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Siri will tell you this. I'm not sure if it works for unsaved contacts, but it certainly does if a contact is calling e.g. "Dad is calling"

The thing is that my language isn't officially supported by Siri so you can imagine how a lot of the pronounciation goes, and given that I'm going to have my watch on me anyway, I don't bother with it.
 
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It depends what data you want to track. Garmin will collect fitness stuff, but Apple is way ahead with actual health data like alerting you to irregular heart activity, crash and fall detection etc.
not saying those features aren't important to me, but my iPhone can detect a crash and call 911 for me. it appears that Garmin data can be imported into Apple health, so I wonder if that can cross reference the irregular heart activity. The fall detection is the exact same as an incident feature on the garmin I am looking at and it will alert my emergency contacts via message.

at this time, the price point is the exact same, and I think its worth trying something different software wise, size and shape wise. But also looking at training readiness, my sleep scores, VO2 max, recovery time etc.
 
Just a month ago, I was completely ready to give up mine too. Instead, I went the opposite direction. I'm lowering my iPhone usage down as much as possible and making my AW Ultra as my dumbphone. I think having a child now really changed my relationship with my iPhone and AW. Keeping myself focused off my smartphone screen and realizing that my family and relationships outside of the iPhone are more important than scrolling through the same social media apps for hours at a time. I also wanted to be connected all the time in case of emergencies, having a smartwatch gives me that.

I'll still likely keep my iPhone with me most of the time in my bag, but it'll be much more inconvenient for me to pull out and grab. I don’t want to completely give up CarPlay and having a camera with me. At home and work, the iPhone will be on the charger for most of the time, again, keeping it away from me.

I'm paying for the cellular plan regardless of owning an AW or not, through Visible+, so I might as well keep it.
 
I thinking of doing the same thing, I have an AWU 2 and im getting bored of the Apple watch. I want to get an Oris 65 dive watch instead.
 
Tech just reflects you - some people get bored by their Ferrari California and sell it - says more about them and maybe a change of lifestyle than it does about the tech.
Love mine still as it pays for my morning coffee at my local Cornwall beach cafe after my ocean swim every morning without fail :) (and of course it does a ton more that I like)
 
Tech comes and goes.
It’s here to help / assist, not become obsessed with.
A tool, enabler, not the reason.
Supporting, not commanding.
 
Never felt the need for an Apple Watch - way too big on my wrists to start with.
I'm doing fine with my Polar Ignite 2 Clock, that measure activity and sleep. Good enough for me - round and perfect size for me.
I skipped buying the 3 that is out - see how things are when 4 comes out. Might be time for an upgrade then. Used Garmin earlier too, no bad at all, but Polar is enough and much nicer for me.
 
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Glad you feel more free since giving up your Apple Watch. Clearly, the AW isn't for everyone.

To add to my earlier response in this thread, I'm now on my fourth AW, and continue to be pleased with the way it saves me time and effort on a daily basis. It frees me from having to manually track a number of things that I want to keep track of.

The battery in my S6 wasn't holding its charge for as long as it once did, so I started looking at getting a new one. However, since blood oxygen monitoring is no longer enabled in the new AW (in the US), I decided to go with a used/refurbished one. I found a refurbished S8 at Best Buy, and traded in my S6.

Again, glad that you feel more free now. As do I.
 
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Never felt the need for an Apple Watch - way too big on my wrists to start with.
I'm doing fine with my Polar Ignite 2 Clock, that measure activity and sleep. Good enough for me - round and perfect size for me.
I skipped buying the 3 that is out - see how things are when 4 comes out. Might be time for an upgrade then. Used Garmin earlier too, no bad at all, but Polar is enough and much nicer for me.

The best tool is the one we own, use, know, etc.

My data watch story:
I raced Mtb bikes 1996-2001, competitively. National level 1997-1998 races. Trained / raced with a Polar HR watch and chest strap , and Alta altimeter watch.
This is a 3 person team 24 hour race in 1997, that’s me on right wearing chest strap.
20a573854e9742fb971d71a5dc93432a.jpg


I actually got involved with the R&D guy for Alta on his both sensor hardware & firmware development, he sent me watch with revision and I’d give feedback.
f910fed9639db64765f0bc9adc796f71.jpg


Way back then, I realized them as great tools to know body stress level relative to course challenge, etc

I de-coupled from tech 2000 and just rode / raced tech “naked”.

Fast forward to late 2010’s ish, I was a Boy Scout cub master and wore a scout green $30 watch, then wife got me an Apple Watch 2 fall 2016 as bday gift.
It was cool to integrate with my phone.
Had the series 5 & 8 afterwards.
Gave the 8 to my son when I got my AWU2 Dec-2023.

For me, the AWU2 integrates all of my exercise lifestyle, and just other stuff. Workout tracking, reads my bikes crank watt sensor, can corollate to HR.
Knows altitude changes very accurately, I love HR no chest strap needed. The fact I can also see a txt or phone on it and choose to ignore or answer is great.
Answering my phone , letting whomever know “I’m on my batwatch” brings a giggle from them.
Yea - geeky stuff for 62 yr guy.

I have countless friends in the garmin / polar / wahoo / etc (non Apple) ecosystem. We talk after rides, at the bar, etc, I hear their rationale - multi day battery life seems to be the only valid one imo.

