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Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

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Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#91

Post by maxerickson »

thescriptkiddie wrote: post #90
maxerickson wrote: post #89

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So if you could get something equivalent to the Pebble that could also take phone calls when you were on a run (or at a bar, or ...), that would not be a good addition? I don't think there is a big market for notifications. I think the tech is roughly in place to do notifications well (they are still pretty bulky), so people that get a lot out of that feature are satisfied. I pretty well implied that the tech isn't i…

I can already do that with the Pebble as long as I've got headphones on. I wouldn't mind the addition of a microphone for voice input (the new Pebble Time has this), but I definitely don't want a speakerphone on my watch.

I thought that only worked if you have your phone in your pocket?

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#92

Post by vaishaksuresh »

pbh101 wrote: post #73
vaishaksuresh wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think keeping time accurately is a notable feature in a $300+ digital watch, you seriously need to re-think how you evaluate usefulness of a product.

Mechanical watches can be much more expensive and keep less accurate time. In rare cases I've seen my MacBook Pro display stale time in the taskbar. Haven't pinned it down yet. In both cases the balance of usefulness paid for is found elsewhere in the product.

First, Not many people buy expensive mechanical watches. If they do, they already know that the time may be inaccurate sometimes. Second, Macbook Pro is not a great example since its primary purpose is not displaying time.

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#93

Post by vaishaksuresh »

ceejayoz wrote: post #70
vaishaksuresh wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you think keeping time accurately is a notable feature in a $300+ digital watch, you seriously need to re-think how you evaluate usefulness of a product.

It's notable if its main competitor in the market (allegedly) doesn't.

What main competitor is not keeping time correctly? The main competitor for any smart watch is the regular watch. Specifically for the Apple Watch it is one of the many smart watches running Android Wear or the Pebble. I have never heard or seen anything to indicate these watches have a problem with keeping time. Now that I think about it, I don't think I have ever seen anything about Apple Watch having problems keeping time. Do you have sources to back up your claim?

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#94

Post by lectrick »

jakejake wrote: post #75
lectrick wrote: post #67

They need to get the battery life above "1 day". I think that's what's stopping MANY people. In my case, I almost need sleep tracking (diagnosed with a sleep disorder).

Just curious what benefit do you get from sleep tracking? I had sleep problems for a while. I wasn't really sure how helpful it would be for an app to tell me I had a crappy night's sleep! Is there more to it than that?

It's evidence to show people (family, doctors, etc... and yourself). It's harder evidence than flaky human memory or "impressions" of how I slept, in any event. You can literally see how crappy your sleep is, on a chart. It's rather eye-opening, and if you have a wife or girlfriend who wonders why you're a space cadet today who can't get anything done, you can always point to the "4 hours of good shuteye" chart from last night (if it exists) lol

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#95

Post by pbh101 »

vaishaksuresh wrote: post #92
pbh101 wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mechanical watches can be much more expensive and keep less accurate time. In rare cases I've seen my MacBook Pro display stale time in the taskbar. Haven't pinned it down yet. In both cases the balance of usefulness paid for is found elsewhere in the product.

First, Not many people buy expensive mechanical watches. If they do, they already know that the time may be inaccurate sometimes. Second, Macbook Pro is not a great example since its primary purpose is not displaying time.

Similarly, I don't think the primary purpose/raison d'etre of the Apple Watch is to tell time. It certainly isn't what you're paying $300+ for.

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#96

Post by jakejake »

lectrick wrote: post #94
jakejake wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just curious what benefit do you get from sleep tracking? I had sleep problems for a while. I wasn't really sure how helpful it would be for an app to tell me I had a crappy night's sleep! Is there more to it than that?

It's evidence to show people (family, doctors, etc... and yourself). It's harder evidence than flaky human memory or "impressions" of how I slept, in any event. You can literally see how crappy your sleep is, on a chart. It's rather eye-opening, and if you have a wife or girlfriend who wonders why you're a space cadet today who can't get anything done, you can always point to the "4 hours of good shuteye" chart from…

Interesting, I guess it is always surprising when you actually log stuff as opposed to just going by memory.

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#97

Post by melted »

arcanus wrote: post #83
melted wrote: post #60

It's a watch first, computer second, not the other way around. And that's the right way to do it, IMO. FWIW, I'm enjoying mine. Its heart rate monitor is about as accurate as a chest strap. Its timekeeping is accurate (unlike with Android Wear which sometimes struggles with this basic task). It shows me which meeting I have next (if any). It tells me to stand up and shows text messages. It lets me set the timer while…

> Its heart rate monitor is about as accurate as a chest strap. I'm surprised to hear that. I've found the apple watch to have very significant errors for measuring heart rates, often over 20% versus a chest strap. For my purposes that makes it largely useless. I'm admittedly serious about tracking my exertion levels: I run about 40+ miles per week, use a Polar Ft7 for comparison.

Wear it a bit tighter and it will be accurate.

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#98

Post by melted »

jannotti wrote: post #62
melted wrote: post #60

It's a watch first, computer second, not the other way around. And that's the right way to do it, IMO. FWIW, I'm enjoying mine. Its heart rate monitor is about as accurate as a chest strap. Its timekeeping is accurate (unlike with Android Wear which sometimes struggles with this basic task). It shows me which meeting I have next (if any). It tells me to stand up and shows text messages. It lets me set the timer while…

Are you contending that Android Wear watching can't keep time? I'm willing to listen if you have any evidence, but that sounds like an extraordinary claim.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=android+watch+not+showing+correct+time

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#99

Post by melted »

vaishaksuresh wrote: post #66
melted wrote: post #60

It's a watch first, computer second, not the other way around. And that's the right way to do it, IMO. FWIW, I'm enjoying mine. Its heart rate monitor is about as accurate as a chest strap. Its timekeeping is accurate (unlike with Android Wear which sometimes struggles with this basic task). It shows me which meeting I have next (if any). It tells me to stand up and shows text messages. It lets me set the timer while…

If you think keeping time accurately is a notable feature in a $300+ digital watch, you seriously need to re-think how you evaluate usefulness of a product.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=android+watch+not+showing+correct+time

Re: Half a year later, the Apple Watch feels like a stalled platform

#100

Post by nkerkin »

maxerickson wrote: post #59
roymurdock wrote: post #44

The Apple Watch is not a seriously compelling product, nor will it ever be as (a) useful or (b) revolutionary as the iPhone. Apple knows this, and despite what pundits and analysts might think, it doesn’t care. Tim Cook and Johnny Ive may present the Apple Watch as an incredibly novel, sexy-as-hell product in a nascent, high-value market, but they do that with every new Apple product line because it’s their job. They…

I think smart watches will take off when they get good enough to be a second phone (LG almost launched this a couple weeks ago). It makes sense to get the platform out before that happens so that users and 3rd party developers can help improve it.

The Samsung Gear S (released November, 2014) accepts a sim card and can make calls without tethering to your phone.

The marketplace for apps is fairly limited though.

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