No One Really Needs an Apple Watch Today

The Mac Observer ^ | July 28, 2015 22:10 GMT | Bob LeVitus

[Up Yours Marxists]

I’ve put off writing about the Apple Watch until today because, quite frankly, I didn’t know what I wanted to say. But last night it came to me… The Apple Watch is the coolest gadget in the world that you don’t need (and I say that with all due respect).

I’ll spare you the product details (visit www.apple.com/watch) so I can spend the rest of our brief time together explaining why I love Apple Watch, but don’t think you (or anyone) really needs one (at least not yet).

First, some background: I have collected and worn reasonably priced wristwatches for at least 40 years. I own more than a dozen timepieces — from everyday watches like the Casio G-Shocks I pick up on Ebay for well under $100 to my fanciest and most expensive one, a Tag-Heuer Chronograph I picked up in Hong Kong for around $800 back in the 1980s.

[Swordmaker]

Co-worker's wrist today:

Wearing an Apple Watch AND a Moto 360 smartwatch? Whatever for?

[Swordmaker]

I’m not a groupie, yet I know that when they announce they’ve made it waterproof, I’ll buy one.

Some people are swimming with theirs for up to 30 minutes. It's certified for up to three feet. You can shower and wash your hands with no problems while wearing it.

Personally, I am not planning on testing mine in the water, but if I forget and wear it into the shower, I won't worry.

[zeugma]

If I'm going to have a "need" for a watch, why not make it this one: Bovet Amadeo Fleurier Virtuoso IV Watch? It's a bargain at a mere $327,800. It also has e virtue of being a work of mechanical art.

[dayglored]

It’s sad and rather pathetic, how some people’s lives are so shallow and lacking in meaning, that they spend considerable time, and apparently take pleasure in, bitching about how other people spend their own money.

I have no need for an Apple watch, but I don’t care if someone else buys one. What’s it to me? If it makes them happy, it’s no skin off my butt.

I don’t understand this deranged urge to attack something, which if they simply ignored it, wouldn’t even enter their field of vision. And they don’t even attack it effectively. So sad, so pathetic. Unfortunately, so noisy and annoying, too.

But it’s a free country, so I suppose we just put up with it some more...

[Swordmaker]

There are many reasons to own an Apple Watch. . . here's some I've mirrored in my life:

---

The Apple Watch is at its Best While Traveling

July 27, 2015 — AppleGazette — by Kraig Becker

There is no denying that the Apple Watch has had a dramatic impact on the daily lives of early adopters. Not only does it conveniently put notifications, emails, and text messages right on our wrists, it is also is a great fitness tracker, a wonderful way to navigate around town, and is a solid speakerphone. It even acts as a remote control for your Apple TV. But the wearable device may be at its best when traveling, which is when some of its feature truly start to shine.

Since purchasing my Apple Watch last month, I’ve had the opportunity to travel with it on several occasions. This has given me the chance to evaluate just how well it performs while out on the road. During that time, I discovered that a number of the Watch’s core features really are very handy to have with you when navigating airports, driving rentals cars, and staying in hotels.

For instance, one of the features I love those most is Apple Watch’s ability to mirror any items in Passbook on the iPhone that it is tethered to. This includes boarding passes for flights. The Watch’s high-definition Retina screen can display those passes, which can in turn be scanned both at security and at airline checkpoints. That means you don’t even have to take your phone out to board the plane anymore.

If that wasn’t enough, the Apple Watch will also automatically alert you to any changes in your flight status, including delays or gate changes. This is super convenient when rushing through an airport, and is something that any frequent traveler can appreciate. Heck, some of the airlines will even let you check in directly from the App.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The Watch is also incredibly useful immediately arriving at your destination too. That’s when it will automatically update the time to reflect your current location, which is a simple feature, but a much appreciated one none the less.

Speaking of time, the Apple Watch also has its own world clock app built right in, which is great for keeping track of the current times in various locations across the globe. But it is especially helpful in reminding us what time it is back home, and whether or not it is a good time to call.

Upon reaching your destination the Watch’s abilities to help you navigate certainly take center stage. For those that haven’t used an Apple Watch in this capacity before, the device will alert you when you have to make a turn or are approaching a specific location by tapping you gently on the wrist using the Taptic Engine. The screen will also light up and display pertinent information at the same time. It truly is a great way to find your way around a new city, allowing you to easily locate important attractions, or find places to grab something to eat or drink.

Much like newer models of the iPhone, the Apple Watch is compatible with Apple Pay as well. The service is a great way to buy gas, food, and other items while traveling, as it is much more secure than using a credit or debit card. That means you don’t have to worry about fraud while making purchases, which brings a nice piece of mind.

Even the Watch’s ability to quickly and easily swamp out bands is a nice feature to have when traveling. If you’re doing something that involves physical activity, the sport band will probably come in handy. But later in the day, when its time for dinner and a night out on the town, switching to one of the more formal bands gives the device a completely different look. This makes it the one watch for all of your needs, and eliminates the need to carry multiple timepieces for different occasions on the trip.

