Smart watches, what's the point?

[tromboneaholic]

Is it though? You may remember that 2G phones went really small, to the point they had become difficult to use. The phone has now gone in the opposite direction again.

The smartwatch is nothing more than a companion device. It's too small to be functional for reading documents, emailing or watching movies comfortably.

As i have discussed with more optimistic members, the iPhone used to require a computer with iTunes installed, so it was essentially a companion device as well. We can already see the first steps being taken to untether Apple Watch in the same fashion the iPhone was untethered from the computer.

 

[Lankyman]

See answer 2 in post 72 - I will not be making further comment.

 

[44267547]

The smartwatch is nothing more than a companion device. It's too small to be functional for reading documents, emailing or watching movies comfortably.

I was initially going to just read some current posts in this thread without further commenting, then I came across this specific quote from you, and it’s absolutely comical and I don’t mean to be rude either. Why would anyone, and I mean anyone, want to watch movies comfortably on a smart watch? I think this statement right here shows you how little you actually can appreciate a smart watch for its capabilities beyond your own reasoning.

 

[colonelbutt]

See answer 2 in post 72 - I will not be making further comment.

After making a troll post, you suddenly pretend to have logic.

You made a stupid comment. Loads of people pointed it out and now you need to admit you are wrong and move on.

 

[XtremeArtists]

Short and sweet - is the so called 'smart watch' the most boring and pointless bit of tech ever invented (whoever makes them)?

No. it's one of the most exciting and useful bit of tech ever invented.

Just ask any of the people who say Apple Watch helped save their life.

 

[Jordan921]

Is it though? You may remember that 2G phones went really small, to the point they had become difficult to use. The phone has now gone in the opposite direction again.

The smartwatch is nothing more than a companion device. It's too small to be functional for reading documents, emailing or watching movies comfortably.

Who the hell would watch a movie on a watch. Smh

 

[tromboneaholic]

Who the hell would watch a movie on a watch. Smh

Apple Watch Series 8 will stream movies to Apple iGlasses.

 

[Jordan921]

Apple Watch Series 8 will stream movies to Apple iGlasses.

I can’t wait

 

[sean000]

Nope wrong

Couldn’t have a phone without my Apple Watch

Anybody who has a high number of notifications needs an apple watch

Couldn't agree with this more. Silent notifications are the killer feature. Whenever I hear someone's smartphone beeping or buzzing, my first thought is:

 

[MDePew24]

A smart watch, like most things, isn’t a necessary thing to own. Same thing with a smart phone, or any phone for that matter. Just because someone doesn’t like it doesn’t make it a stupid or useless product. I use mine and like it for reasons that others might not.

It gets really old having people create posts to just say something that they don’t like is useless and stupid. If that’s what you think, fine, Of course you have an opinion and can share it but just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

 

[Just Mark]

As a fan and collector of fine mechanical watches, I've said for years that their was no need to have a smartwatch. The reality is that I fear that I will like it if I get one and I'll neglect my mechanical watch hobby.

Now my wife wants us to get Apple Watches for xmas. She reminds me that I have spent more servicing my watches than we will spend on the Apple Watches.

I think that we will get them for all the reasons mentioned in this thread plus the biggest reason not mentioned: Dick Tracy!

 

[Partridge]

As a fan and collector of fine mechanical watches, I've said for years that their was no need to have a smartwatch. The reality is that I fear that I will like it if I get one and I'll neglect my mechanical watch hobby.

Now my wife wants us to get Apple Watches for xmas. She reminds me that I have spent more servicing my watches than we will spend on the Apple Watches.

I think that we will get them for all the reasons mentioned in this thread plus the biggest reason not mentioned: Dick Tracy!

This is true. Even the cost of a single basic service on one my non-smart watches is enough to purchase an Apple Watch. Puts it in perspective I guess.

 

[sean000]

What I have been telling people for years is that the Apple Watch has improved my relationship with my iPhone. I turn to the watch for so many brief interactions that I can go for longer periods without looking at my iPhone and getting sucked into social media or the news.

I also believe that silencing my notifications and moving them to my wrist has reduced my stress and helped me minimize the notifications I do receive to only those that are truly useful or necessary. I can postpone or quickly act on a notification without it detailing what I’m currently focusing on.

I’ve been buying techno gadgets since the 1980’s, and I’d say this is one of the best.

 

[OLDGUYWITHAHIFI]

I like to monitor my heart rate because my family has a history of heart issues. I like to get a buzz on my wrist when I get a call, text or email because I played in too many bands and my hearing sucks.

