The Rounded Rectangle - A single topic round-table type discussion featuring myself (Jonathan Norman) and two guests. This week we have Gilbert Tang who can be found on Twitter at @gilberttangjr, and Mark D. Mill (@markdmill on Twitter) of markdmill.com and creator of the Apple Watchscreen Blog entries. Our topic this week is Apple Watch.
What is the Apple Watch for? Does it work? Is it any good? Would you buy it again? What is missing? Does it make sense? All this and so much more, coming up on this installment of, The Rounded Rectangle.
Which Watch Is On Your Wrist?
Jonathan:
So to start this off, lets just get it out there. Which Apple Watch and band are you wearing? Do you have any extra bands? When did you order your watch? What led to these choices?
I have the 38mm Space Gray Aluminum with Black Sport band. I have a few extra bands that I'm testing for review purposes, but all of them are third party, as I only have the single Apple band that came with my watch.
I ordered my watch on launch morning (very late evening?) or, more precisely, my wife did. I had it narrowed down to the 38mm based on other watches and the printouts, but was undecided between the Steel with Classic Buckle or the Space Gray Sport. In the end I went with the cheaper model simply because I felt I could justify it much easier for a first generation product. It was ordered within minutes of going online and even then it took me two weeks or so after shipping started to get it.
Gilbert:
As I type this I'm wearing an Apple Watch Sport of the 42mm Space Gray Aluminum variety with the Blue Sport Band. I have four additional bands, including the Black Sport Band that originally came with my model, the Bright Blue Leather Loop, a used black classic buckle from Apple, and a super cheap aftermarket space gray link bracelet from China that I bought for fun. You can find it here.
I completed the preorder for my Watch (and my wife's) less than 90 seconds after the Apple Store officially opened on April 10. I had marked a bunch of favorites in the Apple Store app and was able to pull the trigger quickly using Apple Pay. I guess I lucked out on timing because despite ordering perhaps the most popular model made I received my Watch on day one, April 24. I know people who ordered a few minutes later that didn't get theirs for weeks after I got mine.
My wife and I talked a lot about which models to get (we ordered ours at the same time, although she received hers about 10 days later). Our favorites were all over the map and we pretty much chose at the time of sale. Justification for the purchase aside, it was purely pragmatic for us. For an unproven first-generation product that we are very likely to replace at the next cycle, we didn't think it made sense to risk upwards of $2,000. We could return them, of course, but we didn't want the hassle. We see the stainless steel models in the wild and sometimes regret not going for it, but it doesn't take long for us to remember how happy we are with what we got.
Mark:
I got the 42mm Space Grey Sport. I knew I'd want the largest screen that could fit on my wrists, so 42mm. The Apple Watch was actually a gift from my family to me, so their gift cards only paid for a sport--I could have paid the difference for the stainless steel, but I'm in grad school so need to avoid unnecessary expenditures. I got the Space Grey because I thought it would be more professional looking in more situations than the aluminum sport (I do a fair amount of public speaking, so that is important). I ordered my watch at 12:03am (PST) the first day it was available!
I don't own any extra bands, but I desperately need a brown one for certain events. I will take a trip to China in a few weeks and hope to pick up a variety of bands.
Jonathan:
Explain your thinking in buying an Apple Watch. Was it something you were waiting for? Had you tried other wearables? How did you make your purchase decision?
I'd been waiting for the Apple Watch for a while...since the first nibbles of information starting coming out regarding it. Leading up to that point I used FitBits, Jawbones Ups, Withings, and Nike Fuelbands...all with good and bad things about them. I wanted something that fit my life and style better though. Something more, me. The only thing that came close before getting the Apple Watch was the Withings Activite, but it was too little too late, as my Apple Watch arrived about two weeks after receiving it.
Wearables intrigued me very early on and I knew I was going to want to get involved quickly. After the mountain of issues with other trackers, making the decision to get another wearable would have been hard honestly, except it was Apple, and I knew it would be great. I had just had enough of the junk that I'd been trying to cram into my routines up to that point.
Gilbert:
For me, buying at least some version of the Apple Watch was a no-brainer. Early in the rumor cycle I tried to convince myself that I'd wait for the second generation, but when they showed it at the keynote all that went out the window. It helps a lot that I'm already a watch lover who happens to be very interested in the future of wearables. I'm also deep in the Apple ecosystem. So it makes sense that I'd be literally Taptic with anticipation.
My first foray into wearable technology (unless you count my sweet Reebok Pumps from 1990) was the Nike Fuel Band. Other than playing with the neat scrolling display it really didn't do much for me. I sold it and bought a Jawbone Up. It died pretty quickly like every other Jawbone product I've owned, and despite a quick replacement and stellar customer service, I stopped wearing the Up in favor of the Fitbit ecosystem. I went through several Fitbits, each lasting long enough to either disappear or die in the laundry. Then I got a Pebble.
I was so excited about the Pebble at first. I had a good friend with close ties to the company, so I was optimistic about their direction. And even though the Pebble was already sitting on Best Buy shelves by the time I got mine, I felt like a beta tester with early access to the future. The problem with Pebble, however, is that every day you wear one it feels less and less like the future part, and lots like the beta part. Ultimately, it's a deeply frustrating product that works very poorly with iOS. Still, I stuck it out, wearing it daily for more than a year. I hated that it looked and felt like a toy; I hated that notifications were not only notoriously unreliable, but that when you did get one you had to pull out your phone anyway; and I hated that I always had to tinker with it to the point of paranoia, constantly having to re-pair the device and constantly relaunching companion apps on iOS. Always pulling out my iPhone to see what the Pebble missed led to a serious complex (I wish I was joking). I learned that by far the most important thing you can share with any wearable device is trust. I didn't trust my Pebble at all and I developed anxiety on par with FOMO, only for the stuff that really mattered to me like family, friends, and work. It was therefore relegated to Mordor for devices: the junk drawer (although recently I sent it to a friend for testing in what he believes is a shameless attempt to give him a product so terrible that he'll have no choice but to buy an Apple Watch).
