What I Want In A Smartwatch

[blairh]

I'm highly skeptical of the first-gen Apple Watch.

In fact I can't see myself using a smartwatch unless I could do so without needing my phone whatsoever.

Here are some real life examples where I'd love to use a watch only but we just aren't there yet.

1. The Gym/Outdoors. Allow me to keep my smartphone in my car or gym locker. Let me access my music (3rd party apps) via the watch only. Let me receive and make calls via the watch only. Let me respond to email and text via the watch. Give me a keyboard so I'm not forced to use something like Siri only.

2. The Beach. Make it waterproof. Long walks on the beach with your phone in your swim trucks kinda sucks. Let me ditch the phone entirely for a day at the beach. (And give me a decent way of snapping photos?)

3. Bars/Nightclubs. Environments that are loud and filled with people. Can't use voice dictation in a loud area filled with people.

Maybe we'll get there one day. But I have almost zero interest in a companion device to my phone which is with me almost 24/7 (because it needs to be).

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Let me respond to email and text via the watch. Give me a keyboard so I'm not forced to use something like Siri only.

So you really think below is actually usable?

It's designed to make certain things easier/faster without having to take your phone out of your pocket 50x a day, not replace the iPhone.

 

[mattopotamus]

So you really think below is actually usable?

Image

It's designed to make certain things easier/faster without having to take your phone out of your pocket 50x a day, not replace the iPhone.

That looks very usable with Swype

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

That looks very usable with Swype

Perhaps, but I'm more likely to whip my iPhone out for that as I'm been doing all along. It's only a companion device at this point.

 

[blairh]

So you really think below is actually usable?


It's designed to make certain things easier/faster without having to take your phone out of your pocket 50x a day, not replace the iPhone.

No idea. But I do think it's better than no keyboard whatsoever.

Like what beyond reading emails and texts?

 

[mfram]

I'm highly skeptical of the first-gen Apple Watch.

Let me receive and make calls via the watch only.

There's this problem called physics. At least with how the cellular systems are set up now you need a relatively large antenna and a decent amount of RF power to talk on the network. This isn't going to happen in something approaching a reasonable watch form factor.

Keeping the watch form factor, the only hope is to have little BT beacons scattered through out the gym which would allow you to make calls.

Outside of a gym? Not going to happen. Or at least not with the form factor you saw on the AppleWatch. The device would have to be considerably larger.

Maybe you could get away with havng something the size of a pager (remember those?) somewhere on your body and the watch BTs to that. If wearables take off, that might happen. Have a cell phone module that you wear with no UI. Then use the watch as the UI conncted with BT. That would be the only way to reduce the size of the 'phone' you wear. Take away the display.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

No idea. But I do think it's better than no keyboard whatsoever.

Like what beyond reading emails and texts?

People said the same thing about physical keyboard before the iPhone

 

[blairh]

People said the same thing about physical keyboard before the iPhone

But there is no keyboard in the first place. So anything beyond a simple reply requires you to whip out your iPhone. Pretty pointless IMO.

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There's this problem called physics. At least with how the cellular systems are set up now you need a relatively large antenna and a decent amount of RF power to talk on the network. This isn't going to happen in something approaching a reasonable watch form factor.

Keeping the watch form factor, the only hope is to have little BT beacons scattered through out the gym which would allow you to make calls.

Outside of a gym? Not going to happen. Or at least not with the form factor you saw on the AppleWatch. The device would have to be considerably larger.

Maybe you could get away with havng something the size of a pager (remember those?) somewhere on your body and the watch BTs to that. If wearables take off, that might happen. Have a cell phone module that you wear with no UI. Then use the watch as the UI conncted with BT. That would be the only way to reduce the size of the 'phone' you wear. Take away the display.

Uh, do you not realize the Gear S has a Nano SIM built in for calls/data?

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I disagree. Quick replies are more efficient on the watch and lengthy replies are better suited on the iPhone and you adjust accordingly.

 

[blairh]

I disagree. Quick replies are more efficient on the watch and lengthy replies are better suited on the iPhone and you adjust accordingly.

Or better yet, a keyboard on your watch for replies. Being limited to simple responses on my watch would drive me nuts.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Or better yet, a keyboard on your watch for replies. Being limited to simple responses on my watch would drive me nuts.

You can dictate a term paper using Siri so you're not necessarily limited to simple responses on the watch.

 

[blairh]

You can dictate a term paper using Siri so you're not necessarily limited to simple responses on the watch.

It's not that simple. There will be many scenarios where you don't want to dictate responses due to privacy issues when out in public or when you are in busy and noisy environments like a crowded bar, etc.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

It's not that simple. There will be many scenarios where you don't want to dictate responses due to privacy issues when out in public or when you are in busy and noisy environments like a crowded bar, etc.

Yes, that's what the iPhone is for.

 

[blairh]

Yes, that's what the iPhone is for.

