Playing with an Apple Watch Sport Series 1 42mm. It’s nice!

Hi everyone,

I’ve been using a Garmin Vivofit 4 for about a year or so. The first one went kablooey and Garmin replaced it under warranty with a refurbished model. The second one needed a new set of batteries. I’ve had to replace the band a couple of times. Still, I’ve enjoyed it and that’s despite the fact that I despise wearing a watch. I tolerated the Vivovit because it was low-profile, small and didn’t require me to take it on and off at night or when showering.

One of my brothers replaced his Apple Watch Sport Series 1 42mm with a brand-new Apple Watch Series 4. Since I’ve been intrigued by the Apple Watch but unwilling to spend the bucks on one, I asked if I could borrow it. I’ve been using it for a couple of days now.

I’m impressed. It’s nice getting notifications and messages on the watch and a coupel of my commonly used iOS apps have Watch versions. So, I can arm/disarm my office’s burglar alarm, open and close the garage door, pull up the card for my gym and perform a slew of other tasks. Very handy!

Unfortunately, it’s still a watch, one that is bulkier than the Vivofit (which I tolerated at best) and needs to be charged at night and removed when showering. If, over time, I can tolerate wearing the Apple Watch, I might actually drop the bucks for one. It’s very handy and I love that it works well in conjunction with my iPhone.

Robert



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2019 12:49PM by Robert M.

$199 bucks aint much for a 38mm series 3, another $30 for 42 mm, its waterproof.

Cant really compare it to a Vivo? Fitness band vs smartwatch...

Although like you, I cant stand a watch... havnet worn one in 30+ years... so even playing with an AW, meh.

fwiw, the series 4 40 MM screen is actually bigger than the older 42 mm

Wife and kids LOVE theirs tho. They use it for messaging, music control, calls (speaker is actually fine), Applepay (daughters friends dig when she pays for things with it) and a handful of other things Im sure I dont realize.

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

I purchased an Amazfit Bip a month ago ($70 ish).

It's of course not equal to an Apple Watch in terms of a feature set, but if you're looking for something between a strict step counter and a full fledged $$$$ Apple Watch, it's worth a look.

Beagle,

Thanks! At this point, if I give up the Apple Watch, I'll go back to the Vivofit. It definitely can't compare to a smartwatch - entirely separate class of device - but its simplistic design, ability to take a soaking, all without having to charge it are enticing. Still, the Apple Watch's features, inherent compatibility with the iPhone and such, are most definitely compelling. The next few days will tell me everything I need to know about the Apple Watch and whether or not I'll invest in one at some point. So far, I'm liking it and liking it quite a bit.

Robert

i've had an AW4 for about two weeks now. here's what i wrote to a friend last night trying to persuade her to consider getting one.

1. Having an AW means you will spend less time on your iPhone! i list this first because it is the most surprising discovery in the mere two weeks i’ve owned the AW4. i think it’s because i can quickly check the time and text messages without handling my phone. once i open up the phone i tend to tumble down the rabbit holes of while-it’s-in my-hand why don’t i also quickly check Facebook, email, reddit, do a google search, my bank account. it’s a trap and it’s rarely ever quick. i made a conscious decision not to put those apps on the watch. email is there but really only for a quick check to see if something i’m expecting has come in. the watch is too small to do much else. overall, the watch has lessened my phone addiction.

2. The Activity/exercise tracking is awesome and we can easily share with each other. Closing my Activity Rings has become a new obsession but at least it’s a healthy one. Even the simple reminders to stand up and move or take a minute to breath are quite helpful.

3. Fall detection in AW4. face it - we are getting old and more likely to fall down. you live with folks so maybe it’s not so crucial but i’m alone a lot. if need be the watch will alert 911 (and you and my son, btw).

4. related to #1, an AW allows you to check the time and an incoming text in a much less socially rude manner than digging in your pocket and dragging your phone out. You can be much more present in the company of real people without wondering if that incoming text was someone trying to tell you your house is burning down. okay, maybe in that case they’d actually call…

5. this isn’t as relevant for me but i have read that the watch helps with managing ADD because you can set timers and reminders that are haptic alerts rather than have your phone, buried in your pocket, go off at inopportune moments.

6. you can actually go out without your phone. this is very liberating especially when you are wearing shorts/pants without pockets.

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If you want to fix our country, work with us in the states. statesproject.org

"Success isn't about how much money you make. It is about the difference you make in people's lives."--Michelle Obama

Robert -

the current apple watches can take a soaking. it's not recommended for bathing though because of soaps and lotions. people wear it swimming all the time, though.

