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Bloomberg: Apple Watch 3 w/LTE this year

giga

Member
I feel like if you are reading any more than about 10 words, you've gone outside a smart watch's bailiwick.
I agree in principle but watchOS 4 really does utilize the form factor here. It displays useful UI elements and not necessarily words.

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Fascinating. So here’s a question, aside from just the convenience of not having separate phone lines for each of your devices, is there any other tangible advantage? iOS Already has a system with Wi-Fi calling for getting your calls and all your devices, even if they have those different phone numbers

I think the long long game means that you won't need an iPhone at all. I don't know if apple wants to actually do that but if apps could be housed on the device itself, texts and emails and phone calls and whatnot can all be received on the watch itself. Then why can't you use it with an android phone or and whatnot. It just completely untethers the need for ever having the phone on you.

Apple Watch + AirPods could become pretty powerful. But that's all speculation depending on what apple does with the software but that's the end game.
 

jstripes

Banned
I know it's dumb, but I still think these things won't take off until they're circular. 👀

Because all those circular smartwatches are selling so well.

I see Apple Watch several times a day on all kinds of people. I rarely see round smartwatches in public, and usually only on the "tech enthusiast" type, because they're so bulky.
 

Souzetsu

Member
yup, pretty sure it's the future for all devices including android stuff. Apple is just the first to force it down carriers throats here.

Now whether carriers fuck with it or not is another story but I know apple has told them that this is how it's going to work so get on board when ya can.

I feel like it's been a while since Apple has flexed their muscle on carriers like this. Unless I'm missing some obvious recent moment.
 

Nipo

Member
The Garmin Fenix 5 is the best smart watch out there right now. I'm not convinced Apple can beat it and keep their price point.
 
The Garmin Fenix 5 is the best smart watch out there right now. I'm not convinced Apple can beat it and keep their price point.

I honestly prefer the Fenix 3HR (especially if you can find it at a discounted price) as many of the features on the Fenix 5 overlap with the 3HR, but it's definitely the size of an Oreo (and about as thick) on your wrist. That said, the price point for the Fenix 5 makes me hesitant to upgrade to it from my Vivoactive HR when the Apple watch is currently cheaper than the Fenix.

Also, there are features that Garmin have managed to integrate into the newer watches but can't be bothered to patch them into older products - one being able to track elliptical workouts (gotta use the Cardio workout workaround) - which is quite annoying.
 

SuperPac

Member
Significantly longer battery life and I'll buy one. Dont care about LTE at all.

It's more likely they'll keep it at all-day battery life as it is now while adding features. My battery's usually 70% when I stick my Series 2 on the charger at night.
 
It's more likely they'll keep it at all-day battery life as it is now while adding features. My battery's usually 70% when I stick my Series 2 on the charger at night.

Same. If I’m going somewhere for an overnight trip I don’t even bring a watch charger. If I turn it all the way off while I sleep I can stretch it to two nights, which I’ve done before
 

Nipo

Member
I honestly prefer the Fenix 3HR (especially if you can find it at a discounted price) as many of the features on the Fenix 5 overlap with the 3HR, but it's definitely the size of an Oreo (and about as thick) on your wrist. That said, the price point for the Fenix 5 makes me hesitant to upgrade to it from my Vivoactive HR when the Apple watch is currently cheaper than the Fenix.

Also, there are features that Garmin have managed to integrate into the newer watches but can't be bothered to patch them into older products - one being able to track elliptical workouts (gotta use the Cardio workout workaround) - which is quite annoying.

The Fenix 3HR was great but felt just a bit too big to wear to work. The five hits the sweet spot for me and i love that i can wear it to the office or a week long backpacking trip and it doesn't feel out of place. It is without a doubt one of my favorite pieces of tech.
 
I'd be interested if you could remove the band from the watch and keep it in your pocket like a tiny phone. I don't like things on my wrists.
 
The Fenix 3HR was great but felt just a bit too big to wear to work. The five hits the sweet spot for me and i love that i can wear it to the office or a week long backpacking trip and it doesn't feel out of place. It is without a doubt one of my favorite pieces of tech.

I'm a Fenix owner as well(5). If you're like me and you realized you use your smart watch for fitness and notifications it's far superior to the Apple Watch.
 

Charcoal

Member
ALL OVER MY FACE

Also if anyone would be interested in a used Garmin Fenix 3 HR, let me know. It's out of place in my current work environment.
 
Eh, no interest in buying a data plan for a watch. If I'm being completely honest, my first gen Apple Watch is probably the last one I'll buy.
 

Guess Who

Banned
It's just hard to imagine a situation where you'd really need LTE on the Watch separately. Who all wants to go out with their Watch on but not have their phone with them? You're never going to replace a smartphone completely with a 1.5" screen on your wrist - there is just not enough screen real estate.

The only scenarios where this makes any sense are like, running without your phone on you, but the Watch Series 2 already does that with built-in GPS.
 
The only thing I want to be able to do without my phone is use Apple Pay.

The watch has limited uses for me. Apple Pay, Siri to send texts and set reminders, and a more convenient way to check the most recent messages you received without taking the phone out of your pocket. The health stuff is a nice bonus but it is not why I got my watch.

