Curious what the returners really expected??

[coolerkid]

I didn't return, only because I'm a big Apple and gadget fan, otherwise I probably would have. I have to say this is probably the roughest, most beta quality Apple product I've bought. In theory if everything worked properly this would be great, but nothing works reliably at all, and the UI isn't well thought out in terms of workflow.

- Activity tracking, very cool but very inconsistent.
- Notifications, also very cool but they don't always come in, or they come in as a group and you need to drill down to see them. If it's more than a couple notifications, it's faster to take out my phone
- Apps, mostly useless. Too long to find, launch, and load. It's usually much quicker to take out my phone. I hate the small circular icons.
- Checking time is actually my most used feature, but this damn display doesn't turn on all the time, and then turns off to fast. They REALLY need to majorly improve how the display comes on, that's my biggest complaint.
- Answer/make calls, no thanks
- Responding to simple txt, very useful
- Walking navigation, excellent
- Stand reminder, this simply doesn't work
- Apple Pay. Very cool, works perfect, but not really any faster than taking out my phone, and I usually have my phone out in line anyway, so I don't really use it.
- Fitness app. Great, but needs 1 screen to consolidate all this info. While I'm working out I can't be switching screens, and screen doesn't respond with sweaty hands. Display is always off anyway so I can rarely see anything while I'm working out.
- Siri. Watch finally makes this useful, but doesn't activate most of the time.
- Doodle/heartbeat communication. Utterly useless, don't know why they have a dedicated button for this that could be put to better use.
- Stainless steel watch is too delicate to use for sports.
- Design. Never been a fan. Don't like the rounded glass, or the pill shape. Stainless steel looks more like silverware, then fine jewelry or technology. Aluminum looks too toy like. A nice band can compensate though.
- Screen, awesome
- Bands, awesome but grossly overpriced

I'll stop there. Overall this is an amazing piece of technology, but the least necessary Apple product I own. It needs a ton more work to get it right. I do like it, but most of the time it's either 1 - quicker to take out my phone to get something done 2 - I have my phone out already 3 - I need to take my phone out to complete what I started on my watch. Even in social situations, trying to read notifications on the tiny screen is often more disruptive than glancing down at my phone.

I'm keeping mine, but Apple really needs to step it up on this if they want the masses to keep theirs too. Anyone who's not a gadget junkie isn't going to love this.

 

[TrueBlou]

I returned mine because of problems. Several Bluetooth headphones would not work with it. They'd drop constantly despite the fact I've been using them for years with my iPhone.

There is no wifi sync despite what they say. The apple rep told me they no longer advertise that feature as its extremely limited and rarely works. My entire network is apple products. An airport extreme and 2 hard wired apple expresses. If I get out of Bluetooth range the watch is useless for me.

No streaming music. Why? I have no idea. The hardware can easily handle it, it would hurt battery life but if I want that, I should be able too. Syncing playlists to it takes way too long. I synced 20 songs and it took over an hour. I tried this 3 times and once it took overnight and still failed.

I unpaired and repaired the watch and all the headphones many times with no success.

I wanted this mainly for use around my house and yard not needing my phone for basic use, check email, texts, play music. Doesn't do it. Apple rep confirmed its really limited. So for me a $436.00 pedometer that I can see texts and emails with instead of pulling my phone out of my pocket is not worth it.

I hope they solve these issues in the next software update or hardware. Until then I'll just have to manage taking my 6 plus out of my pocket, but if they can solve these problems I'd buy it again.

D

I'm not saying the watch isn't for you but I've had no problem checking emails, reading and replying to texts and listening to music, obviously syncing a playlist to the watch. I've found that when I nip out to the garden I just leave my phone wherever it is and my watch has been filling in.

It's not perfect but for a first gen product on its first software version I've found it to be pretty impressive and I couldn't be without mine already.

