I Apple, but not my Apple Watch

[MacDeac]

I think sometimes people have selective memory when it comes to Jobs. The following is from Engadget's review of the original iPhone. I found it ironic that some of the complaints mirror what the OP said about the Apple Watch.


But getting things done with the iPhone isn't easy, and anyone looking for a productivity device will probably need to look on. Its browser falls pretty short of the "internet in your pocket" claims Apple's made, and even though it's still easily the most advanced mobile browser on the market, its constant crashing doesn't exactly seal the deal. The iPhone's Mail app -- from its myriad missing features to its un-integrated POP mail experience to its obsolete method of accessing your Gmail -- makes email on the iPhone a huge chore at best.

This doesn't even mention the fact that the iPhone could only run web based apps, didn't have 3G, and was overwhelmingly expensive. I think this is just a case of selective memory.

 

[whatos]

After using an Apple watch extensively before returning it, at least now I know where they're starting from. I think given another few years Apple will have learned enough to create a usable model that offers far more functionality than the first attempt. Apple ususally gets it right on the third attempt and has plenty of buyers that'll put up with the earlier bug ridden models.

 

[tg81]

I get the impression if an apple announced a new dog turd, people would defend it on here, as long as Jonny Ive had created it.

I talked about my objective experience with the watch and how I find it to be quite a useful product for me...in a civil way, yet I'm being implied to be a non-objective  dog-turd defender? Ok... #

For someone claiming to be an apple fanboi, he sure did a really good impression of a android fanboi with that comment didn't he?

 

[echo44]

If you really think this concept wasn't conceived while Steve Jobs was still alive you are very naive to product development at Apple!

The first day I owned the watch I thought its ok maybe I will cancel my order
for my stainless steel black space model. I have the space gray now.

The second day I was watching tv on my second floor. I don't keep my phone with me every second. the phone was in my kitchen on the first floor. Next thing you know my watch taps me and I get a very important text that I wouldn't have seen until the morning. I answered using siri on the watch. worked flawlessly
connecting to my phone over the wireless internet. I than resumed the movie I was watching on my Apple tv by tapping the remote app on my watch. I am sold!

I don't normally where a watch, I have worn this one every day for the last week and loving it.

For those with short term memory issues the first iPhone was very buggy. Had no app store, only worked on a slow AT&t network at the time. The original iPhone didn't do video despite other phones already having this feature. What were they thinking? People thought the touch screen was a joke and would never take off.

Join the rest of the people who hold onto the past and can't see the future.

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Do we have any mediums on this forum? Perhaps we can get one of them to ask Jobs what he thinks of the watch from the after life?

 

[Ladyberyl]

My initial reaction to the OP was "different strokes". Every product is not for every consumer. *shrug* I love my watch and thrilled that I was able to obtain it a few days after launch.

I talked about my objective experience with the watch and how I find it to be quite a useful product for me...in a civil way, yet I'm being implied to be a non-objective dog-turd defender? Ok...

That part of his post is gone but I read it before he edited it out. Pointless and crude comment, IMO.

 

[wlow3]

The Apple Watch is a strategic necessity for Apple. The only platform that threatens cell phones in the near future is wearables. Just like the phone canabalized the standalone music player (so Apple got into the phone business - among other reasons), wearables threaten to canabalize Apple's cash cow, the iPhone. Apple had to get into wearables.

If you think it is convenient to use ApplePay from your phone, try it from your watch. What is going to happen is that tasks that do not require screen real estate will migrate to the watch because people will find it incrementally more efficient. They will make more Siri queries from the watch. They will more often look up small items of information, like current temperature from the watch. They will rely on the watch more for notification glancing. As homekit comes online, more people will control things from their watch. One day you will unlock your car with an iOS device and it is more likely to be the watch than the phone.

The watch is not a bauble; it's the future.

 

[BvizioN]

My point is this product feels like something Steve wouldn't have launched in its current state. It's a product for the sake of a product, rather than offering something new.

