Good 6 mo AW review

[Chupa Chupa]

Dan Moren posted his thoughts on AW 6 mos out on Six Colors site but full article is on MacWorld.

It's a quick read and honest "long term" review & should help anyone thinking of buying one personally or as a gift.

I haven't gone as far a Moren and removed all my apps, but close. Also no mention of ApplePay which I love on AW but wouldn't use on iPhone -- pull out a phone, pull out a wallet is little difference to me.

But his conclusion that we'll have to wait for AW 2.0 is spot on.

 

[jasie02]

Dan Moren posted his thoughts on AW 6 mos out on Six Colors site but full article is on MacWorld.

It's a quick read and honest "long term" review & should help anyone thinking of buying one personally or as a gift.

I haven't gone as far a Moren and removed all my apps, but close. Also no mention of ApplePay which I love on AW but wouldn't use on iPhone -- pull out a phone, pull out a wallet is little difference to me.

But his conclusion that we'll have to wait for AW 2.0 is spot on.

I think "spot on" is the relative term, and it is probably never end.
Looks at iPhone 6+ to 6s+, lots of people though 6+ was it with larger screen, but Apple come up with 3-D touch, and 6s+ again sells like crazy.
There will always be next "spot on" feature, reserve for next gen AW. Just hope Apple keep next "spot-on" feature coming, for both iPhone and AW.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I think "spot on" is the relative term, and it is probably never end.
Looks at iPhone 6+ to 6s+, lots of people though 6+ was it with larger screen, but Apple come up with 3-D touch, and 6s+ again sells like crazy.
There will always be next "spot on" feature, reserve for next gen AW. Just hope Apple keep next "spot-on" feature coming, for both iPhone and AW.

Yes, of course it's relative. In this case, as Dan Moren points out (maybe you decided to comment before reading the article?) it's relative to the AW 1 niggles, of which there are many, and getting the basics working smoothly and reliably. It's not to say the AW2 will be perfect but rather will work as the AW 1 was intended, with apps and such. If you own a AW you understand the often unacceptable slow app loading, glances, late notifications and such. That is Moren's point, and I think he is 100% in his assessment of AW1.

 

[jasie02]

Yes, of course it's relative. In this case, as Dan Moren points out (maybe you decided to comment before reading the article?) it's relative to the AW 1 niggles, of which there are many, and getting the basics working smoothly and reliably. It's not to say the AW2 will be perfect but rather will work as the AW 1 was intended, with apps and such. If you own a AW you understand the often unacceptable slow app loading, glances, late notifications and such. That is Moren's point, and I think he is 100% in his assessment of AW1.

My point is for majority of people, it will never be "prefect", as long as Apple keep coming up with improvement.
Perfect is only relative to that moment when one has latest AW in hand, once Apple release new AW with new feature, last AW in hand was perfect last year will no longer "perfect".

For anyone look for "spot-on" or "perfect, it will never get there as long as Apple keep come up with new feature. There is only getting better every gen not perfect or spot-on.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

My point is for majority of people, it will never be "prefect", as long as Apple keep coming up with improvement.
Perfect is only relative to that moment when one has latest AW in hand, once Apple release new AW with new feature, last AW in hand was perfect last year will no longer "perfect".

For anyone look for "spot-on" or "perfect, it will never get there as long as Apple keep come up with new feature. There is only getting better every gen not perfect or spot-on.

Maybe, but your point is misplaced in the context of Moren's review. Please read it. It's not about feature creep, it's about basic functionality.

 

[jasie02]

Maybe, but your point is misplaced in the context of Moren's review. Please read it. It's not about feature creep, it's about basic functionality.

What is definition of "basic" functionally, and does everyone has same definition of "basic" functionality?
Back to iPhone as example, is 3D-touch in 6s/6+s basic functionality? I will tell you, it is for me.

Everyone has different perspective of "basic" functionality, and they will likely change their perspective when new feature come out.
Another example will be like safety feature for the car. Seatbelt was the only "basic" safety feature in 60-70s, then comes airbag, then comes, backup camera and sensors, then comes radar....etc.

I read the document, I agreed with most of what he said, except the idea of next one will be good/set/game/end. It is never going to end with searching for perfect, basic, spot-on for most of people, specially when new feature is out.

