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Apple Watch Series 5

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Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While sleep tracking is possible the single most useful thing I could get out of a wearable, I just have never been able to sleep with a watch or band on. Until there's something as low profile as a reminder band (think Livestrong), I'm not sure if I'll be able to get sleep tracking (the Oura ring is promising, but the price point is too high for its limited applications to me).

I use a Beddit for this very reason - https://www.beddit.com

There is also the Withings device https://www.withings.com/us/en/sleep which I use and works well.

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#242

I love my Series 3 Apple Watch, with a data plan. I now usually leave my iPhone at home. I am trying to follow a digital minimalism program, following slow media ideas, and using digital devices for highly productive activities, not to waste time. I find AirPods work really well with my Apple Watch, no iPhone lifestyle.

What do you do with the AirPods? I thought the watch could not yet stream music without a phone.

You can do this with Apple Music, and once watchOS 6 is out, with many other apps.

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#244
post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it tells you that you've been waking up a lot or that your oxygen level drops precipitously every minute or so, you go see a doctor. There are people trying to "optimize" their sleep, of course, but the real benefit is getting a large chunk of the population to notice something is wrong. The same with the ECG. A one lead ECG isn't much, but it means a lot when you give it without any hassle or additional cost to m…

So sleep tracking isn't useful for people unless they have sleep problems? Now that I say it, it sounds kind of obvious.

It's also for people who might develop sleep problems. Or for just generally tracking your sleep schedule to help yourself be in good sleep hygiene.

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#245

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a large cultural difference here, and from my experience, Germany is the exact antithesis of American brand culture. In America, among many groups of people, brands are social signaling on how important/wealthy you are. It only tapers off a bit at higher incomes (>1M+). Below that, it's rampant.

I don' t think that's the right income cutoff at all. In my experience the brand signaling occurs in the poor-lower-middle class regions, then stops from there all the way up to the new money but no taste crowd. Rap stars, etc. I don't know anyone in the HN/SoftwareDev income range who loves to show off brands, with occasionally some cars as maybe the exception. Though I will say Nike shoes tend to be an exception ac…

Perhaps I phrased it poorly. It's only certain groups (largely separated by income), but unless they're a celebrity, it seems to largely taper off at extreme levels of wealth, where brands become 'subtle' again.

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#246
post #190

I have a Xiaomi Amazfit. Cost me 55€, and the battery lasts 15 days with an always on display. It has included GPS, compass, pressure meter, heart rate monitor and sleep monitoring. Sincerely, other than looks (and I woild still not bring an Apple phone to more formal occasions just like I don't bring my Amazfit) I can't understand why anyone would pay 10x more for an iWatch not can I stand that I would have to charg…

Exactly. Actually, the Amazefit Bip can go even much longer (six weeks) if you don't use GPS daily and as a benefit, fully FLOSS (unofficial) companion app Gadgetbridge ( http://gadgetbridge.org/ )

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#247

> all-day 18-hour battery life. Is there a standard for what "all-day" means? I think most would initially assume 24 hours, but thinking about it more, it seems reasonable to consider "can work from wake up to sleep" or "can work from sunup to sundown"/

18 hours is a practical level for smart watch battery. That way users will recharge it every night and never run out during the day. 24 hours means that people will sleep with it and forget to charge in the morning -> annoyed users. 36 hours would require charging every other night, but then you'd miss every other night's sleep tracking -> annoyed users. There's really no way for Apple to win, unless they jump up to…

There are a lot of people who sleep with Apple watches already, since there are a handful of 3rd party sleep tracking apps. Plus, the silent alarm that taps on your wrist is really nice. You don't need to charge it for that long, 15-20 minutes before bed and in the morning is plenty.

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#248
post #239

I actually hope Apple had a “Watch Lite” version. Because I don’t need all the features Watch provides, I just want a smart watch that track my sports activities and health, I DON’T NEED the retina display, multimedia apps or ability to take phone calls, let my phone do those things and just keep the watch minimal and only act as a brilliant health monitor on my wrist

That’s a Fitbit

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's a large cultural difference here, and from my experience, Germany is the exact antithesis of American brand culture. In America, among many groups of people, brands are social signaling on how important/wealthy you are. It only tapers off a bit at higher incomes (>1M+). Below that, it's rampant.

I don' t think that's the right income cutoff at all. In my experience the brand signaling occurs in the poor-lower-middle class regions, then stops from there all the way up to the new money but no taste crowd. Rap stars, etc. I don't know anyone in the HN/SoftwareDev income range who loves to show off brands, with occasionally some cars as maybe the exception. Though I will say Nike shoes tend to be an exception ac…

I don't think there's a demographic that doesn't brand signal aside from nomadic herders. Some demographics are into the whole subtlety thing, but definitely still signal. Brands signal wealth, but also taste, intelligence, class, and tribe.

For HN: Cars, Electronics, Universities, FAANG on your resume, consumer products that signal your care for the environment or concern for your health/fitness.

Re: Apple Watch Series 5

#250
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think all day depends on the specific device. For example, I would accept a 10 hr battery life for a laptop or wireless headphones as "all-day" because that will cover a full work day and people aren't expected to use those devices 24/7. 18 hours for "all-day" on a wearable seems reasonable if the expectation is that it will be used only when the user is awake. A complicating factor is that Watch OS 6 is supposed t…

While sleep tracking is possible the single most useful thing I could get out of a wearable, I just have never been able to sleep with a watch or band on. Until there's something as low profile as a reminder band (think Livestrong), I'm not sure if I'll be able to get sleep tracking (the Oura ring is promising, but the price point is too high for its limited applications to me).

I've also found it uncomfortable to sleep with an Apple Watch on.

I started using a Whoop band a couple of months ago for mostly that purpose and I often forget that I'm wearing it.

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