Leo Laportes says Apple Watch is pointless and doesn't do anything

[Rogifan]

He said this on his radio show the other day. Said it was an OK pedometer but that was it. I don't have the watch so I can't really comment but below are two first impressions that certainly don't share his opinion.

http://watchaware.com/post/11253/quick-thoughts-using-apple-watch-few-days

http://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2015/4/25/apple-watch-what-did-apple-just-roll-out-here

It makes me wonder if some in the tech world are overthinking the watch. Jason Snell's review was 2,700 words. The Verge employed over 30 people in its review. Perhaps the average consumer "gets" it better because they're not over thinking it or over complicating it.

I'll be curious to listen to the first hour of a Rush Limbaugh's show today. He's a big Apple fanboy who's been negative on the watch. But he received two watches (I believe as gifts) and he said after going through the online user guide he was becoming more intrigued by it. I only caught the beginning of his second hour where he said with heavy use he was getting 16-20 hours battery life so far.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

Without reading those articles, I did listen to his TWIT show this morning, and he seemed to like it. He said the Apple Watch might be enough to switch him back to iPhone from Android, but he hadn't decided yet.

He did also say that he didn't think that there was too much that the apple watch had that android wear didn't, and that android wear would be catching up soon enough. But he did seem to think it's the best currently available. He admitted that it's a more a luxury than a necessity, but I think we would all agree to that

 

[biosci]

Doesn't 'do anything'? Really? I think he sports a Moto 360 regularly though? So then that means if the Apple Watch can't do anything the Moto 360 does that he actually finds useful, then I guess for him it's at least 'the same' as the 360 which he claims to love?

 

[samcraig]

He said this on his radio show the other day. Said it was an OK pedometer but that was it. I don't have the watch so I can't really comment but below are two first impressions that certainly don't share his opinion.

http://watchaware.com/post/11253/quick-thoughts-using-apple-watch-few-days

http://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2015/4/25/apple-watch-what-did-apple-just-roll-out-here

It makes me wonder if some in the tech world are overthinking the watch. Jason Snell's review was 2,700 words. The Verge employed over 30 people in its review. Perhaps the average consumer "gets" it better because they're not over thinking it or over complicating it.

I'll be curious to listen to the first hour of a Rush Limbaugh's show today. He's a big Apple fanboy who's been negative on the watch. But he received two watches (I believe as gifts) and he said after going through the online user guide he was becoming more intrigued by it. I only caught the beginning of his second hour where he said with heavy use he was getting 16-20 hours battery life so far.

It's also possible that the Apple Watch is a polarizing product and has nothing to do with over-thinking (or not).

If you scan the posts here you'll see a myriad of users (granted MR users) who have reported being totally in love, to having what I might call buyer's remorse.

 

[sjinsjca]

Leo's one to talk.

 

[iRabbit]

I think it's one of those products you either get or don't. And for anyone to be fair about it, they need to spend more than a week or two with it.

I got the Pebble smart watch for x-mas as a gift from my husband. At first, I was torn how I'd feel about a smart watch. I came to not only understand why it's a great accessory to a smartphone, but one that actually makes my digital life LESS complicated.

Not everyone will agree, but I don't expect to think the Apple Watch is useless when it comes. My only real fear is battery life since I'm spoiled by Pebble in that regard.

 

[Spankey]

I think too many are looking at this device for things that it can't do and not what it can. I have not ordered mine yet, as I was a hold out because my initial thinking was the same as most of the reviewers.

First and foremost this is a watch. An accessory. A time piece like the digital Casio watches of old. If you are fine with that, then find ways in which the extra things the watch can do can make your life better.

If I am out at a loud bar and my phone is in my pocket, the tap on my wrist to alert of of an important call is a major plus. I can also quickly glance and dismiss the call without digging out my phone.

Going for a run? Load up some tunes and with my bluetooth earphones, I am no longer dealing with cables, and a phone strapped to my wrist or bouncing around in a pocket.

