Apple Watch series 3

[Arran]

Kinetic is a space hog and is also mechanical. Apple doesn't do mechanical unless required.

I'm surprised they haven't tried to run the Taptic engine in reverse to generate current. The hardware's all there already. (Assuming it's a standard electromechanical device with coils and a magnet)

Go for a brisk walk to charge your watch. How's that for an exercise incentive?

 

[BarracksSi]

I'm surprised they haven't tried to run the Taptic engine in reverse to generate current. The hardware's all there already. (Assuming it's a standard electromechanical device with coils and a magnet)

Go for a brisk walk to charge your watch. How's that for an exercise incentive?

Except that the Taptic Engine's oscillating mass is held in place by springs and won't wiggle freely.

 

[Julien]

I'm surprised they haven't tried to run the Taptic engine in reverse to generate current. The hardware's all there already. (Assuming it's a standard electromechanical device with coils and a magnet)

Go for a brisk walk to charge your watch. How's that for an exercise incentive?

That would probably result in a negligible amount of current compared to the circuitry and design involved. The mass, force and length of travel of the mechanism are all very small and not likely to amount to much.

 

[gr4z]

I would like it thinner with larger face option, 50 or 54mm.

 

[OllyW]

solar and/or wrist movement kinetic recharge

Current solar and kinetic technology would not provide enough power to charge the Apple Watch battery.

If you compare it with a traditional quartz watch, it's tiny button watch battery will power the watch for between 2 to 5 years. The battery in the Apple Watch is huge in comparison and will only give 1 to 2 days at most.

 

[Nozuka]

- definitely thinner
- more accurate heartrate sensor
- some kind of way to track weightlifting workouts (better)
- bigger display/smaller bezel, but same size watch
- possibly a round watch version


software changes for all generations:

- watch faces in app store (but we don't need a new watch for that)
-


but honestly, i mostly wish for developers to bring many more usefull apps. i barely found any.

 

[recoil80]

Additional sensors in the band itself

Yeah, this.
It would be great to have additional sensors on the bands, for one good reason: they could decouple specific functionalities from the Watch. Thats good for the customer and for Apple as well.
A new version of the Watch could bring a faster CPU or a better display, but fitness and health functions could be left on the bands so a customer could keep its Watch and just upgrade bands to get specific functionalities. The Watch is quite expensive, so having the possibility to keep it for a few years and spend money just on accessories is good.
From Apple's perspective that's great too, for two reasons.
First, if a customer spends money on bands he will be loyal to Apple, just like a photographer keeps buying the same brand of DSLR because he can use his lenses.
Second: some health and fitness accessories have to be approved by FDA, so embedding the same functionality on the Watch may cause delays for a new model.

 

[the1payday]

I'd like to see slightly bigger screens, but in the SAME overall footprint and device size, so that bands remain compatible. The black bezel on the screen is so enormous right now.

 

[Mlrollin91]

* VoLTE and Wi-Fi calling ability from paired iPhones SIM details - good for emergencies when phone is dead.

The Apple Watch already has WiFi calling if your iPhone is dead. I've used it many times. As long as you are in a trusted WiFi network.

 

[magicMac]

The Apple Watch already has WiFi calling if your iPhone is dead. I've used it many times. As long as you are in a trusted WiFi network.

Yeah only in the US and Hong Kong though

 

[Mlrollin91]

Yeah only in the US and Hong Kong though

Ah, didn't know that. My bad.

 

[Vihzel]

I would assume the usual better performance, better battery life, and slightly thinner size. I do not expect to see a cell chip in there quite yet, especially if they try to make it slightly thinner.

 

[oftheheavens]

I personally believe they'll launch a new Apple Watch a year from now, together with the 10th anniversary iPhone.

Series 2 took 2 years, but I feel that from now on it'll be updated every year.

The first generation was a totally new product (and a bit controversial) and watchOS 1 just wasn't right. Now it looks like they've nailed it and that the Watch has found or is finding its place in the market, so I think they will push on the throttle now.

My 2 cents of course

While I agree with you that they finally got it "right" I disagree that it will be a yearly cycle. I think it will more follow the trend between the macs and the Apple TV. So, again in my opinion, i think a 1 1/2 to a 2 1/2 (max) cycle. I think that the know that the majority will not buy a new iPhone and a new watch at the same time.

