“There’s been a lot of discussion of late over the Watch, in particular how it’s doing and whether or not it’s a flop,” Dan Moren writes for Macworld. “As someone who’s been wearing one pretty much daily for six months now, I feel like I’ve finally integrated it into my life enough that I’ve got a good idea of both its capabilities and its limitations. And believe me, it’s got plenty of both.”
“The Apple Watch does a whole lot. The sad part is most of it not very well,” Moren writes. “At this point, I’ve removed most of the third-party apps and glances from my Apple Watch. Even with the native apps ushered in by watchOS 2, launching an application and waiting for it to load data is just too slow to be useful except in cases where I can’t get to my phone.”
“Six months into the Apple Watch, it seems clear to me that it’s a cool device, but it’s got a long way to go,” Moren writes. “I’m looking forward to seeing what watchOS 3 brings, but I’m starting to think that it will take until the second-generation Apple Watch for the whole thing to really come into its own. Because performance is definitely the biggest impediment right now, and there’s only so much that software engineering can do to make up for slow hardware.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: He’s right. Speed is the main issue. The Apple Watch is meant to save time with quick glances. Watching the spinning hexagonal wait icon while waiting for some third-party apps to load negates much of the Apple Watch’s utility. But, some apps work well and are actually eye-opening. Language translation and turn-by-turn directions on your wrist are incredibly effective, for just two examples of many.
So, yes, some apps are slow, too slow to really be useful in a device that exists mainly to save users’ time, however, as with the original iPhone (which was also a dog-slow, more proof-of-concept than promise-fulfilling device), we wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Being an early adopter of an original Apple product is a rare, priceless experience. You get to see what the designers thought was important (and that will certainly change in future Apple Watch generations) and why it operates the way it does. You get to see the promise. You get to experiment right along with Apple.
We thoroughly enjoyed the early adopter experience with our original iPhones and, right now, we’re enjoying it with our Apple Watches. We’ve sold many of our old iPhones through the years, but we’ve kept our original models. We’ll do the same with these original Apple Watches. There is only one original Apple Watch and you can only have the original Apple Watch experience if you have one.
I picked up the original Android Wear watch, the LG G Watch, which came out in June 2014, about half-a-year after its release, and have been using it daily since. I’ve been happy with it. It’s not perfect, but for what it sets out to do, it’s become indispensable. I understand that Android Wear may soon support features (that Apple Watch may already have) like being able to conduct phone calls from the watch itself, for devices with the right hardware. I know that sales haven’t been nearly what Apple Watch sales have been. Yet Android Wear seems to have taken the right path and are on a good trajectory.
I can think of a good trajectory for Android Wear: against a brick wall, in the round filing cabinet, the back of a drawer etc.
As long as you like using “a stolen product” and have no morals, values and scruples, go ahead and keep using Android. I know that Android Wear came out before Apple Watch but it was in response to the rumours that Apple was going to come out with a Watch. Google rushed to get something out before they knew what to copy from Apple and they got it wrong of course.
So in other words, it wasn’t really a “stolen” product.
And you just had to post your opinions on an Apple-centric site.
Odd.
Thanks Tom for your input on how well your Android Wear is going for you. As this article is not referring to Android, maybe this would fit better on a different site.
Passed on the original Watch. Battery life and one more damn thing to charge on the road were my main issues. When I meet people who own them I always get an enthusiatic endorsement and as an iPhone 6s+ owner I would love to not have to pull my phone out as often but I am DEFINATELY looking forward to the next Watch. Here’s hoping for: 1) Better battery life (2 – 3 days would be great) 2) Increased speed and 3) a smaller more portable charging device.
(Right now when I travel I have to carry a Macbook Air charger, LG Wireless headset charger, iPhone charger, iPad Charger (doubles with iPhone),. Back up battery (iPhone) w/charger (doubles with headset). The night stand at my hotel looks ridiculous, I’m not carrying one more “unique” charger – EVER).
I regularly get between two and three days on a single charge on my Watch. Mine is the bigger 42mm watch, so its battery is somewhat larger in capacity than the 38mm watch, which my wife has by the way. She and I love our Watches and wear them daily, all day.
I love my watch but only get about 36 hrs/charge.
