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Features That Can Make New Apple Watch Generations Better?

MICHAELSD

MICHAELSD

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jul 13, 2008
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Hands-down, longer battery life is the most requested feature but I want it for a different reason: an always-on display. Raise to display works well enough but seeing Mickey tapping away from all angles makes the Watch much more interesting and alive.

New sensors are a given as well but what else could you see included in future Apple Watch generations?
 
Unless they come up with new battery chemistry there would not be a way to keep the display on unless they went to a monochrome LCD screen and that would not be acceptable. The Apple Watch will always be restricted by its battery size/capacity with today technology.
 
Battery life is why I hope they keep the Watch the same size for a while, rather than it thinner. Plus, "classic" watch designs always stick around for a while, and, at least in that realm, it's important to establish an iconic design.
 
Newtons Apple said:
Unless they come up with new battery chemistry there would not be a way to keep the display on unless they went to a monochrome LCD screen and that would not be acceptable. The Apple Watch will always be restricted by its battery size/capacity with today technology.
Click to expand...

I could see something like this being used to bridge the gap, but I think it's more likely they just make the wrist action more responsive as they improve power usage in the rest of the device.
 
It already works with debit/credit cards through :apple: Pay so I would like integration with mass transit cards such as the Octopus in Hong Kong and Oyster in London. Possibly more of a task for those companies than Apple?


That is unless they it can already do this...
 
vlinkz said:
It already works with debit/credit cards through :apple: Pay so I would like integration with mass transit cards such as the Octopus in Hong Kong and Oyster in London. Possibly more of a task for those companies than Apple?


That is unless they it can already do this...
Click to expand...
Already ahead of you:
https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/contactless/other-methods-of-contactless-payment/apple-pay

I would like the same capability here in DC, maybe except the part about how I wear my AW on the opposite side from the turnstile sensors.
 
vlinkz said:
But is this not just linking a credit/debit card to the watch rather than the discounted Oyster?
Click to expand...
Hmm -- or maybe it's using Pay at the machine where you reload the Oyster card?

At first, I didn't read it thoroughly and thought that it was about using Pay at the gate to get on the train.
 
MICHAELSD said:
Hands-down, longer battery life is the most requested feature but I want it for a different reason: an always-on display. Raise to display works well enough but seeing Mickey tapping away from all angles makes the Watch much more interesting and alive.

New sensors are a given as well but what else could you see included in future Apple Watch generations?
Click to expand...

I just cant see an always on option for this type of display. Not a problem for eInk displays however.
 
Armen said:
I just cant see an always on option for this type of display. Not a problem for eInk displays however.
Click to expand...

If we can get a battery/efficiency that lasts 16-20 hours of usage then an option would be great despite it being an OLED.
 
douglasf13 said:
Battery life is why I hope they keep the Watch the same size for a while, rather than it thinner. Plus, "classic" watch designs always stick around for a while, and, at least in that realm, it's important to establish an iconic design.
Click to expand...

That's great if you like the current design. I'm not very keen on it so it would be nice to see some alternatives offered other than different materials, finishes and straps.
 
OllyW said:
That's great if you like the current design. I'm not very keen on it so it would be nice to see some alternatives offered other than different materials, finishes and straps.
Click to expand...

That is the difficulty with designing wearable fashion, because tastes vary so wildly. However, if Apple wants to be taken seriously, especially in the world of watches, it's important to maintain relatively consistent designs, rather than having flavors of the month, like Android Wear. That's the mistake Omega made a few decades ago, and Rolex took advantage of it.

That being said, I'm sure Apple will eventually offer more than one design, later on down the line.
 
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Independence from iPhone.

For those of you that have been using an iPhone for years. You'l remember how previously, you had to use an iTunes to setup an iPhone and sync.

You should not need an iPhone to setup and operate an Apple Watch.
 
OneMike said:
Independence from iPhone.

For those of you that have been using an iPhone for years. You'l remember how previously, you had to use an iTunes to setup an iPhone and sync.

You should not need an iPhone to setup and operate an Apple Watch.
Click to expand...

Especially if you want to open up the market to more people... But, the problem is the biggest feature of the watch is its integration with the phone (notifications, ...), they would have to design it to work with android, which the will NEVER do.
 
OneMike said:
Independence from iPhone.

For those of you that have been using an iPhone for years. You'l remember how previously, you had to use an iTunes to setup an iPhone and sync.

You should not need an iPhone to setup and operate an Apple Watch.
Click to expand...

Apple's ethos is a walled ecosystem of devices that work well together. Why would they change that now?

The Watch is meant to be an iPhone accessory, not an independent device, and, if anything, Apple hopes it sells more of their bread and butter device, the iPhone.
 
People here aren't thinking outside the box. It'll most likely be a feature that hasn't yet been invented. Really no different from iPhone 3G/3GS/4 owners not anticipating Siri in a future iPhone 4S and iPhone 5/6/6+ owners not anticipating 3D Touch in a future iPhone 6s/6s+.

It'll be a new feature in a future AW that nobody can anticipate right now.
 
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douglasf13 said:
Apple's ethos is a walled ecosystem of devices that work well together. Why would they change that now?

The Watch is meant to be an iPhone accessory, not an independent device, and, if anything, Apple hopes it sells more of their bread and butter device, the iPhone.
Click to expand...

While I agree with that, I can see the AW becoming even more useful if it's not tethered to the iPhone for every feature. Assuming you have Wifi but not the iPhone, they could start with low-hanging things like being able to use the weather app (current workaround is to ask Siri instead), Maps, Wi-Fi FaceTime audio calls (if it's not already possible), and then go from there.

Of course, having an iPhone would make it even more powerful. But it doesn't take away the benefits of having just the AW and not the iPhone in range, if that situation arises.
 
zetaplus93 said:
While I agree with that, I can see the AW becoming even more useful if it's not tethered to the iPhone for every feature. Assuming you have Wifi but not the iPhone, they could start with low-hanging things like being able to use the weather app (current workaround is to ask Siri instead), Maps, Wi-Fi FaceTime audio calls (if it's not already possible), and then go from there.

Of course, having an iPhone would make it even more powerful. But it doesn't take away the benefits of having just the AW and not the iPhone in range, if that situation arises.
Click to expand...

Oh, me too. I just meant that I can't see Apple making the Watch completely iPhone-free anytime soon. If it didn't change the form factor of the watch, and they managed good battery life, I'd even welcome 3G in the Watch to use on occasion, but I'll generally still want my iPhone with me to deal with some work things that aren't easy to deal with on the Watch.
 
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douglasf13 said:
…, but I'll generally still want my iPhone with me to deal with some work things that aren't easy to deal with on the Watch.
Click to expand...
I've been thinking the same thing. There are some tasks and situations which are just better on a phone, like adding someone's contact info or writing longer texts and emails. I would not want to dictate something personal while waiting for my beer. ;)
 
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