I used my FitBit Charge HR to monitor my sleep, activity and compete with a few friends to keep me motivated. I also linked my FitBit with MyFitnessPal to coordinate the food intake with my fitness and weight loss. The two pieces of technology together were very successful and a joy to use.
Both FitBit and MyFitnessPal have updated their software to provide a better experience. However, since last year the Apple Watch has arrived and I have linked this up to MyFitnessPal as well.
After several months I will update you with my thoughts on whether the Apple Watch really is a decent fitness device that takes on FitBit and the FitBit Charge HR. My goal is weight loss.
Now don’t scream at the screen and say they are different devices and prices. Of course they are but I want to try and document my thoughts in this process.
I have had the Apple Watch since I received the new iPhone 6S Plus. I’ve not really dedicated a post covering the Apple Watch as I have had some teething problems with iCloud and iTunes Match. Fortunately, these all seemed resolved. So now I can spend some time talking about why I stayed using the iPhone and that has to do with the wider hardware and software Eco system. The hardware includes iPad, MacBook and the of course the Apple Watch.
I think I was lucky to get the Apple Watch when watch OSv2 arrived, otherwise I reckon I would have been somewhat disappointed with the original firmware. I looked at the 3 Apple Watch models and choose the steel finish with the Milanese strap and a spare sports strap. I like the blue sports strap as its marginally more comfortable than the Milanese strap, but doesn’t look as posh. But now I never wear the blue sports strap. Should I wish to swap the band, Apple make this process so simple with the push to release mechanism.
So what do I like about the Apple Watch. The attention to detail in the build. I like the look of it on my wrist. However, my wife and I were discussing the real need of the Apple Watch and we both agree it is not necessary to own. If you want to get fit, buy a Fitbit Charge HR for £100.
However, what I have found as the month has progressed is how I start to use it for small things and let it help me speed up some routines or processes that I would use my iPhone for.
Some of the flash stuff I like using on my Apple Watch is taking phone calls usually when my hands are engaged and my iPhone is in a different room. There is a slight delay while it hands off the call to the watch. This is only a viable option in a quiet room as the volume is not very loud. However, background noise does seem to get partially removed which is a plus point.
My weather station statistics can be displayed on my Apple Watch and even includes a complication. I can take measurements with Qardio Blood Pressure monitor, monitor my walks across Dartmoor using Viewranger GPS. Replying to notifications via voice is accurate. Sending heart beats to my wife or little hand drawings is silly but fun at the same time. Using Hey Siri command, seems hit or miss.
The fitness aspect of the watch works as described and links nicely into the activity and health app. As apps develop with the new firmware I can see more clever stuff being possible on your wrist. However, less is more so it I don’t let all my notifications hit my wrist. The Taptic vibration is also a lovely aspect of the watch.
But as I originally said, it is not a must have item, just a cool and clever item to have. Maybe that’s why Apple are trying to steer its focus away from a tech need, and more a fashion need!
Regardless, I really like it for its style, apps and geek factor.
There have been several reviews over the last few weeks. Below are the links. Over the next few weeks there will be more reviews covering new smartphones and the brand new Chord Mojo which has taken the audio world by storm.
Apple iPhone 6S Plus incl Apple Watch review (continuously updated) – Now 14 Parts
I have written many posts covering my views on the new iPhone 6S Plus and Apple Watch, so for ease I have created this post whereby all further sections will now appear as well.
Yesterday, Apple carried out a near perfect 2 hour masterclass keynote speech, announcing a wide range of new products. Here are my initial thoughts on everything.
New iPhone 6S and 6S Plus
The new iPhone has a new 12mp camera that coupled with the new A9 processor and digital image processing chip allows for 4K video recording, live photo capture and a whole lot more. Apple made the point that by increasing the MP they did not sacrifice pixel quality. The tech specs show that the camera sensor has got smaller not larger with the iPhone 6S. Instead of 1.5 microns it is now only 1.22 microns. As a comparison , the LG G4 camera sensor is 2.6 microns in size with a f/1.8 aperture. The iPhone 6S is still only f/2.2. Despite these specs, the proof is in the pudding and time will tell.
3D Touch now comes to the iPhone (or Force Touch). The front camera is now 5mp. With all the other features and tight hardware and software integrations, the iPhone makes for a compelling package, albeit at a high price.
A new pink colour is now available too.
iPad Pro
The iPad Pro is a giant iPad with a 12.9 inch screen. It has the new A9X processor and has bespoke accessories from the new keyboard with speakers and the Apple Pencil. The Apple Pencil is a stylus for the iPad Pro. The iPad Pro looks excellent but at 713g for the WiFi only model and 723g for the WifI plus LTE it is just too heavy. Also, it pricing invades the MacBook Air or Macbook line up. Surely, it is better to buy one of these and run proper desktop apps? Beautiful product if you like that sort of thing.
