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Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

bloomberg.com

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Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#61

Post by Bud »

erikpukinskis wrote: post #45
Avshalom wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How would an even more closely (physicallyly)coupled device help alleviate whatever pandemic you think exists?

The lack of a screen capable of paragraphs and videos would cut you off from the most forms of readily available content, which would blunt the device's addictive potential. It's similar to the theory that mandating a lower nicotine content in tobacco would curb addiction.

The Apple Watch's screen already allows for display of paragraphs. You can easily read rather long emails by scrolling.

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#62

Post by Bud »

Avshalom wrote: post #47
keymone wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if it could pair with air pods and function as a proper phone?

How would you properly dial?

It's 2017. Nobody dials. You say the person's name.

Anyway, the Apple Watch has a perfectly usable 10-key entry screen; that's what is used to unlock the Watch. Have you actually seen an Apple Watch?

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#63

Post by MBCook »

teilo wrote: post #56
MBCook wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

$10/mo is $120/yr to get access to the shared pool. That's the exact plan available for my iPad. And for extra cheapskate-ness you don't event get one extra GB when you do that. Pay more for less. I didn't know watches were less. I can't find anything on Verizon's site (from a quick glance) that mentions them, only that "tablets and hotspots" are $10/mo. Even at $60 I don't think I'd do it. I might for my iPad, but n…

If memory serves, he is on Sprint. Which I would never consider, frankly. I imagine once a cellular-capable Apple Watch is available, we will see those plans pop up everywhere. Also, sorry, I didn't notice you were talking about the annual price.

It's fine, don't worry about it.

I hope the plans would spread. I really wanted a cellular capable iPad but couldn't stomach the extra cost + monthly fee + extra data usage.

I've heard iPads with. Ugly in cell arenamazing since you can use them any time and it's so much easier than tethering.

But I won't know.

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#64

Post by MBCook »

tammer wrote: post #17
pseudometa wrote: post #6

There are plenty of instances where I might want directions while I'm on a run, but there is no way I'm paying $10 a month to add the device to my plan. Hopefully it is just shared data with my phone plan. We'll see what the carriers do, but I think it will make or break it for a lot of people.

Oh how quickly we forget in the tech community. An internet-focused phone was laughable with the data plans of 2006.

It made TONS of sense to me.

The problem is that gave me something I wanted: the internet everywhere.

This gives me something I've been living without and don't want to pay that much for then privilege of: my smart watch working when I don't have my phone.

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#65

Post by MBCook »

amiga-workbench wrote: post #20
kylec wrote: post #9

Maybe if Apple wins their fight with Qualcomm we'll start seeing cellular connectivity in more of their products. I personally have no interest in a cellular-capable Apple Watch, but I would be very interested in a cellular-capable MacBook.

They had a 3G macbook prototype years ago, never went with it. The integrated 3G & GPS in my ThinkPad is very convenient.

I imagine the all metal cases make it quite difficult (ignoring all other factors).

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#66

Post by Dylan16807 »

mmanfrin wrote: post #16
dgacmu wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it ends up compatible with project fi, their extra data-only device comes free (at $10/GB like the rest of the plan). Might make this the first smart watch I've found appealing.

Irony is that while Fi is the only plan where this makes sense, it's also the only plan you can't use with an iPhone.

Then again if you're using enough data to matter, you're better off paying the upfront cost for a plan that isn't $10/GB.

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#67

Post by hanklazard »

jmull wrote: post #55

This is all great. In the short term, the sticking point is the cell contract. If there is a reasonable add-on price to your existing phone rate, this is going to catch on. The more reasonable the rate, the quicker it will catch on. Longer-term, the standalone service contract (Watch-only, no phone) will become more significant. People don't have an intrinsic urge to carry a rectilinear slab in their pocket... they h…

I would love to drop the smart phone from every hour of my waking life but limited text input capabilities would be a major sticking point for me.

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#68

Post by [deleted] »

hanklazard wrote: post #67
jmull wrote: post #55

This is all great. In the short term, the sticking point is the cell contract. If there is a reasonable add-on price to your existing phone rate, this is going to catch on. The more reasonable the rate, the quicker it will catch on. Longer-term, the standalone service contract (Watch-only, no phone) will become more significant. People don't have an intrinsic urge to carry a rectilinear slab in their pocket... they h…

I would love to drop the smart phone from every hour of my waking life but limited text input capabilities would be a major sticking point for me.

[deleted]

Re: Apple Plans to Release a Cellular-Capable Watch to Break iPhone Ties

#70

Post by jshelly »

hungerstrike wrote: post #60

They should put the battery in the watch band. (Or do something else to make the watchband more useful. Antennas maybe?)

An antenna would not surprise me. There already seems to be a small contact patch on the bands that makes them snap into place.
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