Hands-On With watchOS 4: Siri Watch Face, Apple Pay, Activity Improvements, New Workouts and More

[Apple_Robert]

Maybe you should run faster?

As I said before, I am ultra runner, and I run (on average) 33K + several times during the week, and longer during my weekend runs. I am not running a marathon distance in 2.5 hours. However, I am running 36 miles in about 4.5 hours, giver or take a few minutes, conditions and terrain. And my long runs are around 42 miles on the weekend. If I had one app running with GPS during my run, the Apple Watch would not be able to complete those kinds of runs. As a long distance competing runner, I believe I do very well speed wise.

I have made it clear more than once in this thread, that I want to be able to buy the Aople watch. However, at this point in time, it falls short of my needs.
[doublepost=1497635286][/doublepost]

Maybe you should run faster?
[doublepost=1497634603][/doublepost]

Why do you think that someone who 'runs' for 30mins a day would be a casual runner? Ultra runners spend more time walking than running. Someone who specializes in running 5km or miles aren't 'casual' runners. I've run the gamut of 5km races through marathons and they all have their own unique challenges. Stop trying to be elitist about running slow long races....

I asm not being an elitist. To me, 30 mins a day is casual running. I wasn't denigrating someone who runs 30 mins a day. No need to get all defensivee. I acknowledge that not everyone cares to run long distance. I have been speaking about my needs. And as I said, if I were a casual runner (30 mins a day) the Apple Watch would probably fit my needs.

God forbid someone offer an opinion that goes against an Apple product. It is as some think such viewpoints are a personal attack on Apple, or worse, an attack on fellow forum members who believe differently. Such is not the case.

Its not a big deal that people disagree with me. And I have no problem with those who are happy with their watch.

Amazing how simple it is when there is no emotion involved.

 

[NukeDuke]

As I said before, I am ultra runner, and I run (on average) 33K + several times during the week, and longer during my weekend runs. I am not running a marathon distance in 2.5 hours. However, I am running 36 miles in about 4.5 hours, giver or take a few minutes, conditions and terrain. And my long runs are around 42 miles on the weekend. If I had one app running with GPS during my run, the Apple Watch would not be able to complete those kinds of runs. As a long distance competing runner, I believe I do very well speed wise.

I have made it clear more than once in this thread, that I want to be able to buy the Aople watch. However, at this point in time, it falls short of my needs.
[doublepost=1497635286][/doublepost]
I asm not being an elitist. To me, 30 mins a day is casual running. I wasn't denigrating someone who runs 30 mins a day. No need to get all defensivee. I acknowledge that not everyone cares to run long distance. I have been speaking about my needs. And as I said, if I were a casual runner (30 mins a day) the Apple Watch would probably fit my needs.

God forbid someone offer an opinion that goes against an Apple product. It is as some think such viewpoints are a personal attack on Apple, or worse, an attack on fellow forum members who believe differently. Such is not the case.

Its not a big deal that people disagree with me. And I have no problem with those who are happy with their watch.

Amazing how simple it is when there is no emotion involved.

I have no interest in what you think about the Apple watch at all. What I dislike very much is people who are ultra "runners" pretending that its something other than what it really is.... a novelty activity.

If you can run a BQ time in a marathon then we can talk but someone who walks and hikes for 5+hrs and calls it running makes me laugh.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I have no interest in what you think about the Apple watch at all. What I dislike very much is people who are ultra "runners" pretending that its something other than what it really is.... a novelty activity.

If you can run a BQ time in a marathon then we can talk but someone who walks and hikes for 5+hrs and calls it running makes me laugh.

You don't even know me and took the liberty of making assumptions about me that are (as a whole) incorrect.

There is no need to make the discussion personal. I haven't insulted you or anyone else. The fact that you don't want to talk about the subject at hand, because you don't care what I think, but made a point to insult anyway says a lot, in my opinion. Maybe you can find someone else to make assumptions with.

 

[Taraba]

What this video doesn't show is whether there will be any improvements when it comes to metrics like current pace, distance, hearth-rate etc. Fot me that is key area where improvements should be made in training app. Of course HIT is more than velcome as is VO2 max but precision in basic metrics is a key area.

 

[hagar]

I was in the US last week so I visited the Apple Store as it's still much cheaper over there. I expected to finally be tempted to buy an Apple Watch as I never took the time to check them out before.