 

[Zune55]

I find it funny reading all the posts of people returning or not happy with there watches. What were people thinking it was going to do?? What did you expect?? Its a tech watch--All Tech watches look "techy" and will never be that Rolex or luxury watch.

Yes the watch is expensive and over priced. However, if you can't justify parting with the funds don't do it. It's like gambling---Don't cry because you lost the money, but go in counting on losing it.

The watch does everything Apple said it would do. It wasn't meant to be some powerhouse computer on your wrist. I venture to say it will never be that!! Yes it will never be that. The majority of people dont want to surf the net or talk to there wrist. Thats what a phone is for. The watch allows small things to function quicker---Ie glancing at emails or quick response to text.

Accept what the watch is and can do and you wont be disappointed

The modular face has decent amount of info. The time and date and day and all the stuff worth it. Plus activity tracker and heart beat monitoring, stop watch and timer. There are tons and tons of feature in this watch which I can't use in my phone so easily.

----------

I'm going in with the assumption that it's a nice watch, first and foremost. Anything else it does, will be gravy.

I think if you approach it as just a watch, it will definitely delight you. For instance, just having the weather on my watch face will be a huge deal for me.

I should be getting mine tomorrow.

Well said, using the watch as a watch is a delight. Weather on the face is very nice. The watch is very stylish as well you can wear it on occasions.

 

[BigMovieGeek]

I'll give one simple example. How in the hell do you change the world time option at the top where it is set to Cupertino? That to be should be something simple and intuitive, still can't get it to change.

The world clock mirrors your iPhone, if you change it there, the watch will pick it up.

 

[MH01]

He was implying that you can't do that, being that he put it in the same sentence and "surfing the web", which is something you can't do from the watch.

You need to read it again. Difference between "want" and "cannot" . In this case it's want.

----------

I believe the watch is just fine. The bigger issue is the wearable concept/lifestyle, not everyone is sold on it, hence people are returning their devices. Unlike a must have accessory like a smart phone, the smart watch is an accessory. The price does not help, given what it does.

And there is no real killer feature.

I'm torn in relation to keeping it, and I must admit given it's £600, it's very difficult to justify, as that money can be put towards an iPhone 6S.....

 

[Cuyler]

...
I'll give one simple example. How in the hell do you change the world time option at the top where it is set to Cupertino? That to be should be something simple and intuitive, still can't get it to change.
...

I know you were just making a point that the watch is more complicated than it should be, but iMore has a nice article on how set your default weather and world clock for Apple Watch.

 

[cardfan]

Siri has to be onboard. That's a wish list for iOS 9 for all across devices.

You really have to manage what notifications go through the watch. Too many and it simply makes it annoying. More mgmt options for this please.

Some notifications are swipe down to dismiss or swipe to the left. I'm getting the hang of it but it's not consistent.

Health tracking and workout apps are garbage. JMO.

I think it's a shame everyone are calling these apps. They're 3rd party widgets can't do much. I'm not sure I'd fool with them anyways if it's simply easier to pull out iphone.

People are very stupid tech wise. This watch goes beyond what I consider something people can quickly use. The options of what to buy are confusing to many to start. It needs a lot of setup and tweaks. It has a learning curve. Apple has to step up the education process and hammer away at commercials that focus on specific features. Back to iphone one days. They made a series on the website and this needs to go to tv. It's a success in year one if you can make this the reference smartwatch. Teaching UI is the goal, not sales.

My wife wasn't interested. It seemed like work to her. "How do I use this?" That's even after I did most of the work setting it up for her. I showed her a few things but she just didn't get it. Watch some videos? Umm..no, she's not going to do that. So there's added work, charging every night, and finally the cost which she said "are you crazy?, you better sell or return mine"

 

[bahamallama]

I think there is a learning curve because it's a new device which require a new skill set. That's why Apple provided both videos and manual to guide users. It kinda reminded me of the first iPhone.

And the watch is the extension of the phone. So try changing the time on your phone.

