I Apple, but not my Apple Watch

[bunnicula]

The problem is Steve Jobs wasn't around to say "NO!"

This reminds me of how almost a decade ago everyone thought the internet of things (to use modern terms) would center around the living room. So Microsoft developed the Xbox as a game console ninja that would sneak into people's homes and plant MS as the center of this new technological world.

The fact is that market never realized itself. Everytime MS tried pushing more multimedia & family features like cable streaming & kinect it saw backlash from the gaming community. Most important MS wasted so much money on the original Xbox that even the Xbox 360's profits didn't put into the black.

There is a high probability the wearable market will see a similar fate. I'm not convinced people want a flavor flav clock around their necks that broadcasts youtube.

Do you dislike the iPhone 6 and 6 plus? Jobs didn't want larger phones, if we go strictly by his actions as head of Apple.

Perhaps the company should just cease to make any changes at all now?

Or, maybe they're holding regular talks with him via spiritual medium and he thinks the watch is great.

We don't know what a man who died almost 4 years ago would think today.

----------

You know iPad sales are going down and Surface sales are going up. I like Apple so it pains me to say that MS is doing a good job transitioning a full-fledged Windows OS to touchscreen. But anyways I digress too.

Oh, I like the Surface. It's a solid device. I'd like to see Apple do something similar with the iPad lineup.

 

[whatos]

So I got my Watch.

I am an Apple zealot in many ways. That annoying guy that up-sells Apple stuff to friends and family, border line religiously. Ever since I bought my first Powerbook G4 in 2001 - I have been a convert. So I unquestioningly looked forward to the Apple Watch from the moment I saw it.

But now its here - and this Watch just doesn't add up for me. It feels superficial and pointless. It adds nothing to the apple experience except another layer of abstraction. I mean how hard is it really to check a message on your phone, as opposed to your wrist? And the other stuff feels limited and limiting.

The concept looks like a classic Apple product. Its has all the hallmarks of great design, style and simplicity. but then you look closer and its like something vital is missing.

I knew why I wanted an iPod. It was going to change how I listened to my music. I knew why I wanted an iPhone. It was going to change and expand the way I used my phone. I didn't know why I wanted an iPad - until I got one and then it all made sense. But with this it feels like its been designed the wrong way around - its a product looking for an idea.

This is the first new Apple product without Steve Jobs input and boy can I sense that. He would have asked much harder questions than anyone else on the team seems to have done.

You've done a good job of accessing the situation. It's why I returned mine.

 

[superlawyer15]

I love the watch and think that for the price I paid it serves a very valuable purpose.

That being said, I wish there was a way to input text responses rather than rely on dictation.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

Do you dislike the iPhone 6 and 6 plus? Jobs didn't want larger phones, if we go strictly by his actions as head of Apple.

Jobs was smart. He knew how to hold back hardware and features for future version. Like the lack of video in the original iPhone. I think if he was alive we would have seen a 4.7" iPhone 6 regardless.

i do dislike the iPhone 6 Plus tho. I hate how the screen always rotates and how difficult it is to use with one hand.

 

[diablo2112]

Amazed so few folks here have identified the key use case: first and foremost, its a watch. Period. All these folks that expected something different, what exactly, did they think this was? For many that are disappointed, I'm curious, how many of them are daily watch wearers? Of those, how many own nice watches?

I've worn nice watches for decades. I love them. Mechanical watches, the kind I have to wind up every day. The Apple watch is the first watch with a battery I've bought in about 20 years. Anyway, from that starting point, the Apple watch is a fantastic step forward. It's the first half-way decent looking smart watch. The watch faces add some wonderful new complications I couldn't have dreamed of. Anything more is a huge bonus. Text/phone call notification. Siri. Fitness. Apps.

From the standpoint of a watch, this is amazing. I never saw it as an iPhone on the wrist, or a tiny 1" laptop. I saw it as a watch. Style matters, and they did a super job given the constraints. Functionality is amazing, all considered.

90% of your satisfaction can be predicted with this question: do you already wear a watch everyday?

 

[mantan]

It feels more and more that (at this point) the Apple Watch is a niche product.