Have to agree with Wun Dum Gai. I get about 36 hrs per charge so I make sure to charge nightly. I have a 42mm also. I use it primarily to see the time and my next meting which is on the face. Runtastic is profoundly unusable on it – probably equally due to hardware as well as software implementation. It’s helpful for directions on the rare occasion. I look forward to more functionality.
When I see the battery still has a lot of life (at the end of the day when I take it off), I power the watch completely off for the night. Depending upon usage and the types of tasks I have the Watch do, I “only” get two days. Now, if I’m using the watch to track my walks, that does use considerable power.
Still, we both love our Watches – my wife’s had hers since right after the initial ship date, and I’ve had mine since 12 May.
Despite daily use, with numerous bumps into door frames, etc., both watches (Sport aluminium models) are pristine.
Do not think you will get better battery life any time soon. Battery technology does not work on Moore’s law, it is slow. That reason Android phones could claim better battery life was their large size. Once the 6 and 6+ came out Android lost the advantage. I would love for my Apple Watch to last a few days. However recharging it when I don’t wear it, sleep, is not a big deal. Does any other smart watch that has comparable specs last longer? If it can’t send text make phone calls, show photos and videos, and have apps than it’s not a real test.
I would love to to see app to app test with some other smart watches. If Android Ware is so great than why has Samsung dumped it?
I’ve had mine since July and am booked into the Genius Bar due to the Digital Crown being sticky.
It’s a great 1st attempt, I’m with the article writer, most of the 3rd party Apps are too slow to be of any use, but what does work well is the integration with messages, phone etc.
I’m probably going to sell mine when I get this issue with the Digital Crown fixed, and put the money towards an iPad Pro.
Sticky Digital Crown fix is to give it a good rinse with water.
Which hand are you using to type when you are ‘surfing the web’? Perhaps you should change hands.
“You get to experiment right along with Apple.”
Great! How much are they paying us?
if a rich experience on the cutting edge of a new paradigm is not enough “pay” for you, then wait on the sidelines, watching the video feeds, and hoping you can afford to be one of the explorers, or, just pay and play, then you can comment.
If you feel financially or morally unable to experiment or explore, then please leave the comment section to those who are, or at least those who understand the value in being willing to explore the possibilities.
OH, You are a troll,
sorry to have wasted our time here….
I still think the Apple Watch is destined to be a niche product. The masses, with their sheep-like instincts, may be buying smart watches now; but I’m far from convinced that the average person needs or wants to wear their digital life on their wrist just because technology makes it possible to do so.
I would agree with MDN’s take that the early adopter experience can be second to none – but you have to pick the right products – not everyone.
The first White polycrbonate shelled Macbook – excellent.
The 12″ G4 Alu Powerbook – of its time, just the best. Brilliant
The original iPhone – very good.
The first 24″ iMac – Excellent
The original iPad – Brilliant ( and only now becoming too slow for modern media intensive websites)
The original Apple TV – OK but limited.
Oh I forgot, the first iPod = brilliant !
I’ve been wearing the Apple Watch for almost 6 months. I don’t ever use glances, I’d actually almost forgotten about the ‘swipe up’ gesture, it’s too slow to load anything so I just use my iPhone like I always have. I hardly use any 3rd party apps either. I have the modular clock face on most of the time. It shows me my next meeting at work which I’ve now come to rely on. When I’m at home I usually switch to the weather complication, but I wish there were more 3rd party complications. Those that are available aren’t great. CNN headlines don’t work properly, neither does Dark Sky (displays “getting forecast” most of the time). I switched to App in the Air’s complication for a trip last weekend, but the info it shows on the complication is weak. Complications need to be better. When people ask me what I use the watch for I tell them: first and foremost for telling the time and date! I’ve come to rely on it for reading iMessages and calendar reminders. I like the activity tracking, it’s actually made me lose some weight. Most of the other features I don’t use, but it’s a great watch all the same. No doubt the next generation will be the big hit once Apple refine the product and developers work out what people want, but I knew I was treating myself to a toy and I’ve loved playing with it.
I will wait until the next one comes. In the mean time, dump Cook and get a real CEO. Fed up with gender identification and hob nobbing with f**kups like Hillary rotkunt Cliton. We need another Jobsian leader, not a twink.