IT'S A F@#&ING KNOB! Just because you're Apple doesn't give you the right to call it a "digital crown".
"Crown" is a watch term. The terminology wasn't invented by Apple.
Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
91–100 of 118 posts
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#92Here's a fun sport for Apple watchers, aficionados and detractors alike: has Apple jumped the shark yet in the post-Steve era? (The game's a bit Candyland-esque; we always arrive at "yes": if Apple's strategy is inflexible post-Steve, they're doomed, if they make any changes, they are also doomed.) Let's play anyway. The big, flashing, worrying sign of changed-for-the-worse Apple isn't any hullaboloo about Warhol and…
Much like the iPhone announcement then.
Read Ben Thompson's Apple Watch: Asking Why And Saying No for an examination of why the AppleWatch announcement is very announcement is very different from the iPhone announcement (along with the iPod and iPad announcements too).
http://stratechery.com/2014/apple-watch-asking-saying/
This is the first Apple announcement I can readily recall where they didn't mention a shipping date, battery life and full pricing details for the new product.
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#93My impression of Android Wear is that it’s best thought of as a wrist-worn terminal for your Android phone and for Google’s cloud-based services. An extension for your phone, not a sibling device. Android Wear devices are almost useless other than for telling time when out of Bluetooth range from your phone. I don’t think that’s a device that many people want; it’s a solution in search of a problem. I don't see how t…
A major part of the article discusses the fact that if this applies to the Apple Watch he will be disappointed. He is expecting developments between now and release (ie. more information) to demonstrate that this is not the case.
Sure, he does. But it is odd rhetoric to say "Android Wear is a limited device category without an audience for x and y reasons. Apple Watch, despite suffering from x and y as well, will be different because things change".
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#94If true, I'll be a bit disappointed. I would prefer that Apple continue having good success in the "accessible luxury" category and, if anything, go a even more accessible. It's mission should be to get it's terrific products in more hands. Not the opposite. It's outsized margins are no longer so important.
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#95No doubt the most insightful essay on Apple's wrist computer/watch so far, and HN allows it to be flagged to the bottom of the 2nd page.
HN is broken.
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
I mean, different people prefer different things, but there are plenty of high end watches that's square/rectangle, even though circular ones are more common. Even with the Apple Watch, some of them look beautiful imo: http://i.imgur.com/qGvqIqK.png http://www.iphoneheat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/apple-w... http://images.chinatopix.com/data/images/full/11317/apple-wa... When it comes to watch design, circle != a…
Those are all renders of AppleWatch (the initial Moto 360 renders were equally fantastical). Are there bystander photos of the working AppleWatch models that look as beautiful as the renders? I'm interested in the cheaper plastic model in particular as that's likely the one I'm getting — and the price makes it a fairer comparison to the Moto 360
Tons of actual photos here. Looks as good as the renders to me http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hodinkee-apple-watch-review
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
I feel like the most popular hardware upgrade would be 'making it thinner'...
That's why I imagine Apple will somehow market a trade-in program. As Gruber writes, the gold watches will retain a lot of their value just from the metals in the case and bracelet.
Yea but not $5k worth. The Watch according to my calculations might contain about $1k in gold. So if they sell it at $6k like Gruber thinks, they won't be able to give you back much of that on trade in. Most people would probably just keep the watch with those prices.
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#98I have no interest in the exclusive "I make more money than you" objects so let's talk about that digital crown instead. I think Apple messed up here. I might be proven wrong after millions of people are joyfully spinning their little digital crowns between their thumb and forefinger a couple of years from now, but I would wager a small sum that I'm not wrong. Would it not have been better to put a touch-sensitive pa…
A touch screen on the side of the object is just begging for false input as people steady their fingers by holding onto the sides of the face of the smart watch.
Before you continue on your criticism of the digital crown as an input method, why not actually try it?
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
A major part of the article discusses the fact that if this applies to the Apple Watch he will be disappointed. He is expecting developments between now and release (ie. more information) to demonstrate that this is not the case.
Sure, he does. But it is odd rhetoric to say "Android Wear is a limited device category without an audience for x and y reasons. Apple Watch, despite suffering from x and y as well, will be different because things change".
The "things" changing being the information about what the Apple Watch is capable of on its own vs paired with a phone.
Re: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations
#100My impression of Android Wear is that it’s best thought of as a wrist-worn terminal for your Android phone and for Google’s cloud-based services. An extension for your phone, not a sibling device. Android Wear devices are almost useless other than for telling time when out of Bluetooth range from your phone. I don’t think that’s a device that many people want; it’s a solution in search of a problem. I don't see how t…
The iPod Nano was a product whose entire purpose was playing music.
"The Runwell" is a $600 Shinola watch which only tells the time.
The "nascent payment system" which is Apple Pay is better supported by the credit card companies than Google Wallet. It only remains to be seen how many retailers will switch to NFC. Just about everyone who does EFTPOS in Australia uses NFC now, I don't understand why the USA is such a (payment) technology backwater.
For the market of people who listen to their music on $500 headphones while walking around or catching the bus to work, the Apple Watch is obviously not going to replace their iPhone or iPod Touch/Nano/Shuffle/whatever.
For the market of people who currently use bluetooth headphones while running, jogging, cycling, etc, switching to the Apple Watch (or other bluetooth enabled small form factor personal music player) might be worth the money.
Another point to consider is that with the iPhone moving into the "digital surfboard" screen sizes, having a "wrist buddy" makes more sense. Do I want to be hauling my digital surfboard out just to check the time? Am I prepared to spend $500 on a watch ever? What about a watch that combines with my iPhone to do much more than a simple chronograph?
All that taken into account, I don't think the market for the Apple Watch is digital gadget geeks. I suspect the actual market for the Apple Watch is people invested in the Apple ecosystem (as opposed to say the Samsung Galaxy ecosystem), who already spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on fashion accessories such as gold watches.
The primary use of fancy chronographs is to look good on your wrist. As an incidental function they tell the time, phase of the moon, current date, provide stopwatch and timer functions, etc. Smart watches will even tell you the current weather (as opposed to simply having a thermometer and barometer gauge on the face of the watch).
IMHO the primary purpose of the Apple Watch isn't to be an extension to your iPhone, it's to be a fashion accessory which happens to be functional.
Just because it doesn't make sense to you at any price doesn't mean it won't make sense to someone who already has two $5,000 watches.