Apple Watch...thoughts?

[JeffDenver]

I don't know what it does but that thing is ugly! They should have scrapped it the moment the round moto 360 surfaced.

If I had any apple stock, I'd sell now!

You're not the only one. The market was not impressed either.

Excitement and disappointment over Apple's new products sent its stock on a roller coaster ride Tuesday as investors reacted to a bevy of announcements.

Apple's stock ended down just 0.4% after a volatile day during which the view on Wall Street appeared to be that the news didn't match up to the sky-high expectations and hype.

Apple stock falls after announcements

 

[meterf]

Yeah. This.

View attachment 135998

The iWatch is hideous. Which is a good thing for us I guess. Bonus: You need an iPhone to use it. Moto has done the impossible...they have completely spanked Apple on design. Before now the closest anyone had come to that was the HTC One.

In comparison to Apple's crime-against-design, the Moto 360 is absolutely beautiful.

I was expecting something more "cool-looking" too.
Yay for the left side. Nay for the right side.

 

[fishmd]

The price point on this is way to high. I don't think Apple did the right research there on that. People will still buy it, but it will not become something that everyone uses at that price.

 

[b_slow1]

Do you think the people at Apple were thinking they knocked it out of the park with the Apple Watch? They're smart guys.... they must have realized that they released a product that looks and functions exactly like a Galaxy Gear watch.

One of the major keys to Apple's success has always been designing products that looked cool, and different. All they did here was build a watch. Very disappointing, and I'm shocked that this thing even saw the light of day in this state.

 

[Citizen Coyote]

I think for once Apple was forced to play catch up on a new product category (and I don't count phablets as a new product category). Various companies have been working on smartwatches for a long time, and Apple seemed content to tinker until Samsung started releasing a deluge of Gear devices. None of the Gears are all that compelling in my opinion (a view likely shared by Apple), but they represent a big head start on Samsung's part regarding name and product recognition.

And then the Moto 360 was announced, and people went berserk.

Apple *had* to release a smartwatch at this point, or they would have been seen as woefully behind. Investors expected them to dominate this new category, much as they did with the first smartphones and tablets, and the longer Apple waited, the more nervous investors grew. Apple knows the Watch is not ready for prime time (hence its nebulous release date of early 2015) but they had to get it out there to reassure investors and their fans that they were in the game.

Personally, I think they made a mistake. The watch is not unattractive by any stretch, but it's so similar to the various rectangular Android watches that it doesn't stand out at all (unlike the Moto 360 and LG's new round watch). I think they've got some good ideas in the UI, but it's so busy in places that it's information overload. A watch needs to convey information simply and quickly; a glance should be all you need to get what you need. The Watch doesn't necessarily do that, based on many of the screenshots I've seen. Some are so busy you may as well just pull out your iPhone to get what you need, totally defeating the purpose of a smartwatch. It's also pricey for something that still needs an iPhone to function.

The Apple Watch has potential, but it's nowhere near the knock-out people expected. Apple has ceded crucial ground to the other manufacturers, and given them an opportunity to get it right. Early adopters will love it. The public? Probably less so.

 

[The Real X Dawg]

MKBHD's video basically summed up my thoughts on it so far. I like the easy way to swap bands and because it is an Apple device finding alternate bands will be easy to come by.

 

[cjohn4043]

MKBHD's video basically summed up my thoughts on it so far. I like the easy way to swap bands and because it is an Apple device finding alternate bands will be easy to come by.

I think the way Apple engineered the watch to easily switch out watch bands is genius. People will definitely buy new bands just because it's so easy to swap them out.

 

[anon5664829]

I think people should actually get hands on time and be able to see all the straps and body combo before you call it ugly. Which is a major advantage Apple has here. Hell even third party straps will be made for this thing.

Furthermore 1st gen Apple products are never the best so wait for the second gen that will be cheaper and better. The same thing happened to the Retina MacBook Pro after all.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[Lstream]

You're not the only one. The market was not impressed either.

Apple stock declines after almost every event, when people figure out that they didn't include some fantasy feature like the personal transporter. Reading anything into the stock falling after the event is just wishful thinking about hoping Apple will fail. This drop was shallower and shorter than most, if you see what happened by the end of the week.