Apple Pay without disconnecting my phone from the head unit of my car as I get drive through. Plus!

Control iTunes from my wrist without always having to go to my iPad or iPhone..definite advantage for me.

These are just a few of the ways the watch can work in my life. I don't even see the need to sell the watch as I do phones for future upgrades. It will always be an original and some of us collect a watch or two. Who's to say my next Apple Watch is the same style?

Too many tech people are missing the point. Configure the watch to your use and you will most likely get attached to it very quickly.

 

[Rogifan]

It's also possible that the Apple Watch is a polarizing product and has nothing to do with over-thinking (or not).

If you scan the posts here you'll see a myriad of users (granted MR users) who have reported being totally in love, to having what I might call buyer's remorse.

Maybe. I still think the tech press overall is overthinking the device. I'm seeing average non techies in my Twitter feed liking the device while some techies are struggling to review the device.

 

[cforster]

I think it's one of those products you either get or don't. And for anyone to be fair about it, they need to spend more than a week or two with it.

I got the Pebble smart watch for x-mas as a gift from my husband. At first, I was torn how I'd feel about a smart watch. I came to not only understand why it's a great accessory to a smartphone, but one that actually makes my digital life LESS complicated.

Not everyone will agree, but I don't expect to think the Apple Watch is useless when it comes. My only real fear is battery life since I'm spoiled by Pebble in that regard.

To hopefully ease your mind on the battery life, I had the same "fear" and I am pleasantly surprised. Mind you, you will have to charge every night and you may only have 5 - 10% left at the end of the day, but so far it seems ok. (38mm sport is what I have used, still waiting in the SS 42mm)

 

[iRabbit]

To hopefully ease your mind on the battery life, I had the same "fear" and I am pleasantly surprised. Mind you, you will have to charge every night and you may only have 5 - 10% left at the end of the day, but so far it seems ok. (38mm sport is what I have used, still waiting in the SS 42mm)

Thanks, good to know for sure, but we'll see. I do happen to think not having to worry about charging a smart watch more than once every 5-7 days is a huge plus of the Pebble. If the Apple Watch doesn't wow me enough with other things, it'll be easy enough to just go back to Pebble (and get their new watch coming out in May).

 

[samcraig]

Maybe. I still think the tech press overall is overthinking the device. I'm seeing average non techies in my Twitter feed liking the device while some techies are struggling to review the device.

Well one thing could be is that they are looking on how it's better/different than what exists. I honestly don't know. But perhaps those "struggling" as you call it are trying to figure out "why" they should "praise" it. Again - I don't know.

Personally I find the Apple Watch a nice addition to the smart wearables category. I have yet to see anything that makes it "so" much better than other options. That's not to say it doesn't have things others do not. And that's not to discount aesthetics - but that's really pretty subjective to me.

 

[Patriot24]

I think it's one of those products you either get or don't. And for anyone to be fair about it, they need to spend more than a week or two with it.

You either get it, or you don't, or you don't and you do in 6 months.

A lot of the current naysayers will have one their wrists after long.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Doesn't 'do anything'? Really? I think he sports a Moto 360 regularly though? So then that means if the Apple Watch can't do anything the Moto 360 does that he actually finds useful, then I guess for him it's at least 'the same' as the 360 which he claims to love?

But he's using an android phone as his daily driver so it probably wouldn't be that useful to him as his iPhone is not really in use.

I mean there is a debate as to whether it is a NEED or a WANT but it does do quite a lot. On contrast I've never been interested in any of the android wear watches because they are basically Google now on your wrist. Which to me always seemed limited especially in comparison to the galaxy gear watches which can do a lot more. In addition, Google now has never done anything much for me apart from telling me the weather, soccer team scores and distance to home/work. I know it's a lot more useful for other people but it wasn't really for me.

 

[Rogifan]

Well one thing could be is that they are looking on how it's better/different than what exists. I honestly don't know. But perhaps those "struggling" as you call it are trying to figure out "why" they should "praise" it. Again - I don't know.