That's different than most of Apple's 'big item' releases. The iPod, iPhone and iPad were all marketed as revolutionary devices that would change the way we consume music, think of a phone and consume content. They absolutely did. They sold a ton of product to everyone from tech geeks to casual consumers - from kids to senior citizens all over the world.

The Apple watch seems like an accessory product that may or may not add a lot of value at this time. Which is fine...but isn't quite how Apple is marketing it, nor what consumers (and investors) were expecting. Over time it may grow into a huge market...but it doesn't seem like it's there yet.

What's surprising...and a bit amusing is seeing fanboi on fanboi crime. When a self proclaimed Apple zealot dares say that he doesn't like the Apple watch device, the fangs come out with direct shots and backhanded zingers about how he doesn't get it.

Ultimately the success of the product isn't going to be based on early adopters and hardcore Apple fans. Those sales were always 'in the bag'. The success of this product, both short term and long term, will be getting mainstream consumers to feel this is a 'must have' item. It'll be interesting to see how sales play out over the next year. This was a huge release for Tim Cook. He had the unenviable task of trying to follow three monster game changing home run product lines. What's the bar for success going to be on this product?

 

[slpslee1]

I mean how hard is it really to check a message on your phone, as opposed to your wrist?

For me, that's sort of the point. I can just glance briefly at my wrist, or I can drag out a phone and call attention to the fact that the message/call wasn't worth dropping everything to respond right that second. It seems so much more civil to the person I'm with that I don't consider them the lesser of my options.

 

[BillyTrimble]

i do dislike the iPhone 6 Plus tho. I hate how the screen always rotates and how difficult it is to use with one hand.

My 6 plus is the best phone I've ever had. It doesn't always rotate on me. You must be doing something wrong.

And I have no problem using the phone with one hand. Neither do others I know with smaller hands than me.

You just don't want to like it because you think Jobs wouldn't like it. You need to start to separate yourself from Jobs. He was fabulous. But now he's gone. Time to move on and stop pretending you and Jobs have a special relationship between here and the afterlife.

 

[enfield]

I am an Apple fanboy. I have had iMacs, MacBook Airs, iPhones, iPads, iPods, Apple TVs etc.

I had ordered am apple watch - sport grey with a July delivery. Ordered it May 2nd. I cancelled my order and instead got a Garmin Fenix 3 sapphire. My reasoning was:

1) I actually run, bike, swim, hike etc.

2) Battery life is excellent. 3-6 weeks in watch mode. With mixed use it's around 1 week.

3) It has GPS.

4) It tracks activities just like apple watch.

5) It will get notifications from my iPhone 6.

6) It's GORGEOUS.

7) The watch face is always on. I can sneak a look at the time without it being terribly obvious.

The only negatives - I cannot reply from my watch. Cannot use Siri from my watch.

I think I may get an apple watch once I can swim with it. I suspect that may be version 2 or 3. In the mean time it's the Garmin Fenix 3 sapphire.

 

[chiffchaff]

People keep saying it's a niche product, but I see it appealing to 3 groups of consumers:
Fitness band users
Smartwatch users
Regular watch users

That's actually a pretty broad spectrum of people. If Apple captures some percentage of each of those groups, they have a winning product.

People who are not in any of those groups probably won't want an Apple watch. *shrug*

 

[BillyTrimble]

I check out when someone claims to know what Steve Jobs would do.

Yup. I think that this might be Apple's next product. A device to communicate with the dead. This way, all those who claim to know what Steve would have thought about something today, can just whip out the "Hereafter Communicator" and confirm their beliefs with Steve. It will come in silver, gold, and a heavenly gray color and in two sizes.

 

[sdallnct2]

No offense to the OP or the post but,

I'm getting a little tired of the "is Apple watch a necessity (serves a needed purpose) or is it a gimmick".

I've seen this over and over. My question is, who decided it has to be one or the other? And for everyone?

Why can't it be somewhere where in between? Along that line depending on the person, use, etc.

For some it may "only" be another way (not better or worse) to get much the same information already available. And that's ok. For others it may serve a very significant purpose (like for me I use as a running watch as I didn't have one and was looking for one). And that's ok. Or some features are just additional way of the same information while other features are significant functional.