As if all of this built-in functionality isn’t enough, Apple Watch apps extend its ability to make travel even easier. For instance, the Uber app allows you to call for a driver, and will even give you a tap to let you know they’ve arrived. Prefer to take public transportation instead? Install the Citymapper app instead. The TripAdvisor app can provide suggestions on where to go and what to do, while the OpenTable app will remind you of when and where you have reservations.

There are even hotel apps that will allow you to check into your room without ever going to the front desk, with the Apple Watch serving as the key. I haven’t had a chance to try one of these places just yet, but I can only imagine how nice that must be.

While the Apple Watch is indeed a great travel companion, it isn’t without its challenges. For instance, while its battery life is quite good, you’ll still need to charge the device every day. That isn’t too much of a hassle however, although it does entail bringing yet another cable with you on your trip, and trying to find an outlet to charge your iPhone, Watch, and other items too.

Also, the Apple Watch is at its best when it has a data connection to feed it notifications, updates, and text messages. If you’re visiting a foreign country you might not want to spring for a data plan for your iPhone, thus limiting the usefulness of the Watch in the process. Keep in mind however, that your iPhone and Apple Watch will work great with a Wi-Fi network, which can help negate this issue to a degree.

Aside from those two quibbles, I can honestly say that Apple’s latest product is one of the best devices I’ve had with me on any trip. If you haven’t had a chance to travel with your Apple Watch just yet, than you’re in for a real treat.

And if you are a frequent traveler who doesn’t own one just yet, than you’re simply missing out.

The features of the Apple Watch are quite useful to me. . . and the ability to use Apple Pay on my Watch, plus not having to dig my iPhone out of my pocket, my girlfriend's ability to not have to dig her iPhone out of her purse to answer her calls or check the incoming messages, the ability to reach out and touch each other on the spur of the moment, are worth FAR more than the small price I paid for our Apple Watches.

YOU may not appreciate those abilities but my girlfriend and I, along with millions of others do appreciate those abilities and others the Apple Watch bring to us. We are learning more of the Watch's capabilities every day. It keeps delighting us with more and more things beyond just being a watch.

The author of the original article that started this thread is really dense about those things. The Apple Watch works best when you have someone close to you to use one with. They are really very intimate devices.

[Swordmaker]

I agree. . . but the original poster of this thread has a bee up his bonnet about Apple. . . I don’t think he even read the article. He saw the headline and rushed to post the article thinking it was a negative review. He missed the part about the author loving his Apple Watch. Hilarious, really!

[cynwoody]

Which one is slow? Which one is fast? Or are they both wrong?

[SunkenCiv]

There’s an insider trading (buy) report. The company is rumored to be backing up the truck on the next iteration of the iPhone as well.

[Nailbiter]

“they’ve made it waterproof”

Nothing is water proof, just resistant to certain depth

[Swordmaker]

There’s an insider trading (buy) report. The company is rumored to be backing up the truck on the next iteration of the iPhone as well.

Apple is not certain what the China market is doing. Got a link?

[amigatec]

Ever been on a Submarine? NOTHING is waterproof, at some point you eventually reach “crush depth”.

[dennisw]

So what I have a favorite $14 Casio that is waterproof to 50 meters. The crappy apple watch is a step backward that only the gadget OCD Asians were buying (until Chinese stock market cratered) Now Asians are out and the gays and hipsters were never in and they are Apples preferred demographics.

Plus the Casio has instantly accessible dual time and stopwatch which I use a few times each day. Plus a memory bank you can input passwords and phone# and all kinds of codes

[dennisw]

Just don’t go swimming with it your warranty is void!

[ctdonath2]

The Moto is 4 seconds slow.
The Apple Watch is accurate to 50ms.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

I have an iPhone 5s and have no plans to upgrade anytime soon. I want the Apple watch so I can use Apple pay.

The new credit cards have a chip in them which makes it even easier to steal info. So for me the watch will protect my cards.

[Swordmaker]

Just don’t go swimming with it your warranty is void!

No, it isn't. The Apple Watch water resistance is certified to a depth of three feet.

[dfwgator]

But can an Apple Watch stand up to this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=HVatUaplyVU

[SunkenCiv]

China is over a quarter of the iPhone market, and obviously there’s room for growth; shows that even the Chinese prefer a higher quality product, regardless of the expense. I suspect they pay less than other buyers though. And the Chinese stock market fall down go boom. OTOH, the bread and circuses conflict tends to lean toward circuses in the long run, particularly under a regime that keeps the bread (well, rice) production high.

Susan Wagner is the recent insider buyer. Others have sold stock, but they appear to be sell orders executed when the stock hit their specified level.

Couldn’t find the recent article about Apple spending. It struck me, as earlier in the week Apple stated it was cutting back capital spending because obviously out of the park earnings wasn’t enough for some people.

[amigatec]

OK I'll try you what take your $14 Casio watch, go out to the lake, jump in a boat, row out to the middle. Then take your watch tie a rope onto it, and lower it in the water to 50 meters, leave it for 30 minutes, and pull it up.

If it's still waterproof I might believe you.

[nascarnation]

(only the old folks on FR will understand, LOL)