I use a smart watch at the gym and sync it with my Bose headphones. Don't even need to bring my phone to the gym. I answer calls on my watch because it has LTE and I don't always like to take my phone everywhere. Somebody asks me about the weather I look at my watch. I get a text I look at my watch.

I go mountain biking and use Strava to track my rides. All done on my watch. Pointless to some but not to me.

Can't do any of that with my Rolex. The only thing good about a Rolex is it keeps good time and people recognize it. I am at an age where I don't care about either.

 

[PN4]

Couldn't agree with this more. Silent notifications are the killer feature. Whenever I hear someone's smartphone beeping or buzzing, my first thought is:

View attachment 809928

Yes! It's 2018. No ringtones, no ringers, no chirps, no beeps, no buzzes. Silence your phone!

 

[sean000]

Yes! It's 2018. No ringtones, no ringers, no chirps, no beeps, no buzzes. Silence your phone!

My favorite (not) is when someone picks a super annoying song as their ringtone and then turns the volume up to eleven. Whenever they get a phone call everyone within half a block stops what they are doing and glares in their direction. It's really special when the same people forget to silence their phones in a theater, restaurant, or other quiet space. The Apple Watch means I never have to think about silencing my devices when I'm in a quiet space.

My wife also appreciate my Apple Watch, and the fact that I sleep with it on. I like to hit the snooze button. This used to drive my wife crazy. For the last three years I wake up to a silent tap/vibration on my wrist and my wife has no idea how many times I snooze the alarm. I get sleep tracking out of it as well, which has encouraged me to go to bed earlier.

 

[The Game 161]

After making a troll post, you suddenly pretend to have logic.

You made a stupid comment. Loads of people pointed it out and now you need to admit you are wrong and move on.

Trolls don’t ever admit they are wrong. They post just to get a reaction after all.

 

[xDKP]

In Apple's case, Apple Watch (or smart watch) is their answer to an LED notification light.

It's a classic Apple solution, make the customer pay more for yet another device rather than honoring the original request. Add in just enough features that no one asked for but will appreciate and thus justify the creation of the device. Over time expand on those features and make people dependent on them just like with their other devices.

And the kicker? Well, the watch ALSO tells the time.

Wait... What?! Not gonna feed the trolls, but to compare a fully capable health and fitness watch (among other thing the AW does) to a LED on a phone? Seriously dude?

 

[tromboneaholic]

Trolls don’t ever admit they are wrong. They post just to get a reaction after all.

This thread was posted in a dark corner as if the OP intentionally wanted to rant against smartwatches away from anyone who had firsthand experience with one. Then it was moved.
[doublepost=1544562961][/doublepost]

Wait... What?! Not gonna feed the trolls, but to compare a fully capable health and fitness watch (among other thing the AW does) to a LED on a phone? Seriously dude?

That LED does a lot of good when your phone is in another room and you have 4 messages, 3 voicemails, and 2 emails. Kind of like how much better a faster horse is than a car.

 

[eyoungren]

Wait... What?! Not gonna feed the trolls, but to compare a fully capable health and fitness watch (among other thing the AW does) to a LED on a phone? Seriously dude?

You are putting the cart before the horse.

I ask you for a drink to go with my happy meal from McDonalds. I offer to pay for it repeatedly and am ignored.

Later on you offer me a $450 bottle of wine at a 5-star restaurant, but I have to pay for both the wine and the meal.

It certainly will meet my request. But it's NOT anything I was expecting and it's certainly NOT what I ASKED for.

 

[sean000]

In Apple's case, Apple Watch (or smart watch) is their answer to an LED notification light.

It's a classic Apple solution, make the customer pay more for yet another device rather than honoring the original request. Add in just enough features that no one asked for but will appreciate and thus justify the creation of the device. Over time expand on those features and make people dependent on them just like with their other devices.

And the kicker? Well, the watch ALSO tells the time.

I agree that the iPhone should have an LED notification light, but I don’t see the connection to the Apple Watch. An LED notification light works only when that side of the phone is visible. My iPhone is usually in the front pocket of my shoulder bag. 90% of the time an LED light would be worthless to me. You also kind of glossed over the fitness aspects, information at a glance, ability to snooze or act on a notification without getting my iPhone out, control music from my wrist, etc. I bought the original Apple Watch when it first came out, and these were features available at the time of release.

 

[swarlos]

This thread, what’s the point?

 

[eyoungren]

I agree that the iPhone should have an LED notification light, but I don’t see the connection to the Apple Watch. An LED notification light works only when that side of the phone is visible. My iPhone is usually in the front pocket of my shoulder bag. 90% of the time an LED light would be worthless to me. You also kind of glossed over the fitness aspects, information at a glance, ability to snooze or act on a notification without getting my iPhone out, control music from my wrist, etc. I bought the original Apple Watch when it first came out, and these were features available at the time of release.

