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

[Bug-Creator]

I bet a lot of people said that about Henry Ford's rev 01 too.

Ford's 1st car failed to satisfy an actual need that had existed before (personal transportation), investing in it or just buying it would have been a stupid idea (hint: it was not made by Ford Motor Company).

The AWatch is a solution in desperate search of a problem, and I see no problem just buying a Rev3 or 4 if and when they find an actual problem for it 😱

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Ford's 1st car failed to satisfy an actual need that had existed before (personal transportation), investing in it or just buying it would have been a stupid idea (hint: it was not made by Ford Motor Company).

The AWatch is a solution in desperate search of a problem, and I see no problem just buying a Rev3 or 4 if and when they find an actual problem for it 😱

If you are going to use an analogy get the facts about it right first.

Ford didn't invent the motor car. The first self-propelled car was invented by Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot in the mid-1700s. It was steam powered. The first gas powered car invention award goes to Karl Benz of the later Daimler-Benz partnership.

What Ford invented was the automated production line which reduced manufacturing costs and made cars affordable to the masses.

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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.

True. Strike the "Apple" part. The rest stands true... whatever Apple device is being hated on by whomever, the same reasons for the devices quick market failure are always given.

 

[wigby]

Lol. The $349 apple watch is the same build quality as every other smart watch on the market.

Let's not forget that Apple sets the bar on build quality for everyone else. It's everyone else's job to skimp out on build quality so that they can complete for cheaper customers that Apple usually ignores.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Pretty sure the original iPod and iPhone didn't sell too well until future gens.

The first iPod sold very well for the market it was available too -- Mac owners, which at the time was 2% of the PC market. To even further reduce the market, you had to have a Mac with a firewire port. But even at launch PC owners were begging for a Windows version. For the iPod's tiny market it received a tremendous amount of media coverage and became as well known as the Mac itself.

The iPhone sold 300K it's first weekend. That was for a $500 unsubsidized phone. No other unsubsidized phone that expensive ever sold as many in that short span. Ultimately, the high price did put a damper on sales which is when Apple changed the pricing model with ATT to a traditional subsidized model.

Regardless though, your point has nothing to do with the complaints people made of each of these products prior to release. The point is they laughed at the Gen 1 model and yet each of these products went on to become industry legends.

 

[pdqgp]

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.

In the house yes, but I my wifi barely reaches beyond the top of my driveway reliably. Discoverable to the street but when connecting to my phone or Gear S, not so far.

Looking forward to when Apple incorporates a true standalone capability/sim card in this. Until then just like the other BT Devices, I really don't see a huge benefit.

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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.

Valid point. I think if they can get to the 10% mark with the watch they will have crossed the point of iPhone success.

I've moved away from iOS and still enjoy Android more now than iOS but then there are still other things defining success and interest in a device including the wearable market. Should Apple put a sim card in the watch, I could easily see myself shifting from a Note and Gear S back to an iPhone and iWatch....which is what I still call it.

 

[atlatnesiti]

Lol. The $349 apple watch is the same build quality as every other smart watch on the market.

Which is crap in comparison to real Swiss watch.
Let me see what am I getting here...
Read out of my so called fitness that iPhone health app can measure anyway and some notifications on your wrist - woopy doo.
It's technology that will expire in 2016 and like every so called smarltwatch will die and real watches will prevail.

 

[pdqgp]

Why would you buy a rolex? For the name or appreciation?Rolex watches are way overrated and most of them actually are extremely ugly and badly designed. Personally I would never wear a Rolex.

I enjoy mine but it was a gift. Personally, I would never buy a Rolex, they are to me way overpriced as a device and fashion accessory. Like Mount Blanc pens, and how I obtained mine of each, they are great awards/prizes. Not something I'd buy. I've won all my very high end gear like that.

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Which is crap in comparison to real Swiss watch.
Let me see what am I getting here...
Read out of my so called fitness that iPhone health app can measure anyway and some notifications on your wrist - woopy doo.
It's technology that will expire in 2016 and like every so called smarltwatch will die and real watches will prevail.

