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Apple Watch Ultra Reviews: Bigger and Better, But Not a Garmin Killer Yet
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Look here.
Post in thread 'Apple Watch Ultra is here! First impressions and photos thread'
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...sions-and-photos-thread.2361468/post-31537369
Post in thread 'Apple Watch Ultra is here! First impressions and photos thread'
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...sions-and-photos-thread.2361468/post-31537369
Watch to be used opposite Tarquin, Chadwin, and Tinsley’s $100K+ annual tuition private preschool to drop a locator pin for the triplets. Quite exxtreme!
Love it or hate it, these companies gain so much from this bevy of Youtube free advertising for their products, must be a golden age for them.
Which I find quite sad, to se so many people doing reviews of products that they know nothing about, merely trying to gain a buck from Google. I watched iJustine reviewing the AWU, but she's not an athlete, and doesn't know about the shortcomings of the AWU. Stopped the YT vid halfway because of that...
For items like the AWU, I try to find reviews that demonstrate use similar to what I would perform.
Too many are, to your point, geared toward clicks.
And why do you suppose this is? I'm pretty sure this situation exists because many people lack the ability or the willingness to differentiate authoritative sources of information from "noise." This is why iJustine exists--people keep clicking on her reviews even though she has little to say. I wonder why that is?
Case in point: the "pretty good unbiased" review mentioned above in post #304 is by none other than Ray Maker, of "DCrainmaker" fame, who is arguably one of the world's leading authorities on outdoor fitness tech (see Outside magazine's 2018 profile of him here), and definitely someone worth listening to about the AWU. Yet you would scarcely know this from reading this thread--he is lumped in with a bunch of know-nothing YouTubers and "tech reviewers", and though his video is linked in the article at the top of this thread, he is not mentioned by name by MR staff at all. If you think his video is "pretty good", then you may wish to check out his 30-page written review here, which covers the operation and performance of the watch under various use cases in excruciating detail.
For anything related to outdoor fitness tech, Ray and his friend Des Yap (DesFit) are the first and probably only reviews I'd bother reading.
Good point on iJustine...and the like. Yeah, bit of a sad development, then again, I don't care for social media either.And why do you suppose this is? I'm pretty sure this situation exists because many people lack the ability or the willingness to differentiate authoritative sources of information from "noise." This is why iJustine exists--people keep clicking on her reviews even though she has little to say. I wonder why that is?
Case in point: the "pretty good unbiased" review mentioned above in post #304 is by none other than Ray Maker, of "DCrainmaker" fame, who is arguably one of the world's leading authorities on outdoor fitness tech (see Outside magazine's 2018 profile of him here), and definitely someone worth listening to about the AWU. Yet you would scarcely know this from reading this thread--he is lumped in with a bunch of know-nothing YouTubers and "tech reviewers", and though his video is linked in the article at the top of this thread, he is not mentioned by name by MR staff at all. If you think his video is "pretty good", then you may wish to check out his 30-page written review here, which covers the operation and performance of the watch under various use cases in excruciating detail.
For anything related to outdoor fitness tech, Ray and his friend Des Yap (DesFit) are the first and probably only reviews I'd bother reading.
I agree on Ray Maker, the guy is really about sport, and tech, thusly created a winning website. Thanks for the link to DesFit..popping over there right now.
She did a ”review” from her perspective and she attracts a different audience that DCRainmaker.And why do you suppose this is? I'm pretty sure this situation exists because many people lack the ability or the willingness to differentiate authoritative sources of information from "noise." This is why iJustine exists--people keep clicking on her reviews even though she has little to say. I wonder why that is?
Case in point: the "pretty good unbiased" review mentioned above in post #304 is by none other than Ray Maker, of "DCrainmaker" fame, who is arguably one of the world's leading authorities on outdoor fitness tech (see Outside magazine's 2018 profile of him here), and definitely someone worth listening to about the AWU. Yet you would scarcely know this from reading this thread--he is lumped in with a bunch of know-nothing YouTubers and "tech reviewers", and though his video is linked in the article at the top of this thread, he is not mentioned by name by MR staff at all. If you think his video is "pretty good", then you may wish to check out his 30-page written review here, which covers the operation and performance of the watch under various use cases in excruciating detail.
For anything related to outdoor fitness tech, Ray and his friend Des Yap (DesFit) are the first and probably only reviews I'd bother reading.
The watch is being marketed toward adventure, but most people buying it are most likely getting it for the new features and design ( my guess is that the vast majority of buyers aren’t into extreme activities). She showed how she planned to use it, which is really all any reviewer can do. I watched her review and his and had no issue differentiating from her use case and his.
