Practical experience with the Apple Watch

HarryT · 07-05-2015, 06:42 AM

Does anyone here own an Apple Watch? What do you think of it? How long does the battery last in the real world?

pwalker8 · 07-05-2015, 07:23 AM

Yes, I do. I like it a lot. When I go to bed, I usually have between 50% and 60% of the battery left. I charge it each night. It generally takes a bit less than an hour to charge all the way.

The biggest thing about the Apple Watch is not having to have the iPhone sitting in your hand all the time. I can answer phone calls, text and see alerts on my Apple Watch. In general this is how I use it during the day.

1) At home, I just leave my iPhone in one place. If I get a phone call, I can answer, then walk over to my phone and seamlessly switch the conversation over to the phone (I have a hands free headset for the phone).

2) I get various notices on the Apple Watch that I can see without pulling the phone out of my pocket. Pretty handy for meetings and the like.

3) Exercise. It monitors your physical activity during the day. It also has a pretty nice excise app that lets you set a goal, monitor your heart rate, distance traveled, estimates the calories uses and logs the various forms of exercise. I tend to walk to lunch (anywhere between 1 to 3 miles round trip) and use an ecliptic and it handles both well.

4) reminds me to get up and move around. Good for a computer programmer who tends to lose track of time.

5) The watch face I use shows the time, current temperature, the next item on my calendar, how much activity I've have during the day and the % of battery left.

I don't use Apple pay much. I tend to use cash and carry a wallet, so I can't really comment on how well Apple pay works. You can also use it to control certain functions on your iPhone, but I haven't used that much either.

HarryT · 07-06-2015, 10:33 AM

Thank you for the useful review - that's very interesting to hear. I am very tempted by the Apple Watch, but I think I'll wait a year or two for it to fall in price. The new v2 of the iWatch OS that's coming out this autumn sounds as if it has a lot of good improvements.

pwalker8 · 07-06-2015, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thank you for the useful review - that's very interesting to hear. I am very tempted by the Apple Watch, but I think I'll wait a year or two for it to fall in price. The new v2 of the iWatch OS that's coming out this autumn sounds as if it has a lot of good improvements.

In general, unless you have a good idea of how you will use it, then waiting for V2 is not a bad idea. In general, Apple prices don't tend to fall much, they just come out with new models that have more capabilities at the same price point. I suspect that now that it's been out for several months, App companies are getting an idea about how people are really using the Apple Watch and how their app might fit that model.

Glorfindel · 07-06-2015, 08:01 PM

I don't suppose it is particularly usable without an iPhone?

HarryT · 07-07-2015, 01:27 AM

It's not usable without an iPhone.

kyteflyer · 07-07-2015, 04:13 PM

V2 will be usable without iphone I believe. But I think you'll still need to own an iphone. You just won't necessarily have to have it with you (eg when you go for a run or something). In spite of being an Apple fan for the past 20 years, I can't justify the watch purchase. Perhaps in a few years if the price drops.

Might be worth reading some of the comments in Macrumors
http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/...wanes.1898622/

Glorfindel · 07-07-2015, 06:31 PM

So I suspected. Hopefully Apple will change that.

HarryT · 07-08-2015, 02:52 AM

I very much doubt it will change, but time will tell

.

HarryT · 07-08-2015, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

V2 will be usable without iphone I believe. But I think you'll still need to own an iphone. You just won't necessarily have to have it with you (eg when you go for a run or something).

My understanding is that the iWatch will need to be connected to a WiFi network in this configuration; the iWatch doesn't contain a cellular radio and won't be able to talk to the iPhone unless the two are connected in some way. Presumably it'll still tell the time if not connected, but nothing else. The intent, as I understand it, is to allow you to use the watch while having the phone elsewhere in the house or office, but not necessarily on your person.

pwalker8 · 07-08-2015, 07:54 AM

Actually, the current version allows you to talk with the iPhone via bluetooth or wireless. I recieve text and phone calls on my Apple Watch, even if the iPhone is downstairs out of bluetooth range.

HarryT · 07-08-2015, 03:54 PM

You couldn't go for a run, though, could you, and have the health app work without your iPhone?

pwalker8 · 07-08-2015, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

You couldn't go for a run, though, could you, and have the health app work without your iPhone?

Good question. I haven't tried it. I might give it a try and see.

treadlightly · 07-08-2015, 06:18 PM

I have read that while running in airplane mode the watch counts steps, plays music and monitors heart rate. The only thing missing is GPS data.

Gurvan · 07-09-2015, 02:53 AM

Agreed, if you go on a run without the iPhone, you will miss the geographical data but, and especially if you did the procedure for calibrating your watch, normally, it should count the steps and so on...

As for myself, I agree fully with Pwalker8 and my experience is mostly the same.

I would just add that I was a Fitbit Flex user and found it a real pain in the a** for recharging its battery. Furthermore, Fitbit is now trying to "go it alone" as far as sharing its data was concerned. Since I have the Apple Watch, the Fitbit Flex is now gathering dust... The watch is a bit different in the health aspect but much more capable!

The watch is part of my health setup which also comprises a Withing balance board and tensiometer, and the MyFitnessPal app. Ever since I started using that kind of systems to truly monitor what I am doing instead of "rough-guessing" it, I shed about 15kg in some 18months (obviously not ONLY with the Apple Watch !

).