But when holding and trying it, I was surprised it's so square and ugly. And the little screen seemed gimmicky. I realised I would get frustrated quickly when attempting to do stuff on it. And then get out my iPhone. Similar to when I want to do real work on my iPad and then get out my MacBook because it's so frustrating to try anything more advanced than mailing or surfing.

I just don't see a valid use case for me. And OS4 doesn't change that as it all seems so confusing. Maybe when series 3 comes out with a new (round?) design and heaps of new sensors, I might be tempted. But not right now. Keep trying, Apple!

 

[jhwalker]

I have a colleague who bought an Apple Watch because she loved the Minnie Mouse Watch face so much. Just saying.

Exactly. I have literally no interest in "smart" watch features until / unless I get Dick Tracy video functionality (!), but I love the Mickey Mouse animation and can't wait for Toy Story

 

[ksnell]

I did. The fact is, the creator of the MR video took the time to film, explore and explain a litany of coming features, and the poster chose the two most minor ones and then attacked Tim Cook personally and implied it was all Apple is doing with this update. Do you support such behavior? It brings absolutely nothing to the conversation, misrepresents the actual information, and then wastes everyone's time with the throwaway juvenile "Timmy" nickname. It's tiresome, lazy, and stupid.

I never said I disagreed with your view, just merely that ad hominem attacks on someone tend to diminish your persuasiveness. I am all for debate and explaining why someone's logic is flawed, but going after the man does you no good. You can do better. I hope that is more clear.

 

[mudflap]

In regards to battery life, I have read many reviews stating it will only last about 5hrs with GPS on during a run, biking etc. For the average runner, 5 hrs is more than enough time. For someone like me, who is an ultra runner, 5hrs of battery life with GPS on during a run is not enough, as I run 5+ hours nonstop during my weekend training. It also doesn't show max heart rate, cadence, and a few other graphing charts that many of us runner like to see, if I remember correctly.

In regards to heart rate accuracy, I would like to compare it to my Suunto watch and HR strap. I also like the color screen.

Ah, I see. I have the Series 1 which doesn't have GPS.

 

[philosopherdog]

Watch control over the video camera is awesome.

 

[RF9]

Did they fix the echo cancelation for phone calls that they broke in 3.2? Phone calls were excellent until that update, now it's unusable.

 

[fyun89]

I think the reason why they don't enable adding wi-fi manually is because it would be a pain to enter a password via the Watch. But once the network is know on the iPhone you are able to connect to it via the Watch and that's good, it is something I use at home all the time when I leave my iPhone in my jacket and continue to receive notification while moving to another room or to the upper floor.
In a corporate environment you sometimes need to work with a colleague at his desk, and if the guy isn't close enough to your desk you need to bring the iPhone. That's something I forget to do all the time, and I miss calls and emails.
I don't answer to emails on the Watch, but if I receive something urgent I can go back to my desk and pick up the iPhone or deal with it on the Mac. That's the point of having AW

Everyone use their tool differently.

Although I agree that it will be a pain to input Wifi pw into the small screen of AW, Having an option is much better than no option.

They can actually implement the "hand write" input method you use to write an imessage for this and may not be that bad.

 

[mrklaw]

I was in the US last week so I visited the Apple Store as it's still much cheaper over there. I expected to finally be tempted to buy an Apple Watch as I never took the time to check them out before.

But when holding and trying it, I was surprised it's so square and ugly. And the little screen seemed gimmicky. I realised I would get frustrated quickly when attempting to do stuff on it. And then get out my iPhone. Similar to when I want to do real work on my iPad and then get out my MacBook because it's so frustrating to try anything more advanced than mailing or surfing.

I just don't see a valid use case for me. And OS4 doesn't change that as it all seems so confusing. Maybe when series 3 comes out with a new (round?) design and heaps of new sensors, I might be tempted. But not right now. Keep trying, Apple!

for me, I don't *do* much with it. It's for reviewing notifications so I don't have to get my phone out of my pocket in the middle of the street just to check an incoming text or reminder

It's a tiny screen so spending anything more than a few second interacting with it will likely be counter productive

Having said that - you can leave your phone behind and still use it. I accidentally forgot my phone one day but barely noticed because my watch was still getting email and text notifications over my office wifi. I could even send text messages and in an emergency answer a phone call

 

[EightyTwenty]

A little harsh methinks. For me the killer app is being able to control the music player on my phone remotely. The phone can then stay in my jacket pocket on my commute whilst i navigate using the watch.