I expect a lot of disappointment in the Apple hater camp when the Watch is introduced and it quickly outsells everything else on the market. By that time it will be less about looks, and more about apps and functionality. Apple's ability to attract developers and partners will add to the products value.

I expect the Moto 360 to be a bit player. Based upon pictures, I think I like its design better, but need to see both products in the flesh to really decide. But I don't think it will matter when the head to head sales battle starts. No matter how much you hope for the opposite outcome. Apple is always underestimated when they announce a new product. I don't think it will be any different this time.

 

[anon5664829]

You're not the only one. The market was not impressed either.

I don't expect a shred of objectivity from you.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Superjudge]

Am I like the only one who doesn't like the Moto 360?

Posted via Android Central App with my Samsung Galaxy S5

I'm very disappointed in it too. The round design is catchy but also gimmicky. If the current technology forces you to have a black bar at the bottom taking up display space, then it's a fail. I see it as more proof of concept than a device I would want.

Not too turned on by the Apple watch but at least it's a fully baked product. You can't deny that Apple has gone way beyond any manufacturer in the way they have personalized this product. I was more impressed with the variety of bands, sizes, materials, interchangeability etc than I was with the physical watch. The UI though was interesting. I like the digital crown idea. Either way, no smartwatch has been compelling enough for me to actually want to wear one.

 

[JeffDenver]

Apple stock declines after almost every event, when people figure out that they didn't include some fantasy feature like the personal transporter. Reading anything into the stock falling after the event is just wishful thinking about hoping Apple will fail.

But if Apple stock had risen instead, I doubt you'd have dismissed it. No matter what it does, you will read it as positive.

What you're basically saying is that it is normal for Apple to disappoint people when it comes to expectations of their new products.

I expect a lot of disappointment in the Apple hater camp when the Watch is introduced and it quickly outsells everything else on the market.

If it does, it won't be because it is actually better. It will be because of Apple's excellent marketing skills.

It might be different this time around...even a lot of Apple people were unimpressed with the design.

I expect the Moto 360 to be a bit player.

This bit player completely outshined mighty Apple when it came to design...something most people consider to be Apple's strength. Thats a big deal.

Based upon pictures, I think I like its design better

Case in point.

No matter how much you hope for the opposite outcome.

I don't hope for anything. I don't plan on buying a smartwatch and am not really concerned with the smartwatch market. My interest is academic only. No one has really shown why I would need a smartwatch...my phone already does most of that stuff. Even the iWatch is offloading most of it's functions to the phone.

Apple is always underestimated when they announce a new product.

Apple clearly underestimated Android and Samsung. The new iPhone is an open admission that Samsung was completely right about large phones. iOS8 is an open admission that Android was completely right about people wanting choices. Apparently Apple has decided that maybe not everyone thinks their keyboard is perfect after all.

 

[Lstream]

If it does, it won't be because it is actually better. It will be because of Apple's excellent marketing skills.

Yep, you have all the bases covered with this one. If you think tens of millions of people buying a product is because they have been fooled by superior marketing, then this tells me all I need to know about the pointlessness of attempting to have a reasonable conversation with you.

Your OPINION that Moto outshone Apple on design does not make it a fact, in the way you attempt to state. Let's check back in about a year and see what the market says. In the meantime read a few reviews of the Moto 360. They are certainly not glowing. Maybe 12 months from now, you will have outgrown this silliness about labelling Apple Watch buyers as being incapable of making a decision based upon factors beyond marketing. That is a tired old line that has been used over and over again to explain the sales of hundreds of millions of iPhones. The whole idea is preposterous.

 

[JeffDenver]

Yep, you have all the bases covered with this one. If you think tens of millions of people buying a product is because they have been fooled by superior marketing, then this tells me all I need to know about the pointlessness of attempting to have a reasonable conversation with you.

LOL ok.

Yes, tens of millions of people can be fooled by marketing. That number sounds about right to me.

Your OPINION that Moto outshone Apple on design does not make it a fact

It's not just my opinion. Google some reviews.

