Hidden Diagnostic Port on Apple Watch Could Allow for Smart Band Accessories [Updated]

Binarymix said:
A lot of prototypes have diagnostic ports. Obviously they were gathering as much data from different users as they could.

They wouldn't want to release the Apple watch as a glitchy POS, that only worked for 'some' people 'half' of the time.

No need for the port on the production device.
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So production watches will never need diagnostics?
 
Crzyrio said:
It seems very silly, for them to not include it apart of the final product. I assumed from the beginning that there would be some sort of interface port, how would Geniuses gather data if wireless communication stopped working?
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Probably just swap it out for a new one, I doubt the internals will be very valuable, and for the gold edition watches Apple gets the gold back so it isn't like they loose much by swapping out a defective one.
 
Remember the diagnostic USB port on the original Apple TV that people (including me) exploited to perform jailbreaks on it?
 
AleXXXa said:
iPads are still useless. You can't do anything special on them that you can't do on a laptop or on a smartphone.
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Right. So Should spend a grand or so on a laptop if I just want a screen to watch Netflix?

Really my point being, to each his own. iPads are far, FAR from useless, but if depends on your needs. My family of four currently has three working iPads in the house, and they are all used regularly. As are the laptops. And the desktops. If you can't find a productive use for an iPad, you're probably holding it wrong.
 
patient band LOL. yes, you do have some time on your hands there. hahaha

i'll have to get one of those for my tween.
 
"Update 2:13 PM: The diagnostic port will not be included on the Apple Watch that ships to consumers, according to 9to5Mac."

That's an awfull lot of engineering and manufacturing effort to be discarded. Just saying, if it exists now, it's not likely to be eliminated, even if at first it's only used for diagnostics...
 
i wonder what else this port could be used for *thinks*

Hacking the watch springs to mind..

Apple must be soo confident that their watch will not stuff up, because they have not mentioned how/if u can restore the OS.. It would make sense then to just "bring it in for repair." when there is noting wrong with psychically wrong with it... I hope users can do this "restore" themselves. I'd be shocked of u couldn't. Just like u can restore iOS devices with iTunes.

Maybe the port is only for internal use *shrugs* ??, but then why would Apple go to so much trouble of including it
 
Port or no port, there may still be third-party battery bands. They would need a thin contact portion that runs underneath the watch. (Preferably with holes for the heart rate sensor.)

Not that it matters that much, if charging time turns out to be short, and usage time is a solid day.
 
RichardH1 said:
"Update 2:13 PM: The diagnostic port will not be included on the Apple Watch that ships to consumers, according to 9to5Mac."

That's an awfull lot of engineering and manufacturing effort to be discarded. Just saying, if it exists now, it's not likely to be eliminated, even if at first it's only used for diagnostics...
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The whole backside seems like a lot of engineering for just a hear rate sensor. Compare the backside of Watch to the competition:

one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-other.jpg
 
Rogifan said:
"Terrorism is horrible and must be stopped. All of us must do everything we can do to stop this craziness. These people shouldn't exist. They should be eliminated."— Tim Cook 
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You forgot the rest of Tim Cook's quote in your sig :)

“None of us should accept that the government or a company or anybody should have access to all of our private information. This is a basic human right. We all have a right to privacy. We shouldn't give it up. We shouldn't give in to scare-mongering or to people who fundamentally don’t understand the details.”
 
Rogifan said:
The whole backside seems like a lot of engineering for just a hear rate sensor. Compare the backside of Watch to the competition:

Image
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Great comparison. I wonder if Apple is supposed to work while you are jogging? A lot of sensors on the wrist struggle with movement, I believe.
 
"The whole backside seems like a lot of engineering for just a hear[t] rate sensor. Compare the backside of Watch to the competition:"

Absolutely agree with you. I think it's going to be one of those surprises that Apple is holding onto for the official unveiling. Even tough one of those sensor "windows" may be for the already-acknowledged security function that disables Apple Pay/Apple ID login when skin contact is broken.

BTW, appreciate the effort you took to illustrate your point. Nice work!
 
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Hardware Connection Needed

I'd like to argue that any electronic device better has or needs a hardware port, for at least servicing. I would be surprised if Bluetooth were the only interface.
 
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