I'll give an iPhone/smartphone example; personally I think the camera's on smartphones (including the iphone) are a gimmick. Just about any $100 digital camera will take significantly better pic's and offer more usability, features and functions. And many are small enough to fit in a pocket. Having said that, I can see the appeal of having a camera on your phone (I have make cropped 8x10 prints and framed them from my iPhone) as a way to have another option. At times more convenient (but not all the time).

Had my watch one week. Yes, I like it and will keep it. No I don't think it a "change the world product".

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

I don't think that debating on whether Steve Jobs would have released the watch is the point. It is that Jobs was the ultimate perfectionist. He drove ppl batty at Apple because even the smallest detail had to be perfect. Which is why he was able to develop Apple into such a solid brand. I do think he would have given the watch a green light. But he would have delayed the launch for as long as it took. He would have seen how buggy it was. And the software and hardware deficiencies. And said guys we need a more polished product before releasing this puppy.

 

[sdallnct2]

I am an Apple fanboy. I have had iMacs, MacBook Airs, iPhones, iPads, iPods, Apple TVs etc.

I had ordered am apple watch - sport grey with a July delivery. Ordered it May 2nd. I cancelled my order and instead got a Garmin Fenix 3 sapphire. My reasoning was:

1) I actually run, bike, swim, hike etc.

2) Battery life is excellent. 3-6 weeks in watch mode. With mixed use it's around 1 week.

3) It has GPS.

4) It tracks activities just like apple watch.

5) It will get notifications from my iPhone 6.

6) It's GORGEOUS.

7) The watch face is always on. I can sneak a look at the time without it being terribly obvious.

The only negatives - I cannot reply from my watch. Cannot use Siri from my watch.

I think I may get an apple watch once I can swim with it. I suspect that may be version 2 or 3. In the mean time it's the Garmin Fenix 3 sapphire.

I was in the market for a running watch. I was settled in on the 220, a nice $250 GPS running watch. But then I thought was a terrible value it was.

Last summer I increased my distances from 3-3.5 miles to train and run in half marathons. Thus I felt more the need for a running watch. However, I run 4 days per week. 3 days during the week I run 35min to an hour each. On the weekend I do long runs up to 2 hours. So MAX I would wear the running watch for 5 hours per week. Yea, I guess it would last a week or more on a charge. Only using it 5 hours per week.

And I'd still need to use my Nike Fuelband for general fitness tracking (I've had it 3 years and it is getting dated).

And what about tracking other training like cross training (weights, yoga, etc)?

I do agree with you, I wish it had GPS built in (I was running with my phone anyway, so I didn't consider it a deal breaker - though would prefer a GPS option with out the phone). And certainly if you need something swimming need to hold out.

Since I only run, I'm good with Watch 1.0. But truth be told, I bought the Sport as the cheapest model as I'm betting Watch 2.0 will have GPS (or at least a version of it will) and then I'll want to upgrade.

So far I'm pleased.

Your Garmin does look nice. But $550 w/HR monitor...wow....

 

[Lucifer666]

Typical first gen.

Full of bugs and in some ways pathetic. That cluster of icons is so lame it hurts.

And frankly, whomever is chosing colors is color blind. Is that Ives?

But what Apple knows, (and everybody else might want to know), is that this stuff is here for the duration, like it or not.

The players who wait on the sidelines until a market has already been established, may find catch up not so easy.

 

[Aluminum213]

I love how people keep mentioning Steve Jobs like he hasn't released duds before

 

[Appl3FTW]

The watch is a failure roll out wise. Apple failed miserably calculating the release of the watch. I'm so glad I made a profit out of this lol. Make lemons out of ur lemonade baby!

 

[thomasfxlt58]

Amazed so few folks here have identified the key use case: first and foremost, its a watch. Period. All these folks that expected something different, what exactly, did they think this was? For many that are disappointed, I'm curious, how many of them are daily watch wearers? Of those, how many own nice watches?

I've worn nice watches for decades. I love them. Mechanical watches, the kind I have to wind up every day. The Apple watch is the first watch with a battery I've bought in about 20 years. Anyway, from that starting point, the Apple watch is a fantastic step forward. It's the first half-way decent looking smart watch. The watch faces add some wonderful new complications I couldn't have dreamed of. Anything more is a huge bonus. Text/phone call notification. Siri. Fitness. Apps.

