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What is the purpose of Apple Watch?

O

omenatarhuri

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 9, 2010
1,049
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Watching the thing now and I don't really get it.

It seems you can do the same stuff that you can do with iPhone, iPad or Mac. With the exception that 'probably' it is going to be more comfortable to do that stuff with the previous devices.

I'm confused. Sorry Apple. Please don't take this as hating, I am generally just at a loss of the user value.
 
I guess you missed the 30 minutes of the presentation where they talked about using this to monitor your health and fitness. This is not a new, revolutionary product category in the sense that it will replace a bunch of other things. Its rather a new product category for Apple. So, yes, you can use other fitness trackers and so forth. And no, it will not replace anything you already got. But it will make everything easier.
 
phrozend said:
I guess you missed the 30 minutes of the presentation where they talked about using this to monitor your health and fitness. This is not a new, revolutionary product category in the sense that it will replace a bunch of other things. Its rather a new product category for Apple. So, yes, you can use other fitness trackers and so forth. And no, it will not replace anything you already got. But it will make everything easier.
Click to expand...
That's true, the fitness part is somewhat new to an Apple device. Although I have previously used Sports Tracker App on my iPhone to track my cycling/running...

Looking forward to what devs come up with for the device though, perhaps there's a killer idea out there that makes it more meaningful to me.
 
ObamaCare will make it mandatory for everyone to have a subsidized Apple Watch to keep insurance costs down. 24/7 hour health surveillance. :p

On a more serious note, I don't want to carry both iPhone and Watch at the same time. I know it's logically necessary, but it's just one more thing to manage and plug in at night.
 
also, based on the presentation, it requires an iPhone... not sure if he chose the wrong wording, or if the watch will be useless without an iphone.
 
EOB said:
also, based on the presentation, it requires an iPhone... not sure if he chose the wrong wording, or if the watch will be useless without an iphone.
Click to expand...

It is a companion device to the iPhone. They want you to buy both.

The data from the watch will be synced to the iPhone for processing and communication to various networks. The watch does not have a cellular radio.
 
As someone who has been using a Pebble Smartwatch for several months, I can tell you that these kinds of devices are HUGE time savers (no pun intended). No longer do I have to pull out my phone just to see every single notification. I can pick and chose which ones are worth responding to. Furthermore, I never miss the notification because the phone was on silent (you can't always feel the phone's vibration, especially if it's in a bag). And I can control the music playback while my phone is connected to speakers across the room.
 
I'm unimpressed by wearable tech, whether it's the iWatch or Google GlAss.

However, I think the features and capabilities of Watch demonstrate the power of wearables and the forward thinking of Apple. It looks dumb now, but the features allow for many, many creative things to be done as they bring the product to maturity and let developers in on it.

Also, the redesigned interface itself seems to be a marvel of small space UID.

They're doing things - or at least demonstrating the capability of doing things - that Android makers haven't done yet. Apple employs some very forward thinking and creative people; I'd never buy or wear an Watch but I can still appreciate what it's doing.

It's funny - now that Apple has brought the limelight to wearable tech, I'm betting we'll see a lot more ideas out of other wearable manufacturers as well. Like, maybe Apple won't be the one to invent a certain feature but it's like these other companies still need to have the door opened.
 
omenatarhuri said:
Watching the thing now and I don't really get it.

It seems you can do the same stuff that you can do with iPhone, iPad or Mac. With the exception that 'probably' it is going to be more comfortable to do that stuff with the previous devices.

I'm confused. Sorry Apple. Please don't take this as hating, I am generally just at a loss of the user value.
Click to expand...

The purpose is to make money for apple of course...

As far as user benefit, it's an extension of the iPhone, so sensors and notifications...
 
wlossw said:
The purpose is to make money for apple of course...

As far as user benefit, it's an extension of the iPhone, so sensors and notifications...
Click to expand...
Arguably that is the realist answer, I don't want to see Apple that way though, must be the RDF.
 
I'm not really getting it either and I was really excited about it. I held off on a Nike fuel band because I wanted to see what the deal with the 'iWatch' was going to be.

If it needs your phone to be really functional why not just use your (now really big) phone instead of a tiny screen on your wrist?

The heart rate thing is cool, I used to fixate on it when I first started exercising regularly but the more I ran and exercised you kind of realize in a way it doesn't matter, doing something is better than doing nothing. I had one of those polar heart rate monitors and watches (still have it somewhere) and after two weeks I never used it again. You know when you're getting a good workout and when you're dragging because your body tells you. It doesn't seem as cool as it looks to me. (am I missing something?)