Totally agree that health apps are not IMO the rage reason to buy one. There are way better devices on the verge of being released.

Just leaving this here 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTs8YYajT5c

 

[Vegasman]

The iPhone sold 300K it's first weekend. That was for a $500 unsubsidized phone. No other unsubsidized phone that expensive ever sold as many in that short span. Ultimately, the high price did put a damper on sales which is when Apple changed the pricing model with ATT to a traditional subsidized model.

.

Before the change to the subsidized model there was first there a big price drop to stimulate sale.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/06/technology/iphone_price/index.htm

 

[Bug-Creator]

If you are going to use an analogy get the facts about it right first.

If your going to quote me get atleast somewhat close to the context 😛

Ford didn't invent the motor car.

Yeah, and thats why noone claimed he did *doh* Just like the AWatch won't be the 1st smart-watch.

Ford's 1st creation in this context would have been the "Ford Quadricycle " which was just as usable as the 1st attempts by Benz, Daimler and all those before.

 

[thejd]

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]

"Handoff works very well, letting users transfer tasks from the Apple Watch to the iPhone with ease, and Siri's functionality was described as "absolutely phenomenal."

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

In my opinion Continuity, Handoff and Siri should not have to wait for a new device before working as advertised. They should already be available at that level on devices being sold now. Even the comments and advertising I hear about Cortana indicate Microsoft's pursuit of "improving as they go" without needing new product categories.

 

[macguru212]

imo this watch is going to be a hit - even though I don't want one (yet), every other person I know wants one. So that's, like, two. 😛

 

[mdelvecchio]

I can't imagine the 349 one being anything but the least successful of the least successful. That garbage plastic band and the easily damaged aluminum body sort of screams Cheap watch = loser at the top of one's lungs.

what nonsense. you what else is made of aluminum? the super premium iPhone. what are you going to be doing with your wrist that it'll get more damage than your phone?

a plastic band is perfect for sweating on. I'm getting one in addition to the leather.

the base model sport watch will be the best seller. don't quit your day job and leave this up to the pros.

 

[Rogifan]

Read post #176.

MBA is irrelevant , priced within Apple's laptop pricing. most people who previously could afford an apple laptop could afford the MBA

$349 Watch, sports edition, well within most of apple consumers price range.

SO... Do you know any products going on sale on the 24th of April, that is not within 99% of current Apple consumers price range, given the base model costs $349?

Now read post #176 again, and read the quote you replied to. Do you see where the poster is coming from now? Do you understand my reply to counter your $349 sports edition and MBA examples? Which you ignored and questioned what fashionable means.

Maybe you have not heard of this, that would explain the confusion we are facing.

http://store.apple.com/uk/buy-watch/apple-watch-edition

What % of apple consumers can afford that? The ones that bought the 1st Gen MBA?

Who cares? You all would have a point if the only Watch available was the $10K gold one. But it's not. Why should I care about the Edition watch when there are much cheaper Watches with the exact same functionality? But hey if there are some people willing to fork over $10K for a gold version they might as well give it to Apple instead of some 3rd party outfit. Let the 1% contribute to Apple's R&D. 😀

 

[mdelvecchio]

Pretty sure the original iPod and iPhone didn't sell too well until future gens.

wrong. they were instant successes exceeding expectations. Jobs said they'd be happy claim only 2% of the market but they did much better. read the wiki.

the subsequent sales were and are much better, but it was a success to begin with.

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Ford's 1st car failed to satisfy an actual need that had existed before (personal transportation), investing in it or just buying it would have been a stupid idea (hint: it was not made by Ford Motor Company).

The AWatch is a solution in desperate search of a problem, and I see no problem just buying a Rev3 or 4 if and when they find an actual problem for it 😱

for you. for me the activity tracking, Bluetooth MP3 player, and wireless payments are the use cases I'm interested in. today.