 

[convergent]

But his conclusion that we'll have to wait for AW 2.0 is spot on.

What's "spot on" is apparently you don't have to be very bright to get a job with MacWorld. I've had the Apple Watch for about a month and mastered more with it than this guy in 6 months.... not saying much about him.

His rant about messages getting whacked is pretty much the same for any multi-device scenario with messages. Long before I ever thought about an Apple Watch, I had messages act mysterious between my Mac, iPhone and iPad. So sorry, but I don't accept this as a valid ding against the Watch. I use messages heavily on the watch and thus far its behaved fine for me. If I have my iPhone unlocked, they don't go to the watch... if I don't they do. Exactly what I'd expect. And I like being able to do this without pulling out my phone, and reply to many without. So 1/3 of his article is just inaccurate.

Next he goes on to announce that he removed all the apps. Why? I have probably 25 apps on my watch and routinely have at least 15 glances setup and have never had a desire to delete everything. There have been some apps that don't work well and I deleted those. Others I don't use every day so I may add or remove them depending on what I'm planning to do.. for example I don't have any upcoming trips so removed all the travel apps. His comment about not knowing which glances are there so he has to scroll through them is just stupid. He can't remember the order he put them in? Scrolling is quick and painless for me, so if I do look for something its quick.

So his 6 month assessment he can't find anything he's happy with other than "it tells time", I say is total BS. I can easily give you a list of 20 things right here that I love about the AW and I've only had it for a month. I would bet money that if you grabbed his watch and looked, he has NOT removed all the apps. I just don't believe it.

I think he's just after click bait quite frankly.

And I thought I had thin wrists!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

What is definition of "basic" functionally, and does everyone has same definition of "basic" functionality?

Apps loading instantly like on an iPhone rather than seeing the wait wheel for 30-45 seconds. It's a watch. It's suppose to make info access quicker than pulling out my phone. I think that's pretty basic functionality, no?

 

[mattopotamus]

Dan Moren posted his thoughts on AW 6 mos out on Six Colors site but full article is on MacWorld.

It's a quick read and honest "long term" review & should help anyone thinking of buying one personally or as a gift.

I haven't gone as far a Moren and removed all my apps, but close. Also no mention of ApplePay which I love on AW but wouldn't use on iPhone -- pull out a phone, pull out a wallet is little difference to me.

But his conclusion that we'll have to wait for AW 2.0 is spot on.

I use zero apps. It's basically a better looking pebble with the ability to delete emails.

That is what I wanted though. The pebble was perfect just looked hideous.

I think it is trial and error. Do people really want apps on their watch? Or do they just want a good alert system? I personally want the later. I can see if I need to pull my phone out or act on it later.

 

[jasie02]

Apps loading instantly like on an iPhone rather than seeing the wait wheel for 30-45 seconds. It's a watch. It's suppose to make info access quicker than pulling out my phone. I think that's pretty basic functionality, no?

Same issue with my 1st gen iPhone and 1st gen iPad.
It is 1st gen thing, it will get better, and it will happen again with next new 1st gen device.

 

[BlueMoon63]

I may load a few apps on the watch but those on my complications loaded very fast and my glances work great. If an app takes more than a second to load, I probably won't use it often. The best apps that all load fast for me and love are:

Workout app
Alarms
Carrot
Fantastical
2do
Drafts 4
Sleep Pulse
Siri
Messaging replies with and without Siri

I now find the watch so useful that my usage on my iPhone has dropped considerably. I can work on the yard for hours or go for a run or ride or walk for hours with only the watch and Bluetooth headphones and listen to music the entire time. No phone in a pocket or arm band. All the time, I am tracking a workout without another device, I am taking notes and reminders and to do items.

Just not sure there is another device that can do all of this and look good without needing more devices with me.

Oh, and that review was more like something my wife would have wrote. She needs everything to work without thinking or remembering or learning. She believes a computer should always work and never change or fail or need a reboot.

 

[Armen]

Dan Moren posted his thoughts on AW 6 mos out on Six Colors site but full article is on MacWorld.

It's a quick read and honest "long term" review & should help anyone thinking of buying one personally or as a gift.

I haven't gone as far a Moren and removed all my apps, but close. Also no mention of ApplePay which I love on AW but wouldn't use on iPhone -- pull out a phone, pull out a wallet is little difference to me.

