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Faster Apple Watch 2 With GPS, Barometer, Larger Battery, and Same Thickness to Launch Later This Year

Seriously: GPS and waterproofing, as well as better battery life (which I don't think will come, because the bigger battery and energy efficient processor will be offset by GPS) are the things I missed on the first iteration. I did skip AppleWatch 1 because I got burned so much by the iPad 1st gen (which was replaced by the one with the cameras and Retina display) that I will never again purchase an Apple product version 1.
I was looking forward to this upgrade.
I am also happy that the iPhone 7 (or whatever they end up calling it) looks like a "bridge update" to next year's model which will mark the 10th anniversary of the launch of the first one, and which will be presented in Apple's new "spaceship" building.
 
The new Apple Watch may or may not have new stuff. If it has new stuff, if may or may not have the stuff that many people have been asking for. Also it may or may not have (*add list of features here*)

See, I can predict stuff too, does that make me an Analyst?
 
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Rychiar said:
cellular in a watch would be useless for any of us with grandfathered in att data plans. Waterproofing would be the biggest improvement they could make for me.
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Would there be no way to link the data plans together for att? I don't see them making you get a whole new data plan/line
 
Would a Network connected apple watch be able to be a standalone like if you had an android phone? This has me really curious now. I do like like an android watches and being able to use an apple watch by itself could change this all?
 
1) The new Apple watch will include (insert here - part one), and (insert here - part two), and (insert here - part three) as predicted by analyst (insert here).

2) The audience says (please choose):
- Apple's dying
- Steve Jobs would turn around in his grave
- everything was better
- just an update
- everybody else is better
- why doesn't it cook eggs?
- boring

or
3)

- oooh, I'm so psyched...
- I'm buying it!
- Count me in.

4) The release:
We have added incredible new features (insert here - part one) and (insert here - part two). This would not have been possible without your aid and the aid of gazillions of programmers. Thank you.

5) The audience says:
(repeat steps 2 and 3)

6) The result:
Apple's strategy has paid off in the last quarter, with the sales of XYZ gazillion dollars but lower sales in one product show problems that the entire world did not update to the new edition of the iPhone.

7) The market says:
(repeat steps 2 and 3)

Start at 1).
 
well, that was to be expected. same, maybe slightly tweaked form factor but larger battery because of the thinner display - which should net about the same battery running time under watchOS 3 as the watch 1 had with os 1-2. barometer is an easy guess, as they already have that technology in their devices. i was hoping for a thermometer, but that's probably not very easy to realise on a device one wears. gps is nice for running without your phone. i hope the sports model gets the sapphire coating or at least a stronger glass as well, because the current model is prone to scratches.
 
GPS and a better heart rate monitor and this could be an excellent runners or bikers watch..
The sports watch it was meant to be in the first place...
 
bopajuice said:
Same stuff different day. Apple has fallen so far behind it's pathetic. Just another update.
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So wait, your strategy for when a company is "behind" is to not update their products? Brilliant!
I think I'll go with Apple's strategy here :D.
 
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I personally could careless for LTE inside of my watch, especially If battery and cell phone bills take a hit. The G1 watch is almost perfect for my needs, I just want the new sensors, GPS, battery upgrade, and a bigger face honestly.
 
iA724 said:
I dont know why these people wanted LTE. Then they'll complain how high their bill is lmao.
A watch provides you with important things, in an a way that doesn't disrupt your life. Time, Steps, Calories burned, etc. Theres no reason to have it hooked up to a carrier, its a watch, not a phone. Silly people.
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I agree, LTE only makes sense when it's a negligible addition to monthly cost and battery drain. But being able to receive notifications when you're out for a walk or run or something and not needing to carry your "plus" sized iPhone would be great. Maybe there is some kind of reduced activity mode they would introduce first if that's even possible - like say wake the radio and poll network for cached notifications every 5 minutes instead of constantly on. As for cost, there are already some interesting things in the market - T-mobile has that 200 mb/month free perpetual wireless plan. If Apple could get something like that for the watch (very cheap low capacity plan), it would be enough for these types of notifications.
 
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This will sell like crazy.
Battery won't last longer though due to increased consumption by GPS.
 
Beauty! Thickness works great for me, so jam it full of features. GPS would rock! And speed her up! Using Runtastic makes me a little crazy sometimes...
 
Zedcars said:
From the article:
"The analyst also predicted that upgraded first-generation Apple Watch models will debut in the second half of 2016 with the same processor and waterproofing upgrades, but likely without the Apple Watch 2's most significant additions like a GPS and barometer."

He's saying AW1 will get water-proofing and processor upgrades. I think you read it incorrectly.
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No, we both read it correctly when it was originally posted last night. The MacRumors editors quietly deleted the section of the story that discussed the new update (less waterproofing) to the gen 1 watches sometime overnight. It was indeed reported by MacRumors and then redacted, whether Kuo actually said this, who knows.
 
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Solid updates if this is true. I know it's counter intuitive to ask for better battery and thinness, but the watch is a bit bulky. I'm also pushing for lte, so I'll wait with my sport edition if this is all were getting in 2016-17. Still, I can't wait to upgrade to a stainless steel version for the 3rd version.
 
lewisd25 said:
No, we both read it correctly when it was originally posted last night. The MacRumors editors quietly deleted the section of the story that discussed the new update (less waterproofing) to the gen 1 watches sometime overnight. It was indeed reported by MacRumors and then redacted, whether Kuo actually said this, who knows.
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Fair enough. That makes sense. I thought I was going mad for a minute there!
 
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DTphonehome said:
GPS is critical. Makes it much more useful for fitness. Barometer too. Coupled with waterproofing, would make for a great diving watch.
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Your post was spot on until you got to the diving watch part. That is a really unrealistic expectation. Fun expectation, but unrealistic nonetheless. A dive watch is going to require tolerances that far exceed those in an AW.
 
With these updates coming out, I wonder if there will be any specials for a free AW (current model) with September iPhone purchase .. doubtful I guess
 
lordofthereef said:
I could see an upgrade program. They'd force apple care as they do currently, making an easy added $50 for the year. Perhaps even increase the monthly rate so that you're laying off more than half the initial msrp.

The feature list has me bouncing off the walls. This is exactly what I've been waiting for. I almost decided to buy a used watch having seen the new OS (wife has one) and even considered a Moto sport (would have had to stnc to my work phone) but am glad I waited.
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The iPhone upgrade program is possible because the market is strong for used devices. Is there a strong enough market for used iWatches to warrant an upgrade program? Being a niche product with a lot smaller market, it seems like it would be tough to pull off.
 
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