See, this is exactly what I'm talking about. I don't mean to be rude, but what you said strikes me as utterly ridiculous.

"I bought this $500 watch so I don't need to reach 2 inches and take my phone out of my pocket to adjust the volume!"

I truly don't see why you don't just adjust the volume on your phone. If anything it is easier and more convenient than fiddling around with a tiny screen watch.

 

[tigerphilosophy]

1. Please allow us to decide the music preset. Currently it defaults to "Beats 1" and I always want to use my own music playlists.

2. And let us specify a "complication" we want on the Hermes watch face - you can put a little star or dot or something so it looks nice... I would like to have the Hermes face show more but it is inconvenient since you don't get to set a useful or wanted complication.

3. Stop reminding me about activity updates (my brain is not addled) - if I want such update notifications I will ask for them.

 

[Penfold2711]

As its cold in the uk i tend to not swing my arms like i did in my Army days, which means my Apple watch doesn't register my exercise so an hours walk to work only registers as 3 mins exercise according to the stupid thing.

 

[LordQ]

But can I get more then a day of battery life?

This is old. I easily get 3 days.

 

[SigEp265]

I recharge my apple watch once every 2 days on average. What are you doing with yours?

I have the series one and it will only last a 12 hour day ... I recently turned off the heart rate sensor ... maybe that will work.

 

[Abazigal]

I have the series one and it will only last a 12 hour day ... I recently turned off the heart rate sensor ... maybe that will work.

What apps are you running on yours? I recall reading that some rogue apps such as Facebook messenger aren't good for battery life. I suspect your bad battery life might be due to some badly behaving App.

I have my heart rate sensor on at all times as well, if that helps.

 

[The Game 161]

My Apple Watch could last at least 2 and a half days but I like to have it 100% each day

 

[Sprx]

This fall Apple plans to introduce an all new version of watchOS, the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 4 is faster, more efficient, includes new tools for developers, and offers up some thoughtful interface refinements.

To get a glimpse of the new features you can expect to see on your Apple Watch when watchOS 4 launches this fall, check out our hands-on video.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

watchOS 4 brings a new Siri watch face that offers up dynamic, personalized information that changes based on the time of day. Siri can display weather info, calendar appointments, reminders, HomeKit controls, news alerts, and tons more, right on the watch face.

There's also a new Kaleidoscope watch face that turns any photo into a colorful animation, and Apple's adding a Toy Story face starring animated versions of Woody, Jessie, or Buzz Lightyear.

Apple's redesigned the Dock (accessed by pressing the side button) to be vertical instead of horizontal, and there's a new option to view all your apps in a list. There are also new complications and a new flashlight option in Control Center, which lights up the Apple Watch's display.

Apple wants to do more to motivate you to exercise in watchOS 4, so the Activity app will send alerts to let you know how close you are to completing a goal and what you need to do to reach it. There are also new animations to offer visual rewards and personalized monthly challenges based on your workout history.

The Workout app has a revamped interface that makes it easier to start a workout, and there's a new High Intensity Interval Training option, along with new options for the swim workout. Starting in the fall, watchOS 4 will let the Apple Watch interface with gym equipment for two-way real-time data exchange, and with a new Core Bluetooth API, the Apple Watch can connect directly to Bluetooth devices like glucose monitors.

Other features include a redesigned Music app, peer-to-peer Apple Pay payments in Messages, an option for composing emails right on your watch, and a new Apple News app.

Best of all, watchOS 4 apps load faster, are more responsive, and can do more because Apple is opening up more APIs to developers.

watchOS 4 will run on all Apple Watch models, including first-generation, Series 1, and Series 2. For a more detailed look at what to expect in the update, check out our watchOS 4 roundup.

Article Link: Hands-On With watchOS 4: Siri Watch Face, Apple Pay, Activity Improvements, New Workouts and More

When will it finally work with the iPad?
I don't use a phone just the iPad, and would like it to work with my iPad so when someone is calling me I don't have to get it out of the bag.
Is there an alternative?