I see you removed the dog-turd comment pretty quickly?

Why on earth should anyone take your first post seriously anyway? You give your own opinion and you dismiss the others opinion because it doesn't match yours? Childish.

 

[JoEw]

The Apple Watch is a strategic necessity for Apple. The only platform that threatens cell phones in the near future is wearables. Just like the phone canabalized the standalone music player (so Apple got into the phone business - among other reasons), wearables threaten to canabalize Apple's cash cow, the iPhone. Apple had to get into wearables.

If you think it is convenient to use ApplePay from your phone, try it from your watch. What is going to happen is that tasks that do not require screen real estate will migrate to the watch because people will find it incrementally more efficient. They will make more Siri queries from the watch. They will more often look up small items of information, like current temperature from the watch. They will rely on the watch more for notification glancing. As homekit comes online, more people will control things from their watch. One day you will unlock your car with an iOS device and it is more likely to be the watch than the phone.

The watch is not a bauble; it's the future.

This.

 

[mightyjabba]

This.

This. Added nothing to the discussion.

 

[JoEw]

This. Added nothing to the discussion.

As opposed to the 4 pages of complaints about how Steve Jobs wouldn't of allowed the Apple Watch?

 

[fischersd]

And a time of great unrest befell the land. The masses no longer adored their gadgets, no matter how sexy or light. Features no longer impressed and caused people to swoon. A tumultuous cry came from the earth "We must have The Jobs".
From on high, their wailing was heard and a prophet on the earth was given a vision. "I have had a dream" he said. "A child has been born. It is the second coming of our creative savior! He shall be marked with a sign which shall evoke unconditional love and devotion of all who witness it."

And the child was found, adored and grew to adulthood. He took the reigns of the $7T juggernaut which he had founded before and produced many new, strange and wonderful things which the peoples eagerly consumed. And consume they did...in unparalleled numbers. But it was not to be as before, as a cry rang out from the masses "Hey, this is *****!" And The Jobs, he did smile. "Fools, I told you before, I left my creativity in my other pants."

And then did commence the quest for the Holy Grail...er....Pants...last seen in a mystical place called Cupertino.

Feel silly yet?

 

[riverfreak]

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.

Can we please stop invoking the name of Steve whenever there is a product or design element that does not appeal to your highly refined senses? It's exhausting. I highly doubt you knew Steve, or even worked at Apple given your recent affiliation with the company. You might wish to read Becoming Steve Jobs for a pretty fair assessment of someone who was amazing yes, but also flawed. And if you don't believe that, allow me to refer you to the Lisa, the Next Cube, the Apple Cube, etc.

Now as to your lack of satisfaction with the Watch, I hear you and understand your sentiment. However -- as one whose watch has not yet arrived -- I am deeply looking forward to it. Why? Because modern life demands that I be constantly connected. But do I need to be constantly connected to everything? Every Facebook post, every tweet, every SMS or Instagram post? Certainly not.

But for now,there is no good way to filter notifications. I am deeply hoping that AlpleWatch will let me tailor my notifications so that ONLY the ones I want to see when I'm not tightly tethered with my phone or laptop out still get through. That, to me, is the promise of this device. I have yet to see if it will deliver.

 

[bjdraw]

I really feel this will be Apples first large product failure in many years. Will it be the doom of Apple, no, but it could be a sign of troubles to come.

To me a product failure is one where the manufacture goes on a fire sale within the first few months because they made way too many of them -- see the Surface or Zune. Or maybe the device never sees a second generation.

We know the first isn't an option at this point, but I'm curious exactly what you are predicting when you say "large product failure." What does that look like, exactly?

Is this like the failure of 3DTVs? Where just about every TV sold today is 3D, yet many say they are a failure -- the point of a selling a product is to actually sell it for a profit, right?