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If you want to fix our country, work with us in the states. statesproject.org

"Success isn't about how much money you make. It is about the difference you make in people's lives."--Michelle Obama



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2019 01:43PM by graylocks.

I was a non-watch-wearer for almost 20 years due to a metal allergy found via significant irritation from traditional watches. About a month ago, I came across a deal for an AW3 sport for $99 at Wally. I thought I would give it a try, and if i just couldn't handle wearing a watch after so long, would pass it along to my teenage nephew. It took less a day to get used to it, and alas the kid will have to wait for his next tech gift. My sister has the same AW3, and we constantly challenge each other on ring closing. A nice side effect of the in-your-face rings status is I have upped my workout game. I also work a desk job out of my home, so the reminders to get up throughout the day are helpful.

Pretty much anything i can do with my AW I can also do with my iP7+, but the convenience of not having to carry the brick everywhere I go is most definitely worth it. Highly recommend at least trying an AW even for those like me who went years without wearing a watch and think they may not be able to get used to it - more than likely you'll do just fine. As far as charge time, I just charge mine while I shower and its good to go for at least the next 1.5-2 days.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2019 11:32PM by TL.

Graylocks,

Thank you for your comments. Here is what I’ve experienced so far:

> 1. Having an AW means you will spend less time on your iPhone! i
> list this first because it is the most surprising discovery in
> the mere two weeks i’ve owned the AW4. i think it’s because i can
> quickly check the time and text messages without handling my
> phone. once i open up the phone i tend to tumble down the rabbit
> holes of while-it’s-in my-hand why don’t i also quickly check
> Facebook, email, reddit, do a google search, my bank account.
> it’s a trap and it’s rarely ever quick. i made a conscious
> decision not to put those apps on the watch. email is there but
> really only for a quick check to see if something i’m expecting
> has come in. the watch is too small to do much else. overall, the
> watch has lessened my phone addiction.

Nope. The difference for me is minimal. I’ll take a quick looksie at my watch but still end up reading messages and such on my phone. Just easier. I’m not one to do other things when I grab my phone. If I pick it up to look at a text or receive a call, I stick to that one task and then place it down again. Not the norm for many people, though.

> 2. The Activity/exercise tracking is awesome and we can easily
> share with each other. Closing my Activity Rings has become a new
> obsession but at least it’s a healthy one. Even the simple
> reminders to stand up and move or take a minute to breath are
> quite helpful.

Herein is an issue with a watch (or anything that attaches to my wrist). It’s difficult to use the Apple Watch to track my time working a heavy bag. I wear gloves, which makes keeping anything on my wrist problematic. At best, I can move the watch or activity tracker to my forearm but then it’s tough to close the band. I end up sticking with just my heart rate monitor.

> 3. Fall detection in AW4. face it - we are getting old and more
> likely to fall down. you live with folks so maybe it’s not so
> crucial but i’m alone a lot. if need be the watch will alert 911
> (and you and my son, btw).

This is a _huge_ feature! I’d love to get a Series 4 for my parents. They’re getting up there in the years and this would be a fantastic reason to get them an Apple Watch. And, as crazy as this sounds, it’s a solid feature for myself even though I’m only in my late 40s. I do enough physical work that a fall detection feature might prove useful.

> 4. related to #1, an AW allows you to check the time and an
> incoming text in a much less socially rude manner than digging in
> your pocket and dragging your phone out. You can be much more
> present in the company of real people without wondering if that
> incoming text was someone trying to tell you your house is
> burning down. okay, maybe in that case they’d actually call…

To a degree. It’d still be somewhat socially rude if you’re lifting a wrist to look at a watch. I definitely try my best not to look at my phone or, now, my watch, during meals and/or similar social situations. Sometimes I don’t have a choice, i.e. expecting a call or text or if it’s work related or it’s multiple calls/texts from the same person in a very short amount of time (indicating it’s likely an emergency). In those case, I do what I must even if it’s rude to a degree. It helps that people are more understanding these days.


> 5. this isn’t as relevant for me but i have read that the watch
> helps with managing ADD because you can set timers and reminders
> that are haptic alerts rather than have your phone, buried in
> your pocket, go off at inopportune moments.

Comes in handy for other tasks. I can definitely see it being very useful for those managing ADD.

> 6. you can actually go out without your phone. this is very
> liberating especially when you are wearing shorts/pants without
> pockets.

