Apple Watch

[Tradd]

My iPhone is lovely. After multiple attempts to make use of the watch I just don’t get it. Since all of you love them by all means I’ll give you my watch. I honestly never want to touch the stupid thing again.

It’s too old. Doesn’t have enough memory to accept updates. That’s the issue I had with my series 3.

[Tradd]

What essential functionality does an Apple Watch have that an iPhone have? Is the advantage that it just rides around on your wrist rather than having to grip it?

A lot of people like the health apps.

[catherine]

A lot of people like the health apps.

Yes, I have the Apple Watch app of course, gives you
High and Low Heart Rate Notifications.
Irregular Rhythm Notification.
ECG App.
Low Cardio Fitness Notifications.
Blood Oxygen Level.
Fall Detection

Plus you can link other health apps to the Apple Watch app so all kinds of health metrics are consolidated.

[jp1]

A lot of people like the health apps.

I can see that being useful for people inclined to closely track such things.

[Tybee]

My husband needs two of those things but is not interested in wearing the watch for reasons Tradd and Jp1 mention. I really should get it and maybe I will--I'm just really slow to learn how to use stuff like that. I did get an iphone, though, so it should sync well.

[iris lilies]

I can see that being useful for people inclined to closely track such things.

I don’t know that I would trust those abs to be especially accurate, but they might be accurate enough, or at least internally consistent, so that it’s always measuring at the same level, even though that level may not be especially accurate.

[Tybee]

They are proving really useful in detecting a fib.

[bae]

What essential functionality does an Apple Watch have that an iPhone does not have? Is the advantage that it just rides around on your wrist rather than having to grip it?

It's small and attached to your body.

After multiple problems locally with the medic-alert pendants and monitored call systems, I first got one to investigate its use for our older demographic here for:

- detecting falls
- being able to call 911 without crawling halfway across the house after an elder falls and breaks a hip
- monitoring ongoing health status - heart rate/blood oxy/...

That all worked pretty well - the Apple watch has now saved a few people in my local community since folks with certain risk factors have begun using them.

Personally, I use the one I have almost entirely for ApplePay transactions and as a source to stream audiobooks and music while I am walking. And a stopwatch/alarm, and remote camera trigger now-and-then.

Even with the improved battery life the newer models have, the battery is a problem for me - it does not last nearly enough, having to recharge it every single day is a pain. In particular, it is unhappy with staying alive for the amount of time it takes to get from my house to London, even with a direct flight from Seattle->Heathrow. And it requires a special charging cable.

It is also insufficiently robust, I am constantly scratching the face of it if I'm doing any sort of strenuous work in the great outdoors or with heavy tools.

These are not problems my old-timey mechanical watches have.

[Tradd]

Oh yes, forgot about my heavy Apple Pay use via watch. So nice to not have to dig out my phone.

[iris lilies]

It's small and attached to your body.

After multiple problems locally with the medic-alert pendants and monitored call systems, I first got one to investigate its use for our older demographic here for:

- detecting falls
- being able to call 911 without crawling halfway across the house after an elder falls and breaks a hip
- monitoring ongoing health status - heart rate/blood oxy/...

That all worked pretty well - the Apple watch has now saved a few people in my local community since folks with certain risk factors have begun using them.

Personally, I use the one I have almost entirely for ApplePay transactions and as a source to stream audiobooks and music while I am walking. And a stopwatch/alarm, and remote camera trigger now-and-then.

Even with the improved battery life the newer models have, the battery is a problem for me - it does not last nearly enough, having to recharge it every single day is a pain. In particular, it is unhappy with staying alive for the amount of time it takes to get from my house to London, even with a direct flight from Seattle->Heathrow. And it requires a special charging cable.

It is also insufficiently robust, I am constantly scratching the face of it if I'm doing any sort of strenuous work in the great outdoors or with heavy tools.

These are not problems my old-timey mechanical watches have.

I think you know a thing or two about watches :-)

I remember that obsession hobby.