When you stand up your hands are close to your pockets or your belt so if you bring your arm up to view the watch why not just grab the phone?

I can see how this would be nice for people who keep their phone in a bag (especially while walking, biking or taking the train). Though for public transportation users, you probably will have your phone out already.

Or also for people who work with their hands though I'd be a little nervous having that exposed to a construction environment day in and day out.

edit: Or when you're out with your significant other and discreetly would like to know your favorite sports team score.. (The Apple Watch, saving relationships everywhere)

For now, for me, I'm going to order a fuel band, it presents much more of a value to me but I will really hope that they make something awesome out of this. I'll get one for development purposes sooner or later but I wish i was excited about it.
 
thefredelement said:
I'm not really getting it either and I was really excited about it. I held off on a Nike fuel band because I wanted to see what the deal with the 'iWatch' was going to be.

If it needs your phone to be really functional why not just use your (now really big) phone instead of a tiny screen on your wrist?

The heart rate thing is cool, I used to fixate on it when I first started exercising regularly but the more I ran and exercised you kind of realize in a way it doesn't matter, doing something is better than doing nothing. I had one of those polar heart rate monitors and watches (still have it somewhere) and after two weeks I never used it again. You know when you're getting a good workout and when you're dragging because your body tells you. It doesn't seem as cool as it looks to me. (am I missing something?)

When you stand up your hands are close to your pockets or your belt so if you bring your arm up to view the watch why not just grab the phone?

I can see how this would be nice for people who keep their phone in a bag (especially while walking, biking or taking the train). Though for public transportation users, you probably will have your phone out already.

Or also for people who work with their hands though I'd be a little nervous having that exposed to a construction environment day in and day out.

edit: Or when you're out with your significant other and discreetly would like to know your favorite sports team score.. (The Apple Watch, saving relationships everywhere)

For now, for me, I'm going to order a fuel band, it presents much more of a value to me but I will really hope that they make something awesome out of this. I'll get one for development purposes sooner or later but I wish i was excited about it.
Click to expand...
I think the discreet characteristics will also be good for people with office/cubicle jobs. You don't want the boss to walk by and you are always looking at your phone. If you are looking at your watch, you can put it down or read from it with your hands resting on a keyboard. :D

For me, this would be cool for music apps/airplay/appletv.:cool: Not sure it is worth the money for that purpose alone, but combined with the stealth features, the health feature, the pay features, the in city nav features (with the ability to be on vacation and automatically get the directions to places I am interested in), changeable watch bands and clock faces (the timer will be great for cooking), etc.... I can easily see the purpose.

Also, it is easier than pulling out your phone or carrying it from room to room all the time. Also, one of the issues with the iPhone is the fact that when you have it on vibrate, sometimes you can't feel it or you have it in a drawer and don't know it is vibrating. This thing is right on your wrist, so you should always have it with you and you should feel the vibration or knocking without missing that call/text.

The main downside for me is the starting price and where it will end up when I pick out a fancy band and larger face. I don't know if it is worth the money for me, but I can see its purpose(s).
 
I feel like these first gen. watches are just in the business to get people used to wearables in general. Get people used to the look, feel and interface.

Eventually, I see them becoming very personal things. Keys for doors, a form a payment, wristbands for events, ID for bars.

I can see people using them to exchange money between each other too. A parent giving their child money to run to the store, a way to transfer money between people doing craigslist or kijiji sales.

I also see them getting a lot more focused on health and fitness too. More sensors, more accuracy, more tracking. It's pretty amazing what we've seen wearables able to accomplish and sure more are headed in that direction.

Ultimately, I think it'll just be so conveniently integrated that it'd be silly not to use one. Why bother reaching into your pockets for anything, when access can be granted with a simple scan of the watch?
 
Niche market. I don't see this being a major hit. Back to the same old iPhones and iPads.
 
Razeus said:
Niche market. I don't see this being a major hit. Back to the same old iPhones and iPads.
Click to expand...

The second and third gens will be major hits. Much in the same way the original iPhone was not a massive hit due to high price and lack of 3G (this was a deal breaker in Europe anyway). Apple artificially inflate the price to make it a luxury item, then suddenly that luxury item costs $99 (calling it now) and everyone goes bonkers for one. Like the iPhone 3G.
 
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