Jonathan:
I too had those sweet Reebok Pumps Gilbert mentioned. Oh 90's. I certainly never, ever, ever, wore them with "hammer pants". Never.
Mark:
For me, I was incredibly interested in Apple Watch because it is a new product category for Apple. Since I blog about Apple, technology and society at markdmill.com, I wanted to have the newest item to experience it for myself. However, again because of grad school and working three jobs to pay for that, I had decided I wouldn't get it. Much to my surprise, my wife went secretly arrange with my whole family & friends to give me Apple Store gift cards so I could get the watch. Super awesome gift!
Beyond the interest in experiencing this new product, what attracted me most to the Watch, and what has made the biggest difference in my life already, was the fitness tracking. I've never had a tracker (besides my phone), but I've considered them before. I never got one because it never seemed to offer enough functionality for the price. I think Apple Watch does, though, even if it weren't a gift--and I will be upgrading as soon as grad school is over.
Jonathan:
What are your thoughts on the quality of the device? Materials, the look, the feel... Are you happy with it?
From the moment I opened the great packaging I knew the Apple Watch was special. Of course the product shots and videos and demos and try-ons didn't allow for it to be too surprising, but somehow, it still was. When I opened the box I was just amazed at the quality and beauty. Having it in my hands and it being "mine" overwhelmed me with a sense of delight. I sometimes wonder if I would have liked the Steel more than the Space Gray I got...but, right now, I'm extremely satisfied with this one. It's great!
Gilbert:
Amazing. After my Pebble trauma I've developed such a deep appreciation for the Apple Watch and everything it achieves even as a 1.0. It's a beautiful thing to behold, and the more I examine it the more I come to realize the love and thought that went into its physical design. It really is beautiful hardware. I thought I had good smartwatch training from the Pebble, and that my time with the device would inform my experience with the Apple Watch. Other than being accustomed to (formerly ineffective) notifications on the wrist, however, it was mostly the other way around. The Apple Watch clarified to me everything that's so deeply flawed about the Pebble (some of which being out of Pebble's control) while opening my eyes to the potential of the form factor. The trust thing took longer than I thought, but once I started to believe that the Apple Watch just worked to the point where I could rely on it for mission-critical tasks it became worth an Edition's weight in gold. And while the Apple Watch isn't without its niggles, it has become an integral part of my life. That's because the things that Apple got right are so incredibly spot-on that the Watch feels like a piece of fine-grit sandpaper smoothing out the rough edges between my technology. In the morning I reach for my Watch before I reach for my iPhone and then it stays on my wrist almost every minute of the day, right up until I got to bed. Do I need it the way I need water or shelter? Not at all, but I get more genuine utility out of this device at $400 than almost anything else I have ever owned (especially compared the TVs and other gadgets few ever question). So am I happy with it? Absolutely. But even more critically, I'm thankful for it.
Mark:
Love it! I wear it caseless (seems so odd to me to put a case on it), and I've banged it around a fair bit and it's mostly none the worse for wear. I did get one tiny blemish on the edge & corner of the screen. It's not anything that anyone else would notice but I can't un-see it now. But on the whole I've been very satisfied! The Sport band in particular is incredibly comfy to wear and, though I do want to get a leather or even a link band in the future, I'm pretty happy to wear it even on more formal situations. The screen is great and clear, though I do hope to see reduced bezels in the future. The only form issue I'd like to see changed is its thickness--it's just barely able to fit under my cuff as it is, so I'd like to see that reduce somewhat to make it easier. But on the whole, very happy with it.
How do you use Apple Watch?
Jonathan:
There are many ways people are using Apple Watch. From fitness, communication, notifications, navigation, and more. What are you using it for on a daily basis? Not the random 1-off things that crop up now and again, but daily...how has it integrated into your life?
My biggest thing is, I don't want to "use" my Apple Watch. I want to interact with things quickly and move on. That's how I've approached it and it has made my overall experience wonderful. Sure I've been using it to track my health and activity daily...those damn circles...but the communication aspect has been the biggest delight. I no longer feel like I have a tether to my iPhone. I can drop it and move on without the fear of missing a call or important message. Responding is so quick and effortless that I find myself not needing to pick up the iPhone and get sucked into random things like Twitter or RSS. I have more time for other things, which I suspected would be the case, but am still amazed by.
The other things I use it for often are controlling music, and Apple Pay. I love using it to control music from anywhere in the house, easily through Siri or the Glance on the watch. I also have found it convenient to use the Hue app to control the lights in the house, but admittedly it's a bit slow and will be much better with 3rd party native apps. The surprise for me is Apple Pay and just how easy and great it is, even on the Apple Watch. I had been using it on my iPhone, but not even having to take out my phone makes using it on the Apple Watch even better. It's the easiest, most convenient way to pay for sure. I can't wait for more places to start accepting it in my area.
Gilbert:
Mini-interactions, communication, fitness, Apple Pay. Four key areas for me.
