Apple picker We have completed the first 60 hours with the Apple Watch on the wrist. This is a brand new experience, an apple product of a new category, which is yet to gain a place in our lives. Now the long-awaited watch and its lucky owners (because not everyone got it on the first day of sale and many have to wait) are waiting for a journey of mutual self-discovery and finding out what they will actually be good for.
After two and a half days, it's too early for bigger conclusions and comments, but below we offer you first-hand experience with the Watch from the very first days of wear. A simple list of activities and things that we have managed with the Watch can at least partially give an indication of what and how the watch will be used. We start on Friday, April 24 at noon, when my colleague Martin Navrátil receives the package with the Apple Watch in Vancouver, Canada.
Friday 24/4 at noon I pick up an oblong box from the UPS courier.
The courier looks at my smiling face incomprehendingly, does he have no idea what he brought?
I am enjoying the gradual unwrapping of the box.
Apple confirms that form is as important as content.
I put on the Apple Watch Sport 38 mm with a blue strap for the first time.
The watch is very light and the "rubber" strap exceeded my expectations - it feels nice.
Pairing and synchronizing my watch with my iPhone.
After 10 minutes I will be greeted by the basic screen with round icons. They are really miniature. After all, even a full 38mm watch looks really small, but that's mainly about personal preference.
I optimize the settings of notifications, "overviews" and fitness applications.
Richer settings are enabled by the iPhone application, but the watch is also not lost.
I check the Weather and play Music on my iPhone through my watch.
The reaction is very fast, switching tracks on the wrist is instantly reflected in the headphones.
I managed to fill the first 15 minutes of the "circle" exercise.
The watch confirms brisk walking to the distant post office and half of the daily recommended activity is fulfilled.
I reply to the first text message by dictation.
Siri has no problem with my English, and it's nice that, just like on the iPhone, dictation also works in Czech. Unfortunately, Siri does not yet understand Czech for other commands.
I am installing the first third-party applications.
No news, just extensions to your favorite apps – Wunderlist, Evernote, Instagram, SoundHound, ESPN, Elevate, Yelp, Nike+, Seven. I confirm the conclusions from the first reviews, third-party applications load more slowly than native ones. In addition, all calculations take place on the iPhone, the Watch is practically just a remote display.
Apple Watch alerts me to stand up.
I've already spent an hour on the couch with my new watch?
I'm racking my brain in Elevate.
The app provides a couple of mini games, it's crazy to play something on such a small screen, but it works.
The heart rate sensor shows 59 beats per minute after a few seconds of measurement.
The heart rate is automatically measured every 10 minutes, but you can check the performance of the heart yourself in the relevant "overview".
I scroll through the latest Instagram posts in bed.
Yes, viewing photos on a 38mm screen is seriously masochistic.
I put the Apple Watch on the magnetic charger and go to sleep.
The watch lasted half a day without a problem, even though it showed 72% after unpacking. It is nice that the cable from the charging station is two meters long.
In the morning, I put my watch on my wrist and check the trends on Twitter.
The sad news this morning is the devastating earthquake in Nepal.
I turn on the Seven app and its 7-minute workout plan.
The instructions are practically displayed on the watch, but the trainer's voice comes from the iPhone. However, the display of the watch alternately turns on and off when moving, which is annoying.
Before the trip, I check the detailed forecast in WeatherPro.
The application shows clearly, so I leave the jacket at home.
On the way to the lake, I get a notification from Viber.
A friend asks if I'm going to the NHL game tonight.
I start an "outdoor walk" in the Exercise app.
During the trail around the beautiful Deer Lake, I pause the activity several times so that I can also take pictures.
I get the "first walk" award.
In addition, an overview of distance, steps, pace and average heart rate popped up.
I change the face of my watch and adjust the "complications".
Pulsating jellyfish are replaced by a more information-rich "modular" screen with data on the battery, current temperature, activities and date.
In the late afternoon I receive the first call.
I tried it at home, I probably wouldn't put it on the street.
While watching hockey, the watch calls me to stand up again.
And I jumped up twice after Vancouver's goals.
I raise my wrist and realize it's time to go to my friends for dinner.
I won't see the third third.
While standing at a red light, I flash the current score via the ESPN "overview".
Vancouver just got two goals from Calgary and is out of the playoffs, dammit, and the Sedin brothers will play for Sweden in the World Cup against the Czech Republic on Friday.
I discreetly check a few notifications during dinner.
As it is nothing important, the phone remains in the pocket. No one noticed the new watch even when the long sleeve was extended. I'm glad for the smaller version.
After returning, I check the activity on the Instagram profile.
A couple of hearts and new followers before going to sleep always lift a person's mood.
I turn on the Do Not Disturb mode, which is also mirrored on the iPhone.
There were already enough notifications for one day.
