately is after seeing the deep discounts during the holidays last year -- I could save myself some money by holding off a couple months.
You may already know this but I just learned it yesterday so I thought I'd mention it - if you like the Fitbit app, challenges, etc. you can set the app up to use the data from your iPhone or Apple Watch.
I have the original Apple Watch, and really enjoy it. Watch OS 3 brought a substantial improvement to performance. I primarily use it for notifications, Apple Pay, and tracking workouts. It is great to leave my big iPhone in the locker at the gym or on my desk at home and still get notification via wifi from the watch. I run a couple of days a week with just the watch and no phone, so I track distance and time but it is not GPS accurate....which is fine for me.
I think the new Series 1 watch with the better processor could be a great deal for many people. If you don't need GPS accuracy on your watch (with the associated battery impact), the series 1 is probably a better purchase. In a few months (i.e Christmas), I bet you will be able to get them for a steep discount at big box stores.
Also, I think these watches are going to last a few years between replacements. I don't see most folks upgrading every year. Personally, I hope to get 3 years from my 42mm Sports Edition, which I paid $300 on discount last Christmas. So, $100 per year or about $8 per month....not bad.
I think the new Series 1 watch with the better processor could be a great deal for many people. If you don't need GPS accuracy on your watch (with the associated battery impact), the series 1 is probably a better purchase. In a few months (i.e Christmas), I bet you will be able to get them for a steep discount at big box stores.
Also, I think these watches are going to last a few years between replacements. I don't see most folks upgrading every year. Personally, I hope to get 3 years from my 42mm Sports Edition, which I paid $300 on discount last Christmas. So, $100 per year or about $8 per month....not bad.
I'm interested to see how the GPS accuracy compares to Garmin. My iPhone 6 GPS is consistently different than my Garmin. Over a typical 6 mile run, my iPhone 6 records about .3 less distance than my Garmin FR 235. Can/does the new watch record distance using the accelerometer to track a treadmill or indoor run?