One of the most remarkable things about the Apple Watch is how much Apple included out of the box to the point where you can get tons out of it without ever installing a third-party app. I see the Watch as having two distinct hierarchies ([link])(http://daringfireball.net/2015/05/applewatchinteraction_model) and I’m pretty comfortable existing almost entirely within the watch face. Unlike some, I don’t find it jarring when I need shuffle over to the honeycomb app screen to get stuff done. I usually have a specific task in mind, so I press the crown to get to the apps, fire one up, and take care of business. Then it’s back to the watch face. Otherwise, I’m dealing mainly with the few Glances I have installed, or interacting via Siri, complications, or notifications. Each interaction model has its own quirks, but it doesn’t really matter. I’m usually in and out of the Watch so quickly and I’m so used to it that I no longer feel like I’m navigating. It’s like learning to drive.
I think it makes sense to consider the above through the lens of daily integration simply because the inherent seamlessness of the Apple Watch sets the foundation for daily use. In the past five minutes, I set a stopwatch to casually track the time spent on this response, I received and responded to two messages, I marked as complete a previously set reminder, I set a new reminder, deleted spam, looked at the time and weather, and took note of my Activity rings. I didn’t pick up my iPhone even once. If the Apple Watch experience wasn’t seamless there is no way I would rely on it so heavily for these kinds of quick interactions.
MLB At Bat just notified me of the lineup for the Giants game — I love this
I also deal with various modes of communication throughout the day. Whether it’s addressing a tweet, originating or responding to an iMessage, picking up a call when I’m away from my iPhone, or quickly dismissing or trashing an email, I find the communication factor crucial to my Apple Watch experience. Unlike many, however, I don’t care too much about responding by voice in public. I’m not all loud and Dick Tracy about it; I just do it quickly, quietly, and casually. No big deal. I’ve also set my default replies (Yes, No, Hahaha, Sweet, Thank you) well enough to address many of the incoming messages without having to dictate (it’s this very reason that I wish you could favorite iMessages like you can tweets). Plus, I use animated emoji (un-ironically, mind you) because, goofy and creepy as they can be, they often capture the essence of the message. But one thing I do not do is use the side button, which I feel is totally wasted. I wish you could set the button based on 1, 2, or 3-tap interactions. A single tap for me would always take me to the watch face, Apple Pay would remain a double-tap, and I’d relegate the friend circle thing to a triple-tap. This is also a reflection of how seldom I use Digital Touch. I use it with my wife most frequently by far. Other than that, it’s me usually trying to bug a friend if for no other reason than to say, hey, I’m thinking about you in a totally friendly way.
Fitness is another huge thing for me. I knew before buying the Watch that I was gung-ho about the activity tracking (see: Fuel Band, Up, Fitbits), but I didn’t think the impact on my behavior would be so profound (particularly compared to other trackers). But it’s not just my physical behavior that’s changed. Other areas of my life are impacted as well, like my choices as a parent. For example, we have an old iPad that’s essentially my daughter’s (4). My wife and I were deeply concerned that she was spending too much time on it — even though we managed access already — but we still acquiesced since we were claiming the oft-cited educational app exemption (which is total bullshit, by the way). Since we’ve owned our Watches, however, we don’t even allow her to use it, particularly since she gets plenty of time on devices at her grandparents’ house. Instead, we now privately refer to the iPad as the “big guns” and bring it out only during those frustrating parenting quandaries, like trying to get an MRI with nobody to watch your kid. Now, I realize it’s a stretch to say that Apple Watch = better parenting, but the way we thought of it is if we’re going to allow these particular devices tell us when to stand, why would we let another device keep our daughter seated?
As for Apple Pay on Apple Watch, my bit on this is simple: it’s fucking rad.
Mark:
Very well. It’s the first thing I put on in the morning (even before my glasses!) and is the last thing I take off at night. The only thing that is on my person more is my wedding ring, which I never remove. It has become a daily part of my life, a natural portal for information and quick interactions throughout the day. Here are some of the things I use it for the most:
Tracking my fitness. I wrote on my site about the massive effect that Apple Watch has had on my health. If this were all that Apple Watch did for me, it would be worth it, but it does far more
Messaging people, mostly my wife. I’ve set up a pretty good set of prepared responses that work really well for me. I use these all throughout the day, but especially when I’m in class or in a situation where I want to let my wife know I’m thinking of her but it would be rude/impossible to pull out my phone
Inputting tasks into my task manager of choice, Things, which has a clever way of using Siri to input tasks. I love being able to quickly and easily input tasks into my task manager no matter where I am, just by lifting my wrist and using Hey Siri.
Due notifications. I’ve written about why Due is a tremendous app, but Apple Watch makes it so much more powerful as it taps me until I get done the task I need to accomplish.
Playing podcasts with Overcast. Whenever I get in the car, I start a podcast, and the Overcast app on my watch is so much more convenient than pulling my phone out of my pocket. When I get to work, I have to open up the gate and it is so natural to pause and restart the podcast from my wrist as I get out of the car rather than fishing my phone out of my pocket. That’s one reason why I recommend Overcast so much
Unlocking my computer with MacID. It sends a notification to my wrist and with one tap unlocks my computer without having to type my password. It’s such a great app.
Calendar & weather complications. It’s so convenient to just see this at a glance
A watch. Go figure, I use it for this a ton. I love using different faces.
Jonathan:
Watch faces are a way the Apple Watch allows us to personalize the device, aside from the model and bands...what are your favorite watch faces right now? Do you switch them up frequently? What complications do you find most helpful and why?