 

[ToroidalZeus]

I really think this comes down to did you always wear a watch? If pulling your phone out of your pocket is convenient enough when you want to tell the time, then you don't need a watch. And the Apple Watch, as cool as it is, is just a watch.

I love mine and feel it fills a void that the iPhone has always had, glance-able information.

As for the "would Steve have made this" question. I think this photo pretty much sums it up; "some people wear watches, some don't."

Image

The iPhone got people who had smartphones, dumbphones and even no phones to buy one.

----------

That is quite a jump to make, did you get the 1st gen iPhone? It was actually awful in many ways. While you could tell it was in the right direction not everything was there. Heck, even my iPhone 3G couldn't do video or even receive MMS :roll eyes:

I think context is important. You could always email the pictures and mms quality was soo bad in that era that it was borderline unusable; thanks imessage.

Buying a first gen iPhone required:

Cash up front
No 3G (most phones already had it)
Inability to send MMS (most people were used to having MMS)
A mandatory data/text plan that was 20 dollars
A buggy phone that got more and less buggy with every update

I swear. Kids today.

Most phones didn't have 3G and most people weren't even used to using data at that time.

 

[bjdraw]

The iPhone got people who had smartphones, dumbphones and even no phones to buy one.

No doubt, but I'm not sure there will ever be another iPhone for Apple. They did it twice already (Mac and iPhone), it's hard to imagine them doing it a 3rd time. I wouldn't argue with you if you said it was actually three times, the iPad.

 

[pmau]

Is this like the failure of 3DTVs? Where just about every TV sold today is 3D, yet many say they are a failure -- the point of a selling a product is to actually sell it for a profit, right?

The 3D TV example is interesting, because any brand cannot charge more for that feature. This is why it is a failure. You include it, because everyone does, but it does not provide an advantage.

This is where one might start to argue that Apple included features that everyone else has, because they had no other concept that would provide enough advantage to the competition to be radically different.

The reason that it still sells way above supply is Apple marketing.
Judging by the real manufacturing cost, Apple could have flooded the market by only building the sport version as "the" Apple Watch.

Just think about it. They could have. Just like "The iPad" and "The MacBook Air". (The first one)

But this time they could not. They needed a way to upsell you right from the start, not just by doubling storage sizes.

This is the real "first" for Apple and this is why it looks like a failed start.
There is not "one exciting product", but a whole range of options.

This is what does not work for Apple. From a pure PR point of view.

Think about the iPhone 5C. It might have sold well, considering the already available hardware, but the perception was negative, because it was just an option.

Apple should have introduced one watch, totally overprice it (like $999) and be able to deliver to those who pull the trigger.

Right now,. everyone figured it's the same watch for everyone, and people are unsure about their choice and the differences in availability.

It's not an actual failure, but a perceived failure.
I still believe Apple should have introduced this product completely different.

 

[cwieberdink]

But for now,there is no good way to filter notifications. I am deeply hoping that AlpleWatch will let me tailor my notifications so that ONLY the ones I want to see when I'm not tightly tethered with my phone or laptop out still get through. That, to me, is the promise of this device. I have yet to see if it will deliver.

It does. And it doesn it beautifully. I haven't figured out the mail thing yet though. I don't get mail notifications on my watch for the accounts I have selected, but they are gmail accounts and I remember reading something about needing to tweak those somehow

 

[ToroidalZeus]

No doubt, but I'm not sure there will ever be another iPhone for Apple. They did it twice already (Mac and iPhone), it's hard to imagine them doing it a 3rd time. I wouldn't argue with you if you said it was actually three times, the iPad.

self driving car

 

[bjdraw]

The 3D TV example is interesting, because any brand cannot charge more for that feature. This is why it is a failure. You include it, because everyone does, but it does not provide an advantage.

It's not an actual failure, but a perceived failure.
I still believe Apple should have introduced this product completely different.

