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I would love an Apple Watch companion "Apple Band" (like FitBit, or Fuelband)

F1Fan

F1Fan

macrumors member
Original poster
Apr 11, 2011
72
55
Northern Virginia
So I'm sure many would find this overkill, and I admit, it would probably be niche, but after having my Apple Watch (Space Grey 42mm) for a few weeks, I'm loving it. And I've really gotten used to having the ability to see who's calling, or texting without pulling out my phone (or even having it in the same room) and I've actually gotten to like the fitness tracking a lot more than I thought I would.

The only problem is, after a few weeks of wearing it, I'm starting to miss "normal" watches. I have several that I used to enjoy rotate wearing, and love shopping for more watches. I'm finally at a point in my professional career that I can afford high end analog/dumb watches now if I want them, but then I would have to be without all the benefits of the smart watch.

So I would love to have a product that is a companion to the Apple Watch that would be slim, low profile, and function like the original Fitbit, JawBone Up, Nike Fuelband, or whatever fitness wearable. It would be awesome if it had a non-traditional strap made of leather or something less nerdy than what's already out there, so you can wear it dressed up. It would have a small enough screen for one line of text and heart rate monitor, and other sensors for fitness. Show caller ID, text line, stuff like that and sync the Activity Monitor info.

That way I could still have my Omega, Tissot, or even one day Vacheron Constantin, on my Left wrist, then the "Apple Band" on my right wrist.

Totally not a "need", I know, (and I guess you could just have both a FuelBand AND an Apple watch to wear depending on the occasion) but Apple has proven time again people (such as myself) will spend lots of money on stuff they don't "need" but love to have if designed well. Any other interest?
 
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F1Fan said:
So I'm sure many would find this overkill, and I admit, it would probably be niche, but after having my Apple Watch (Space Grey 42mm) for a few weeks, I'm loving it. And I've really gotten used to having the ability to see who's calling, or texting without pulling out my phone (or even having it in the same room) and I've actually gotten to like the fitness tracking a lot more than I thought I would.

The only problem is, after a few weeks of wearing it, I'm starting to miss "normal" watches. I have several that I used to enjoy rotate wearing, and love shopping for more watches. I'm finally at a point in my professional career that I can afford high end analog/dumb watches now if I want them, but then I would have to be without all the benefits of the smart watch.

So I would love to have a product that is a companion to the Apple Watch that would be slim, low profile, and function like the original Fitbit, JawBone Up, Nike Fuelband, or whatever fitness wearable. It would be awesome if it had a non-traditional strap made of leather or something less nerdy than what's already out there, so you can wear it dressed up. It would have a small enough screen for one line of text and heart rate monitor, and other sensors for fitness. Show caller ID, text line, stuff like that and sync the Activity Monitor info.

That way I could still have my Omega, Tissot, or even one day Vacheron Constantin, on my Left wrist, then the "Apple Band" on my right wrist.

Totally not a "need", I know, (and I guess you could just have both a FuelBand AND an Apple watch to wear depending on the occasion) but Apple has proven time again people (such as myself) will spend lots of money on stuff they don't "need" but love to have if designed well. Any other interest?
Click to expand...
Not very fashionable, but it does every thing you want. I like it and it works very well. Microsoft Band.
image.jpg
 
Crazy Matt said:
Not very fashionable, but it does every thing you want. I like it and it works very well. Microsoft Band.View attachment 558243
Click to expand...

An Apple designed version of that would be slick. Thanks for sharing, and maybe they'll make it a little slicker on version 2, but for now, not slim enough for my taste and also would be nice if it were more like a men's bracelet with leather and metal vs the "wearable tech" look with rubber strap.

This is what fitbit has http://www.fitbit.com/toryburch
Something along the lines of that, but with more masculine options, and a single text line sized screen, designed by apple, synced with the Apple Watch, would be awesome.
 
I've had to wear my AW face down on my right wrist because I've been using traditional watches (Swiss and German mechanicals) on my left wrist.
I would rather have the AW mounted on a cuff or a band so that it looks like a bracelet rather than wear it as a watch.
 
I wish they would make a band that had those functions, but that you could attach another watch head to.
 
Crazy Matt said:
Not very fashionable, but it does every thing you want. I like it and it works very well. Microsoft Band.View attachment 558243
Click to expand...

Yes, I like my Microsoft Band as well. I believe V2 will be thinner, that's about my only gripe with it. It isn't uncomfortable to me, but I do have issues when I'm wearing long sleeve shirts when I'm wearing a suit.
 
FuzzyLogic13 said:
Yes, I like my Microsoft Band as well. I believe V2 will be thinner, that's about my only gripe with it. It isn't uncomfortable to me, but I do have issues when I'm wearing long sleeve shirts when I'm wearing a suit.
Click to expand...
Yes I agree a slimmed down version would be nice. I don't find it uncomfortable either and appearance wise it reminds me of those rubber bracelets that so many people are wearing.
 