Right now I'm using the Utility face with complications for temp, calendar, and activity. During work hours I switch it to the Modular face though, as I need to quickly see the exact time for class period changes, and it allows me to do that best.
Gilbert:
My favorite faces are Solar and Astronomy, but I live and breathe in by far the most boring (but also most useful), watch face: Modular. It gives you access to the most flexible and information-heavy complications, and in watchOS 2 it has the best support for the upcoming Time Travel feature, which I think is awesome.
Complications for me are straightforward. In the top row I have the date and time. The second row is the extended view of the weather (aviation geek here). The third row has my Activity rings, a timer (which I use a lot) and the stopwatch. In the past three months I’ve curated these carefully based on how I most frequently used the Watch. With these complications in place the instances of switching interaction models are effectively limited.
Mark:
I love using different faces and complications. There are three I regularly use, and I use them in a predictable pattern. In the morning, I switch to the Utility face that I use throughout the day at work; it shows me my activity, the temperature so I can dress properly, and my calendar. I change the accent color to match what I’m wearing that day.
When I get home, I switch to the Simple face with activity, temperature, sunset, and timer complications. I like the simpler look for being at home where the exact time doesn’t matter so much; changing the face is a signal to me to be fully present with my family. The activity, sunset, and temperature complications help me know what conditions will be like when I go for an evening run. The stopwatch complication I use to time my stretches after I run.
When I finish my run, I switch to the Mickey face as my reward for filling my circles. It has my calendar so, as I go to bed, I can see what event will happen first and I can set my alarm appropriately—the other complication on the Mickey face.
I CANNOT WAIT for 3rd party complications. I find the app screen very difficult to use and navigate, so I typically launch apps from their complications. I even find that, rather than going to the app screen and launching the Alarm app, I will switch to the Mickey face and launch the alarm from there rather than going to the app.
Jonathan:
What would you change about the way Apple Watch handles watch faces and complications? Some changes are coming in watchOS 2.0, are these changes enough, specifically for the previously mentioned items?
I hope we see more variety of complications, and 3rd party additions will be great. I think a few of the faces need to be given the option for complications, which right now some do not. This might be negated if there were simply more faces to begin with. I think that's one of the biggest additions needed here, more variety. Even a 3rd party store of watch faces would be awesome. I imagine a Star Wars or Darth Vader watch face, or a Marvel or Iron Man face, sold through the store. Companies like Nike or musicians could even jump at the chance to become people's go-to watch face. I think that would be pretty great.
Gilbert:
Hands down, I’d make the complications much more flexible in terms of both placement and availability. One of the reasons I don’t care about the new faces coming to watchOS 2 is because many of them still limit the quantity and types of complications (it seems there are three: simple, more info, and extended info) you can use on a given face. I might flip to a different face for fun, but ultimately if I can’t have the complications I rely on most it won’t last. Otherwise, for example, I’d be using the Solar face on a daily basis. Or even Utility, Simple, or Color (they each have their own issues).
I am, however, extremely excited about third-party complications, even though I wonder if any will be good or useful enough to sacrifice my current layout. For example, at first I thought I’d want the MLB score complication, but then I realized that the current notifications that I receive are far more useful. I want to know when the score changes and to what extent when it happens, whereas I don’t want to have to remember to look at my Watch. If a complication comes along that gives me at-a-glance information that fits into the criteria above, though, I’ll be thrilled.
My Watch just told me to stand, which I’ll do because I agree in principle.
Mark:
Even though I love the faces, they're one of the biggest areas I feel Apple needs to improve. In fact, when Apple sent out a survey last week and asked what one thing I would change, I talked about faces. Here are some key needs for improvement:
- More faces, especially digital time options.
- Flexibility of complications. There’s no reason why Utility offers 2 small & 1 large complication, but the Simple face—virtually the same—offers 4 small ones. I’d love to be able to choose the size myself and adjust that
- More complications on more faces. I love some of the other faces—like Motion—but they don’t have complications.
- The colors are too neon for my taste; I’d like to see deeper/richer hues
- I’d LOVE for there to be a 3rd party face store, but I’m not sure this will happen. In lieu of that, I really want to see more and more options
- An easy way to manage the order of faces. Right now, the only way to do this is to delete ones you don’t want and re-add them in exactly the order you want.
Jonathan:
How has battery-life been for you thus far? Are you concerned with some of the changes coming to native apps and complications that battery will take a hit?
I've had zero concerns with battery-life since my Apple Watch arrived. I had placed the battery level complication on my watch face, but took it off after a week, and have never needed to worry. I've never had my watch die. Granted I'm not a heavy athlete, but I do exercise daily (mostly) and even with that it's not been an issue.
I do worry a little about battery-life with more things going on with watchOS 2 coming, but I think it will balance out fine.
Gilbert:
The funny thing about the Pebble, which is frequently praised for its battery life, is that I was caught with a dead battery at least once per month. Since the battery lasted about 4-5 days I’d often forget to charge it. As a result, I’d get screwed midday on the last day when the device just died. The Apple Watch’s battery does indeed last far less time than the Pebble’s, but since I’ve owned it I’ve never been caught with a dead battery — not even close, in fact, as I typically have about 40% left (thus zero fear about third-party apps and complications). Habitually setting it on its charging stand on a nightly basis has been extremely effective. I realize the Pebble issue is my own fault, but this is an example where understanding the nuances of human behavior go a long way when it comes to wearables. If you manage a building with public restrooms and you’re frustrated that people keep throwing their used paper towels on the floor in the same area, you don’t put up a sign — you move the garbage can.
