Hands-On With the Apple Watch: A Developer's Experience at Apple's WatchKit Labs

[bobob]

From the apple store site: "Apple Watch has a water-resistance rating of IPX7"

7 being immersion up to 1 m for 30 minutes. In my book that counts as waterproof enough.

Yes Apple say not to immerse it, but that is covering themselves as the standard they state includes immersion.

I'm figuring that Apple at the very least has got to stand behind Tim Cook's statement that "he wears his Apple Watch constantly, 'even in the shower'".

...and I'm betting that the Apple Watch can indeed easily survive daily wearing in the shower - - I think Apple's just covering themselves for the yahoos who wear it scuba diving in Cancun.

 

[kdarling]

You Apple haters need to get more original and stop phoning it in here.

Too broad a brush, Chupa. Should be "Watch haters", if you must use such a word.

Heck, half the time, the people complaining about a new product are long time Apple fans who don't like the direction the company has been taking.

At the same time, another mistake people often make is to assume that iPhone or iPad users are automatically tied to Apple. Considering how many have been sold, more of those owners probably use Windows than OSX.

The upshot is: stick to talking about each device. People can diss them individually without "hating" the company that makes it.

 

[keithtae]

Nah. Too expensive, too big, too small, too light, too heavy, too Appley, Not Appley enough, can't get x band with y model, supplies constrained, manufacturing success rates are low, waited too long since first announcement, waiting too long between last announcement and shipping, etc.

I think that covers the gamut of what the doomsayers have posted so far.

hahaha that's funny! well, as much as I hate Apple, I still think this will be a success for them, there are just way too many Apple die hard fans out there who are willing to buy basically everything that Apple sells, and Apple's marketing is seriously no joke. Yes, I hate Apple, I really do, but I don't see how this will not be a hit for them.

 

[RayDonovan]

hahaha that's funny! well, as much as I hate Apple, I still think this will be a success for them, there are just way too many Apple die hard fans out there who are willing to buy basically everything that Apple sells, and Apple's marketing is seriously no joke. Yes, I hate Apple, I really do, but I don't see how this will not be a hit for them.

Why are you on MACRUMOURS if you hate apple? LOL

 

[PowerBook-G5]

Question: While trying on the device in an Apple
store, what's to keep a person from running out with it? I highly doubt they'd have a security wore attached to the watches when you are trying them on.

 

[Ubuntu]

Question: While trying on the device in an Apple
store, what's to keep a person from running out with it? I highly doubt they'd have a security wore attached to the watches when you are trying them on.

The countless security personnel on the campus & the fact that your identity is known meaning the authorities will be onto you in no time, I guess.

 

[numlock]

What was the killer app when Steve first showed off the iPhone? Safari?

i laughed but you are not being totally fair. phones and smart(er) phones were becoming more and more common and apple was offering a completely newish take on them. safari certainly was considered breakthrough.

until i jailbroke and unlocked mine i marvelled at the slide to unlock function

 

[keithtae]

Why are you on MACRUMOURS if you hate apple? LOL

Because why not? hahaha

 

[Keirasplace]

You Apple haters need to get more original and stop phoning it in here. These anti-Watch threads are reading like "cut and past" jobs of your anti-iPod, iPod mini, iPhone, and iPad threads.... product w/o a need, no killer app, no camera, too expensive, all hype. Blah, blah, blah.

Trolling sure is hard work, you can't be original all the time ;-).

 

[Alith]

Thanks, but I'll wait for the version that isn't ridiculously thick.

Rev A is always a clunker compared to 1 or 2 versions later. Look at iPhone, iPad, etc...

There will be one out every year, each with slight upgrades to the tech and the software. Jump on board whenever because there will always be a better one just around the corner. This is true of every tech company and applies to everything from computers and phones to televisions and vacuum cleaners; iteration is at the core of the tech industry.

P.S. If you had waiting on iPads and started with the third one then you would have been in the worst position of all. It barely lasted six months.

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I'm pretty sure Steve had people cheering over rubber-band scrolling.

I am on my 2011 Mac Mini with my magic mouse and my rubber band scrolling Safari, when I have a planet-crackingly powerful gaming PC plugged into the same display.

All those little fluff elements add up to provide OS X with a much better experience for pretty much everything outside of hardcore gaming, I find.

 

[Keirasplace]

Cogent analysis.