But his conclusion that we'll have to wait for AW 2.0 is spot on.

He's exactly right and I totally agree with him.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Same issue with my 1st gen iPhone and 1st gen iPad.
It is 1st gen thing, it will get better, and it will happen again with next new 1st gen device.

Nope. I had a launch day 1st Gen iPhone. It worked just fine out of the box. Never had to wait 30 seconds plus for an app to launch.

 

[mattopotamus]

Nope. I had a launch day 1st Gen iPhone. It worked just fine out of the box. Never had to wait 30 seconds plus for an app to launch.

likewise. I still have my original iPhone and if not for a shot battery, it would be usable with the built in apps.

 

[jasie02]

Nope. I had a launch day 1st Gen iPhone. It worked just fine out of the box. Never had to wait 30 seconds plus for an app to launch.

iPhone 1st gen work fine because there is NO 3RD PARTY APP when 1st gen was release!
If you had 1st gen, you should know there is no 3rd party app when it was released.
3rd party app start support around 2nd gen iPhone.
If Apple only support AW 1st gen without 3rd party app, there will be no delay also.

As I said, it is Apple 1st gen thing.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

iPhone 1st gen work fine because there is NO 3RD PARTY APP when 1st gen was release!
If you had 1st gen, you should know there is no 3rd party app when it was released.
3rd party app start support around 2nd gen iPhone.
If Apple only support AW 1st gen without 3rd party app, there will be no delay also.

As I said, it is Apple 1st gen thing.

Uh, no. I never said the AW was slow at loading 3rd party apps. I said it was slow at loading all apps -- Apple and 3rd party. The original iPhone had only Apple installed apps, true. But they load up immediately. Even the Apple apps do not load instantly on the AW.

But more importantly, YOU were the one that brought up the iPhone 1.0 as an example of a device that wasn't ready for primetime or something. I'm the one defending the iPhone 1.0 as being a good first gen product. Now you are trying to change your position saying the iPhone 1.0 was OK because it didn't have 3rd party apps. Nice try, but I'm glad you finally admit 3rd party apps load unacceptably slow.

 

[jasie02]

Uh, no. I never said the AW was slow at loading 3rd party apps. I said it was slow at loading all apps -- Apple and 3rd party. The original iPhone had only Apple installed apps, true. But they load up immediately. Even the Apple apps do not load instantly on the AW.

But more importantly, YOU were the one that brought up the iPhone 1.0 as an example of a device that wasn't ready for primetime or something. I'm the one defending the iPhone 1.0 as being a good first gen product. Now you are trying to change your position saying the iPhone 1.0 was OK because it didn't have 3rd party apps. Nice try.

You have Lemon AW, my AW is lightening fast with Apple's own AW app.
Return it, and wait for gen 2. With all the bad thing you said about 1st gen AW, clearly 1st gen AW is not for you.

I did not said it is ready or not ready, in fact, any gen of any product will always be ready for some people, like 1st gen is just good enough for me, and not ready for some people, like you.

I have no intention of trying anything, just want to point out the fact you missed.

 

[convergent]

Uh, no. I never said the AW was slow at loading 3rd party apps. I said it was slow at loading all apps -- Apple and 3rd party.

This is simply not true.

 

[mattopotamus]

This is simply not true.

My apple apps also load very quick now that they are native. They use to drag ass, but since 2.0 they are fine.

 

[Aniseedvan]

My apple apps also load very quick now that they are native. They use to drag ass, but since 2.0 they are fine.

Lucky you I'm still waiting for some apps I use to go native, one could be well into next year

 

[douglasf13]

I use zero apps. It's basically a better looking pebble with the ability to delete emails.

That is what I wanted though. The pebble was perfect just looked hideous.

I think it is trial and error. Do people really want apps on their watch? Or do they just want a good alert system? I personally want the later. I can see if I need to pull my phone out or act on it later.

I'm pretty much the same. The only apps that I generally use are weather, fitness and the Apple remote, which are all native. It's mostly about monitoring and answering quick text/calls/emails (and, of course, telling the time.) Texting, in particular, is most useful to me. I rarely get my phone out anymore for texting, whereas emails and phone calls still require me to retrieve my phone some of the time.