Series 3 has some very interesting updates I’m not sure was mentioned, like A-GPS

[clauzzz203]

Reference please? That is contrary to everything I've seen over several years of being interested in the topic. I'd love to know more about the topic.
http://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/gpsworld_Innovation_0302.pdf




I suspect you may be conflating aGPS with Wifi-positioning a la Skyhook Wireless's products and/or using the nearest cell tower location as a first approximation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_Wireless
http://www.poi-factory.com/node/33259
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_phone_tracking


In any event, it really doesn't matter. My AW2 gets a solid position fix in a matter of seconds, based on viewing the starting points of many runs. At the time of starting the GPS my phone has been in a metal locker, about 150 away, through several concrete walls. No connection to the watch. Any improvement brought by the cellular capability of the AW3 will be minor IMHO outside of exceptional circumstances..

Here you go
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltech...90/sifting-through-an-iphones-data-row-by-row

 

[deeddawg]

Here you go
http://www.npr.org/sections/alltech...90/sifting-through-an-iphones-data-row-by-row

Thanks but that doesn't address the part I was asking about:

A-GPS means Assisted GPS which means the cell tower locations of the LTE signal are known in advance on a map, and can be used to confirm position via triangulation before the GPS signal lock is established.

Reference please? That is contrary to everything I've seen over several years of being interested in the topic. I'd love to know more about the topic.
http://www.gpsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/gpsworld_Innovation_0302.pdf

I don't dispute the phones kept track of towers. Cell providers regularly keep track of which tower a phone accesses. I've been on jury in a murder trial where those records were brought up as evidence.

None of which means that A-GPS refers to phones using tower triangulation to gain it's location.

 

[tivoboy]

Yeah that has been known for many months, doubt it will be activated as that will nullify one of the main selling points of the Series 3 which is the barometer which measures elevation parameters, Floors climbed which are vital for a complete fitness tracking profile. If you carry your phone with you all times during the day then the lack of a barometer in the series 2 is not that big of a deal as the iPhone measures it instead, however I walk up and down stairs multiple times during the day and I don’t have the iPhone on me at all times and the Apple Watch simply doesn’t count these climbed floors as it has no built in barometer

I think they might activate it, I think the main selling point is obviously the LTE inclusion.

Elevation is easily tracked by GPS and mapping overlays, but folks who want to use apps like skiing/snowboarding and hardcore hiking will want the barometer for max elevation changes and things like that.. once the apps take more shape maybe app will see their way to activate it for Series 2.

 

[Benz63amg]

I think they might activate it, I think the main selling point is obviously the LTE inclusion.

Elevation is easily tracked by GPS and mapping overlays, but folks who want to use apps like skiing/snowboarding and hardcore hiking will want the barometer for max elevation changes and things like that.. once the apps take more shape maybe app will see their way to activate it for Series 2.

I highly doubt they will activate it in the Series 2. They haven’t even officially acknowledged the series 2 has a barometer lol what makes you think they will magically enable it for us? They need to sell their new shiny Series 3 and the ability to track climbed steps and elevation change is a major selling point,I would love if they did enabled the barometer in the series 2 as I am keeping my SS Series 2 and would love to have my watch be able to track climbed steps and elevation change, the minor differences in the series 3 this year (with the exception of the barometer which is a big deal) doesn’t logically justify selling this year and losing out on the sale so I’ll be keeping my Series 2 for another year.

 

[deeddawg]

I think they might activate it, I think the main selling point is obviously the LTE inclusion.

Elevation is easily tracked by GPS and mapping overlays, but folks who want to use apps like skiing/snowboarding and hardcore hiking will want the barometer for max elevation changes and things like that.. once the apps take more shape maybe app will see their way to activate it for Series 2.

Strictly speaking, yes GPS provides elevation as part of the 3D fix data but the Z-axis accuracy is poor. Has to do with the physics, if anyone's interested hit up Mr Google or PM me. Sites like Strava and Garmin.com use the GIS elevation data in lieu of the GPS elevation data. Nike Run Club is an exception and seems to ignore it.

Barometric altimeter is best at differential elevation changes, it still need to calibrate against GPS or whatever in order to give an actual altitude. Thus it's great for many activities if you're mostly interested in the delta-elevation. Even without GPS it'll work to help the AW3 identify taking the stairs instead of elevator for activity tracking matters..

I'd be surprised if it's ever activated in the AW2 given that it seems to be a differentiator against the AW3

 

[warburg]

A lot of ways, I think the Series 2 Apple Watch was a significant improvement over the first generation, but I question how much improvement the Series 3 is over the Series 2. Mainly LTE is the biggest selling point with the Series 3.