Mark:
It’s been rock-solid. I routinely go to bed with 30-50% battery, depending on how much I exercised during the day. Even when I go for a five-hour hike running the exercise app continuously I still ended the day with 20%. There’s potential that 3rd party apps may reduce battery life, but with 30-50% margin for error, I’m not too worried about it.
Bits and Pieces
Jonathan:
With Complications, Glances, and Apps, is there a bit too much going on with something so small like the Apple Watch? Do each of these have their place? How do you use them?
I don't think it's a matter of too much going on, for me, it's that I can't quickly get to what I want to get to when I want to get to it. When it comes to Complications I utilize these the most. Accessing them from the watch face is simple and takes me directly to what I need. However, Glances are a headache at times, because while I want to use a good amount of them, having too many means never getting where I need to without cycling through them and trying to recall the order they are in. Apps for me are the least used aspect of Apple Watch, but that's by choice. I don't think their arrangement is bad, I like the way they're presented as I can see what is available, where to go to tap the one I want, without having to really scroll through pages of apps.
That said, for me, they each certainly have their place, and each have different importance in my use of the Apple Watch. Some simply more than others.
Gilbert:
The main issue I have with the Apple Watch’s approach to user interaction isn’t that there’s too much going on, but rather that as a new user it’s often difficult to distinguish which mode you’re currently relying on to complete the task at hand. The Now Playing Glance, for example, is nearly identical in form and function to the Now Playing screen in Music.app. There are subtle navigational cues that help the user remember where they are, but it’s a weird thing to reconcile at first. In terms of quick, appropriate access, though, the Now Playing Glance works really well. Given how actionable it is and how it’s just a swipe away from the watch face, it’s my most frequently used Glance by far. Other Glances, however, suffer from being mere billboards that often take too long to refresh to be of any use (I’m looking at you, Maps.app), so I simply eliminate them. Either way, I keep my Glances to a bare minimum, which I find helps me get the most out of them overall.
I might say the same of Apps. I currently only have five installed: Twitter, Twitterrific, MLB At Bat, PCalc, and Overcast. I have Twitter installed because, silly though it may seem, I occasionally appreciate looking at the shorthand version of my timeline without having to pull out my phone. Twitterrific is there because it does what the first-party Twitter app should do in the first place: allow me to deal with replies and direct messages without having to engage with a notification. MLB At Bat is one of the best apps made for the Apple Watch, but in truth I rely most heavily on the score notifications mirrored from iOS. PCalc is there because even though I normally use Siri for quick calculations I find it cool and nostalgic having a calculator on my Apple Watch. And finally, Overcast is there because I occasionally need to start a playlist from afar. Normally, however, I interact with Overcast through the native Now Playing Glance.
If I look at it objectively, I fully admit that third-party apps add only limited benefit to what already exists the Apple Watch. I could live without them, but I’m happy they’re there. One might suggest that this is a limitation of the form factor, but I use several of the Watch’s native apps quite frequently. Therefore, I think the issue stems less from limitation and more from misunderstanding. It’s very difficult to find that balance. I’m very optimistic though.
Complications, on the other hand, are crucial. I use them in some manner during every single interaction with the Watch. I previously mentioned that I’m looking forward to third-party implementations, but so far, I’m very happy with what I have and it’ll be tough to get me to change.
Mark:
There is a lot going on, but I don’t think it is too much, at least from a long-term perspective. To take each one in order:
Complications. These already are massively valuable and I believe they will remain so, offering perhaps 60-75% of the value proposition of a watch. Ariel Adams, a worldwide watch expert that I interviewed on my website, described the watch as an information portal on your wrist. I think he’s dead-on, and complications offer a lot of the value of offering this information. The value of complications and of Apple Watch will explode once 3rd parties have access to them this fall.
Regarding Glances, I see huge potential for information that is easily viewable at a Glance, especially when it can be pulled up via Siri and not just via swiping (as the left-to-right swipe adds friction). Many apps currently are rather poor, so there may not be as much functionality right now, but I use Fantastical as my calendar and they have the best Glance I’ve ever seen. It is proof of the value that a well-made app can have. There’s clear value in that design.
Of course, there’s room for improvement—glances need to update faster so it’s already relevant information before you see it, but that will come with time. Also, I’d love to see developers get more access to Glances to make them more useful. My most frequently used glance—and perhaps the most frequently used item on the entire watch—is the Now Playing app. It is so seamless to swipe up and play and pause music. If developers are able to put one-button functionality in their glances like that, it will be more powerful.
As far as apps go, I’m not sure if they belong yet on the watch, or if their limited usefulness right now is because of poor design, figuring out the platform, or limitations of non-native apps. They just aren’t that useful or good and the friction of getting to them is greater than their benefit, provided I have my phone with my to use instead. Once the watch is separated from the phone, there will be greater value in the apps, I think. However, even now, there are some apps that show the value and capacity of the unique form of the watch. For example, the Exercise app is great for me and is my most frequently used app as it enables things that a phone just couldn’t. Overcast similarly is a great app that I use on the wrist when I’m in the car before I use it on my phone.
In short, right now, as the platform is developing, there may feel like there’s too much going on. However, I see signs and hints that complications, glances, and apps all serve an important and distinct function. I think, in a few years, we will look back at that combination as a profound insight Apple had in designing the watch.
Jonathan:
I mentioned watchOS 2.0 coming soon and with it some upgrades and improvements. One of these will be native 3rd-party apps. What are your thoughts with these? Do you think you'll use more apps moving forward? How do you feel about apps on the Apple Watch in general?
