Apple's Series Three Apple Watch to Include Cellular Connection

[Lloydbm41]

You're absolutely right, but I think Tim and Friends are completely out of ideas. They're just throwing "stuff" out their to see what sticks at this point.

Seriously? You really believe that?

There is a natural progression for electronic devices to follow technological advances and consumer demand, although the two can be mutually exclusive at times. All smart watches have been marching towards having LTE, wireless charging, better battery life, faster cpu's, better displays and so on. By you saying that Tim and Co is out of ideas is an overexhaggeration and poor characterization of the company. While the iPhone continues to be Apple's bread and butter product, the Apple Watch produces a very tidy profit for the company and unless that changes, we will continue to see the Apple Watch evolve and sell.

 

[coolbreeze]

I went on a ~6 year hiatus with Android, returned for the 7+. In that time, I had a Gear S3 cellular. It was pretty neat, if not gimmicky. Tizen is real bad though...

Since then, I've gotten serious about running and cycling.

If Apple is able to have long battery life (at least a day of streaming/etc) I'd get the cellular AW3 for sure. I'm concerned though since streaming/constantly using the radio will absolutely wreck the tiny battery unless Apple has some black magic in store.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I went on a ~6 year hiatus with Android, returned for the 7+. In that time, I had a Gear S3 cellular. It was pretty neat, if not gimmicky. Tizen is real bad though...

Since then, I've gotten serious about running and cycling.

If Apple is able to have long battery life (at least a day of streaming/etc) I'd get the cellular AW3 for sure. I'm concerned though since streaming/constantly using the radio will absolutely wreck the tiny battery unless Apple has some black magic in store.

Tizen sn't bad, in fact, the UI for the S3 is probably the best out there. Much better than the Apple Watch imo. The problem with Tizen is the lack of apps on the watch. This is where Apple shines. Maybe what you were trying to convey is that no matter how good a UI you have, if there aren't apps that fit your lifestyle, then the watch is pointless?

 

[coolbreeze]

Tizen sn't bad, in fact, the UI for the S3 is probably the best out there. Much better than the Apple Watch imo. The problem with Tizen is the lack of apps on the watch. This is where Apple shines. Maybe what you were trying to convey is that no matter how good a UI you have, if there aren't apps that fit your lifestyle, then the watch is pointless?

Yeah, that was it. Tizen is on an island by itself. Half ass works with Android and just feels janky.

They have the battery life on lock though. Super good battery life.

 

[borgusio]

It is becoming obvious where Apple is going:
1. improve functionalities of the watch to a point where it is desiderable as a standalone device
2. by adding functionalities, significantly increase price to bring the watch to "iPhone-like" margins
3. launch Augumented Reality tools and apps for iPhone
4. launch a companion app for Android to bring Android users to Apple Watch
5. launch Augmented Reality googles/glasses working only with Apple Watch
6. kill Smartphones

They are repeating the "iPod -> iTunes -> iPhone ->iPad -> kill Laptops" story.
KUDOS to them. After so many years, still addressing innovation like a startup.

 

[heretiq]

You're absolutely right, but I think Tim and Friends are completely out of ideas. They're just throwing "stuff" out their to see what sticks at this point.

Adding LTE is a smart and obvious enhancement to the Apple Watch. I welcome the opportunity to go walking, running and cycling .. and staying connected -- without having to lug my phone. This is purposeful innovation.

 

[Mainsail]

Adding LTE is a smart and obvious enhancement to the Apple Watch. I welcome the opportunity to go walking, running and cycling .. and staying connected -- without having to lug my phone. This is purposeful innovation.

I agree that the cellular capability in a watch is most attractive to people that want to workout without the extra bulk of carrying a phone. Of course, there are plenty of people that will still want their phones along with them when they workout.

An iPhone 7 weighs less than 5 oz. The screen and UI are just much more conducive to doing things like: camera/photos, video, email, messaging, maps/directions, reading PDFs, web browsing, notes, scanning docs, etc.. So, I suspect most people will continue to carry their phone when away from the home (workout or not). If you usually have your phone with you, there is very little benefit to having a cellular enabled watch. Apple will probably charge an extra $130 for the radios, and then you will need to add a device on your data plan.

Some folks will be willing to pay for the convenience, but I suspect this will be more of a niche feature.

 

[DotCom2]

I went on a ~6 year hiatus with Android, returned for the 7+. In that time, I had a Gear S3 cellular. It was pretty neat, if not gimmicky. Tizen is real bad though...

Since then, I've gotten serious about running and cycling.

If Apple is able to have long battery life (at least a day of streaming/etc) I'd get the cellular AW3 for sure. I'm concerned though since streaming/constantly using the radio will absolutely wreck the tiny battery unless Apple has some black magic in store.