Around midnight I put the watch on the charger, but there is still 41% capacity left.
Battery life is really good if you are prepared to charge overnight. Recharging during the day will most likely not be necessary in my case. The iPhone shows 39%, which puts me at a better value than before pairing with the Apple Watch.
I get up at 9 and put the watch on my wrist.
I got used to the watch as much as possible and it feels natural on my hands.
When cooking eggs, I set the countdown to 6 minutes via Siri.
This situation will definitely happen again. My hands are dirty, so I just raise my wrist and say Hey Siri - very practical. Against dictation here, Siri does not understand Czech.
I get a few regular notifications with a gentle tap on my wrist.
Although notifications are less intrusive than the beeping of a cell phone, I will deprive a few apps of this privilege.
Through SoundHound, I analyze the song currently playing in the store.
In no time I get the result - Deadmau5, Animal Rights.
I'm choosing a new restaurant on Yelp.
The application is well written, so selection, filtering and navigation are easy even on a small display.
After an afternoon rest, I start an "outdoor run" with a goal of 5 kilometers.
Finally, I don't have to carry my iPhone in an arm band, but in the back pocket of my pants. I now have the display on my wrist, which is much more comfortable for running! I don't even need to have my iPhone with me at all, but its GPS will help me get more accurate measured data. Unless they turn on another app, I won't get a recorded route even with my iPhone in my pocket.
I get another award, this time for "first running training".
I already enjoyed the gamification of sports activities in Nike+, this will be even more fun. After all, "successes" do not only apply to running. You can look forward to a badge if you stand more often throughout the week.
In the early evening, I check my Monday to-do list in Wunderlist.
My least favorite app from the productivity category is sometimes very slow on the watch. Sometimes the list appears quickly, other times it alternates with a never-ending loading wheel.
I photograph storm clouds through the watch's remote viewfinder.
This feature loads faster than I expected. The image on the Apple Watch changes smoothly as the phone moves.
I take my watch off before I shower.
I don't want to try it, although many have already taken the watch in the shower and it seems to survive without problems.
I managed to close all the activity circles.
Today I exercised enough, stood and burned the set amount of calories, the next day I deserve a burger.
At half past twelve, the Apple Watch shows 35% battery (!) and goes to the charger.
Yes, it makes sense so far.
No, it doesn't make sense yet.
I kind of miss the "I looked at my watch to know what time it is" activity there :-)
Or the date if there is one. I'm looking for advice on that, because the clock is everywhere without a date.
Yes, I liked the temperature the most. I raise my hand and within a second I know how it is outside, right next to the time, date and remaining battery.
It sounds good :-).
and I want to ask if it measures sleep somehow? because then I can recharge at work. Thanks
I mentioned this activity once. But it is true that I wear a watch for most of my life, so checking the time and date seems so automatic to me that it is rather left behind in the overview of the article.
It's nice and I would buy them for 5000 CZK :)) Oh well
They wrote that they will buy it for a bunch of data (if that's really the case), but you have to sign a contract with Apple that you will spend another 2 in their store within 30 years ;-).
was amused by the phrase "and their happy owners will have a journey of mutual self-discovery and finding out what they will actually be good for"
– the idea that I am buying something only to find out what to do with it .. especially considering the prices .. a really interesting procedure :)
I was clear. Measuring sports activities was the main reason. However, the Apple Watch offers much more and some habits, activities and functions one simply has to try and then include or use.
The fact that you have it for measuring sports activities is just an excuse. You have it because Apple. Sports activities are measured by a lot of watches and other devices. Unfortunately, the sentence about finding out what it is actually good for sounds really funny and like a minus of the whole device. But it is also quite true. I still don't understand what it's good for.
Measuring sports activities? Wouldn't this be better?http://www.polarshop.cz/polar-v800-gps-sporttester/271-polar-v800-hr-modra.html
I thought I'd go to Apple Watch, but somehow I'm getting too excited...
Yes, for performance athletes, a solution from Polar or Garmin is certainly much better. But you usually just take the watch off after sports activity. Apple Watch will measure steps, distance and activity throughout the day. And for me, even this "truncated" solution is enough. However, if the heart rate sensor was not present, I would not buy the watch.
I don't take them off even when I have an RS 800, but the Polar V800 has, among other functions: All-day measurement of your physical activity level, Switching between sports profiles during activity. It looks like the Apple Watch will probably lose :-) I still wonder if there will be a chest strap for the Apple Watch in time, like the one for the iPhone, like this one. And please can you tell me after how many seconds and if it can be set by the iWatch heart rate monitor? And I would be interested in the accuracy of heart rate measurement, because just a chest belt is a chest belt, I mean, even if the development is going forward
Sorry, I thought I was still wondering if in time there will be a chest belt for the Apple Watch like there is for the iPhone, like this: http://polar.inshop.cz/inshop/scripts/detail.asp?itemId=535&level=113
Any bluetooth chest strap can be connected to the watch.
