One could argue the killer app on the original iPhone was Safari. The killer "app" for the watch might be Siri.
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The Quest for Quality: Five of the Most Useful Apple Watch Apps
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One could argue the killer app on the original iPhone was Safari. The killer "app" for the watch might be Siri.
I mean, Duh. What can you really do on a watch to make the damned thing worthwhile owning? Now you'll have folks constantly looking at their watch, tapping it, looking closely at it. What odd behaviors this device will bring about, second only to the readers/ texters while walking city streets with the iPhone crowd.
Kontrolln for the Nest is another great app for the watch. When it get stuffy I always want to turn on the fan, and I can do it from my watch now.
oddly, the apple watch name for it is nestapp on the watch and in the watch app, which is probably a bug.
oddly, the apple watch name for it is nestapp on the watch and in the watch app, which is probably a bug.
It's the same debate about a "real" computer being better than a smartphone for doing nearly everything. The difference is the smartphone is always in your pocket while your laptop or desktop is not and that makes it worth the tradeoff. Now with a watch you don't have to dig in your pocket for your phone for everything. It's another level of convenience but likewise comes with its own tradeoffs. I don't think anyone would argue that significantly smaller screens are ever going to be as good as larger ones for most things.
That I don't agree with. Safari was OK, but I had decent mobile browser experiences before iPhone and Safari.
I think you were spot on with the Internet in general though. When I think about the things I do with my phone - for instance, back in '09 my finances were tight so I couldn't get my iBook repaired (my MacBook had been stolen), but with access to google docs and Office compatible files I was able to work on papers as well as submit collaborative work that could be accessed later through my university's computers. My iPhone 3G became my de facto computer.
Workflow is one of my favorite iPhone apps... and I was pumped when I saw it has Apple Watch support. Being able to tap my watch screen and do some pretty complex tasks without even reaching into my pocket was pretty attractive. Unfortunately, I've found the watch app to be terrible.
First of all, the app will sometimes cause the entire watch to crash and restart (which is not unique to Workflow, but needs to be corrected asap).
Secondly, it's so miserably slow that it is considerably faster to pull my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, open the Workflow app, and hit the button I'm trying to access. I have no idea why it is so slow... but I'm not exaggerating. I tested it this morning, and it is literally much faster to get my phone out.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, some of the most useful workflows I use get halfway through the process, and then tell me to "handoff to the iPhone". Why would I start something on my watch that I'm going to have to pick up halfway through on my phone? It completely defeats the purpose.
I'm hoping these issues get worked out as developers have more "hands-on" time with the watch. But right now, I find Workflow to be virtually unusable.
First of all, the app will sometimes cause the entire watch to crash and restart (which is not unique to Workflow, but needs to be corrected asap).
Secondly, it's so miserably slow that it is considerably faster to pull my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, open the Workflow app, and hit the button I'm trying to access. I have no idea why it is so slow... but I'm not exaggerating. I tested it this morning, and it is literally much faster to get my phone out.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, some of the most useful workflows I use get halfway through the process, and then tell me to "handoff to the iPhone". Why would I start something on my watch that I'm going to have to pick up halfway through on my phone? It completely defeats the purpose.
I'm hoping these issues get worked out as developers have more "hands-on" time with the watch. But right now, I find Workflow to be virtually unusable.
There really isn't any consensus one way or another. It's simply whatever it is to you as an individual based on your life, your needs, your wants, etc.
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Yup, that is ultimately the main thing that it comes down to.
Using a calculator app on your watch is better than the one on my phone because I don't have to pull my phone out of my pocket at the dinner table.
Getting my heart rate on my watch is better than on my phone because my phone can't tell me my heart rate.
Having my next calendar appointment appear on my watch face is better than in the notification center on my phone because I can lift my wrist up and glance down to look at it instead of reaching into my pocket, hitting the home button to turn on the phone, swiping down from the top then glancing at the next calendar appointment on the screen.
I can go on...
And that's assuming you even heard the alert and/or felt the vibration for it and didn't just completely miss it when the phone was in your pocket or lying on the table or something like that.
As for heart rate, while it's definitely much more convenient with something like a phone, just thought I'd point out there are apps on the phone that will measure your heart rate as well (using the camera and the flash light).
Yes, I definitely have enjoyed some of that convenience. However, outside of notifications, I always wonder if I should have just pulled my phone out for doing anything more significant.
Occasionally when shopping I will use my watch for a shopping list (Google Keep) which is handier. The Turn-by-Turn directions are nice on my wrist.
But as you said - not really "must haves". I feel awkward talking to my wrist as well, just to give it voice commands. I always feel self conscious about that. We'll see
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I agree. Safari in my pocket was HUGE. So was having Google Maps. I cannot tell you how many of my friends were intrigued by the iPhone because of that.
Also - it meant that your iPod was always with you. The iPod was often "optional" for folks. But now since it was in your phone, it was always around.
The Apple Watch has nothing like these. In fact, it is the opposite of the iPod/iPhone integration we see above. This has nothing to do with the Apple Watch either. I can generalize that to the entire SmartWatch category. I find the same things about my Google Wear device.
Occasionally when shopping I will use my watch for a shopping list (Google Keep) which is handier. The Turn-by-Turn directions are nice on my wrist.
But as you said - not really "must haves". I feel awkward talking to my wrist as well, just to give it voice commands. I always feel self conscious about that. We'll see
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I agree. Safari in my pocket was HUGE. So was having Google Maps. I cannot tell you how many of my friends were intrigued by the iPhone because of that.