Geeky stats !!
16b486a28be007380d6714f705cb4b80.jpg

de74f30d2060e21e6d7902982ed2b280.jpg

ee54f8031bf88b8693d5a98051e6af7d.jpg

48d2fb32e4a133c8380b443b2e2802e5.jpg
 
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Just a month ago, I was completely ready to give up mine too. Instead, I went the opposite direction. I'm lowering my iPhone usage down as much as possible and making my AW Ultra as my dumbphone. I think having a child now really changed my relationship with my iPhone and AW. Keeping myself focused off my smartphone screen and realizing that my family and relationships outside of the iPhone are more important than scrolling through the same social media apps for hours at a time. I also wanted to be connected all the time in case of emergencies, having a smartwatch gives me that.

I'll still likely keep my iPhone with me most of the time in my bag, but it'll be much more inconvenient for me to pull out and grab. I don’t want to completely give up CarPlay and having a camera with me. At home and work, the iPhone will be on the charger for most of the time, again, keeping it away from me.

I'm paying for the cellular plan regardless of owning an AW or not, through Visible+, so I might as well keep it.
I did end up deciding to give up on my Apple Watch a couple weeks ago if anyone cares about a personal update. My baby has been getting uncomfortably attached to screens, and she'd be playing with my AW without me noticing. She's accidentally sent text messages, opened the garage door, etc. I've bought and have been wearing a Nordgreen watch since then. I miss some AW features, but I also prefer wearing a piece of jewelry instead of a device anyway.

As part of my personal movement to lower my tech usage, I also switched down to an iPhone mini and semi-permanently put my MacBook and Apple Watch in storage. So, my only day to day devices are my 13 mini and my iPad Pro. I kind of gave up on the idea of my AW Ultra being a "dumb phone" when I got my 13 mini, but may look into that idea again later on.

Going back to the original post in this thread. It does kind of feel "freeing" in a way. I've already had most notifications disabled, and temporarily had my fitness rings on pause for the last few months due to an injury. I used to be obsessed with filling those rings and getting as many badges as I could. Everyone who knows me also knows that I have an Apple Watch and would know I get right back to them and never miss a phone call. I have my phone with me all of the time, though I will occasionally miss it ringing or buzzing. I check my phone often enough during the where that wouldn't be an issue. Over the last ten years of wearing a smartwatch, I sort of trained myself that I need to immediately respond to whatever comes in. It's just kind of nice and freeing not being 100% connected all the time. There's brief moments during the day where I do miss something. And that's okay.
 
The best tool is the one we own, use, know, etc.

My data watch story:
I raced Mtb bikes 1996-2001, competitively. National level 1997-1998 races. Trained / raced with a Polar HR watch and chest strap , and Alta altimeter watch.
This is a 3 person team 24 hour race in 1997, that’s me on right wearing chest strap.
20a573854e9742fb971d71a5dc93432a.jpg


I actually got involved with the R&D guy for Alta on his both sensor hardware & firmware development, he sent me watch with revision and I’d give feedback.
f910fed9639db64765f0bc9adc796f71.jpg


Way back then, I realized them as great tools to know body stress level relative to course challenge, etc

I de-coupled from tech 2000 and just rode / raced tech “naked”.

Fast forward to late 2010’s ish, I was a Boy Scout cub master and wore a scout green $30 watch, then wife got me an Apple Watch 2 fall 2016 as bday gift.
It was cool to integrate with my phone.
Had the series 5 & 8 afterwards.
Gave the 8 to my son when I got my AWU2 Dec-2023.

For me, the AWU2 integrates all of my exercise lifestyle, and just other stuff. Workout tracking, reads my bikes crank watt sensor, can corollate to HR.
Knows altitude changes very accurately, I love HR no chest strap needed. The fact I can also see a txt or phone on it and choose to ignore or answer is great.
Answering my phone , letting whomever know “I’m on my batwatch” brings a giggle from them.
Yea - geeky stuff for 62 yr guy.

I have countless friends in the garmin / polar / wahoo / etc (non Apple) ecosystem. We talk after rides, at the bar, etc, I hear their rationale - multi day battery life seems to be the only valid one imo.

Geeky stats !!
16b486a28be007380d6714f705cb4b80.jpg

de74f30d2060e21e6d7902982ed2b280.jpg

ee54f8031bf88b8693d5a98051e6af7d.jpg

48d2fb32e4a133c8380b443b2e2802e5.jpg
killer stats man! looks like it was one heck of a ride. I wasn't aware that the AWU could track data like that, now that's impressive.

I gave up my apple watch SE2 almost a month ago, and can happily say I'll never look back. I moved over to a Coros Pace 3 and it is absolutely a dream to wear, so light, and the data I get from it for sleep and work outs, is so much better than my apple watch.
 
I have around 10 watches, mechanical and quartz, but I still wear my AW10 daily. It’s just too useful for me, and by changing straps daily, it keeps me from getting bored of it. I do wear my other watches from time to time, especially during the weekend.
 
The cellular aspect is what keeps me with it. Being able to not have my phone with me and just wear the AW is a wonderful thing. I’m not on my phone but if someone wants to get a hold of me they can still call or message me.
 
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I feel more free with the AW because it allows me to leave my phone behind and still be reachable in case of emergency. wonderful device, can’t see ever giving it up.
Same. I just make sure to only have a few useful notifications, (basically calls and texts) on the Watch so that it won’t be a distraction.

I can pay, call, use iMessage, see my appointments etc etc without bringing my phone all the time. Going to the beach? No need to ”hide” my phone, keys and cards/money in my shoes like I’m fooling anybody. 😊

I am sort of a minimalist tech user, I have very few apps, I don’t use social media except LinkedIn, YouTube and forums, and I hate companion apps and notifications. I want my tech to be helpful not a nuisance, and the Apple Watch is a big part of that.
 
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