I found that comparing the volume of various smartwatches was illuminating:

• 0.82 in³ = 38mm Apple Watch
• 0.96 in³ = 42mm Apple Watch
• 1.13 in³ = Pebble Time Steel
• 1.17 in³ = Moto 360
• 1.47 in³ = LG Watch R
• 1.76 in³ = Samsung Gear S

I've had the same argument before, some people say "It has no killer function".... Well, its whole physical design is its killer function, most other watches are monstrous in size and will mostly be worn by male tech nerds and by almost no women, not even if they are nerds .

 

[numlock]

I've had the same argument before, some people say "It has no killer function".... Well, its whole physical design is its killer function, most other watches are monstrous in size and will mostly be worn by male tech nerds and by almost no women, not even if they are nerds .

you will still need a killer function for the mass public to buy one at that price.

comparing its size to the other brands is something that only matters to those that actually want/need one.

admittedly the threshold is lower when its less monstrous.

 

[Keirasplace]

Oh yes, and don't forget the light leaks from the edges which can only be seen in a totally black room. You can bet there will be a "xxxx-gate" associated with it. My bet is on gangrenous wrist/hands which will be attributed to faulty band design or some other nonsense.

I am not sure I need an Apple watch for my retired lifestyle but it is looking more compelling to me. After all, I didn't think I needed an iPod over a decade ago and I'm still using one (in my car).

Well, it works on WIFI, so you could just put your phone somewhere in the house, and go about your home, or even in the garden, answering calls on your watch without bothering to run to get the phone.

 

[msh]

I watched the Keynote event last night and I noticed the applause for the Apple Watch was polite and not enthusiastic. I expect customer acceptance to be similar. I sense that Apple is trying too hard to push this in contrast to a genuine blockbuster like the iPhone which just sells itself. Nevertheless, I expect this will be a moderate success somewhat below the success of the iPad but still no small praise.

 

[dugbug]

Try a different perspective.

A developer who is planning to make money from his own Watch app is not going to make money unless you buy Watch and buy his app to run on it. So it's not just a matter of trashing Apple, it would be suicidal to the future of his own app to heavily criticize the device resulting in less purchases of Watch.

Faux rage blabble blabble conspiracy blabble blabble

 

[Rogifan]

i laughed but you are not being totally fair. phones and smart(er) phones were becoming more and more common and apple was offering a completely newish take on them. safari certainly was considered breakthrough.

until i jailbroke and unlocked mine i marvelled at the slide to unlock function

No I am being fair because this person said "no killer app" not "no breakthrough interface". Considering Watch has an SDK the killer app most likely won't be the same for everyone.

 

[dugbug]

hahaha that's funny! well, as much as I hate Apple, I still think this will be a success for them, there are just way too many Apple die hard fans out there who are willing to buy basically everything that Apple sells, and Apple's marketing is seriously no joke. Yes, I hate Apple, I really do, but I don't see how this will not be a hit for them.

Oh for gods sake

 

[Rogifan]

I watched the Keynote event last night and I noticed the applause for the Apple Watch was polite and not enthusiastic. I expect customer acceptance to be similar. I sense that Apple is trying too hard to push this in contrast to a genuine blockbuster like the iPhone which just sells itself. Nevertheless, I expect this will be a moderate success somewhat below the success of the iPad but still no small praise.

Which keynote - the September or March one? The September one got a standing ovation (from all the Apple employees in the audience). Since Apple didn't show off much new in March I'm not surprised the by the reaction.

----------

Question: While trying on the device in an Apple
store, what's to keep a person from running out with it? I highly doubt they'd have a security wore attached to the watches when you are trying them on.

Because you won't be able to try one on without an Apple employee standing right there. In order to try it on the employee has to take a watch out of the glass case.

 

[CB1234]

Let me get back to you in 2 weeks...

I anticipate epic restock issues as apple fans order on impulse and then realize its a pointless extravagance

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Said Tim Cook...

Says you....

 

[numlock]

No I am being fair because this person said "no killer app" not "no breakthrough interface". Considering Watch has an SDK the killer app most likely won't be the same for everyone.

just because he might be unfair dosent mean its impossible for you to be unfair.

i argue that the rising popularity of phones in 2007 (from 1990-95 onwards) and different kind of approach was the killer feature of the original iphone. the watch is coming into the opposite of situations but with perhaps the same kind of ingenuity as the iphone at the time.

but yes i expect the "killer app" to vary more on the watch than the phone because its more personal.

 

[Keirasplace]

I watched the Keynote event last night and I noticed the applause for the Apple Watch was polite and not enthusiastic. I expect customer acceptance to be similar. I sense that Apple is trying too hard to push this in contrast to a genuine blockbuster like the iPhone which just sells itself. Nevertheless, I expect this will be a moderate success somewhat below the success of the iPad but still no small praise.