Also - it meant that your iPod was always with you. The iPod was often "optional" for folks. But now since it was in your phone, it was always around.
The Apple Watch has nothing like these. In fact, it is the opposite of the iPod/iPhone integration we see above. This has nothing to do with the Apple Watch either. I can generalize that to the entire SmartWatch category. I find the same things about my Google Wear device.
Funny, instead of a calculator I just use Siri for math now. When she works, she works pretty well.
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Yeah, those loads suck. I wonder what's happening when that spinner is going...BLE communication?
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apple or the dev. still need to optimize the app load time better
all this technology and i still see the spinning loading icon?!
Yeah, those loads suck. I wonder what's happening when that spinner is going...BLE communication?
Just an (somewhat) opposing view:
1. For a lot of apps (that I haven't seen, since I don't have my watch, yet), it does make sense to use the phone, but where I work, if you want to use your phone, you have to stop, and when things on campus can be over a mile away, sometimes just getting the info you need by looking at your wrist is more convenient.
2. Reading e-mail - I'll take the phone
3. Reading web pages - I'll take the phone
4. Reading books - I'll take the hardback
5. Checking the time - I'll take the watch
6. Seeing who is calling - I'll take the watch, then use the bluetooth headset to answer the call (handsfree, we don't have to stop walking)
7. Stock quotes - I'll take the watch
8. Weather - I'll just look out the window
9. To-Do List - Phone, or computer...
10. Heart/pedometer - Watch
I guess the point is that we may be agreeing, but from two different angles. Maybe it's just to use the best tool for the job...
They would have a lot more apps on the watch store if they would hire some fing reviewers. I have an app update to add watch functionality that's been waiting 16 days to go into review. Over half a month apple really? Wtf you have how many billions in cash so hire some reviewers.
OmniFocus has a great watch app, very well designed. I use it all the time, to decide what to do next, check off tasks, and add new ones as I think of them. I use Evernote a lot on my iPad and Mac but have been less impressed with their watch app so far.
A couple that I like are:
Insteon: this one is great if you have Insteon connected light switches/devices in your home. I can turn on/off lights, dim them, turn on/off "scenes", control my Nest Thermostat (though I'm interested in a native app from Nest) and even open my garage door all from the watch, and it is nicely designed.
Transit Stop: this is great if it is available in your city for public transit. I live in Chicago, so I use it on my way out the door every morning to make sure I don't have to wait for the bus.
I may post others as I start using them/ as more become available.
Insteon: this one is great if you have Insteon connected light switches/devices in your home. I can turn on/off lights, dim them, turn on/off "scenes", control my Nest Thermostat (though I'm interested in a native app from Nest) and even open my garage door all from the watch, and it is nicely designed.
Transit Stop: this is great if it is available in your city for public transit. I live in Chicago, so I use it on my way out the door every morning to make sure I don't have to wait for the bus.
I may post others as I start using them/ as more become available.
no mention of dictate texting? i find that to be the most useful, especially while driving. i'm quite surprise on how well it work, 8/10
youre thinking about it wrong.
the best uses for the AW (or wearables) wont be dicking around w/ apps on them. it will be what they *do* for you. im a developer and i sit around all day in an office. now my watch is tracking my activity and reminding me to get my ass up every hour. this is useful. likewise w/ the move and exercise goals, which utilize game theory to make them more engaging for me. likewise with pushing only notifications i care about to me, displayed immediately on my wrist and invisible to all others. in the future it will also mean opening doors, cars, etc.
wearables *do*.
I am absolutely loving my Apple Watch, but I'm not sure I would call it a "must have". That said, I would really miss it if I didn't have it.
I didn't have high expectations of gaming or super complex tasks on my wrist. I like watches already and was thrilled at the idea of having one that did so much more than just tell time.
I really enjoy the fitness tracking capabilities and I love not pulling out my phone for every little thing.
I really do feel like I'm becoming more productive - and that surprised me. I find myself checking the phone a lot less unless I absolutely "need" to. The watch is very much in the background, doing its thing, yet feels increasingly indispensable.
Getting back to what you asked ... It's hard to put it into words. To me, there is nothing that really screams, "OMG, where has this been all my life?!"; however, the longer I have it, the more I would not want to part with it.
The first developer to do this was destined to make a lot of money, whether they charged for it or not.
I have never understood why Apple chose not to offer their calculator app for the iPad when it launched, and not the Watch.
Makes no sense to me.
These gadgets are just making the humankind dumber and dumber.
Look at the the pathetic apps that lists stuff to do: cut hair, call mom, go to store, clean up garage, etc.
Why can't you use your brain to calculate the tip? Work that brain muscle more. I mean I can see how the iPhone has greatly enhanced life in the perspective of being able to go everywhere using GPS/navi apps, calling people seeing how their are doing via FaceTime, sending messages with videos and voice, all sorts of life enhancing product apps.
Now you just have these answers to no problems to begin with - the apple watch is just superfluous. It's almost as if people are trying so hard to come up with an app that makes the watch useful.
Look at the the pathetic apps that lists stuff to do: cut hair, call mom, go to store, clean up garage, etc.
Why can't you use your brain to calculate the tip? Work that brain muscle more. I mean I can see how the iPhone has greatly enhanced life in the perspective of being able to go everywhere using GPS/navi apps, calling people seeing how their are doing via FaceTime, sending messages with videos and voice, all sorts of life enhancing product apps.
Now you just have these answers to no problems to begin with - the apple watch is just superfluous. It's almost as if people are trying so hard to come up with an app that makes the watch useful.