I guess this is a big deal if you want to listen to music on your watch without your phone when you are exercising.

yeah I'm still not really seeing the big appeal of this

the watch + AirPods would be the ideal way to exercise but thats a lot of money just for that

siri to send texts is something I've never used or wanted

It's just hard to imagine a situation where you'd really need LTE on the Watch separately. Who all wants to go out with their Watch on but not have their phone with them? You're never going to replace a smartphone completely with a 1.5" screen on your wrist - there is just not enough screen real estate.

yeah this.. can't see how doing stuff on a watch would ever be preferable
 

Quonny

Member
I guess it's a nice option, but I'm not going to sign up for a data plan for my watch when 99.9% of the time my phone is within Bluetooth range.
 
Smart watches are dead. Apple would be wise to just let it go. I haven't put my Apple Watch on in months.

Apple sells 30 million watches -> the product is dead cancel it

It's just hard to imagine a situation where you'd really need LTE on the Watch separately. Who all wants to go out with their Watch on but not have their phone with them? You're never going to replace a smartphone completely with a 1.5" screen on your wrist - there is just not enough screen real estate.

The only scenarios where this makes any sense are like, running without your phone on you, but the Watch Series 2 already does that with built-in GPS.

Right, but I don’t want to go running with my phone since that’s unnecessary with the watch, but I also don’t want to potentially miss any important/emergency texts or calls. That’s where the LTE comes in. I can see myself honestly just not bringing my phone on quick trips around town or if I’m going to like the beach or something. There’s a lot of utility here
 

DavidDesu

Member
By new form factor I hope they mean a radical slimming of the device like going from the iPod mini to the iPod nano. The thing just looks too bulgeous for my liking. Having gotten a slim fitness tracker recently I realised I could get used to wearing a watch again. A watch that can operate on it's own and be used for streaming music and Apple Pay would be a bloody handy thing to have.
 

subrock

Member
Might upgrade if the form factor rumors are true. Not absolutely necessary as my Series 2 has been pretty great but I wouldn't mind something thinner.
 

Guess Who

Banned
Right, but I don’t want to go running with my phone since that’s unnecessary with the watch, but I also don’t want to potentially miss any important/emergency texts or calls. That’s where the LTE comes in. I can see myself honestly just not bringing my phone on quick trips around town or if I’m going to like the beach or something. There’s a lot of utility here

For this kind of situation I can only hope it's included in the cost of the phone plan. I can't imagine paying extra for these kinds of super-situational uses.
 
clearly a personal anecdote greater than the numbers... right?

They probably haven't sold it because no one even wants to buy it. Otherwise the smart thing would have been to make some money off of it when they stopped using it. But of course they have no value
 

DOWN

Banned
By new form factor I hope they mean a radical slimming of the device like going from the iPod mini to the iPod nano. The thing just looks too bulgeous for my liking. Having gotten a slim fitness tracker recently I realised I could get used to wearing a watch again. A watch that can operate on it's own and be used for streaming music and Apple Pay would be a bloody handy thing to have.

To be fair, it looks fat in pics but quite flat on every wrist I've seen it on in person
 

Drifters

Junior Member
Man, having a data plan for a watch seems excessive

Except its not. The fact that you can get notifications that are linked with your phone without your phone is pretty powerful IMO. If anything, it will most likely be an extension of the iMessage system in MacOS except with apps. Also, LTE capability will probably mean you can get the watch with or without much like the iPad today which honestly, suits the Apple audience today just fine.
 

Chittagong

Member
Woo cellular has been my biggest hope. That way I could leave my phone behind and be more social, while remaining connected
 

Somnid

Member
What's the purpose of a round one? Having a round smart device just looks so silly to me and I can't really think of a practical application for it.

It looks better as a piece of jewelry. I mean let's be honest here, the "practical application" of Apple Watch is already fairly slim, most people are using them as glorified Fitbits, checking the time and an occasional SMS. You don't need to optimize the screen for that, long text on the UI is already poor design. But whether or not you are constantly glancing at it, it sits on your wrist all day so it should reflect your aesthetics.
 

Klotera

Member
What's the purpose of a round one? Having a round smart device just looks so silly to me and I can't really think of a practical application for it.

You think a round smart device looks silly and that's the fundamental difference. The point is that people don't want to look like they strapped a smart device to their wrist (which is what the current Apple watch looks like). Many people want it to look more like a piece of jewelry, like a normal watch.
 

gamma

Member
You think a round smart device looks silly and that's the fundamental difference. The point is that people don't want to look like they strapped a smart device to their wrist (which is what the current Apple watch looks like). Many people want it to look more like a piece of jewelry, like a normal watch.

Yeah which is why all the round Android smartwatches are doing so well right?
 

Klotera

Member
Yeah which is why all the round Android smartwatches are doing so well right?

Apples and oranges. You're comparing across ecosystems with much more fundamental differences than just form factor.

While Android watches aren't as pervasive as Apple Watches, among Android smartwatches, circular ones have been far more popular. To the point where most manufacturers have stopped bothering with non-circular ones.
 

kraspkibble

Permabanned.
cool but unnecessary in my opinion. i'm not going to buy a watch if i don't have an iphone. i'd prefer the watch connected through the iphone to to get data.
 

gamma

Member
Pointless arguement since square android watches are doing ng hot either

Its not the roundness that is holding it back

Apples and oranges. You're comparing across ecosystems with much more fundamental differences than just form factor.

While Android watches aren't as pervasive as Apple Watches, among Android smartwatches, circular ones have been far more popular. To the point where most manufacturers have stopped bothering with non-circular ones.

Yeah, makes sense.
 

Aurongel

Member
I think it's promising in concept so there's not really anything to be gained with writing it off just yet. I'd worry for the battery life and the idea of getting a data plan for a watch is bananas.
 
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