As I've stated many times...I don't really NEED apps on the watch. Not from every single developer out there anyways. Trimming the number of apps I use on the watch has helped me tailor my needs and use-case for the device. I don't USE the Apple Watch, I interact and move on, as I've stated a few times. That said, there are also things I am excited for with the introduction of native apps, particularly home automation, smart car devices like Automatic, and other such items. I don't however feel like not having Facebook on my wrist is detrimental. In fact, it's the opposite.
Gilbert:
While I’m currently running a beta version of watchOS 2, I still haven’t had the opportunity to experience the advertised benefit of third-party apps. But given my feelings on Apple Watch apps in general, I’m not sure that native installs are going to vastly impact how much I interact with them. How we use apps is far more a function of how well they nail the purpose rather than the speed, where the former automatically lends itself to the latter. For some this is far from true, but what keeps me from most apps isn’t how snappy they are, but rather how useful they are in the context of the wrist.
I recently bought an August Smart Lock for my house purely on the recently announced premise of being able to manage my front door from my Apple Watch (I have similar plans for my garage door). If pulling out my phone (or my keys) is faster or more convenient in practice, which will admittedly very likely be the case, I’ll be genuinely disappointed. That’s because I see the smart home and Apple Watch as perfect for each other. Turns out that in this case native app speed might be the key differentiator (horrible pun — sorry). I guess I’ll find out soon enough. Much more on this in the future.
Mark:
Of course there will be more apps moving forward; developers have already shown willingness to make apps for Apple Watch. I’ve already switched apps based on whether they have an Apple Watch app, and that’s pressure developers can’t ignore.
What is more important is whether the apps will be any good. As I mentioned above, I see huge potential in a few apps that are utilizing the unique form of the watch well. Many aren’t, but developers will figure this out over time as they wear the watch. Don’t underestimate the creativity of thousands of people trying to make money on the App Store.
Ch-Ch-Changes
Jonathan:
As self-described nerds, we're never fully satisfied. While it's obvious from our above discussion we are all satisfied overall with the Apple Watch, that doesn't mean we don't see faults. If you could change one thing hardware related, what would you change?
For me, really the biggest thing is independence from the iPhone. The esthetics are spot on in my opinion.
Gilbert:
From a hardware standpoint, the main thing I would change is making the Watch more self-aware. That means more sensors. Adding GPS and possibly a pressure sensor for altitude seems obvious to me. The more the Watch can understand without the iPhone, the better. A close second would be a front facing camera, but I have serious reservations about performance and application. We all dream of FaceTime on the Apple Watch, but nobody wants it at 5 frames per second.
Mark:
1 year hardware change: stronger tactics. I need it to be just a bit stronger to alert me whenever I’m active. If I’m sitting still, it’s great, but if I’m doing anything, I don’t feel it even at highest strength. (Yes, I know about the prominent haptic; that is too electronic feeling for me).
2 year hardware change: I’d like to see the bezels shrink so the screen size can increase without increasing form factor. It’d be nice to have just a bit larger screen.
3-4 year hardware change: Retina screen. Might sound funny, but I often see pixels, not in every day average use (i.e. glances), but if I’m ever actively using an app.
5—6 year hardware change: Fully independent of the iPhone yet same cell number and plan without compromises on size or battery.
Jonathan:
And software? Outside of things we know are coming in watchOS 2.0, what might you like to see changed?
Watch faces, different controls for functionality of the buttons, and the biggest thing, being more aware of my surroundings and what I'm doing. Admittedly, that could be hardware related as well I suppose.
Gilbert:
I think I mentioned this before, but the thing that keeps coming back to mind is the ability to change the function of the side button. A close second is control over which watch faces allow complications (which I think I also mentioned — sorry for jumping ahead).
Mark:
More faces, more faces, more faces, and an easy way to arrange their order.
Jonathan:
We've discussed the many ways one can use Apple Watch on a software side, but what about hardware. Do you think the Digital Crown is an important piece to the puzzle? Is it useful? Or can you see Apple going a different direction in the future? What about the side button?
The two buttons on the Apple Watch are key to it's form and function, but that doesn't mean everyone must use them. Users could easily get by without much use of these buttons. That said, as the product and category mature, they could become very important. Things like the upcoming TimeTravel feature, while perhaps possible using a finger on a screen...is much more elegant using the Digital Crown.
Gilbert:
The arc of my relationship to the Digital Crown, starting with its announcement, went like this: oh wow, that’s fucking cool > meh, I think I prefer scrolling and tapping on the screen > yeah, I was right about the screen > well, it’s there so I might as well use it > wow, I didn’t realize it did that, too! > holy shit, this is way easier > I can’t live without it.
Once I gave in and allowed the Digital Crown the opportunity to do its thing, I fell in love. Now I view it as integral to interacting with the Watch. I’ve found that the less I touch the Watch screen, the cleaner it stays, the more I see, and the more I can achieve in the same instance of interaction (think: scrolling and contextual awareness are faster and more fluid, plus the power of Siri).
As for the side button, once again I think it’s a waste in its current state. For me it exists primarily as an Apple Pay button. It could be so much more useful if we had more flexibility. I strongly believe Apple will change this in the future, probably with watchOS 3. Apple seems to like to train people on the basics before diving into deeper complexity. With the Apple Watch, there’s already plenty to learn from the start.