Personally I find the Apple Watch a nice addition to the smart wearables category. I have yet to see anything that makes it "so" much better than other options. That's not to say it doesn't have things others do not. And that's not to discount aesthetics - but that's really pretty subjective to me.

I'm not saying the professional reviewers/techies have to praise it, I just find it interesting that some seemed to struggle with it more than the average joes in my Twitter feed. Personally I'm not looking at the Watch through the lense of is it better than Android Wear watches. How does one define better anyway? Seems completely subjective.

 

[samcraig]

But he's using an android phone as his daily driver so it probably wouldn't be that useful to him as his iPhone is not really in use.

I mean there is too for debate as to whether it is a NEED or a WANT but it does do quite a lot. On contrast I've never been interested in any of the android wear watches because they are basically Google now on your wrist. Which to me always seemed limited especially in comparison to the galaxy gear watches which can do a lot more. In addition, Google now has never done anything much for apart from telling me the weather, soccer team scores and distance to home/work. I know it's a lot more useful for other people but it wasn't really for me.

The format is similar - but Android Wear does a lot of what the Apple Watch can do. Alerts, responding to texts, email. Making lists. Using it for activity tracking, etc.

The interface is very google now, but it's not "just" google now by any stretch.

 

[Symtex]

Breaking News : Leo Laporte is pointless and irrelevant

 

[samcraig]

I'm not saying the professional reviewers/techies have to praise it, I just find it interesting that some seemed to struggle with it more than the average joes in my Twitter feed. Personally I'm not looking at the Watch through the lense of is it better than Android Wear watches. How does one define better anyway? Seems completely subjective.

No argument there. I also think it's somewhat irrelevant given what I've stated before on this forum. Do they compete? Somewhat - but ultimately, at this stage, Android Wear and the Apple Watch (I am only speaking of these two entities) are platform specific. So comparing sales #s or suggesting that one is "beating" the other is a bit silly. To me anyway.

I can't think of a single person I know that would make a phone purchasing decision based on what smart watch they would want to use. More likely they would buy their phone and then look at their watch OPTIONS.

My biggest "beef" with the media has been some ignoring functionality that exists on other smartwatches (not just Android Wear) and stating that the Apple Watch is the first/whatever to do X. It shows a lack of research - or worse bias. I would like to believe it's just pure ignorance.

 

[Shanghaichica]

The format is similar - but Android Wear does a lot of what the Apple Watch can do. Alerts, responding to texts, email. Making lists. Using it for activity tracking, etc.

The interface is very google now, but it's not "just" google now by any stretch.

Maybe I was wearing my Samsung tinted glasses when I looked into android wear

However I just felt that the gear watches (tizen based) were a lot more functional. I might/probably would have bought the gear S if I'd stayed with Samsung instead of switching back to the iPhone.

 

[Mark Booth]

Without reading those articles, I did listen to his TWIT show this morning, and he seemed to like it. He said the Apple Watch might be enough to switch him back to iPhone from Android, but he hadn't decided yet.

He did also say that he didn't think that there was too much that the apple watch had that android wear didn't, and that android wear would be catching up soon enough. But he did seem to think it's the best currently available. He admitted that it's a more a luxury than a necessity, but I think we would all agree to that

I listed to Sunday's TWiT this morning. My impression from Leo's comment was that he was disappointed with the Apple Watch now that he has one. That he didn't really feel it offered any killer app over what's available on Android Wear.

But that's coming from a person that has routinely been a bit sour on Apple since Steve Jobs caught him pointing a laptop camera at the stage during an Apple event, which resulted in Leo not getting invited to any Apple events since. Leo denies he's bitter, but his comments seem to indicate otherwise.

FWIW, Leo also thought he saw a scratch on the sapphire crystal face of the 38mm SS Apple Watch he had. I'd be very surprised if that were true, and I find it curious that he just left the issue hanging.