I watched a lot of reviews of the watch and most weren‘t about extreme fitness. Several people tried to drop their phones and use this for a couple days, with varying results, which I think is an extreme example as well, but still interesting. I think people will leave their houses for a walk or run with just the watch, but most aren’t heading into the city without their phone.
I think your issue is the algorithms that have her show up in everyone’s feed. She gets clicks and has been doing this for a lot of years. Youtube wants to show ads, so they put videos on top that they think will generate the most revenue. If people want expertise in a particular area, they may need to dig a little deeper, but both Desfit and DCRainmaker showed up in my feed.
After 5+ years of using Apple Watch, charging it every day multiple times (before a long 10k run AND before bed, every day!) and after not being able to use it outdoors in the mountains because my battery charger died the 4th day after charging not only an Apple watch (again, every day) but my iPhone which is a necessity for preventing the Watch to die for over using the GPS... I am DONE. No more Apple Watch. And it is not only the battery anxiety that such bad design created. No, it is the absolute lack of physiological parameters for a Sport watch. See Garmin approach: https://www.garmin.com/en-US/garmin-technology/running-science/physiological-measurements/
so, it is the hardware: Terrible battery life, power-hungry display, fragile screen, (yes the heart rate sensor is the best, OK), lack of buttons, SQUARE for measuring a circular parameter: TIME,
The software: lack of customization, no integration of workouts with navigation, No topographic maps (With WorkOutDoors this is possible, but the battery prevents any useful use); No physiological parameters integrated in a way that provides real help. Granted, AW helped me to get into shape, but now that I'm there, is not enough. Maybe that's its goal, take people to care about fitness and health and it's fine if so. But I'm done. If I want more from my AW apple suggests getting subscriptions to get fragmented data. NO more. I am eager to get my new Garmin Fenix 7 (or 8). Bye Apple Watch and I really look at the AW Ultra for 800 USD and definetively Instead, I would get any Garmin (Forerunner 265, 255, 955, 965, Fenix 7s, 7, Epix).
so, it is the hardware: Terrible battery life, power-hungry display, fragile screen, (yes the heart rate sensor is the best, OK), lack of buttons, SQUARE for measuring a circular parameter: TIME,
The software: lack of customization, no integration of workouts with navigation, No topographic maps (With WorkOutDoors this is possible, but the battery prevents any useful use); No physiological parameters integrated in a way that provides real help. Granted, AW helped me to get into shape, but now that I'm there, is not enough. Maybe that's its goal, take people to care about fitness and health and it's fine if so. But I'm done. If I want more from my AW apple suggests getting subscriptions to get fragmented data. NO more. I am eager to get my new Garmin Fenix 7 (or 8). Bye Apple Watch and I really look at the AW Ultra for 800 USD and definetively Instead, I would get any Garmin (Forerunner 265, 255, 955, 965, Fenix 7s, 7, Epix).
What ”physiological parameters” are you looking for beyond HR, pulse Ox, VO2 max, pace, elevation, HRV, etc.
Also, this is an apple watch ULTRA thread, and for the most part the UTLRA is far better with any battery life needs and expectations than any other Apple Watch. A regular AW does require quite a bit more battery life management than any other sport/fitness watch really, certainly more than some of the Garmin, but that’s the trade off to having relative more features overall.
Well, Apple watch certainly captures HR, pulse Ox, VO2 max, pace, elevation, HRV; but it does not do anything with such data, which is MY POINT. Just compare it with the website I provided to see the HUGE contrast with Garmin approach (recovery time, training load, focus, heat / altitude acclimation, daily suggested workouts, training effect, aerobic training effect etc...etc.. just read it https://www.garmin.com/en-US/garmin-technology/running-science/physiological-measurements/. -Best.
There are any number of apps that will capture and display most of those metrics, certainly not in any ONE app although HEALTH as a destination for various app data does seem to consolidate it all.
But if you are really looking to replicate all that in one place, with one device and one interface I think you’re better off with a Garmin like device rather than an Apple Watch.
enjoy
It is by far the best of the Apple Watch lineup. No contest at all.
However, the Ultra is a Smartwatch with sport watch and fitness tracker capability. It is not a Sportwatch/Fitness Tracker.
If you need these types of features, it can be difficult for the Ultra to do all that is needed/wanted.
Daily I use an AWU. For other activities (I do mild to medium, day to multi day hiking) I rely on my Garmin.