Hey Fellow Canucks-
I'm one of the chosen launch-day few. I honestly, and truly feel for the 5:50er's, the second-shipmenter's, and the June'ers. I know I'm truly lucky not to be one of them, and I know what it's like (I waited 4 weeks for my 6+) so I hope that when I share my first impressions it's excitement, not resentment that you feel.
I got
my SG42 Sport delivered in Lethbridge about 11 a.m. MST on Friday. I was in the middle of a ******* workday (graduation day working as a college communications person), so I only had about 10 minutes to strap it on, stash my pebble in the centre console of my car, and start the sync.
-The packaging is insane. Seriously, take your time unboxing. Savour it - it's a trip. There's so many carefully planned pieces to peel back, unfold, take out, and uncover. It's likely the most incredibly complex, thought-out (and wonderful) pieces of tech apple has ever boxed up.
- It's not perfect yet. There's some UI glitches that still need working out. I'm confident that by Watch OS 1.2 everything will be sorted, but it's not perfect yet. The app screen takes some time to register input, there's a
lot of missed input touches (especially near the top of the screen for "back" inputs), and there are some small loading glitches throughout. This likely won't concern YOU because if you're reading this, you're a rabid fanboy/girl, but take note.
- Taptic Engine 1.0 needs help. This could just be me, but I've got prominent haptics turned on, and my band cranked up TIGHT and I'm still missing some notifications. It's only been a day, and maybe some apps are just acting up and not sending good taps, or taps at all, but it's been all too likely for me to glance up and see the "red dot of notificationness." I'm coming from a pebble, and you can NOT miss notifications on that thing, so maybe I just need to reset my expectations and readjust my tolerance for wrist-top notifications, but taps are
****ing SUBTLE..
-This thing is ****ing boss. Seriously, it's awesome having something this powerful on your wrist. I've had a ton of stares, a ton of questions, people freaking out. It's obviously part of the early adopter appeal, but as some of you know, it's awesome. People WILL notice. I find it's easiest to walk people through the OS/UI by describing your selected face as "the home screen" - that tends to make sense to people. The people at my knockoff apple store (iWorld) in the mall FLIPPED OUT when I walked in today. It's gonna be a fun ride for a few weeks. Let your friends try your watch on and take a pic.
-Flouroelastomer bands are every bit as awesome as everyone says. - It's like having your wrist gently squeezed by a cloud. I don't even notice the thing. It's so soft, comfortable, and perfect. Seriously- don't regret your sport band purchase. The bands are amazing. Night and day between the first-world ghetto-rubber on my pebble.
-You'll get friendlier with Siri. I'm not a big siri user. I've talked to my phone maybe 15 times. She is AMAZING on the watch. Never missed a word. Not one. It's the default long-form input method and it's
goddamn perfect. I've sent a ton of messages, set reminders, asked for info and it's 100% every time. Sociologically, it takes an adjustment, and I still don't think I'll find myself talking to my wrist around other people, but damn, apple nailed this.
-Standout app: Shazam. Seriously. Somehow- Shazam on Watch OS is perfect. Never missed a song, and showed highlighted, real-time lyrics along with whatever was playing (even in a noisy pub setting). The mic on the watch is ****ing witchcraft.
-Glances are where it's at. Navigating to apps takes to long. Apps with good glances rise to the top quickly and easily. I've found myself pulling apps off my glances with savage judgement. I'm stingy about what gets a glance- only the best of the best gets a spot in my glance set. I think you'll do the same.
- Battery life is a non-issue. I'm writing this as a moderate-notification person at 11PM and I have 43% left. it's a NON-ISSUE. I charge my phone every night, I don't have a problem charging my watch every night.
-There's a lot of rushed-to-market apps. Sooooooo many developers "me-tooed" into a useless watch app. You'll select watch apps and glances you actually use based on how good they are.
I think that's all I have for now. I hope Monday comes soon for all you 5:50er's. Happy to answer any questions you have.
-Rod