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Floor count

D

DdDr2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 11, 2016
63
13
will it be possible for the watch to ever count floors ( without utilizing my iPhone. I don't carry my phone with me to run downstairs...ever really )
Or is it something that would have to be added to the hardware...meaning the next generation might be able to have it
 
matt9013

matt9013

macrumors 6502
Oct 27, 2013
333
16
DdDr2 said:
will it be possible for the watch to ever count floors ( without utilizing my iPhone. I don't carry my phone with me to run downstairs...ever really )
Or is it something that would have to be added to the hardware...meaning the next generation might be able to have it
Click to expand...
They would need to add an alitimater. So it's not possible with the current AW but maybe AW2.
 
D

DdDr2

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 11, 2016
63
13
Ahhh. I see. That's a shame. Does anyone know if a altimeter would've added a lot of bulk to the watch had they added it ?
 
nightcap965

nightcap965

macrumors 6502a
Feb 11, 2004
728
868
Cape Cod
DdDr2 said:
Ahhh. I see. That's a shame. Does anyone know if a altimeter would've added a lot of bulk to the watch had they added it ?
Click to expand...

The AW1 is a complete commercial product, but like many Rev. 1 releases from Apple, they didn't necessarily foresee every use case we'd make of it. I personally would love to see an altimeter in the Apple Watch - I often leave my phone on the dresser, but I'm never without the Watch. The trips up and down from second floor to basement laundry ought to be counted.
 
sean000

sean000

macrumors 68000
Jul 16, 2015
1,628
2,346
Bellingham, WA
DdDr2 said:
Ahhh. I see. That's a shame. Does anyone know if a altimeter would've added a lot of bulk to the watch had they added it ?
Click to expand...

My tiny Fitbit One has an altimeter, but there is a lot more tech crammed into the Apple Watch so I guess they couldn't include everything. I figure it was probably on the list of features/sensors to include, but was considered less of a priority compared to the hardware that made the cut... especially since the iPhone can provide that functionality. Of course I don't always have my iPhone with me either, so my average flights of stairs climbed dropped slightly when I switched from using my Fitbit to using my Apple Watch. I'm guessing they won't add that to the watch until they can make some of the other internal components smaller. Or perhaps the rumored "Smartband" will include an altimeter along with GPS?

It's probably not a concern for most Apple Watch owners because flights climbed is not a part of the activity rings and just shows up in the Health app. Of course when you do climb stairs your heart rate goes up and counts toward your Exercise ring. Not everyone lives in a hilly area or encounter a lot of stairs, but I live in a very hilly place and my daily walking (which includes a 3 mile round trip to work and back) usually records 25 flights climbed in the Health app. When I carried my Fitbit the flights climbed in the Fitbit app were usually closer to 40 or 50. This discrepancy is because I don't always carry my iPhone with me when I am at work or at home, but in both locations I'm climbing stairs throughout the day and night.

Sean
 
jasie02

jasie02

macrumors 6502a
Sep 18, 2014
777
245
DdDr2 said:
Ahhh. I see. That's a shame. Does anyone know if a altimeter would've added a lot of bulk to the watch had they added it ?
Click to expand...

I don't think it is bulk, it is likely Apple does not want to add anything could suck up power. GPS, barometer, altimeter, are all power hungry, specially if left it on forgot to turn off, and AW is a smart watch with power hungry display and power hungry older mobile-phone like cpu, not JUST a fitness device, so it need to be able to take on more remaining action for the whole day.

I would prefer a fitbit-flex/jawbone-up2 like BT waterproof rubberized bracelet use it's own power for GPS, barometer, altimeter, activity tracking, & sleep tracking, and with it's own battery, and charge once a week, as BT side kick for AW.

I prefer bracelet than AW band with no display because there is always time we don't want to wear AW, but a waterproof rubberized bracelet will allow us to dive with it, play contact sport with it, surf with it, swim with it, sleep with it......all without AW for short moment, then it could BT sync with AW/iPhone when in BT range.

Apple might even be able to sell it as fitbit-flex/jawbone-up2 like fitness band also for iPhone, not AW replacement, but companion for AW or iPhone without display and without smart-phone grade cpu.
 
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