From the standpoint of a watch, this is amazing. I never saw it as an iPhone on the wrist, or a tiny 1" laptop. I saw it as a watch. Style matters, and they did a super job given the constraints. Functionality is amazing, all considered.

90% of your satisfaction can be predicted with this question: do you already wear a watch everyday?

All of the above... precisely. I'm going to wear a watch regardless so why not this one. I think future form factors will provide for improved aesthetics but they did a nice job with the SS. $500 would have been a better pricepoint with a nice band but so far no regrets. It's not for everyone but it's an individual choice. I'm keeping mine. I love the functional access of the modular watchface. It would be cool if you could swipe left or right to change faces on the fly or to have access to the modular quickly so I could use a more traditional face for general use.

 

[sdallnct2]

The watch is a failure roll out wise. Apple failed miserably calculating the release of the watch. I'm so glad I made a profit out of this lol. Make lemons out of ur lemonade baby!

I'm not so sure. Oh, the Watch roll out didn't go well. But I believe Apple wanted to test this particular "roll out" model to possibly use in the future. It didn't work. So they won't. But this one thing will not make or break Apple Watch.

 

[TEBnewyork]

It feels more and more that (at this point) the Apple Watch is a niche product.

That's different than most of Apple's 'big item' releases. The iPod, iPhone and iPad were all marketed as revolutionary devices that would change the way we consume music, think of a phone and consume content. They absolutely did. They sold a ton of product to everyone from tech geeks to casual consumers - from kids to senior citizens all over the world.

How many iPod 1's or iPhone 1's or iPad 1's were sold? What i.e. what were sales for a big item release of the V1?

 

[zmunkz]

Why is everybody acting as though Steve Jobs' methodology and approact to product design is not well documented? It isn't necessary to have known him personally to argue about decisions he might have made, based on his own writings / comments / interviews / accounts of his style. This is how people discuss any historical figure... Obviously you don't have to know everyone personally in order to discuss them.

I happen to love my watch, but it is clear things were not as well thought out as they could be. The user interface is confusing, the role of the product was poorly defined (hence all the people expecting an iPhone on the wrist)... speaking from an understanding of Job's well known approach, it is completely fair to surmise that a Jobs-watch would have been different, and that observation stands even if I didnt know him personally.

 

[ToroidalZeus]

How many iPod 1's or iPhone 1's or iPad 1's were sold? What i.e. what were sales for a big item release of the V1?

iPod sales were meh because initially it only worked on Macs and was overpriced.

Sales didn't pick up until the cheaper mini was introduced that worked with windows.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ipod_sales_per_quarter.svg

 

[bunnicula]

Jobs was smart. He knew how to hold back hardware and features for future version. Like the lack of video in the original iPhone. I think if he was alive we would have seen a 4.7" iPhone 6 regardless.

i do dislike the iPhone 6 Plus tho. I hate how the screen always rotates and how difficult it is to use with one hand.

Orientation lock and a grippy case. I use mine with one hand and I'm a girl with tiny fingers.

Jobs didn't hold back the first iPhone OR the iPhone 4.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

I Apple, but not my Apple Watch

My take: Those who see the Apple Watch as a product only for the sake of being one, do not understand the next technological revolution we are on the cusp of. That revolution is wearable technology and the Internet of Things— thousands of interconnected devices communicating with one another over both wide area and local area wireless networks.

In five to ten years we'll be looking back to 2015 as the year that really got wearable tech jumpstarted as a legitimate and influential industry... beginning with the Apple Watch.

I have met Steve Jobs, but I can't claim to know what he would or would not allow to reach the market. All I know is, he may have had enough vision to realize that eventually, most technology would be worn instead of carried.

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

I think that technology has hit a peak. The watch isn't a revolutionary product. It's nice and has potential. But the days of Apple inventing pardon the phrase, "the next best thing" are over. They had a hell of a run between the computers, iPod, iTunes, iPhone, iPad. We are seeing a lull at this point.

I don't foresee any company coming out with anything that's a game changer anytime soon. Don't be to hard on Apple. No one right now is reinventing the wheel. Take the watch for what it is. A nice compliment to all your other products. And leave it at that.