There was some talk a while back about technology being incorporated into the watch bands. Now THAT would be interesting.

 

[Urban Joe]

This is kinda like Wheel of Fortune.

T-thinner
F-faster
L-lighter
B-Battery life
AI- automated intelligence
E-expensive

 

[JoEw]

Ah yes the next step into the watches independence. Within 5 years time, paired with AirPods - we'll all be walking around with these supercomputers on our wrists that will make our day to day lives easier with a personalized Jarvis to boot.

Glasses, Watch, AirPods -

 

[Mac 128]

I agree that the cellular capability in a watch is most attractive to people that want to workout without the extra bulk of carrying a phone. Of course, there are plenty of people that will still want their phones along with them when they workout.

An iPhone 7 weighs less than 5 oz. The screen and UI is just much more conducive to doing things like: camera/photos, video, email, messaging, maps/directions, reading PDFs, web browsing, notes, scanning docs, etc.. So, I suspect most people will continue to carry their phone when away from the home (workout or not). If you usually have your phone with you, there is very little benefit to having a cellular enabled watch. Apple will probably charge an extra $130 for the radios, and then you will need to add a device on your data plan.

Some folks will be willing to pay for the convenience, but I suspect this will be more of a niche feature.

I don't disagree that in the near future the majority of watch owners will not need cellular as a rule. However, keep in mind a person doesn't need cellular as a primary function to take advantage of it on a daily basis.

I can't tell you the number of times I've run into the store to pick up something and left my phone in the car. Or left my phone at the office, or home, or in the car. Or been expecting a call and forgotten to take the phone into a meeting at work, into the bathroom at home, or into the backyard or garage, etc. I've left my phone at clients offices, and restaurants, and cabs, and didn't realize until later. Then there's going to the beach, or the pool, or the sauna, where it's not practical to take the phone. And on and on. Once people who don't think they need cellular in their watch start seeing how useful it is for those who got it primarily for specific purposes in their day to day lives, I think the attitude will change.

The ultimate goal of course is to move the phone to the wrist, and make the need to carry a screen, a remote accessory that one carries if they need it -- possibly even rolled up, or folded into a much smaller than a phone package.

I get most people won't need it at first, but I also believe it's the future, and there will be many customers to help support it along ...

 

[bugelrex]

I suspect it will have LTE some of the time.

When the phone is away from the watch, the LTE will kick in else it turns off.

With this model the carriers can make extra money buy selling a new plan and apple won't have to claim all day LTE battery life.

Unless the band is made of small battery cells, a tiny watch battery cannot sustain all day life with
celluar

 

[boston04and07]

I wonder if this is why Health and Activity are going to be synced via iCloud in iOS 11 - to make it so that you don't always need a connection to your iPhone to sync that data. It'd also be cool if they give us those apps on the iPad while they're at it.

I also hope that, with an LTE watch, they give us some way of unlocking our apple watches when a complex passcode is needed without having to have our iPhone nearby. As it is now one of my email accounts requires an alphanumeric passcode to be set on my iPhone, meaning that in order to unlock my Apple Watch I need to first put it on and then unlock my iPhone. This is a pain and especially annoying when my watch loses contact with my wrist at times when my phone isn't nearby. If they're going to make the watches more independent of iPhones I hope they give us a better way of unlocking them when complex passcodes are needed.

 

[stoster38]

Mobile data providers are just so greedy. There's no need for a device fee. Why do they care on what device I use my data on. As long as it's within the plan limit, if applicable, it shouldn't matter.

 

[Lloydbm41]

I wonder if this is why Health and Activity are going to be synced via iCloud in iOS 11 - to make it so that you don't always need a connection to your iPhone to sync that data. It'd also be cool if they give us those apps on the iPad while they're at it.

I also hope that, with an LTE watch, they give us some way of unlocking our apple watches when a complex passcode is needed without having to have our iPhone nearby. As it is now one of my email accounts requires an alphanumeric passcode to be set on my iPhone, meaning that in order to unlock my Apple Watch I need to first put it on and then unlock my iPhone. This is a pain and especially annoying when my watch loses contact with my wrist at times when my phone isn't nearby. If they're going to make the watches more independent of iPhones I hope they give us a better way of unlocking them when complex passcodes are needed.

I don't have Apple Pay installed on my watch, but i thought if it was, you always need to type it in to look at anything on your watch?

 

[boston04and07]

I don't have Apple Pay installed on my watch, but i thought if it was, you always need to type it in to look at anything on your watch?