----------



There is wifi. But people found that you need to connect your phone to the 2.4ghz channel for it to work right. And to be honest Apple reps sometimes don't know what they are talking about. Alternatively maybe you have a weak wifi signal in your yard?

Unfortunately I have a great signal. The signal thing is kinda goofy too, it's all Apple hardware on default settings so if it doesn't work out of the box with their own hardware, that me is an issue. To reconfigure my router and airport expresses to only function in one mode just to get a watch to work is just not a reasonable thing to do and definitely not an elegant solution. It's possible my watch was just defective? But I didn't want a replacement, figure I'd just return and wait to see what they add. iTunes radio or any audio streamed the watch and then the headset would get me to buy again but that doesn't work in the current software.

D

 

[5684697]

Siri has to be onboard. That's a wish list for iOS 9 for all across devices.

You really have to manage what notifications go through the watch. Too many and it simply makes it annoying. More mgmt options for this please.

Some notifications are swipe down to dismiss or swipe to the left. I'm getting the hang of it but it's not consistent.

Health tracking and workout apps are garbage. JMO.

I think it's a shame everyone are calling these apps. They're 3rd party widgets can't do much. I'm not sure I'd fool with them anyways if it's simply easier to pull out iphone.

People are very stupid tech wise. This watch goes beyond what I consider something people can quickly use. The options of what to buy are confusing to many to start. It needs a lot of setup and tweaks. It has a learning curve. Apple has to step up the education process and hammer away at commercials that focus on specific features. Back to iphone one days. They made a series on the website and this needs to go to tv. It's a success in year one if you can make this the reference smartwatch. Teaching UI is the goal, not sales.

My wife wasn't interested. It seemed like work to her. "How do I use this?" That's even after I did most of the work setting it up for her. I showed her a few things but she just didn't get it. Watch some videos? Umm..no, she's not going to do that. So there's added work, charging every night, and finally the cost which she said "are you crazy?, you better sell or return mine"

Had mine for 18 hours and thought the watch far easier to use than the reviews and comments indicated. A quick read of the user guide made it quite simple to understand, and the tips sticky here was invaluable as well.

I'm very familiar with the flailing people engage in after purchasing DSLR's by refusing to RTFM, so this is both familiar and entertaining!

 

[Mildredop]

All Tech watches look "techy" and will never be that Rolex or luxury watch.

Why won't they?

 

[xraydoc]

But that's what they were expecting. They return it because they basically say their iPhones can do those things. They are expecting an iPhone replacement.

Drives me nuts. We clamor for bigger iPhones, then now these people want 1.5" screens to do everything their giant iPhone does. There's no pleasing some people....!

 

[JSRockit]

read it again? you can but most people wont because like he said "people dont want to talk to their wrist"

I saw that, but with a phone up to your ear...you are talking to your wrist as well.

 

[ttexxan]

I saw that, but with a phone up to your ear...you are talking to your wrist as well.

As a whole people are used to talking into a device/product held in there hand. It becomes odd or just plain weird to do otherwise. How many people do you "really" see talking on blue tooth headsets out of there car? Today in Fort Worth haven't seen one person. I think many are uncomfortable doing so. It's convenient, but most don't want to be associated with being "Nerdy" or "Techy" guy from Radio Shack.

Yesterday walking in hallway at work (Hospital) received text on watch. I attempted to respond talking to siri...Felt extremely odd doing so with on lookers walking by. Maybe its just comfort level, but if doing a poll most would fell uncomfortable outside of the "techy" world I would imagine.

 

[malochico1]

i am surprised people are returning the watch instead of just selling it.

 

[dacreativeguy]

I find it funny reading all the posts of people returning or not happy with there watches. What were people thinking it was going to do?? What did you expect??

Apple has created this problem themselves by being such a secretive company, causing everyone to (sometimes literally) go through their trash to get clues about what is coming. Therefore, an ACTUAL Apple product can never measure up to the rumored Apple product that fanboys and the media have created in their minds.