 

[62tele]

The "haters" on this board are laughable.
How long have "smart watches" been available? How long has Apple been developing Apple Watch? How many smart watches have gained wide spread popularity (and I'm not talking about limited function "fitness" bands)? Has anyone hit it out of the park yet?

Look, no one knows how successful the Apple Watch will be and no one can tell if it will fill a need or create a new market. No one thought the iPod was needed but it became an iconic device There were skeptics of the iPhone and the iPad as well, particularly the iPad. Apple redefined the smartphone and tablet markets.

It wasn't Jobs who did this. It was Apple.

As for it's durability and performance, there could very well be some bumps. No one knows how much abuse or misuse will take place in every day use. Regardless of whatever problems are revealed, those issues will not translate into categorical failure for the product. (Reference "bend-gate").

Who knows what developers will bring to the watch which could possibly make it more desirable or indispensable to some.

Just wait and see.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Which is crap in comparison to real Swiss watch.
Let me see what am I getting here...
Read out of my so called fitness that iPhone health app can measure anyway and some notifications on your wrist - woopy doo.
It's technology that will expire in 2016 and like every so called smarltwatch will die and real watches will prevail.

your iPhone doesnt track the activity types that the watch can. it's also not on your body 100% when using it (mine sits in a dock), so it's physically unable to track my activity and tap/warn about being too sedentary.

try harder.

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imo this watch is going to be a hit - even though I don't want one (yet), every other person I know wants one. So that's, like, two. 😛

Guess you have a hard time counting the "I want one" comments on this very thread?

 

[bbeagle]

Which is crap in comparison to real Swiss watch.

And why would I care that a Swiss watch has a better build quality than the Apple Watch -or ANY smart watch? I'm not buying an Apple Watch for an amazing build quality. I'm buying it for the convenience of what it does. I'm also buying it because it's not as cheap of a build quality as something like the pebble.

I've had a $29 watch my entire life. The Apple Watch is an upgrade in every way. A Swiss watch would just be more expensive and not give me any more features over my $29 analog timex watch. I would be throwing money away buying a Swiss watch. I would be paying money for features that are well worth it buying an Apple Watch. Seems a no brainier to me.

 

[Brian Y]

The vast majority of the comments here, like the above, that Swiss watches are the way forward, and that smart watches will die soon are coming from people who have never owned one.

Having owned a pebble since its launch, I wouldn't want to be without one. It just makes life so much easier in so many little ways. No, its not going to make a massive change to your life, but it's all the little things that add up.

- Being able to read a text/email without having to get your phone out
- And in the case of apple watch, replying too
- See who's calling and answer/reject it without getting your phone out
- Get navigation directions on your wrist whilst walking/driving
- Flick through songs quickly
- Checking the status of the next train whilst walking to the station
- Checking the weather quickly

The apple watch extends this functionality too. You say Swiss watches are better - why? Because the look nice? Because they're more accurate? Well, welcome to 2015, where you can have a watch which is just as elegant, but does more than just tell the time.

 

[thekeyring]

"Handoff works very well, letting users transfer tasks from the Apple Watch to the iPhone with ease,"

Do we know yet if we can do handoff from the Apple Watch to a Mac? Say for example, reading an email on the watch, and deciding to handoff directly to a Mac.

Interesting point. I would assume so as Handoff appears on all your devices. So if the Watch is broadcasting an open email to the iPhone, the Mac is probably listening in, too?

 

[MH01]

Who cares? You all would have a point if the only Watch available was the $10K gold one. But it's not. Why should I care about the Edition watch when there are much cheaper Watches with the exact same functionality? But hey if there are some people willing to fork over $10K for a gold version they might as well give it to Apple instead of some 3rd party outfit. Let the 1% contribute to Apple's R&D. 😀

To be honest I don't care given as you stated, apple is offering an identical model functionality wise for $349 +.