Mark

 

[brianus]

Apple Pay without disconnecting my phone from the head unit of my car as I get drive through. Plus!

Whoa whoa... back up. Who the heck supports Apple Pay at drive through windows?! I've never heard of this before.

 

[Rogifan]

No argument there. I also think it's somewhat irrelevant given what I've stated before on this forum. Do they compete? Somewhat - but ultimately, at this stage, Android Wear and the Apple Watch (I am only speaking of these two entities) are platform specific. So comparing sales #s or suggesting that one is "beating" the other is a bit silly. To me anyway.

I can't think of a single person I know that would make a phone purchasing decision based on what smart watch they would want to use. More likely they would buy their phone and then look at their watch OPTIONS.

My biggest "beef" with the media has been some ignoring functionality that exists on other smartwatches (not just Android Wear) and stating that the Apple Watch is the first/whatever to do X. It shows a lack of research - or worse bias. I would like to believe it's just pure ignorance.

Ha it's not bias. It's most likely ignorance.

----------

I listed to Sunday's TWiT this morning. My impression from Leo's comment was that he was disappointed with the Apple Watch now that he has one. That he didn't really feel it offered any killer app over what's available on Android Wear.

But that's coming from a person that has routinely been a bit sour on Apple since Steve Jobs caught him pointing a laptop camera at the stage during an Apple event, which resulted in Leo not getting invited to any Apple events since. Leo denies he's bitter, but his comments seem to indicate otherwise.

Mark

I wish we could ban the phrase "killer app". What's the "killer app" on the iPhone or iPad? My guess is it will be different for everyone. And when the iPhone first came out it was Safari (i.e. the internet).

 

[jspicoli]

He said this on his radio show the other day. Said it was an OK pedometer but that was it. I don't have the watch so I can't really comment but below are two first impressions that certainly don't share his opinion.

http://watchaware.com/post/11253/quick-thoughts-using-apple-watch-few-days

http://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2015/4/25/apple-watch-what-did-apple-just-roll-out-here

It makes me wonder if some in the tech world are overthinking the watch. Jason Snell's review was 2,700 words. The Verge employed over 30 people in its review. Perhaps the average consumer "gets" it better because they're not over thinking it or over complicating it.

I'll be curious to listen to the first hour of a Rush Limbaugh's show today. He's a big Apple fanboy who's been negative on the watch. But he received two watches (I believe as gifts) and he said after going through the online user guide he was becoming more intrigued by it. I only caught the beginning of his second hour where he said with heavy use he was getting 16-20 hours battery life so far.

Leo Laportes molests collies.

 

[Dmaynard83]

If you listen to Leo's podcast he sometimes has outbursts that show he is more of an android fan. At one point he outright says Android is better than iPhones in every way. It's okay to be an android fan, but when he comments on iOS devices you have to take it with a grain of salt knowing where is coming from.

Also if you listen to his podcast on the watch it's clear he doesn't read up or know much about the watch. He complains that apps are slow, but if you are in this forum you know by now that it's only 3rd party apps that are slow.

After saying 3rd party apps are slow he goes on to say he doesn't see the point in getting the watch.

If feel like if you are a reviewer you should indicate if you are an android or iphone so we know if their view is skewed and can take their critique with a grain of salt.

 

[Trius]

Leo Laportes s̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶A̶p̶p̶l̶e̶ ̶W̶a̶t̶c̶h̶ is pointless and doesn't do anything

ftfy

 

[lekun]

TWiT and Leo

Breaking News : Leo Laporte is pointless and irrelevant

Leo stopped getting invited to Apple events around the time of the iPhone 3G and iPhone 4, and since then he switched to Android "because it was better." Since then he has been reluctant to say much good about Apple, despite their unprecedented success.

I'm sure his switch to Android being the same time he lost his access was just a coincidence.

Remember when he got angry at Twitter for using a name like "TWiT" and tried to get everyone on an open source messaging service, and spent show after show talking bad about Twitter? How did that work out?

Guy has a small man's complex.