 

[CobraPA]

I returned mine because of problems. Several Bluetooth headphones would not work with it. They'd drop constantly despite the fact I've been using them for years with my iPhone.

There is no wifi sync despite what they say. The apple rep told me they no longer advertise that feature as its extremely limited and rarely works. My entire network is apple products. An airport extreme and 2 hard wired apple expresses. If I get out of Bluetooth range the watch is useless for me.

Yeah, the problem is the wifi sync has no way for you to tell easily if it's working or why it's not. Did you know it doesn't support 5G networks? That's a hard detail to find. Once you know that, you can get it to enable, but you need to do a little dance with the watch and the phone to force it, assuming you have a non-5G network available.

They probably stopped advertising it because it takes a developer to explain how to make it work and debug it if it's not. (My wife's watch wouldn't do it until I forced the phone off the 5G and then restarted the watch. Now it can sync without bluetooth enabled. I was starting to think it didn't work either.)

 

[bahamallama]

Yeah, the problem is the wifi sync has no way for you to tell easily if it's working or why it's not. Did you know it doesn't support 5G networks? That's a hard detail to find. Once you know that, you can get it to enable, but you need to do a little dance with the watch and the phone to force it, assuming you have a non-5G network available.

They probably stopped advertising it because it takes a developer to explain how to make it work and debug it if it's not. (My wife's watch wouldn't do it until I forced the phone off the 5G and then restarted the watch. Now it can sync without bluetooth enabled. I was starting to think it didn't work either.)

Great points! I could've redone my network, etc but I don't have the time and honestly I shouldn't have too. Not for $436.00 watch. It should work on their own hardware at least? Otherwise what did they test with? I'm using their default settings for broadcast spectrum.

I'm sure they will fix it all in time, but I didnt want to wait. I'd rather have the money back and use it for something else, then when they update I'll buy again. I'd also expect the price to drop on the next generation. Not a lot but from $350 to $300. Just my guess.

And for other posters I returned instead of selling it cause Apple makes it easier. I didn't want to waste the time selling it on CL or eBay. Someone can get a refurbished space gray sport watch now!

D

 

[CobraPA]

And for other posters I returned instead of selling it cause Apple makes it easier. I didn't want to waste the time selling it on CL or eBay. Someone can get a refurbished space gray sport watch now!

D

I'll take it! Can you call them and ask where it went?

 

[Armen]

Drives me nuts. We clamor for bigger iPhones, then now these people want 1.5" screens to do everything their giant iPhone does. There's no pleasing some people....!

The thing that frustrates me the most is the watch barely came out and people are already asking for GPS, Camera, stand alone functionality, bigger screen.

WTF. It's a watch, not a iPhone on your wrist. What's next? onscreen keyboard demand?

 

[Fwingonga]

i remember when i got the original ipad. i couldn't figure out what it could offer me over my macbook pro.
now it is indispensible

I agree with you that it's a bit like the iPad experience! I remember when I got my first iPad - I kept staring at it and wondering what I would actually do with it. At first I really only used it for "the fun stuff". But within a couple of weeks it became an integral part of my daily activity.
And I've found that with the Apple Watch it's the same. For the first couple of days I was fiddling with the more gimmicky aspects, but today was the first day where I felt it was really dovetailing itself into my daily life, and I was really appreciating not having to get my phone out all the time to see whether I actually needed to act on what I had received or not. I felt more polite not leaving my phone on the table in a restaurant, and just having a quick glance at my wrist when I felt the tap. And last night was its first outing to the gym...
I won't be sending it back, anyway - that's for sure!!

 

[xraydoc]

The thing that frustrates me the most is the watch barely came out and people are already asking for GPS, Camera, stand alone functionality, bigger screen.

WTF. It's a watch, not a iPhone on your wrist. What's next? onscreen keyboard demand?