So for me, this a trend that will grow...

Right now the watch is far from being indispensable, but like the iPhone 3G compared to its competitors of the time, it is a big step toward something new...

The other app that I use on the watch are Passbook, Navigon and Cyclemeter...

07-05-2015, 06:42 AM	#1
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Practical experience with the Apple Watch Does anyone here own an Apple Watch? What do you think of it? How long does the battery last in the real world?

07-07-2015, 04:13 PM	#7
kyteflyer Wizard Posts: 1,844 Karma: 9547754 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Newcastle, Australia Device: iPhone 12 Mini	V2 will be usable without iphone I believe. But I think you'll still need to own an iphone. You just won't necessarily have to have it with you (eg when you go for a run or something). In spite of being an Apple fan for the past 20 years, I can't justify the watch purchase. Perhaps in a few years if the price drops. Might be worth reading some of the comments in Macrumors http://forums.macrumors.com/threads/...wanes.1898622/ Last edited by kyteflyer; 07-07-2015 at 04:18 PM.

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07-05-2015, 07:23 AM	#2
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Yes, I do. I like it a lot. When I go to bed, I usually have between 50% and 60% of the battery left. I charge it each night. It generally takes a bit less than an hour to charge all the way. The biggest thing about the Apple Watch is not having to have the iPhone sitting in your hand all the time. I can answer phone calls, text and see alerts on my Apple Watch. In general this is how I use it during the day. 1) At home, I just leave my iPhone in one place. If I get a phone call, I can answer, then walk over to my phone and seamlessly switch the conversation over to the phone (I have a hands free headset for the phone). 2) I get various notices on the Apple Watch that I can see without pulling the phone out of my pocket. Pretty handy for meetings and the like. 3) Exercise. It monitors your physical activity during the day. It also has a pretty nice excise app that lets you set a goal, monitor your heart rate, distance traveled, estimates the calories uses and logs the various forms of exercise. I tend to walk to lunch (anywhere between 1 to 3 miles round trip) and use an ecliptic and it handles both well. 4) reminds me to get up and move around. Good for a computer programmer who tends to lose track of time. 5) The watch face I use shows the time, current temperature, the next item on my calendar, how much activity I've have during the day and the % of battery left. I don't use Apple pay much. I tend to use cash and carry a wallet, so I can't really comment on how well Apple pay works. You can also use it to control certain functions on your iPhone, but I haven't used that much either.

07-06-2015, 10:33 AM	#3
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Thank you for the useful review - that's very interesting to hear. I am very tempted by the Apple Watch, but I think I'll wait a year or two for it to fall in price. The new v2 of the iWatch OS that's coming out this autumn sounds as if it has a lot of good improvements.

07-06-2015, 08:01 PM	#5
Glorfindel Force-Aware Elf Posts: 4,762 Karma: 11557898 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Valinor Device: Kindle 4 w/SO	I don't suppose it is particularly usable without an iPhone?

07-07-2015, 01:27 AM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's not usable without an iPhone.

07-07-2015, 06:31 PM	#8
Glorfindel Force-Aware Elf Posts: 4,762 Karma: 11557898 Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Valinor Device: Kindle 4 w/SO	So I suspected. Hopefully Apple will change that.

07-08-2015, 02:52 AM	#9
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I very much doubt it will change, but time will tell .

07-08-2015, 07:54 AM	#11
pwalker8 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,196 Karma: 70314280 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Device: iPad Pro, iPad mini, Kobo Aura, Amazon paperwhite, Sony PRS-T2	Actually, the current version allows you to talk with the iPhone via bluetooth or wireless. I recieve text and phone calls on my Apple Watch, even if the iPhone is downstairs out of bluetooth range.

07-08-2015, 03:54 PM	#12
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	You couldn't go for a run, though, could you, and have the health app work without your iPhone?

07-08-2015, 06:18 PM	#14
treadlightly Wizard Posts: 1,370 Karma: 6957792 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa, ON Device: Kobo H2O	I have read that while running in airplane mode the watch counts steps, plays music and monitors heart rate. The only thing missing is GPS data.

07-09-2015, 02:53 AM	#15
Gurvan Groupie Posts: 189 Karma: 986146 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: En Europe, mais pas loin des Etats-Unis et d'un grand groupe de hard-rock Allemand... Device: iPhone 6+ and iPad 1 (love them both...)	Agreed, if you go on a run without the iPhone, you will miss the geographical data but, and especially if you did the procedure for calibrating your watch, normally, it should count the steps and so on... As for myself, I agree fully with Pwalker8 and my experience is mostly the same. I would just add that I was a Fitbit Flex user and found it a real pain in the a** for recharging its battery. Furthermore, Fitbit is now trying to "go it alone" as far as sharing its data was concerned. Since I have the Apple Watch, the Fitbit Flex is now gathering dust... The watch is a bit different in the health aspect but much more capable! The watch is part of my health setup which also comprises a Withing balance board and tensiometer, and the MyFitnessPal app. Ever since I started using that kind of systems to truly monitor what I am doing instead of "rough-guessing" it, I shed about 15kg in some 18months (obviously not ONLY with the Apple Watch ! ). So for me, this a trend that will grow... Right now the watch is far from being indispensable, but like the iPhone 3G compared to its competitors of the time, it is a big step toward something new... The other app that I use on the watch are Passbook, Navigon and Cyclemeter...

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