The Quest for Quality: Five of the Most Useful Apple Watch Apps

[supersalo]

I've created an app for the Watch and iPhone that gives you real-time info for air quality. It can even notify you when the air quality reaches a certain category (Unhealthy, Moderate, etc)

It's currently available only in the U.S. but is expanding to the UK soon

http://fresh-air-app.com/

 

[Judas1]

Can we officially call the Apple watch a failure yet? I get that some people out there find the watch beneficial. But you're not the norm. This watch is useless for everybody else. The more apps that come out, the more clear this becomes.

 

[Lictor]

Yes, a failure that sold more in a week that all the competition combined in two years... I would love to see your definition of a success... Or how you can consider anything you have done in your life a success with that kind of definition....

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It's currently available only in the U.S. but is expanding to the UK soon

Sounds useful... Are you considering expanding it for other countries in Europe ? And to include allergens alerts too ?

 

[Khedron]

Do Americans really need a calculator/app to work out a 10% tip and then divide it between a few people?

 

[MNJohn]

I've created an app for the Watch and iPhone that gives you real-time info for air quality. It can even notify you when the air quality reaches a certain category (Unhealthy, Moderate, etc)

It's currently available only in the U.S. but is expanding to the UK soon

http://fresh-air-app.com/

Great, this app should enable wearers to decide which days to go to outside and travel to their jobs to earn a living based upon a schedule compatible with acceptable air quality. Does your boss allow you to only show up at work on days with good air quality? What am I missing here???

 

[MLVC]

Yes, a failure that sold more in a week that all the competition combined in two years... I would love to see your definition of a success... Or how you can consider anything you have done in your life a success with that kind of definition....

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Sounds useful... Are you considering expanding it for other countries in Europe ? And to include allergens alerts too ?

I'd love that!

 

[chiffchaff]

Great, this app should enable wearers to decide which days to go to outside and travel to their jobs to earn a living based upon a schedule compatible with acceptable air quality. Does your boss allow you to only show up at work on days with good air quality? What am I missing here???

Someone who runs or bikes outside for exercise might want to defer or move their workout inside. A mom with an asthmatic kid might want to keep him or her indoors. A commuter might want to take mass transit instead of driving their car to avoid adding to the problem (where I live, weather and topography are factors in periods of "bad air" so burning wood for heat is restricted and driving is discouraged at these times). These are just a few examples that immediately come to mind.

 

[doelcm82]

Great, this app should enable wearers to decide which days to go to outside and travel to their jobs to earn a living based upon a schedule compatible with acceptable air quality. Does your boss allow you to only show up at work on days with good air quality? What am I missing here???

You're missing the fact that some people work in climate controlled environments and travel to and from work in climate controlled cars, but sometimes do other optional things that might give them more exposure to unhealthy air.

This app should enable wearers to decide how much time they spend outside, by giving them up-to-date information at a glance. They will combine this information with other factors to make a variety of choices, e.g.,

• whether to take a run in the park, or go to the gym and run on an indoor track.
• whether to visit the farmers' market today or tomorrow.
• whether to drive the kids to school or let them walk.

 

[RogerWilco]

But Tim Cook said it was "life changing". No one begrudges you your tech purchase for convenience or entertainment--people are contesting the claimed utility and potential of this technoiogy. Seems to me that what tech forums should be about.

Its entirely appropriate to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Apple claims there is a benefit for these devices and the initial marketing since last summer hinted at a whole array of uses and technologies never seen before in consumer electronics. Now that we have the actual (albeit V1.0) watch it seems a bit unrefined and underwhelming. What was hyped as almost a Star Trek tricorder, turns out to be more a fashion accessory with some techy features cobbled into the mix.

Where does this thing fit in Apple's product matrix? Tim Cook uses a lot of hyperbole but I've yet to see him lay out a coherent vision for the product lines.

 

[medazinol]

We need to give the Watch some time to mature. Hell, the official SDK from Apple isn't even ready yet!! Once it's out at WWDC we should see some killer apps later this year for the Watch.
I'll buy one next year once they come out with version 2.

 

[Lictor]

You're missing the fact that some people work in climate controlled environments and travel to and from work in climate controlled cars, but sometimes do other optional things that might give them more exposure to unhealthy air.

Actually, a car is where you're the most exposed to pollution. You're sitting right in the middle of other cars, that produce most of the pollution in the city. And the air is confined inside a car, even more so if it has climatisation, so the concentration of pollutants keeps rising with time.