I think it is Fleskey who actually sells an on-screen keyboard for Android Wear watches.

Right tool for the right job, people.

Two-second look at something... watch
Type something or do anything requiring a longer interaction, more text, graphics/diagrams, etc... phone (or iPad).

 

[za9ra22]

Apple has created this problem themselves by being such a secretive company, causing everyone to (sometimes literally) go through their trash to get clues about what is coming. Therefore, an ACTUAL Apple product can never measure up to the rumored Apple product that fanboys and the media have created in their minds.

Ah, that's funny.....but clearly not the case. Firstly, if anyone is interested enough in an Apple product to know it exists, Apple will have had a product launch - as they did with the watch - to demonstrate all the features and capabilities of the thing. If people want to know what the product is and what it can do, there's no difficulty in finding the detail.

The problem is that there are always those who buy without looking at the product details first. That isn't anyone's fault but the individual's.

 

[bradboothe]

A couple of quick questions. What version iPhone do you have? also, since the bluetooth headphones are a few years old based on your post, what version bluetooth do they use? I am assuming that the issues you faced both with syncing and headphones are likely due to older hardware. Bluetooth would likely cause this issue in particular, as the radio in the watch is v4.0 (someone may be able to correct me on this). Older headphones used a different protocol that is likely causing issues. If you have an iPhone before the 5, i am pretty sure that you will likely have the same issue yet again (syncing speed of data AND music, thus the huge delay in getting the songs transmitted as well as the lag in the apps). The people that seem to not have a problem with lag have newer iPhones with a solid data connection IME.

I returned mine because of problems. Several Bluetooth headphones would not work with it. They'd drop constantly despite the fact I've been using them for years with my iPhone.

There is no wifi sync despite what they say. The apple rep told me they no longer advertise that feature as its extremely limited and rarely works. My entire network is apple products. An airport extreme and 2 hard wired apple expresses. If I get out of Bluetooth range the watch is useless for me.

No streaming music. Why? I have no idea. The hardware can easily handle it, it would hurt battery life but if I want that, I should be able too. Syncing playlists to it takes way too long. I synced 20 songs and it took over an hour. I tried this 3 times and once it took overnight and still failed.

I unpaired and repaired the watch and all the headphones many times with no success.

I wanted this mainly for use around my house and yard not needing my phone for basic use, check email, texts, play music. Doesn't do it. Apple rep confirmed its really limited. So for me a $436.00 pedometer that I can see texts and emails with instead of pulling my phone out of my pocket is not worth it.

I hope they solve these issues in the next software update or hardware. Until then I'll just have to manage taking my 6 plus out of my pocket, but if they can solve these problems I'd buy it again.

D

 

[Cashmonee]

I know you were just making a point that the watch is more complicated than it should be, but iMore has a nice article on how set your default weather and world clock for Apple Watch.

As geeks and Apple faithful, we forget that devices should not require how-to videos and articles for things like changing the clock.

 

[bahamallama]

A couple of quick questions. What version iPhone do you have? also, since the bluetooth headphones are a few years old based on your post, what version bluetooth do they use? I am assuming that the issues you faced both with syncing and headphones are likely due to older hardware. Bluetooth would likely cause this issue in particular, as the radio in the watch is v4.0 (someone may be able to correct me on this). Older headphones used a different protocol that is likely causing issues. If you have an iPhone before the 5, i am pretty sure that you will likely have the same issue yet again (syncing speed of data AND music, thus the huge delay in getting the songs transmitted as well as the lag in the apps). The people that seem to not have a problem with lag have newer iPhones with a solid data connection IME.

I have several pairs ones as new as Black Friday lg tones latest version. Even Bluetooth speakers and a bluetooth clock radio. All had issues. All pair and work fine on the 4, 4s, 6 and 6 plus. Figure the first software update will fix it. If they add streaming music to phone to Bluetooth headphones while on your home network, I'm right back in!

D