The Iphone didn't have to convince people to use their tech a visible area, that'S the difference. People were already using a phone; the Iphone was merely replacing it with initially a few new use. It was a bit more expensive than the other phone, but otherwise, it wasn't a huge change in habit. Later, when the smart phone got used more and more as a mobile computer, the change got more profound. But, initially, they weren't selling that (there wasn't even an app store).

The Iphone only sold 6M phones in the first 5 quarters; so, it wasn't a runaway success immediately. Its Christmas 2008 and the arrival of the Iphone 3G that cemented Iphone's success (still, it only sold 6.5M in that quarter). People have a weird unreliable memory of the past that numbers don'T support.

Considering the cell phone replaced the watch for many, there's also that selling job to do; getting people to spend money on something entirely new to them.

If the watch sold 10-15M in the first year, it would be a huge success compared to the competition and that's all Apple really needs in the first year. Myself, I expect 15M in sales by the end of the year.

 

[usarioclave]

The Iphone didn't have to convince people to use their tech a visible area

The Iphone only sold 6M phones in the first 5 quarters; so, it wasn't a runaway success immediately

You've been spreading this BS since you've been on the forums. The iPhone was a massive hit when it first came out, and it was a runaway success financially. Everyone who could afford one in the tech world had one, or wanted one; that's why it was called the "Jesus Phone" in the months leading up to the release.

You're judging the iPhone's success by today's numbers. Today's iPhone numbers are like the whole size of the smartphone market back in the day.

Jobs said that they'd be happy with a few percent of the market. They've done much, much better than anyone anticipated.

And the iPhone did have to convince everyone. Most of the press and phone people believed the iPhone would fail. A quick google search will confirm that. It was too expensive! Nobody was going to pay $700 for a phone, it was crazy! The high-end smartphone market basically was owned by Nokia, and was mainly in Europe and Asia; the US was feature phones and pilots.

Those of us that were there and paying attention remember. While it's great that you're interested in the market, you need to do a bunch more reading.

 

[Keirasplace]

You've been spreading this BS since you've been on the forums. The iPhone was a massive hit when it first came out, and it was a runaway success financially. Everyone who could afford one in the tech world had one, or wanted one; that's why it was called the "Jesus Phone" in the months leading up to the release.

You're judging the iPhone's success by today's numbers. Today's iPhone numbers are like the whole size of the smartphone market back in the day.

Jobs said that they'd be happy with a few percent of the market. They've done much, much better than anyone anticipated.

And the iPhone did have to convince everyone. Most of the press and phone people believed the iPhone would fail. A quick google search will confirm that. It was too expensive! Nobody was going to pay $700 for a phone, it was crazy! The high-end smartphone market basically was owned by Nokia, and was mainly in Europe and Asia; the US was feature phones and pilots.

Those of us that were there and paying attention remember. While it's great that you're interested in the market, you need to do a bunch more reading.

http://www.statista.com/statistics/263401/global-apple-iphone-sales-since-3rd-quarter-2007/
blackberry sales
http://www.statista.com/statistics/263395/rim-smartphones-shipped-worldwide-since-1st-quarter-2007/
Christmas quarter 2007, Blackberry sold 4 times more phones than the Iphone. So, please spare me the baseless rant
That'S all I'll say and I'm not going see your wrong AND insulting reply.
Considering 99% of my posts are supportive of Apple, your reply is downright bizarre.

 

[msh]

Which keynote - the September or March one? The September one got a standing ovation (from all the Apple employees in the audience). Since Apple didn't show off much new in March I'm not surprised the by the reaction.

The latest one in March.

You are right that there was wild enthusiasm for it in Sept., but the lack of enthusiasm in March could be that the novelty factor wasn't there or maybe indifference after months of reflection. I don't know. I am kinda neutral on it like I was with the iPad. I tried two iPads but ended up returning them as I just preferred my laptops instead.

 

[TallManNY]

Let me get back to you in 2 weeks...

I anticipate epic restock issues as apple fans order on impulse and then realize its a pointless extravagance.

----------



Said Tim Cook...

I'm definitely concerned that some people will stretch too far for the SS. $800 to $1,000 is a lot for even a middle class American to add just a bit of convenience.

I will swing by the store at some point in April to check them out in person. I certainly won't order until the review embargo is over, and I might wait for the hands on reports to come in from normal people after the April 24 launch. I personally don't think it will be cool to have an Apple Watch, so I'm not in a rush to be the first of my friends to have one. But I do think there is a possibility that I will find it very useful.