Apple TV
The new Apple TV with TVos shows promise. A clean user interface, using siri and a new remote control that also adds as a game controller. Proper game controller can be used with the Apple TV too. Current limitations restrict apps to 200mb with the other app components needing to be held in the cloud. So probably more of a casual gaming option. Siri searched other TV streaming platforms which I thought was a neat feature. Overall, I really liked the new Apple TV.
Apple Watch
So just in time for the holiday season, Apple launches a whole range of new straps, watch finishes and special edition straps. This is surely going to be a popular Xmas stocking filler. Watch OS2 was shown off too and looked very promising.
Data Storage Costs
Finally, Apple reduced the size of their cloud data costs, making the service far more reasonable and competitive.
Final Thoughts
Personally, I thought Apple nailed it. Tight integration of engineering, software and hardware shone through. Whilst I remained optimistic, Apple’s share price has dropped 2.16 following the keynote speech.
So what are your thoughts on the Apple product announcements?
If you head over to macrumors.com or dailymail.co.uk the Apple Watch is heading for a disaster. Back in April 2015, 200,000 Apple Watches were being sold per day. Now that number in the US has possibly plummeted to as low as 2,000 watches.
What planet is everyone on?
I may wear a LG Watch Urbane currently, but I bet LG has not even sold 2,000 of these in the last 3 months. Apple have entered the smart watch space and taken it by storm, and now are the number one selling smart watch brand, and by some crazy huge margin.
I have looked at all the features of the Apple Watch and wish some of those were on my LG Watch Urbane. LG still haven’t sorted out their Health app and syncing the heart rate from the Urbane. Google updated Google Fit and broke the heart rate monitoring on the Urbane. Meanwhile, Apple sells thousands of watches every day. Seems Apple has the upper hand.
Some perspective. The Apple Watch is a non essential item, a luxury item, yet it sells really well. It will continue to sell over a longer period of time, as all jewellery does.
For now, Apple is in a good position. If the numbers completely dwindle, well then a new strategy will be needed.
“The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FSWI) has announced today that for the first time since 2009 exports of traditional timepieces are down, and it looks like Apple Watch is to blame.
Wristwatch exports from Switzerland fell almost 9 percent between April and May, according to the FSWI numbers. The news comes on the heels of the launch of Apple Watch on April 24th, which combined with fluctuating currency markets to cause the industry’s first slump in over six years.
“Watch exports to the U.S. in the lower price segments could also have had some negative impact from the launch of the Apple Watch,” analyst Patrik Schwendimann told Bloomberg. The U.S. market might only grow by a low single-digit percentage this year, slowing down from 6 percent growth in 2014, he said.”
Just shows how much of an impact Apple has made from never selling a watch to gaining market share especially in the high profit margin area.
As you know, I co-host a monthly podcast with David from UKMobileTech called Gav & Dave’s Tech Podcast. It is a light hearted tech podcast broadcast.
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Below are a number of “How To” videos from Apple showing you how to use your new Apple Watch. If you Apple Watch did get delivered today, so share your first thoughts in the comments.
In case you want to play with a few apps, according to Apple on launch day there will be 3,000 apps supporting the Apple Watch. Sounds like a success already!
During my lunch break, I ventured out of the office to grab a sandwich and happened to trip in to the Apple Store.
Inside, behind glass on one of the tables, were a large selection of the different Apple Watches/strap combos with one side showing the larger 42mm Apple Watch options and then the other side the smaller 38mm sized Watch.
In person the Apple Watch looks really elegant up to a point. As I was browsing I was approached by an Apple employee who asked if I would like to try on some of the watches. The sales assistant explained that there was a 15 min time limit and that at present the wait would be no more than 5 mins before a time slot would be free. So reluctantly, I said yes.
For starters the smaller Apple Watch did not suit my wrist, but it was still a positive step to see an option for those that don’t want a huge chunk on their wrist. I thought the larger Apple Watch was a decent size and actually did not look too big. I tried the Apple Watch Sport first of all. This was the black strap with a grey aluminium shell. Gorgeous piece of technology and out of all of these options, this is the version I would choose, if I was buying one. I would also add a white sport band strap which cost an extra £39 on top of the £339. The other straps that I really liked were the leather loop and milanese loop. I actually preferred the Apple Watch with a stainless steel casing but at around £500 this becomes to expensive, especially as I would then choose the leather loop strap which takes the price to £599. The metal straps were not my cup of tea.
All the Apple Watches were in a demo mode, so I did not get to actually try using one for real. However, some of the screens and watch faces looked stunning. The taptic feedback is simple but genius as only you would know of new notifications ,and not the whole world if it worked using vibrations.
But my overall takeaway was how well executed/designed/manufactured the new Apple Watch was, along with the huge wealth of options. My only problem is that I don’t have an iPhone but I can tell you this, seeing the Watch in person really makes you want one, even if there is no real reason for one. It is probably the ultimate gadget.
As the Apple Watch was running in demo mode, I have answered questions still exist around what will be battery life be and how smooth will it be to operate the Watch. Also of a surprise was how many free try on areas were empty. Plus my 15 mins did extend slightly longer, not that I was complaining.
Gavin's Gadgets & Photography 