No it's true - I don't mind having to authenticate before unlocking my watch, in fact I want that. I just wish there were a better way of doing it besides having to unlock my iPhone. What that would be I have no idea.

 

[69650]

If only they could figure a way of having the same mobile number for both devices (iPhone & Apple Watch).

 

[Lloydbm41]

If only they could figure a way of having the same mobile number for both devices (iPhone & Apple Watch).

Already done on t-mobile.

 

[xitongzou]

If they got rid of the iPod Shuffle, then the LTE Apple Watch definitely makes sense as a replacement

 

[PlainviewX]

My phone is nearby when I'm working out, or I have music stored on my watch. But point taken, that could be useful for some (If there was a Spotify app).

Running with a phone is a disaster.

 

[Beerstalker]

Verizon charges $5/month to add smart watches to their plans, I will gladly pay that, but not $10+.

I have been waiting for LTE to be added to the Apple Watch before I buy one. My employer keeps the WiFi locked down so most of us don't have our phones hooked up to it. That means if I leave my phone at my desk the Watch wouldn't be able to connect and I wouldn't get nearly as much functionality out of it. If my watch was on LTE I would still be able to get my calls/text/email notifications while walking around.

My wife's employer finally opened up their WiFi last year, and I bought her an Apple Watch soon after and she loves it.

 

[dan110]

Seriously? You really believe that?

There is a natural progression for electronic devices to follow technological advances and consumer demand, although the two can be mutually exclusive at times. All smart watches have been marching towards having LTE, wireless charging, better battery life, faster cpu's, better displays and so on. By you saying that Tim and Co is out of ideas is an overexhaggeration and poor characterization of the company. While the iPhone continues to be Apple's bread and butter product, the Apple Watch produces a very tidy profit for the company and unless that changes, we will continue to see the Apple Watch evolve and sell.

Ok ... LOL ... but seriously, how much is Apple PR paying you? Throwing LTE on an iWatch is "advancement" ... when battery is already challenging with the non cellular version? Yes, they are out of ideas. They're not doing anything interesting except scrambling the same eggs and adding extra ingredients here and there and calling it "courage" and "innovation". There's absolutely nothing passionate about Apple products anymore. Nor does is the ecosystem a coherent delight to invest in.
[doublepost=1502164380][/doublepost]

Adding LTE is a smart and obvious enhancement to the Apple Watch. I welcome the opportunity to go walking, running and cycling .. and staying connected -- without having to lug my phone. This is purposeful innovation.

No, at this time, it is not smart. Unless Apple has come up with an entirely new battery design, the AW will run out of juice in less than a day. The only way I can see it working is if the radio goes to a very low power mode when not in use. Then again that defeats the purpose of the LTE option. Furthermore, the market has spoken that it desires larger screens. This is especially true with an aging population in the US, Europe, and other first world regions. Why would people want to go from 4 inch iPhones to 5+ inch iPhones and back down to a 1.5 sq inch iWatch? Some will, but I believe, the vast majority won't.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Ok ... LOL ... but seriously, how much is Apple PR paying you? Throwing LTE on an iWatch is "advancement" ... when battery is already challenging with the non cellular version? Yes, they are out of ideas. They're not doing anything interesting except scrambling the same eggs and adding extra ingredients here and there and calling it "courage" and "innovation". There's absolutely nothing passionate about Apple products anymore. Nor does is the ecosystem a coherent delight to invest in.

Do you own an Apple watch? I own the series 1, the Gear S2/S3, Moto 360, and the Huawei watch.

The Apple watch gets me through 12 hours of use and only loses around 20% battery. Granted it doesn't have an always on display though.
My S3 can come pretty close to this and it does have LTE. Android watches have pitiful battery life in comparison.
So please tell us, how is battery life challenging in the current Apple watch form? Hint: it isn't.
And how would new low power chips for the new Apple watch not keep us on par with current battery use?

I think you are talking out of your arse here, while I am deriving my input from real world use of Tizen, watch os and Android wear 2.0

 

[Feenician]

I really don’t understand the beef here. If there’s cellular and non-cellular versions then buy the one you want. If all of them have cellular capability no-one is going to come around to your house and force you to turn it on or take a plan. It’s bizarre.

 

[Darren Beauchamp]

One step closer to a true Dick Tracy watch. Likely data only, no untethered voice or video calls yet.

Aww, what a pity! I was hoping I could talk to my wrist in public looking like a retro-future spy
[doublepost=1502176593][/doublepost]

Pretty soon the "family" part of "family plan" will mean the various members of your Apple Family (iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.) rather than your biological family.

Absolutely! BTW, why aren't Apple Watch available in space gray, silver, gold, and rose gold finishes? You know, to look like their iMom and iDad?