There were some studies on it and during a pollution peak, being in a car is actually one of the worst place to be. Being inside your home is not so good either since pollution tends to concentrate in closed spaces.
As far as moving around during a pollution peak, walking is one of the best solution. Biking is also good as far as you don't exercise yourself too much (electric bike is a good solution) - you're in open space and you move faster than walking (thus reducing time of exposure). Besides, you don't contribute yourself to the pollution, which is a good thing.

But for the other uses, yes, that's useful. You definitely don't want to go to the gym during a pollution peak. Adding allergens could be very useful for people plagued with this condition.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

I don't understand all the hype about the Apple Watch. I have been trying to pair mine with my Android for weeks! It keeps telling me to open an app on my iPhone. I don't have an iPhone! I even looked for the Apple Watch app on the Google Play store and can't find it.

I give the Apple Watch zero out of five stars.

 

[RogerWilco]

You're missing the fact that some people work in climate controlled environments and travel to and from work in climate controlled cars, but sometimes do other optional things that might give them more exposure to unhealthy air.

This app should enable wearers to decide how much time they spend outside, by giving them up-to-date information at a glance. They will combine this information with other factors to make a variety of choices, e.g.,

• whether to take a run in the park, or go to the gym and run on an indoor track.
• whether to visit the farmers' market today or tomorrow.
• whether to drive the kids to school or let them walk.

Another example of a device controlling our behavior. Why should I trust a number from some far-off server when deciding to plan an activity? Are we becoming so inept and ignorant that we can't assess even the local air quality? What's next, a cheerful, colored screen with our Order of the Day: 1)Obey, 2)Sumbit, 3)Consume.

 

[rowspaxe]

Do Americans really need a calculator/app to work out a 10% tip and then divide it between a few people?

Americans? Yes. Numeracy in the US is shockingly low--as they stopped teaching arithmatic 50 years ago

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I don't understand all the hype about the Apple Watch. I have been trying to pair mine with my Android for weeks! It keeps telling me to open an app on my iPhone. I don't have an iPhone! I even looked for the Apple Watch app on the Google Play store and can't find it.

I give the Apple Watch zero out of five stars.

painfully unfunny

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We need to give the Watch some time to mature. Hell, the official SDK from Apple isn't even ready yet!! Once it's out at WWDC we should see some killer apps later this year for the Watch.
I'll buy one next year once they come out with version 2.

I dont think the issue is that the right apps haven't materialized--the issue is that there is very little to be done on a postage size screen that wouldn't best be addressed elsewhere. And this is why i see the apple watch failing after an initial burst of interest.

 

[bobob]

Americans? Yes. Numeracy in the US is shockingly low--as they stopped teaching arithmatic 50 years ago

When did they stop teaching spelling in your country?

 

[rowspaxe]

Can we officially call the Apple watch a failure yet? I get that some people out there find the watch beneficial. But you're not the norm. This watch is useless for everybody else. The more apps that come out, the more clear this becomes.

In fairness--its success ultimately will be judged by sales.

 

[supersalo]

Another example of a device controlling our behavior. Why should I trust a number from some far-off server when deciding to plan an activity? Are we becoming so inept and ignorant that we can't assess even the local air quality? What's next, a cheerful, colored screen with our Order of the Day: 1)Obey, 2)Sumbit, 3)Consume.

Wrong. People with asthma check the air quality index DAILY (sometimes multiple times per day). The EPA updates the index from their monitoring stations twice an hour.

If you have asthma (or have a child with asthma), you'd know that poorer air quality leads to more difficulty breathing.

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Yes, a failure that sold more in a week that all the competition combined in two years... I would love to see your definition of a success... Or how you can consider anything you have done in your life a success with that kind of definition....

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Sounds useful... Are you considering expanding it for other countries in Europe ? And to include allergens alerts too ?

It's expanding to the UK soon. And also working on getting allergens as well.
You can signup for the newsletter on the website to get announcements if you'd like.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

I'd love that!

Allergen alerts can be found in the weather channel's app for iPhone. It has a chart that determines allergen levels when you scroll down to the bottom.

But the question should be asked of WHY didn't Apple THINK of adding a sensor that detects allergen levels anywhere you go outside? Or indoors, for that matter u less the person knows their allergen limits.

 

[Lictor]

I dont think the issue is that the right apps haven't materialized--the issue is that there is very little to be done on a postage size screen that wouldn't best be addressed elsewhere.

People said the same thing about the iPhone screen. It was too small to surf the web. Yet, what happened is that responsive design is now the norm and the web has adapted to the size of the smartphone screens...

