Hopefully it's true that the thickness is the same. I know a lot of people were expecting Apple to gradually make it thinner just like their other products, but I always thought that was silly. Some thickness on a watch is good.
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Faster Apple Watch 2 With GPS, Barometer, Larger Battery, and Same Thickness to Launch Later This Year
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For someone who just bought the Apple Watch 4-5 months back, I hope that it's not too much of an amazing upgrade.. (Yeah I'm greedy lol)
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On a serious note, I simply hope the watchOS 3 will bring in the speed for the first gen.
It does. With WatchOS 3, for the first time since I've owned an Apple watch I can wholeheartedly recommend it.
When I preordered my Note 7, I just got a free Gear S2 with the ability to do an AT&T feature called "Number-sync" which lets you use your phone number on the watch to make and receive calls without being connected in any way to the phone.
https://www.att.com/devices/samsung/gear-s2.html?WT.srch=1&source=ECPS0000000PSM00P#sku=sku7760398
I don't have the Note 7 in hand yet so I can't say how well this works.
The Gear S2 also has GPS. So it's possible to have GPS and a built in sim but again, I do not yet know how well this all works together and what it does to battery life. I don't think Samsung worries much about such things and just slams together all the features and lets users Guinea pig out whatever needs to be weeded out.
I do know the watch is big on me. It comes with two sets of watch bands. One is large and one is small. It fits around my wrist but I look like I'm wearing a pancake on my wrist. As opposed to a waffle when I wear my Apple Watch. Sorry, I am eating breakfast.
I thought I would hate a round display but it looks okay so far. I won't really know until it's fully set up with the phone, though.
Edit to add, reading the fine print...not sure the customer can add number sync to an unlimited data plan without incurring extra month charges. We opened new lines for our Note7's, leaving our unlimited accounts/numbers untouched.
Edited again to add that I just noticed the link I provided is to a 3G version of my new watch. Apparently Samsung issued an upgrade to its specs listings at some point as mine is listed on the box as having 4g and WCDMA capability.
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No need for any sort of camera on the watch - and LTE would be pointless too - this is where being on the same wifi network as a phone is perfectly acceptable. I'm not going to pay for a mobile contract for my watch separately (hell I don't even do that for my iPads and I want for the upcoming MacBook either!)
GPS and faster speed (which mostly will be coming in software) is really all it needs. I'd be happy with more accurate sensors if thats even possible (or when new technology is found), size, weight, battery life etc are all perfect - mostly GPS isn't even really need, my runs still track really well as it is, but it'll be a nice option.
Everything else needs to be done in software, WatchOS3 is a great update, but they still haven't opened up the bluetooth stack for iBeacons which to me is one of the most obvious uses of the watch.
GPS and faster speed (which mostly will be coming in software) is really all it needs. I'd be happy with more accurate sensors if thats even possible (or when new technology is found), size, weight, battery life etc are all perfect - mostly GPS isn't even really need, my runs still track really well as it is, but it'll be a nice option.
Everything else needs to be done in software, WatchOS3 is a great update, but they still haven't opened up the bluetooth stack for iBeacons which to me is one of the most obvious uses of the watch.
Sounds like it could be an option with an apple watch stand alone if they have connectivity. Sounds really good to me. Things wouldn't sync with an android phone but possibly my iPad when i get home.When I preordered my Note 7, I just got a free Gear S2 with the ability to do an AT&T feature called "Number-sync" which lets you use your phone number on the watch to make and receive calls without being connected in any way to the phone.
https://www.att.com/devices/samsung/gear-s2.html?WT.srch=1&source=ECPS0000000PSM00P#sku=sku7760398
I don't have the Note 7 in hand yet so I can't say how well this works.
The Gear S2 also has GPS. So it's possible to have GPS and a built in sim but again, I do not yet know how well this all works together and what it does to battery life. I don't think Samsung worries much about such things and just slams together all the features and lets users Guinea pig out whatever needs to be weeded out.
I do know the watch is big on me. It comes with two sets of watch bands. One is large and one is small. It fits around my wrist but I look like I'm wearing a pancake on my wrist. As opposed to a waffle when I wear my Apple Watch. Sorry, I am eating breakfast.
I thought I would hate a round display but it looks okay so far. I won't really know until it's fully set up with the phone, though.
This sounds like a very good update and much more of what we'd expect from Apple for a gen 2 product. All the bands will work with it (and we'll get those choices) since its the same size and hopefully we'll get a little better battery life (although with GPS who knows). Would love to replace my watch and tracker.
Don't raise prices and I'll jump in the pool if they come through with these updates.
Don't raise prices and I'll jump in the pool if they come through with these updates.
Guess it is really not important to see how accurate the GPS is, or how quickly the battery drains? Lets just buy, buy, and buy!
Reading through the comments, one thing is abundantly clear. Apple has a very hard job. Some are yawning at the imrpovements, while others are saying if some of these are not included, they won’t buy. “GPS is a must have!” vs “I don’t need GPS!” vs “I want a new case style” vs “I want the same case with a bigger battery!”
