The Apple Watch • Hacker News Board

Re: The Apple Watch

#531

Post by javert » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:08 AM UTC

personZ wrote: post #31

As much ink was spilled about competitors' failures, it's interesting that this won't be available some until vague window next year, and needs to be tethered to an iPhone. The interface looks interesting. The ridiculous draw pictures to each other bit, though -- what a gimmick.

> and needs to be tethered to an iPhone.

How do you know? I couldn't find that on Apple's iWatch page. (Not doubting it, everyone is saying it, but I'm just wondering where it is or if it's just an assumption.)

Re: The Apple Watch

#532

Post by alttab » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:08 AM UTC

threeseed wrote: post #397

alttab wrote: post #236

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my experience, Google Glass turns you into a walking celebrity, and has been as far from "socially inappropriate" as it can get. I'm not in San Fran, which seems to be the only place that pours haterade.

Seriously ? Other geeks maybe interested in your new toy but nobody would be thinking that your social status has been elevated in anyway. In fact it is the complete opposite. The early adopters of Google Glass have cemented its reputation as a geeky, invasive, awkward, Star Trek like toy for socially inept young men.

Only to geeky, invasive, awkward, Star Trek lovers aka socially inept young men.

None of the people who have approached me directly gave a shit about who I was or what I did for a living. They rarely even introduced themselves. It usually went something like "Is that the google?...." and the conversation goes from there. My IRL experience does not match the blog hatersphere at all.

Re: The Apple Watch

#533

Post by base698 » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:09 AM UTC

coldtea wrote: post #355

joesmo wrote: post #328

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No, this is a huge impediment to its usefulness. Having to carry around a phone while running is a drudge regardless of how serious of a runner or athlete you are. Not to mention so many other sports that could benefit from this but won't. This is especially so considering the larger size of the iPhone 6 and especially the iPhone 6 plus.

What casual runner goes running without their phone? That's how we get GPS, work with Nike+ gear, and can be reached if someone needs us or make a call if we need to. How many leave their phone on the house and go out jogging?

Not to mention women's running clothes don't fit phones typically.

Re: The Apple Watch

#534

Post by duskwuff » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:09 AM UTC

MCRed wrote: post #311

chipotle_coyote wrote: post #249

While someone else already made the reference to this quote, it's hard for me not to recall Commander Taco's (in)famous dismissal of the original iPod when I browse these comments. Personally I don't know that there's any watch that would really get me to start wearing watches at all again -- I never liked them that much to begin with. But this knocks down an awful lot of the criticisms I've had of existing smartwatc…

I believe the iPod HiFi was a success. The purpose of that product was to create a market for iPod docks. At the time there wash't much of one, and likely Apple had trouble convincing companies like Sony et. al. that they should make them. I bet Apple has made more money from "Made for iPod" licensing as a result of the iPod HiFi (which kickstarted that industry) than their gross revenues from the iPod HiFi. So, mayb…

There were already a lot of other iPod docks on the market when the iPod HiFi came out in 2006. Keep in mind that the dock connector was introduced with the 3rd-generation iPod in 2003 -- it's hardly as though third parties failed to notice the connector for those three years! The Bose SoundDock came out in late 2004, and it was hardly unique, either; this review compares it to several other similar products on the market at the time:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/reviews/entry/bose-sounddoc...

Re: The Apple Watch

#535

Post by UrMomReadsHN » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:10 AM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #118

antr wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a difference between submerging and just a sprinkle of water. I don't think the Apple Watch is submergible/usable for swimming.

Yes, waterproof is submersible and water resistant is rain/shower etc. Your comment referred to water resistance which that displays. I would hope they make it waterproof as I don't want to have to leave an expensive watch with my bag on the beach unattended. But then I already have to do that with my phone I guess.

There isn't really a "water-proof" watch. There are varying degrees of water resistant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_Resistant_mark

Re: The Apple Watch

#536

Post by orbitur » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:11 AM UTC

joezydeco wrote: post #185

zimpenfish wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I doubt "people into serious running" run into the 10s of millions that Apple are aiming the watch at though. (I agree with your point though - I have a 910XT for the battery life - the Apple Watch would be useless as an activity tracker for me since the iPhone 5S doesn't really cope with 5h+ activities.)

So the heart-rate sensor is for people that sit at their desks all day?

Actually, yeah, that's pretty much the market for the fitbit and similar devices. People who sit at desks looking to get more activity in their lives.

Re: The Apple Watch

#537

Post by rwhitman » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:11 AM UTC

agscala wrote: post #11

The watch looks very nice indeed but starting at $350 is ominously steep especially since it requires an iPhone

In the world of watches, $350 is dirt cheap

Re: The Apple Watch

#538

Post by Zombieball » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:11 AM UTC

deong wrote: post #472

Spooky23 wrote: post #387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're on the right track here. The idea that Apple is putting out a vision where you can communicate with people nearby in non-verbal ways is really powerful. You have a company that has managed to deliver an awesome mobile experience on for consumer and enterprise shipping a device that can do everything from payments to health monitoring to door access. That's a ridiculously powerful thing. What android ca…

The good thing is that we all should benefit. I've had NFC on at least my last two phones (maybe 3?), but the hardware is not ubiquitous enough to matter. I'm assuming that there's nothing locking the POS hardware into Apple Pay, and so NFC payments become a thing everyone can use.

Out of curiosity are tap-to-pay credit cards and POS devices common where you live?

(Also where do you live? lol)

Here in Vancouver, BC I would say these sales terminals are becoming quite common place.

Re: The Apple Watch

#539

Post by prawn » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:14 AM UTC

arihant wrote: post #492

Here are my first thoughts (I kind of won't be doing device specific nitpicking as this is the first iteration. We are sure the concept will evolve with time): Good things: 1.) The Tap-talk feature is an absolute genius for me. This, exactly this, is the perfect non-intrusive yet hyper connected way to intimately stay in touch with someone. Just tap on their wrist, so simple. Make a little scribble to show emotion, s…

I'm surprised that the Apple Watch looks so much like a watch. I was keen to see how they might break that concept apart and create something really novel.

Re: The Apple Watch

#540

Post by kamaal » Wed, Sep 10, 2014, 4:16 AM UTC

n09n wrote: post #503

personZ wrote: post #281

Earlier quoted context omitted.

it's hard for me not to recall Commander Taco's (in)famous dismissal of the original iPod when I browse these comments You should also remember that he was hardly in the majority with those comments. Further he was technically correct, and the iPod succeeded because of a synergy with other parts of Apple's empire (notably iTunes). But what's really interesting to me is that Apple has clearly put a lot more thought in…

The reality distortion field and the ability to spin those negatives as positives are features, though. A watch is primarily a piece of jewelry. How well it tells the time or does other things is much less important than how fashionable it is. Branding is one of Apple's strong suits, and you can't take that away by adding features as if consumer purchasing decisions are based on some kind of checklist-like RFPs like…

>>A watch is primarily a piece of jewelry.

Not actually though. A watch is still a watch. There are so many places where you can't carry or even have the opportunity to use your smart phone to check time. Students can't carry it to exam halls, people who are driving cars, workers, there many professions and use cases where a simple device strapped to your hand is indispensable when it comes to keeping track of time.