Isn’t this only true of models with wifi + cellular? If not, don’t you need your phone nearby for many functions?

> 7. The current apple watches can take a soaking. it's not recommended
> for bathing though because of soaps and lotions. people wear it swimming
> all the time, though.

Mine is a Series 1. So, I’m not sure how much of a soaking it can take in comparison to newer models. I can see that sweat, rain, washing one’s hands, doing dishes, etc aren’t likely to cause any issues at all. Beyond that, I’d take it off.

Robert

Robert -

Fall detection was my main draw to getting the AW4. all the other benefits i've experienced are gravy.

yes, i do have the cellular model so i can leave my phone behind. not having the phone nearby does seem to cause the watch to use more battery, though.

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If you want to fix our country, work with us in the states. statesproject.org

"Success isn't about how much money you make. It is about the difference you make in people's lives."--Michelle Obama

Gray,

One other thing I won't be doing with the Apple Watch. I won't use it to make or answer calls. It's cumbersome at best and just doofy. Dick Tracy I am most definitely not. I'll stick to using the watch to decline a call but that's about it.

Robert

This is a very useful thread. I expect to get an Apple Watch eventually. But I’d prefer not to get one within a few months of Watch 5. Do we think there will be a 5 in the fall?

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My life goes smoothly and in regular intervals

Quote
Robert M
Gray,

One other thing I won't be doing with the Apple Watch. I won't use it to make or answer calls. It's cumbersome at best and just doofy. Dick Tracy I am most definitely not. I'll stick to using the watch to decline a call but that's about it.

Robert

agreed though i might answer a call if i'm out on a dog walk without the phone. other than that i just use it to decline. i don't even have Siri on Raise To Speak. it is handy to quickly return a simple text message with the canned responses/emojis and the speech to text dictation is actually quite good.

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If you want to fix our country, work with us in the states. statesproject.org

"Success isn't about how much money you make. It is about the difference you make in people's lives."--Michelle Obama

Quote
ka jowct
This is a very useful thread. I expect to get an Apple Watch eventually. But I’d prefer not to get one within a few months of Watch 5. Do we think there will be a 5 in the fall?

one is expected in the fall but the general buzz is that it won't be as big a techno leap to AW5 as there was between 3 and 4. however, prices on AW4 will probably dip once a new one is released.

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If you want to fix our country, work with us in the states. statesproject.org

"Success isn't about how much money you make. It is about the difference you make in people's lives."--Michelle Obama

....Kid....N.....Play.....????

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

If you can, spring for series 3. I recently got caught in 2 unexpected downpours and was wet enough to look like I had jumped into a pool. Water resistance is wroth it.

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Ways to improve web conference image and sound quality. [forums.macresource.com]


Phony Stark's Robot

.....Sporty.....spice.....

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_____________________________________

I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Quote
Robert M
...It’d still be somewhat socially rude if you’re lifting a wrist to look at a watch. I definitely try my best not to look at my phone or, now, my watch, during meals and/or similar social situations. Sometimes I don’t have a choice, i.e. expecting a call or text or if it’s work related or it’s multiple calls/texts from the same person in a very short amount of time (indicating it’s likely an emergency). In those case, I do what I must even if it’s rude to a degree. It helps that people are more understanding these days.

Not sure about the Series 1, but with the 3 and 4 you can quickly silence it and shut off the display by putting the flat of your hand over the watch face. No need to look at it when you're conversing or at a meeting or whatever.

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.....people are not more understanding.......rudeness has just become ubiquitous.....so people just accept it.......a la Forget it Jake, It's Chinatown......since there is nothing one can do about it......you can't demand it from strangers......

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I reject your reality and substitute my own!

Sarcany,

Won't make a difference. In addition to the other issues, the audio quality when using the watch for a call is pretty awful. It sounds like a bad speakerphone unless I have my wrist closer to my head. Even then, it is mediocre.

Robert

Hi everyone,

Just invested in a charging stand and a more durable case/band for the watch. The band/case is a Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro.

[www.amazon.com]

It's great! Nicely made. Feels good. Nice and durable. Definitely adds bulk to the watch but that's the price you pay for this type of case/band.

The irony is that I'd just speaking with my operations manager about cases and bands and he said he felt the Unicorn Beetle Pro was too bulky. I told him that I needed a protective case because it was just a matter of time before the watch took a hard knock. And, less than a half hour later, my wrist smacked against a shelf as I was removing a part from a bin. The Unicorn Beetle Pro did its job nicely and protected the watch.

Robert