To back my OPINION, I would state that if they fell in line with the iPhone to release the watch yearly, that would leave people to spend almost 2k a year on consumable electronics if they are SS owners and about 1,500-1,700 for the sports (roughly). I think they will keep the current cycle or even push it to every two years with major OS advancements in between.

I could be completely wrong but this is what my education would lead me to believe.
[doublepost=1475541399][/doublepost]

- definitely thinner
- more accurate heartrate sensor
- some kind of way to track weightlifting workouts (better)
- bigger display/smaller bezel, but same size watch
- possibly a round watch version


software changes for all generations:

- watch faces in app store (but we don't need a new watch for that)
-


but honestly, i mostly wish for developers to bring many more usefull apps. i barely found any.

I agree with literally everything you said except round version. I think we will see everything you said with exception to that in the near future.

 

[margareedaville]

The band needs to be be solar powered.

 

[Julien]

The band needs to be be solar powered.

It would be negligible for the power requirements of the Watch unless is was as wide as up to your elbow.

 

[circatee]

For me personally, I'd like a little more weight. And, with that, making the notification (vibration) stronger.
I'm an Invicta watch wearing individual, hence wanting more weight

 

[dyn]

Kinetic is a space hog and is also mechanical. Apple doesn't do mechanical unless required.

And yet the watch has haptic feedback which is the same principle as kinetic watches have, they only use it for something different (providing haptic feedback instead of charging the watch).

As things are right now technologies like ecodrive and kinetic are more in the realm of regenerative braking (you got some of the energy back) which works fine in electric cars so why not in the Apple Watch? Just because it doesn't charge the battery doesn't mean it is useless. If it is in the realm of regenerative braking it can make a difference in battery life anyway. For a Watch 3 this is good enough, in the long term it would be useful if it could actually charge the watch.

 

[BarracksSi]

For reference...

Seiko's Kinetic movements:

Apple's Taptic Engine:

 

[Julien]

For reference...

Seiko's Kinetic movements:


Apple's Taptic Engine:

Also the Seiko needs FAR, FAR, FAR less power than the Watch to operate. Probably less than 5%.

 

[jermy4]

Also the Seiko needs FAR, FAR, FAR less power than the Watch to operate. Probably less than 5%.

I'm thinking probably less than 1%

 

[JamerG]

Easily the biggest one for me would be the option of having the watch on and displaying the time all of the time.

At the moment, whilst I love my Apple Watch, it is actually worse for its main function - telling the time - than nearly every other watch in the world.

 

[magicMac]

Easily the biggest one for me would be the option of having the watch on and displaying the time all of the time.

At the moment, whilst I love my Apple Watch, it is actually worse for its main function - telling the time - than nearly every other watch in the world.

True. Except you do have power reserve mode which tells the time.

 

[dyn]

For reference...

Seiko's Kinetic movements:

Apple's Taptic Engine:

Yep, exactly those. Also for reference: the word "Kinetic" means movement, it doesn't state what kind of movement nor direction. This is no different than an electric engine. Rotate the engine and you create energy (kinetic) or do the exact opposite and you create movement (haptic engine). Regenerative braking usually is switching between these two modes.

 

[BarracksSi]

Yep, exactly those. Also for reference: the word "Kinetic" means movement, it doesn't state what kind of movement nor direction. This is no different than an electric engine. Rotate the engine and you create energy (kinetic) or do the exact opposite and you create movement (haptic engine). Regenerative braking usually is switching between these two modes.

My point is, Seiko's energy-gathering mechanism is much bigger than what Apple could be expected to fit inside the Watch, and it can recapture energy much more often over many orientations of the watch, yet it charges a much smaller battery and runs a much less power-hungry device.

The minuscule oscillating mass inside the Taptic Engine wouldn't impart enough energy to be used by the AW for more than a couple minutes even if it were captured and stored.

Let's go back to the first-gen teardown:
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Apple+Watch+Teardown/40655#s93673

See how the oscillating mass is spring-loaded to keep it in position? If it were allowed to move completely freely, it would rattle back and forth whenever you moved your wrist.

Again, no, there's not a good way to add a kinetic charging mechanism to the AW without making it comically FAT. The existing induction coil is far smaller and capable of carrying much more power.

 

[twinlight]

IF they did this, it would have to be separated from the Taptic engine so imagine the watch gaining 10 grams to add a flywheel or something taking up 2 mm of space in the middle of the watch.

You will now have to swing your arm every hour to add a trickle charge of almost no energy at all since the screen will probably turn on when your are "charging" it with your arm and use up the energy at the same time.