99% of the time, my iPhone is sitting on my desk, a couch or chair arm, a table, or in a cup holder. If it's in my pocket, I don't have an issue taking it out.

I also don't normally play music on my phone, so using a watch to control that is not a factor for me. I have an iPhone 5, an iPhone 4, an iPhone 4s and a 6th Gen iPad I can use for that, but most often it's one of my Macs.

I sit in front of computers for 99% of my day. The watch doesn't really offer me anything because I'm never away from those or my iPhone.

The connection is that an LED light is what was asked for. Instead Apple provided a watch that you strap to your wrist that provides notifications, instead of an LED light.

As for glossing over all the other stuff…that isn't what I asked Apple for. I asked for an LED light. They gave me a watch with health stuff. I don't deny the health stuff is useful to those who need/want it. But that isn't what I asked them for.

 

[Knight3]

You are putting the cart before the horse.

I ask you for a drink to go with my happy meal from McDonalds. I offer to pay for it repeatedly and am ignored.

Later on you offer me a $450 bottle of wine at a 5-star restaurant, but I have to pay for both the wine and the meal.

It certainly will meet my request. But it's NOT anything I was expecting and it's certainly NOT what I ASKED for.

Your responses give the impression of an "ENTITLED" human being. Like everything has to be your way even when it's someone else's business.
[doublepost=1544630262][/doublepost]

99% of the time, my iPhone is sitting on my desk, a couch or chair arm, a table, or in a cup holder. If it's in my pocket, I don't have an issue taking it out.

I also don't normally play music on my phone, so using a watch to control that is not a factor for me. I have an iPhone 5, an iPhone 4, an iPhone 4s and a 6th Gen iPad I can use for that, but most often it's one of my Macs.

I sit in front of computers for 99% of my day. The watch doesn't really offer me anything because I'm never away from those or my iPhone.

The connection is that an LED light is what was asked for. Instead Apple provided a watch that you strap to your wrist that provides notifications, instead of an LED light.

As for glossing over all the other stuff…that isn't what I asked Apple for. I asked for an LED light. They gave me a watch with health stuff. I don't deny the health stuff is useful to those who need/want it. But that isn't what I asked them for.

An LED might be the solution to your first world problem and that's all you wanted but there are millions out there who wanted all the features an Apple Watch has to offer.
A company cannot go about their products fulfilling every customer's whim. No product is for everyone. If you find a product that works for you, you buy it. Don't go blaming a company for not giving some trivial feature you wanted.

EDIT: It's a different thing when something you paid for doesn't work right. You didn't pay for an LED light and you're very aware an iPhone doesn't and will NOT have one when you purchased one.

 

[eyoungren]

Your responses give the impression of an "ENTITLED" human being. Like everything has to be your way even when it's someone else's business.

No, I'm not being entitled. This particular request has been discussed by many people who share the same opinion on MacRumors. If you scroll up to the second post (I think) I made in this thread you will see a listing of multiple threads about the topic.

An LED might be the solution to your first world problem and that's all you wanted but there are millions out there who wanted all the features an Apple Watch has to offer.

Ah, but there's the rub. As I explained earlier in this thread, those features are ex post facto. In other words, they were not being asked for BEFORE Apple released the watch. It's only AFTER Apple released the watch that those features were recognized as valuable and thus became desirable.

You can't prove something true beforehand by using evidence that only came afterwards.

A company cannot go about their products fulfilling every customer's whim. No product is for everyone. If you find a product that works for you, you buy it. Don't go blaming a company for not giving some trivial feature you wanted.

See here's the disconnect. You claim that an LED notification light is trivial. Why? Probably because you wouldn't use that feature, it's not important to you, etc.

The health data that the Apple Watch provides is NOT trivial to you though. I assume your defense of it means you take it seriously. Well, I don't. I recognize that it has value to others, but it's trivial to me because I don't need or want it. So, our definition of trivial is entirely different.

And I can blame Apple for offering an expensive solution to an inexpensive problem. Because that's what they have always done. I'm just pointing that out. I'm in this discussion now because people seem to want to deny that this is what Apple does, not because it's anything I get angry about. So, whether the result is beneficial to others or not, the fact is that many people asked for a simple solution and Apple responded by providing a more expensive one.

EDIT: It's a different thing when something you paid for doesn't work right. You didn't pay for an LED light and you're very aware an iPhone doesn't and will NOT have one when you purchased one.

Well, this feature isn't a deal-breaker for me and never has been.