Personally, I don’t own an Apple Watch. I passed when I learned there was no in-watch GPS support. If this fall’s rumored release adds even just GPS, I’m on board.
Personally, I don’t own an Apple Watch. I passed when I learned there was no in-watch GPS support. If this fall’s rumored release adds even just GPS, I’m on board.
I hope rumors are false and a misinterpretation of some facts.
I can see Apple launching just 1 new Apple Watch with a faster14nm soc, improved water resistance and better battery life, and barometer, that looks the same as Apple Watch 1. But featuring some kind of smart connector at the place where bands connect to the watch. so you can add functionality by special bands that Apple will also release. These bands will likely include gps, etc.
Something like that...
I can see Apple launching just 1 new Apple Watch with a faster14nm soc, improved water resistance and better battery life, and barometer, that looks the same as Apple Watch 1. But featuring some kind of smart connector at the place where bands connect to the watch. so you can add functionality by special bands that Apple will also release. These bands will likely include gps, etc.
Something like that...
I wonder if part of that is because it's a device trying to fit a lot of different needs - fitness device, fashion accessory, watch companion. Depending on what your own personal need is - the updates may hit the mark or not.
Not having a GPS device severely limited its potential as a fitness device. But for a person who uses it primarily as a notification/fashon device -it was no big deal.
To me that's where the watch will always be a bit limited. Apple made a big splash about it being a fashion item - but a lot of users are still clamoring for functionality. It's stuck in the middle where it's really not great at either.
I think we're seeing the exact same problem with the watch as the iPad, you can't sell it in a universal way like a phone or a computer. These devices are something you need to find your particular use-case to justify buying.
I use my watch for fitness tracking (biking) and my Things list for keeping track of stuff I need to do for work. That's entirely separate from say, someone who has a connected car and uses it for location and unlocking/starting their care.
I used my Apple Watch, along with an iPhone 6+ on my long runs while training for a marathon. Many of those runs were >3hrs, some more than 4hrs. I never had the watch or phone die on my during the runs (although the phone would usually not make it to the end of the day if I didn't charge it when I got back). That was with BT, GPS and LTE all on.
I would say YMMV, but the pun would be too obvious ;-)
Smaller phones probably wouldn't last those distances, but I would be surprised if they gave up within, say, two hours (unless running in the evening without top-up charging during the day).
I wish they'd release a larger model with mirasol type screen like the Garmin colour watches - my Apple Watch gets charged every night - my Garmin Fenix 3 charged about once a month. Couple of weeks with plenty of GPS runs thrown it.
Shame they already used the 'sport' name.
Of-course I'm assuming the poor battery life of the AW is a screen tech issue not just Apple doing a bad job of power management!
Shame they already used the 'sport' name.
Of-course I'm assuming the poor battery life of the AW is a screen tech issue not just Apple doing a bad job of power management!
I skipped gen 1, but if the Apple Watch 2 has full GPS and waterproofing good for swimming, reliable/precise HR sensor and better battery life - I'm sold. I'd love to use watch (standalone) to track my Runkeeper activities (mostly cycling, but some running/swimming too + skiing/snowboarding in winter).
PS - the price MUST NOT INCREASE though! I think it's way too high already - but I could tolerate current price with all the improvements I stated.
PS - the price MUST NOT INCREASE though! I think it's way too high already - but I could tolerate current price with all the improvements I stated.
I might buy this version....but who knows. The pricing for the Apple Watch (not the sport) to me, is still a bit high, even with these updates. Lets see what September brings.
Because a camera is something most people buy an iPhone for, and Apples job is to create a product that serves the majority of their customers needs, excluding some, and hit a price point affordable by all. According to your argument, why offer an iPad with and without an LTE radio? Why not just offer one iPad and charge everybody the same price whether they use it or not?
Some components cost more money, and not everyone uses them. I and others pointing out the benefits of GPS were routinely ridiculed on these forums and told how unecessary GPS was, so either they were just hopeless fanbois, or they legitimately had no need for the functionality.
Again, Apple needs to get more watches into more hands, offering a lower cost option with fewer features is one way to do it, and has been driving business models for years.
Watch 2 gets a thicker, more useful high capacity battery. I want that option for my iPhone. I would update my iPHONE TODAY if I could get a double battery option.
I probably will enjoy my jump
You are right that we will have to wait till September, I know I am. After 15+ years of being a loyal Apple customer, I'm trying to give Apple a chance but it really feels like Tim is Apple's Ballmer. MS had it's most profitable year under Ballmer, before he ran it to the ground. By all counts Tim is doing the same...
Putting "no growth" into context. You're comparing last year's all time planetary record sales to this year's. BTW record sales, record profits, and most valuable company on earth, was under Tim Cook. Apple Watch outsold all other smart watches combined in first year, also under TC.
As far as people "jumping ship," keep in mind that probably 70 million people will buy the latest phone by the end of Christmas, and close to 200 million in the first year.
Same thickness and larger battery is not the same stuff at all for Apple. I for one am ecstatic to see an emphasis being placed on battery life over the endless pursuit of thin