You really don't get it. That's the point. You are so reliant still on the iPhone in many cases, so it's pretty pointless IMO.

 

[douglasf13]

Yes, that's what the iPhone is for.

Exactly. I see a smart watch as essentially a call/text/email screening device that lets me decide how important the communication is, and whether or not I need to deal with it by going to the actual phone. For those of us being contacted all of the time, especially for work, it's pretty handy.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

You really don't get it. That's the point. You are so reliant still on the iPhone in many cases, so it's pretty pointless IMO.

That's your opinion and I am of the opinion that you don't get the concept of a smartphone as a companion but it seems you're not alone in this.

 

[blairh]

That's your opinion and I am of the opinion that you don't get the concept of a smartphone as a companion but it seems you're not alone in this.

It's not about getting the concept. It's feeling that it's a pretty limited device to begin with. You're basically paying $350 (and I'm assuming that's just the smaller model) to read texts and emails on a tiny screen. If you want that, great, but I think that's really dumb.

Like I said in my original post, I could envision a future with a smartwatch, but a watch that does a ton alone and not a device that does little in conjunction with my smartphone.

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Exactly. I see a smart watch as essentially a call/text/email screening device that lets me decide how important the communication is, and whether or not I need to deal with it by going to the actual phone. For those of us being contacted all of the time, especially for work, it's pretty handy.

That's a lot of money for a screening device.

 

[Patriot24]

I think the opinions here are fine as long as they are based in the reality that these are technology problems, not Apple design problems.

In 5-7 years it will be able to do all of the things you want. Just not today with the tech we have.

 

[douglasf13]

That's a lot of money for a screening device.

Not to me. It's on the inexpensive side of analogue watches, and it does quite a bit more.

 

[blairh]

Not to me. It's on the inexpensive side of analogue watches, and it does quite a bit more.

Haha, what? You can buy a quality analog watch for $30.

 

[douglasf13]

Haha, what? You can buy a quality analog watch for $30.

We have different ideas of quality. No biggie. Everyone has different wants and needs. If the Apple Watch noticeably improves my daily life as a business owner, I'd actually spend quite a bit more than $350 on it.

 

[blairh]

We have different ideas of quality. No biggie. Everyone has different wants and needs. If the Apple Watch noticeably improves my daily life as a business owner, I'd actually spend quite a bit more than $350 on it.

Curious how the current Watch is going to help you.

Also my point about the analog watch is that for $30 you can buy one that isn't ugly and will last you in the long run. Taste is subjective but you can buy what I regard as a very nice analog watch in terms of fashion for $150.

 

[douglasf13]

Curious how the current Watch is going to help you.

Also my point about the analog watch is that for $30 you can buy one that isn't ugly and will last you in the long run. Taste is subjective but you can buy what I regard as a very nice analog watch in terms of fashion for $150.

I own and run a business in the TV industry, and I'm in constant contact via text/email/phone all day, every day. There are no days off when you run a business, and TV isn't really a 9 to 5 industry. So, being able to screen, and potentially respond to, much of that contact from the wrist, without getting my phone out of my pocket a zillion times a day, will be very convenient for me, particularly when I'm not sitting at my desk.

The watch price thing is simply a matter of perspective. I'm actually wearing a $12 Casio digital as we speak, but I consider something like an Omega to be a quality watch that lasts a lifetime with proper service.

 

[Blakjack]

No idea. But I do think it's better than no keyboard whatsoever.

Like what beyond reading emails and texts?

Trust me, it's not usable and anyone who thinks it might be is stupid. And to think swipe would make sense on a keyboard that small should be on the front row of the short bus.

 

[blairh]

I own and run a business in the TV industry, and I'm in constant contact via text/email/phone all day, every day. There are no days off when you run a business, and TV isn't really a 9 to 5 industry. So, being able to screen, and potentially respond to, much of that contact from the wrist, without getting my phone out of my pocket a zillion times a day, will be very convenient for me, particularly when I'm not sitting at my desk.

The watch price thing is simply a matter of perspective. I'm actually wearing a $12 Casio digital as we speak, but I consider something like an Omega to be a quality watch that lasts a lifetime with proper service.

The problem is that it does little beyond that. Screen notifications. Perhaps in your specific scenario it's important but even in that regard it's pretty limiting beyond the screening.

Omega watches are thousands of dollars. That's a bit extreme. Honestly with watches you can land something that should last a long time and will look good on your wrist at basically any price point.

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Trust me, it's not usable and anyone who thinks it might be is stupid. And to think swipe would make sense on a keyboard that small should be on the front row of the short bus.

Oh, you used the Gear S and know how well the keyboard works? Do tell.

I'm not sure what your point is. The Apple Watch has no keyboard and forces you to use your phone for anything beyond quick replies. That isn't a solution. It's a compromise you either are or aren't okay with.