F1Fan said:
Yes, forgot to add that. Definitely waterproof
Click to expand...
I bought a Garmin Vivosmart in April once I decided I really didn't want an Apple watch. It was rated as swim-proof, was relatively compact/nondescript and had a decent set of features Sounded perfect.

garmin-vivofit-3.jpg


It failed on its 4th dip in the pool. :( Somewhere between lap 20 and 30.

So back it went, and "Hello Apple watch" it was. I've given up on "swim-proof" for now.
 
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Arran said:
Problem is it looks like a watch. So wearing it with your other mechanical watch (separate wrists, per the OP) is not really on.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I see 0% chance apple will ever release a fit band, it would just kills there own apple watch business which would be more profitable
 
Aluminum213 said:
Honestly, I see 0% chance apple will ever release a fit band, it would just kills there own apple watch business which would be more profitable
Click to expand...

0%? Kill it? Kind-of absolute.

Apple had the full-sized iPod business going gangbusters, yet they released the mini, the nano and the shuffle. Full size iPad too.. and then along came iPad mini.

Never say never.
 
This would be a great idea for a sleep tracker. I don't won't to wear my :apple:Watch at night even if Apple offers sleep tracking. A night tracking band would be great.
 
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Julien said:
This would be a great idea for a sleep tracker. I don't won't to wear my :apple:Watch at night even if Apple offers sleep tracking. A night tracking band would be great.
Click to expand...
Now there's how Apple could differentiate it to prevent cannibalization of Watch sales.

The Garmin Vivosmart I posted earlier had a 6-7 day battery life. Sleep tracking was an option since it didn't need nightly charging.
 
Personally I would be interested in a cuff/band like design as well.
Right now I have my AW face down so the Milanese loop looks like a bracelet (wearing a mechanical watch on my left). I wish I could wear the AW face up like normal.
 
I agree for another reason-- increase the community size. One of the things that makes my Fitbit fun is that almost everyone I know has one. Because of that, I have a large community of people in my Fitbit friends circle. It is fun and helps us motivate and encourage one another. This is less likely with the AW, because it is so expensive. If Apple could offer a basic tracker at a substantially lower price point, then others could join in. As it is, I am resigned to the fact that I will have to continue to carry my Fitbit zip for the social and motivational features of a fitness tracker. Only about 10% of the people I know with a Fitbit are likely to get an AW.
 
Apple designed the watch so that you'd rid of your other watches or use it in your daily switcheroo of watches. Doubt we'll se a companion to a companion-product.
 
I don't want a companion to the companion. I want to see something different that is a lower cost of entry so people will have an apple home for health and activity social activity. Right now, Fitbit owns that space. So, I will have to continue to carry my Fitbit while wearing my watch because so few people I know will buy an AW.
 
Hmmm. Could a fitness band be the "loop" Apple is referring to?

Apple-21-March-Event-Let-Us-Loop-You-In.jpg


After all, Apple playfully gave away the name of the MacBook Air before it's announcement at Macworld 2008 - so it wouldn't be the first time a new product was hidden in plain sight.

macworld_2008.png


Could this be why the next release of iOS will sync one phone with multiple "watches"? So owners can sync both their wearables?
  • The nice Apple watch for work and going out.
  • The cheap, rugged fitness band for the gym and rougher activities.
Maybe you'll even be able to wear the band (sorry, the "loop") in bed to track your sleep and wake up with tactile alarms - while your Apple Watch charges on the nightstand. In the morning, you'll just swap them over.
 
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Not sure if Apple is ready to enter the fitness wearable world. The AW is a complete joke when it comes to fitness tracking even after all the fitness related pushes Apple made with the AW. So either that is all going into the rumored "loop" and it will be killer or it will just be another crappy fitness product like the AW.

I'll stick with my Fitbit for my fitness tracking for now.
 
If it is a fitness band, 24/7 HR, sleep tracking, steps/elevation, calorie estimate, vibrator, bluetooth sync, as flat as possible and soft/elastic band. That is minium today or it is dead on arrival.

No display or LED display as the mio fuse, it is a fitness band, not a personal assistant. GPS nice to have.
 
Ries said:
If it is a fitness band, 24/7 HR, sleep tracking, steps/elevation, calorie estimate, vibrator, bluetooth sync, as flat as possible and soft/elastic band. That is minium today or it is dead on arrival.

No display or LED display as the mio fuse, it is a fitness band, not a personal assistant. GPS nice to have.
Click to expand...
There won't be an Apple loop fitness band. There have not been any major rumours about this.
 
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