Apple Watch: Much ado about nothing

"Watch design is hugely subjective (do you know two people who own the same watch?) which makes it difficult to make categorical statements, but for me the Moto 360 is the best looking smartwatch to date." - Motorola Moto 360 Review: Google's Biggest Apple Watch Rival - Forbes

Let's check back in about a year and see what the market says.

I can't wait to see where the goalposts will move next. So exciting.

In the meantime read a few reviews of the Moto 360. They are certainly not glowing.

Not because of the design. Everyone loves the design.

 

[Maladroit23]

The first version is going to be a bit of a yawner. I mean, why use a wristwatch to talk on your phone via bluetooth when you can use an ear bud? :-\

So far, it's kind of like a Swiss Army Knife. A bunch of stuff that's already been invented, wrapped up into one device. It's a step forward in terms of convenience and portability at best. But...the watch could be a great platform for interesting innovations later on.

 

[mogelijk]

Yep, you have all the bases covered with this one. If you think tens of millions of people buying a product is because they have been fooled by superior marketing, then this tells me all I need to know about the pointlessness of attempting to have a reasonable conversation with you.

Your OPINION that Moto outshone Apple on design does not make it a fact, in the way you attempt to state. Let's check back in about a year and see what the market says. In the meantime read a few reviews of the Moto 360. They are certainly not glowing. Maybe 12 months from now, you will have outgrown this silliness about labelling Apple Watch buyers as being incapable of making a decision based upon factors beyond marketing. That is a tired old line that has been used over and over again to explain the sales of hundreds of millions of iPhones. The whole idea is preposterous.

Except the Moto 360 actually exists. One of my huge issues with the Apple Watch is that it isn't going to be available until next year -- they clearly were announcing it early because of the buzz and head start Android Wear is doing. It might be a great watch, when it comes out, but at this point it is just another announced product. We have no idea what the Apple Watch will be like since they don't actually exist yet. I think it may also suffer in the same way the Moto 360 has, because it was announced too early the expectations built up too high. The Apple Watch already seems to be overhyped and I can't imagine what is going to happen with expectations over the next several months.

We'll see how good the Apple Watch actually is. There are already rumors that it has terrible battery life, which largely have started because Apple said nothing about it during the event, as well as that you can't fit a large battery into a small device. You might be right, it might be the "next big thing", but at this point it is little more than rumor.

 

[TomsAndroid]

Yeah. This.

View attachment 135998

The iWatch is hideous. Which is a good thing for us I guess. Bonus: You need an iPhone to use it. Moto has done the impossible...they have completely spanked Apple on design. Before now the closest anyone had come to that was the HTC One.

In comparison to Apple's crime-against-design, the Moto 360 is absolutely beautiful.

I disagree that it's hideous. Or even ugly. In fact, I quite like the look of the Apple Watch. That's not to say that Apple couldn't have made it prettier, but I still think it looks like an excellent, customisable design. As far as I know though, Android Wear doesn't work with iOS. So you need an Android device to use it. How is that any different?

Where I really think Apple screwed up was in not making it water/swear resistant (of course that will come later), and obviously the price. Which is WAY too expensive. It should be at least close to the Moto 360's price for me to even consider it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[JeffDenver]

Where I really think Apple screwed up was in not making it water/swear resistant (of course that will come later), and obviously the price. Which is WAY too expensive. It should be at least close to the Moto 360's price for me to even consider it.

It actually is water resistant. Meaning it will survive having water splashed on it. It can't be submerged like the S5 though.

 

[TomsAndroid]

It actually is water resistant. Meaning it will survive having water splashed on it. It can't be submerged like the S5 though.

Yeah, I actually just found that out! That's great, although it should be an obvious thing for a smart watch. I don't mind if I have to take it off before a shower, that's how all my watches have been. But being able to wear it in the rain at least is great.

Sent by Tom using Tapatalk 4 on my HTC One

 

[mogelijk]

Yeah, I actually just found that out! That's great, although it should be an obvious thing for a smart watch. I don't mind if I have to take it off before a shower, that's how all my watches have been. But being able to wear it in the rain at least is great.

Sent by Tom using Tapatalk 4 on my HTC One

Actually, a smart watch really needs to be water proof. There are too many times when you might put your hands in water and forget to take the watch off first.