That's exactly my point in challenging him on exactly what he is predicting. I have a feeling he was talking about perceived failures, which in the business world aren't necessarily failures at all. I believe Apple's true goal is to change our life with technology, and their definition of failure is far from the same as many analysts and other businesses.

 

[TEBnewyork]

No doubt, but I'm not sure there will ever be another iPhone for Apple. They did it twice already (Mac and iPhone), it's hard to imagine them doing it a 3rd time. I wouldn't argue with you if you said it was actually three times, the iPad.

The first iPhone sold 6mm units total. It's grown steadily over time to the massive sales numbers today.

Watch is brand new and to me is also a bit different than launching an iPad. I don't think anyone would expect the watch to sell even remotely in the same ball park of iPhone.

Just like the iPhone functionality has been iterative, Watch functionality is in its infancy.

 

[supertomtom]

The reason that it still sells way above supply is Apple marketing.
Judging by the real manufacturing cost, Apple could have flooded the market by only building the sport version as "the" Apple Watch.

Just think about it. They could have. Just like "The iPad" and "The MacBook Air". (The first one)

But this time they could not. They needed a way to upsell you right from the start, not just by doubling storage sizes.

This is the real "first" for Apple and this is why it looks like a failed start.
There is not "one exciting product", but a whole range of options.

This is what does not work for Apple. From a pure PR point of view.

...

Apple should have introduced one watch, totally overprice it (like $999) and be able to deliver to those who pull the trigger.

...

Got to remember that a watch is ultimately still viewed to a large extent a fashion accessory...except now Apple is trying to make it a fashion accessory with modern technological features to compliment our use of the iPhone.

Whether we like it or not, Apple cannot simply go out there and make 1 model of the Apple watch when a watch is such a...(not trying to quote Apple's PR machine)...personal device. Just have a look at people's excitement over options for straps and 3rd party bands, the debates over their love of the material/colour they chose on the various threads throughout this forum to know that one watch would never work to appeal to the masses.

I think it's still too early to say whether Apple's strategy to break the smartwatch market into the mainstream will succeed in the long run, but I personally think they've got no option but to do it this way.

 

[pmau]

That's exactly my point in challenging him on exactly what he is predicting. I have a feeling he was talking about perceived failures, which in the business world aren't necessarily failures at all. I believe Apple's true goal is to change our life with technology, and their definition of failure is far from the same as many analysts and other businesses.

Oh ... I did not disagree with you at all.
I was just quoting you to underline my point of view.
No offense.

 

[bjdraw]

self driving car

I have very high expectations for Apple, but being the first to bring to self driving car to market isn't one of them. It just doesn't seem like their kind of problem to me. Apple Pay, iTunes, bypassing mobile phone service companies; sure, even improving the car user experience. But making a car drive itself isn't hard enough and plenty of others are already poised to get it right.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

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.

It's not a degree of difficulty. Obviously a two year old can reach into pockets. It's about convenience, and yes, it's easier to give a quick glance at your wrist than to dig into your pocket for basic info.

I've had my AW for a week and there are parts of it like fitness that I think Apple way oversold. But as a data portal for quick bits of info I'm loving it. It's really liberating to not have to dig into my pocket when I get a call or text or need to see what appointments I have for the day or what the weather is going to be like for the next few hours. In that regard the AW is a watch on steroids and does a great job.

Most of the 3rd party apps are pointless, proof-of-concepts. But I suspect they will improve now that the actual watch is out for devs to play with and fully understand what features are best implemented for the watch portion vs. just making a mini-iPhone version.

I've been wearing watches almost my entire life, so I'm use to having a slab of metal strapped to my arm to give me certain information on demand. Traditionally, that was day, date, time. When I had digital watches, calculator, alarm, timer. AW just expands the data. It's a watch.

I think people who are disappointed in AW never really integrated watches into their lifestyle and expected something more dynamic and "smart." Part of that blame goes to Apple in the way they oversold it as something it really isn't yet -- a smart device. It's really just a "dumb" terminal.