What is true is that you can't do the same on an iPhone screen and on a desktop screen. That's why responsive design has become mobile first. Likewise, you don't build an iPhone app the same way you build a desktop app. You really have to think with the device screen size and capabilities foremost.

The same will happen with the Apple Watch. It's not a desktop computer screen and it's not an iPhone screen either. So developers have to come up with ergonomics and user experiences that make sense on a very small screen. But they will eventually do. Because the Apple Watch is very similar to the iPhone. The iPhone made up with its small screen by being closer to the user. And the Apple Watch is even closer to the user.

For instance, I extensively use todo lists for my work and for important personal stuff. Yet, I have never bothered to use them in the supermarket. Because pulling out my phone out of my pocket (or worse in summer, my backpack) every few minutes is a pain. But glancing at my wrist to check what I still need to buy is a lot less bothersome. I think the watch can shine with similar applications : very short lived and repeated interactions.

 

[Pilgrim1099]

Its entirely appropriate to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Apple claims there is a benefit for these devices and the initial marketing since last summer hinted at a whole array of uses and technologies never seen before in consumer electronics. Now that we have the actual (albeit V1.0) watch it seems a bit unrefined and underwhelming. What was hyped as almost a Star Trek tricorder, turns out to be more a fashion accessory with some techy features cobbled into the mix.



Where does this thing fit in Apple's product matrix? Tim Cook uses a lot of hyperbole but I've yet to see him lay out a coherent vision for the product lines.

Tim screwed the pooch with this. Not only that, after claiming that competitors were confused while Apple had a clear plan and vision, we get this mess. This man is a hypocrite.

When he said in an interview, I quote " the wrist is an interesting place ", he wasn't fooling me nor was he that clever or smooth. It was so obvious what he was talking about prior to the watch's unveiling.

For all I know, Pebble beat them to the punch with a device that does not pretend but gets the job done. The Apple Wafch, to me, is a pretentious piece of tech. They need to scale back and lay off the fashion BS.

 

[Lictor]

Another example of a device controlling our behavior.

It's not a device controlling your behaviour, it's information... Ignorance is not freedom. Freedom is having all the information to make your own decisions.

Why should I trust a number from some far-off server when deciding to plan an activity? Are we becoming so inept and ignorant that we can't assess even the local air quality?

We have been inept for thousand years. Seriously, human beings have no way to assess air quality or allergens until it's so late that they can feel the side effects on their bodies. PM10 have no smell and are invisible, how are you supposed to assess them ?
So, yes, a server connected to scientific instrumentations is the way to go if you care about air quality. Besides, the servers are not so far off, I have one a few hundred meters from my home. Usually you have several stations per city.

 

[C DM]

So now we can "fumble around" with a tiny watch screen instead of "fumbling around" with a phone?

I truly don't see the use in this thing... at all. What purpose does it serve? Why does it exist? I really don't get it.

Seems like that has already been covered fairly well so far in this thread.

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Can we officially call the Apple watch a failure yet? I get that some people out there find the watch beneficial. But you're not the norm. This watch is useless for everybody else. The more apps that come out, the more clear this becomes.

Seems like the norm is not what is being implied as being the norm there.

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Another example of a device controlling our behavior. Why should I trust a number from some far-off server when deciding to plan an activity? Are we becoming so inept and ignorant that we can't assess even the local air quality? What's next, a cheerful, colored screen with our Order of the Day: 1)Obey, 2)Sumbit, 3)Consume.

Another example of jumping on something that isn't understood or just isn't cared about--neither of which means that something is actually bad or wrong.

 

[Bawstun]

This worries me. There is literally nothing that is more convenient or full-featured on the Apple Watch.

Look at those apps! You're staring at a 1-inch little square reading things like "bananas" and "milk", because we're literally too lazy to reach into our pockets and pull out a smartphone. YIKES.

The watch is useless.

 

[jagolden]

Another example of a device controlling our behavior. Why should I trust a number from some far-off server when deciding to plan an activity? Are we becoming so inept and ignorant that we can't assess even the local air quality? What's next, a cheerful, colored screen with our Order of the Day: 1)Obey, 2)Sumbit, 3)Consume.

What a stupid comment. Where do you think air quality assesments come from?

 

[C DM]

This worries me. There is literally nothing that is more convenient or full-featured on the Apple Watch.

Look at those apps! You're staring at a 1-inch little square reading things like "bananas" and "milk", because we're literally too lazy to reach into our pockets and pull out a smartphone. YIKES.

The watch is useless.

To some people perhaps, but not to plenty of others. Has the rest of the thread not covered this already plenty?