Though I understand the opinion Some people have in regards to what the edition version might mean for future products, this was a company that offered products for everyone, yes marked up, but within most users grasp. I think they have a valid point. I personally think you would be daft to pay 10k for something that has the same functionality and design as the 349 model 😉

 

[houstonche]

To be honest I don't care given as you stated, apple is offering an identical model functionality wise for $349 +.

Though I understand the opinion Some people have in regards to what the edition version might mean for future products, this was a company that offered products for everyone, yes marked up, but within most users grasp. I think they have a valid point. I personally think you would be daft to pay 10k for something that has the same functionality and design as the 349 model 😉

It's only foolish if you can't afford it.

 

[MH01]

And why would I care that a Swiss watch has a better build quality than the Apple Watch -or ANY smart watch? I'm not buying an Apple Watch for an amazing build quality. I'm buying it for the convenience of what it does. I'm also buying it because it's not as cheap of a build quality as something like the pebble.

I've had a $29 watch my entire life. The Apple Watch is an upgrade in every way. A Swiss watch would just be more expensive and not give me any more features over my $29 analog timex watch. I would be throwing money away buying a Swiss watch. I would be paying money for features that are well worth it buying an Apple Watch. Seems a no brainier to me.

The problem is the Edition version, had that not existed this Swiss watch v Apple watch debates would not be happening. The Apple watch is an excellent smartwatch, I'd say best build quality out of any wearable , though no wearable is being compared to an omega, rolex etc, except the apple watch, cause apple is trying to flog a 349 functionality watch as highend fashion item due to the edition watch.

A Mercedes benz would be a more expansive car than a cheap ford, but ford did notslap on some gold paint and price it against a Mercedes 😉 hence the Mercedes owners on here looking down on the ford 🙂

The big word missing in these comparisons is craftmanship, the Apple watch does not have it, it's just a tiny computer. Look inside a Swiss watch. wow!!

 

[decksnap]

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

Not sure if you're serious, but depending on what you define as 'killer app', there were a few. Multi-touch, first and foremost. Certainly the phone-sized gorilla glass screen that changed UI based on context was another, including the on-screen keyboard. The maps apps was unlike no other, (see phone-sized screen and multi-touch), and the browser was head and shoulders above anything seen to date, so much so that it brought AT&T to its knees. Add in things like visual voicemail and the fact that it was the only phone with a true iPod experience built in, I'd say there were plenty.

 

[MH01]

your post is confusingly written. the fact remains -- $349 is cheap, cheaper than the 2001 iPod in today's dollars. that iPod did just one thing. as for the high end gold models -- they simply aren't for everyone, and thays ok. limited edition solid gold isn't within everyone's grasp, which is why Apple is selling steel and aluminum versions. something for everybody.

what is so hard to grasp?

Has Apple ever sold you an identical ipod, iPhone, iPad etc for say some 2700% more?

Is it so hard to grasp why some people are becoming worried about what impact this might have on the future of Apple products?

It's a hypothetical question , relax we don't have an answer, thoguh something up for debate.

 

[Rogifan]

To be honest I don't care given as you stated, apple is offering an identical model functionality wise for $349 +.

Though I understand the opinion Some people have in regards to what the edition version might mean for future products, this was a company that offered products for everyone, yes marked up, but within most users grasp. I think they have a valid point. I personally think you would be daft to pay 10k for something that has the same functionality and design as the 349 model 😉

A top of the line Mac Pro with 4K display is $13K. Can 99% of Apple's customers afford that? With Watch Apple is offering something for everyone. The only difference is in this case is price differences aren't based on functionality. I think your last sentence gets to the heart of the matter. Some people think it's ridiculous to spend more on something just because of the material it's made out of and they don't think Apple should be playing in that space. But using the "Apple no longer designs products for everyone" argument is ridiculous. The Sport Watch is cheaper than the original iPod (and in today's $ the original iPod would be over $500). Was the original iPod not for everyone?