Mark:
I don’t think Apple will get rid of the digital crown anytime soon. We may see changes take places, like the iPod scroll wheel changed over time, but I don’t see it going away. There are just too many places where it is needed, and already Apple has opened it up to developers, so removing it would break a lot. It’s not needed just for scrolling but for any minute adjustments. For example, adjusting the volume with the crown allows for far more minute adjustments than tapping a button on the screen. There are other ways that could replace that (I’ve seen suggested a capacitive side), but I think we will always want to feel those kinds of adjustments. There’s a reason that Apple still has physical buttons for the volume controls on iPhone even though this could be done many different ways. I think the Digital Crown will be the same.
The side button, right now, is almost useless for me. Very few people I know have Apple Watches, so I don’t do digital touch much. If I’m messaging anyone else, it is almost always faster to use Siri than to use the favorites menu. The only time I’ve ever used it is when I’m in a meeting and couldn’t talk, in which case it was far easier than getting to messages on the app screen. I think we won’t really know the answer for a few more years.
Rapid-Fire Questions
Is the Apple Watch too thick?
Jonathan: No.
Gilbert: No.
Mark: Nope, but I would like to see it slightly thinner. The “cuffability" of it leaves something to be desired, not because it can’t fit under a cuff but because it’s hard to get it out of the cuff to quickly glance at it.
Will it get thinner in 2nd gen?
Jonathan: Probably not, I think Apple will keep it roughly the same and strangely (for them) focus more on battery-life due to new features/sensors.
Gilbert: Yes, but hopefully not to the point where current watch bands are rendered incompatible.
Mark: I’m going to predict no. I think we’ll see Apple keep the same form factor and put efficiency gains into speed and sensors rather than form adjustments. Then again, both iPhone and iPad saw significant form factor changes in the 2nd generation, so I could be wrong.
What additional sensors do you see coming soon?
Jonathan: I'd love a weight-lifting sensor, body temperature, a body weight sensor would be great if possible. Anything that would bring less friction to keeping tabs on health by not having other products involved. Obviously, also to turn on the sensors this one already has but isn't using. Finally, while not a "sensor", I think the next Apple Watch will have a much better standalone ability. Relying less (but still needing) on the iPhone.
Gilbert: GPS, pressure sensor, unlock pulse oximetry readings from current sensors.
Mark: I’m not into health sensors enough to make a prediction, but I don’t think we’ll see anything radical for the 2nd generation, but rather additive to the heart rate sensor. So, for example, I can see something like oxygen saturation being added but not something like cholesterol testing. But this is somewhat beyond my area of expertise, so I would hold even that idea loosely.
Will Apple bring better battery life in 2nd gen? Or will they just try to keep it the same but with more features?
Jonathan: Going with #2, I think it will improve, but very slightly.
Gilbert: The same.
Mark: The only thing worse than needing to charge daily is needing to charge every 1.5 or 2 days where you have to have the mental stress of remembering whether it needs to be plugged in or can stay worn. So I don’t think we’ll see additive battery life unless there is a big breakthrough in battery technology and Apple can jump to something over 72 hours of battery life. However, I can see Apple increase battery life to something like 26 hours if they introduce sleep tracking, which I would hope to see in the next 2-3 years. If they track sleep, then they need to get the battery to last a full 24 hours, plus a little extra.
Thoughts on a front camera for short video messages, FaceTime, or...eeeeek....watch selfies?
Jonathan: I think it's one of those "nerds will hate and rag on it" ideas, like taking pictures with an iPad, but many will love it anyways.
Gilbert: Perfectly fine with front camera.
Mark: Nope, nope, and nope. I know there’s rumors to this effect, but I think doing so introduces a creep factor that could kill the product before it gets mainstream. Right now, if there is ONE story about a stalker taking photos with Apple Watch, it could sink the product. Societally, we’re figuring out how/if wearables fit into our lives, and a camera deeply complicates that. Further, I just can’t imagine a camera being effective; it is really hard to get your wrist in a position to take a picture of your face and not nose hairs.
Do you think Apple missed the color choices with Sport bands? What about limiting black band to Space Gray in Sport line? Do you think that might impact sales? Or is this a made-up nerd problem?
Jonathan: I think not having a silver aluminum Sport with a black band option was a mistake. I also think it was the cause of so many of the backorders regarding the Space Gray Sport model at launch. I also think they could use some more muted colors in the Sport band lineup. That said, I don't hate the lineup and don't think it plays to much into the decision to buy or not.
Gilbert: I actually like the color choices. I wish they would release the colors shown by Jony Ive in Milan. Some of those are really nice. The red would look great with Space Gray. No big deal on black band. As far as sales go, I don’t think it will be such a huge deal since Apple is being so forthcoming about creating a rich third-party band industry.
Mark: I think Apple is trying to toe the line of “curating” what they think looks good, allowing for diversity of options, and keeping their SKEU’s manageable for them and simple for customers. My guess is that Apple artificially limited some of those choices to reduce the complexity of what was an incredibly complex launch. I expect to see more diversity of bands/colors announced in the fall and even more options with gen 2.
Are you planning to get additional bands? Apple or 3rd party?
Jonathan: I've been testing some third party leather bands, and will be picking up another Sport band at some point.
Gilbert: I just bought a used Classic Buckle today. I already have a third-party Space Gray link bracelet and two other Apple bands (Blue Sport Band, Black Leather Loop). My wife has the Pink Sport Band, a red third-party leather loop, and the Milanese Loop. The more I think about it, the more I worry that the second-generation Watch wont work with existing bands, which would be a disaster for Apple and Apple fans.
