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Meet the Apple Watch

techcrunch.com

161–170 of 174 posts

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#161
post #14

I think there are two things Apple did wrong here 1. They have customized size and band, while not the shape. I for one love round shape and hate the square shape, and I believe I'm not the only one with this preference. 2. They emphasized too much on the interaction with watch. IMO, watch is supposed to notify you new things, have you glance over it and do some quick responding. That's it. User should not use watch…

> User should not use watch in the same way they use phone. Nonsense. Would you have said the same thing about people using phones only to talk when the iPhone came out? Not an Apple enthusiast, but I'm impressed with their efforts in constantly trying to redefine how we use "established" products. Not impressed by what is shown of the Apple Watch, by the way.

> Nonsense.

I entirely disagree. I would hate to use a tiny watch the same way I use a phone. Input is dramatically more constrained and expecting to use it the same way seems silly to me.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#162
post #6

I'm skeptical about a few things - mostly regarding the dial. They are trying to replace pinch-to-zoom, but how does it know where to zoom? Also, the main UI screen with all of the apps looks ridiculous. They don't want you touching the watch, unless it's to click on a tiny app icon? I need to see this in person.

> how does it know where to zoom

If it's a single element/app, it will just transition to a more detailed mode.

If it's a 2D canvas, it will be the center of that canvas. Kind of like how the zoom widget on Google Maps works today.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#163
post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if you keep your phone within Bluetooth Low Energy range 300 ft. > in a waterproof sack Probably the one that contains your wallet and keys as well.

Not much use as a watch then.

Are you saying that the phone in the water tight bag is not much use a a watch? Because yeah that makes sense. Or are you saying that the watch on your wrist with a Bluetooth connection to the phone is not much use as a watch? I don't understand that point.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#164

This watch looks like it was designed by a committee: Two ways to navigate the interface (wheel for zooming, to avoid touching the screen, and panning by...touching the screen). Tasteless misfeatures like customisable emoji [1] and drawing your own fail whale on a tiny screen [2], and most inexplicable of all for an expensive watch - very little attention paid to the actual watch face designs, which are not even adap…

You are probably right.

It is impossible to tell until you have held the device in your hand.

The presentation however was awful.

Jobs took a very complex phone/internet/music playing device and made it seem very simple. I can still remember his three selling points. Its a phone. Its an internet device. It plays music.

These guys took something that should be simple, and made it appear complex. It is a fitness tracker... And something about apps that look like a pimply teenager.

I think they designed that presentation by committee.

This does not bode well.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#165
post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's value even in unfiltered notifications - at worst I've wasted a glance, as opposed to rooting around my pockets for my phone. I've had a Pebble for the last year, and even its unfiltered notifications has been tremendously preferable over digging out my phone to see what's up.

really -- I had thought it would be annoying. You're the first person I've heard say that. That's really interesting.

Only annoying when you run into the people who insist on sending 10 2-word SMSes instead of a single 20-word SMS.

I find phone notifications much more annoying. Your phone buzzes in your pocket, you have no idea if it's important or if it's someone liking your Facebook status (or equally inane thing).

On the Pebble I take one look and dismiss it, which is still time wasted, but a lot less time wasted than pulling my phone out, and less risky than simply ignoring your phone when it buzzes.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#166
post #6

I'm skeptical about a few things - mostly regarding the dial. They are trying to replace pinch-to-zoom, but how does it know where to zoom? Also, the main UI screen with all of the apps looks ridiculous. They don't want you touching the watch, unless it's to click on a tiny app icon? I need to see this in person.

> how does it know where to zoom If it's a single element/app, it will just transition to a more detailed mode. If it's a 2D canvas, it will be the center of that canvas. Kind of like how the zoom widget on Google Maps works today.

That's what I figured. That seems like it would be incredibly clunky to use. Turn the dial, scroll up, turn the dial some more, scroll left.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#167
post #150
post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think about the tens (hundreds?) of millions of teenagers that already have an iPhone - now they'll be able to "chat" back-and-forward at school, home, etc. etc. extremely easily and fast. I honestly don't think too many people will be using it to tell time, they'll be using it to chat back and forward in a fast, convenient way and to interact with apps they love - twitter, Facebook, etc. When you go to a restaurant…

Chat really fast on a screen that size?

Yes.

Remember, it's "chat" in the loosest sense of the word - it's more or less time wasting banter back and forward. It's not supposed to be productive or achieve anything, other than back and forth games.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#168
post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a cyclic evolution. Pocket watch to wrist watch to pocket phone to wrist phone. With technological breakthroughs practicality has to take one step back before catching up again.

Well, but screen size is an issue with "wrist phone". People like being able to watch videos, and reading stuff on their : "pocket phones". If anything, phone screens have been getting bigger.

Holographic displays.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#169
post #154

I'm buying at least 2. One for me, and one for my girlfriend. I may also get one for my mom. Mine is for development. I see 10x returns easily, possibly 100x.

What kind of apps do you see bringing in such revenue?

I'm mostly interested in specialty/niche sports/fitness applications. All of the built-in stuff is great for people who think running is where fitness ends or need to be reminded to walk every day, but not so great for someone looking to improve a 600lb deadlift or cut their 40m time.

I also think a handful of other fun apps could be profitable, like using the local communication thing to send shock images/reaction gifs/dumb sticker packs.

The first IAP Tamagotchi-type game will make a million dollars easily.

I'll probably stick to focusing on health and performance, but plenty is possible.

Re: Meet the Apple Watch

#170
post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not much use as a watch then.

Are you saying that the phone in the water tight bag is not much use a a watch? Because yeah that makes sense. Or are you saying that the watch on your wrist with a Bluetooth connection to the phone is not much use as a watch? I don't understand that point.

I assumed the watch was in the bag, as it doesn't say that the watch is waterproof.
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