Mark: I plan on getting some 3rd party bands. I desperately need something that will go with brown leather shoes; I’d like to get a black leather as well, or possibly a link. The main problem I’m hitting is that the Space Grey color is not always matched by 3rd parties (and I don’t want to do an adaptor to a regular watch band if I can help it).
Do you think we will see a even more choices for Apple Watch bands?
Jonathan: I sure hope so.
Gilbert: We already have and we almost certainly will.
Mark: Absolutely. That is relatively low-hanging fruit that Apple can easily do to refresh the lineup in the “off season.” If Apple keeps to a spring release cycle with Apple Watch (likely), then I think they’d likely release new bands and colors in the fall to refresh it for the holiday season. I wouldn’t even be surprised if they had limited-time colors/runs or bands available for purchase only in certain countries. If Apple released China-exclusive bands, they would make an absolute killing.
Do you think Apple will add different materials to the watch lineup? Platinum? Plastic? Silver? Titanium?
Jonathan: I've long said what happens down the road regarding Apple Watch materials will depend on sales and how certain models sell. A plastic (think iPhone 5c) styled watch would be interesting at the low end, but not necessarily bottom of the barrel cheap. Yet, other more high end materials would be interesting from a fashion perspective, but also a pricing one. There is currently a large gap between the steel model and Edition, that could perhaps be filled with something else.
Gilbert: We’ve already seen patent filings referencing different materials. Most likely in my opinion is another metal, but a plastic one is incredibly interesting to consider. Doubtful, but interesting.
Mark: Yes. Again, this is low-hanging fruit that I expect will come over time as Apple learns to manage it’s supply chain, produce such a wide variety of products, and present them to customers effectively. They’re starting with 38—which is already a huge number—but as they learn, I think we’ll see them slowly add in more.
Does Force Touch Make sense? Is it useful to you?
Jonathan: It makes sense, but isn't the most intuitive thing. This is probably due to not HAVING to use it and it not being something I'm totally used to. Once such things are more incorporated into our lives in things like iPad or iPhone, I think it will make more sense. Perhaps some guidelines into what type of items should be in these type of menus would be helpful as well. Sort of like most users have a general idea what type of things sit in a right-click menu.
Gilbert: I think it makes a lot of sense, but usefulness is a challenge given the feature’s hidden nature. Telling people to just try force touching each screen to check if something is there seems dumb, but absent some kind of visual indicator it’s currently the only way to go.
Mark: It does make sense and it is very useful to me; on a screen that small, there’s no room for contextual menus, so it’s definitely needed. However, it clearly lacks discoverability. I’m still discovering Force Touch menus in apps (even Apple apps!) after nearly 4 months of using the watch. There’s no way to know that there is a Force Touch menu except by trying, and there’s no way to know what options it contains except by remembering it. That may become second nature, as right clicking on a computer is second nature, but it isn’t for me yet. However, I have also had moments where, before I’d ever used the menu, I was able to predict that there would be one and what it would contain. If an app is well-designed, I think that will slowly become intuitive.
Final Thoughts
Jonathan:
I'd like to give you a chance to give us your final thoughts on Apple Watch. Anything and everything is fair game. Something we missed or didn't have time to get to. Whatever you have left to say. The stage is yours...
I'm not totally sure what is left to say, other than I absolutely love my Apple Watch. It's well built, it's fashionable, it's comfortable, and it makes my life easier. I don't USE my Apple Watch, I interact and move on. I'm no longer sucked into things the way I am with the iPhone. I still use my iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but quick interactions no longer turn into checking Flipboard or browsing my Twitter timeline. It's a slight change in behavior, but it's profound. When I then think about the activity tracking and health benefits of using Apple Watch I become even more excited. I'm not the most dedicated athlete by any stretch, but I like knowing how I'm doing, I like being able to push myself just a little bit each day. I've barely even used apps on the Apple Watch, very few matter to me. Maybe when true native apps arrive with watchOS 2 I'll feel differently, but right now, it just doesn't feel like a necessity. I feel like the Apple Watch fits just fine as it is. I do know that we live in an "app world" though, and not having them isn't going to fly for most people. I'm not going to preach that the Apple Watch "changed my life", not even close. I will say however, the Apple Watch changed my behavior. It changed how I handle the little annoyances of living in a connected world.
Gilbert:
So much has been said. So much. :)
Mark:
More than any other product Apple has released, this one really is for non-tech-focused people. I’ve written about this extensively on my site, but I think Apple is uniquely positioned to do wearables well because of their focus on the intersection of technology and the liberal arts. Unlike nerdy/geeky companies, Apple’s human focus means that they can better produce products that literally touch us, products that make us more human, not less, and which come alongside our humanity instead of co-opting it in pursuit of a technologist’s vision of the future. I try to write from this perspective on my site, and the most popular articles I’ve written have, I hope, captured the very human sense of owning Apple Watch.
As I wrote about after the first week of owning Apple Watch, when you evaluate Apple Watch technologically or monetarily, you will find shortcomings that make you devalue the product—but if you simply experience it and allow it to impact you, I think you’ll find moments of delight, of joy, and of love that are deeply human, that connect you to the ones you love, and enable you to do things a little more easily in your life. That has certain been my experience and I look forward to seeing it get even better as it matures!
I'd like to say, "and that does it", but honestly, after an exhausting amount of discussion and information and opinion, all I can say is, "whew". Thanks to Mark and Gilbert for taking the time to do this, and of course, as always, to you for taking the time to read it. If you made it this far, you are indeed, a champion. Until next time!