Cool. But that was to be expected. When the initial hype wears off, I will definitely buy them.
The slow loading of some applications would probably bother me. Having something new and slow... :-(. Hopefully it will just be bad optimization.
Then I would be afraid that it will last for about a year or two, I assume that the battery will have 50% capacity and they will certainly be paid more by applications, so maybe it won't even last that day.
Then, of course, it's crazy when you forget your charger and go to the grocery store, or you're somewhere where there's no outlet.
How long will it take to charge from 15% to 90%?
Well, you have it replaced... Maybe once a year. I wouldn't really see a problem with that :-)
I don't think it will solve slow applications. According to what is written in the article, it looks like Apple apps are directly in the watch, so they run quickly, while third-party apps are just mirrored from the iPhone... If that's the case and there is no memory for apps in the watch, then definitely no acceleration it won't come :-/ I hope I just misunderstood.
Such a battery replacement will cost you 2000,- for which you have a new bracelet from the competition ;-).
Hm, I guess the 2000 doesn't bother me. But I don't think it would be that much. For a year-old iPhone, it is about 1500. Here it will be similar, or maybe even lower, who knows. But I'd say it could last two years of regular use. Like the flashlight in the iPhone. And then it will be just the right time for an upgrade anyway.
Yes, and if a person were to use them for more than two years, then the non-original service and replacement will be for half the money :-)
I wouldn't worry about the battery. My father uses my old iPhone 4, it is charged every day and it lasts just as well as it did on the first day of purchase, and it will be 4 years old.
Clicker ;-). On the iP5, the battery was causing problems after a year quite well.
I think the price will be more friendly. After all, it is a miniature battery with a capacity of 205 mAh. Battery replacement for an iPhone 6 (1810 mAh) costs $99 at Apple in Canada, around $1500 in the Czech Republic. It would be strange to charge more money for replacing a 10 times smaller battery...
If it can be changed manually at home, then it probably wouldn't have to be changed in a service center, or there should be a 5-20Kc fee for it.
So can the battery be changed on the spot? That is take 2 batteries and replace them on the spot?
Are you really willing to pay $99 or KC 1500 for a battery replacement?
Sir, the original flashlight costs €15 and it takes about half an hour even with assembly. I could do it in 10 minutes as well as in the services.
I certainly wouldn't want to pay more than €70 (USA) or €39 (CZ) for it. It's true that the iPhone 6 has an almost as illogically buried battery as the 3GS, but it's still not such a horror that a somewhat skilled person can't replace it himself. On the 3GS, I had the complete battery replaced within 10 minutes, and it was completely stupid because the battery was stuck under the board, so there was quite a lot to remove. The easiest were the iPhone 4s, there was almost nothing needed except the cover and the flashlight holder (4 screws). Summary, I would never pay €40-70 for a 10-max 20 minute job.
Apple has announced that later this year (perhaps at WWDC) it will release an SDK for building apps directly into the watch. This will make the application independent from the phone and hopefully speed it up. After all, they have 8 GB of storage and a relatively powerful processor (supposedly comparable to the A5 in the iPhone 4S).
Today I went from 50% to 100% in less than an hour. Even 15 minutes on the charger will buy such a small battery.
Thanks for the info. If the charger was fast, it wouldn't be a problem to charge through lunch ;-).
That would definitely be possible, but if you take the watch off the charger in the morning, you will definitely have enough batteries for lunch. I now have 3% on my hands after 93 hours.
60 hours with the Apple Watch, or what I managed to do over the weekend... charged 3 times?
Yes, just like the iPhone.
You can buy an Apple Watch in the Czech Republic here
http://aukro.cz/showItem2.php?item=5284542112
So the shower is on the third day.
As an "extended arm" of the iPhone, it's probably fine, but if I would have to pay +-15k for it, and discard my current watch just for the sake of convenience, probably not. On the contrary, more and more often I get used to turning off all notifications on my iPhone, iPad, and Mac for half a day and fully concentrating on work or other activities.
I think that maybe over time one will find a liking for it. Personally, I would not go for this first generation, because it seems to me that it does not offer much against the competition (battery, waterproofness, independence), while the second one will hopefully - in an attempt to catch up with the others - be much better.
When you mention Nike+, which app are you specifically referring to?
Nike + Running
NOT EVEN FREE, PUCK
I would take them for free, then I would sell them immediately and buy the next generation with the money I earned :D
Sports with a blue bracelet look great. Look, you either have a very small hand or the 38mm really doesn't look as small as I would expect?
Today I tried on a watch and 38 mm is really small, even for my hand. I think 38 is more or less for women.
What did you mean "Unless they turn on another app, I won't get a recorded route even with my iPhone in my pocket."? Route not recorded in the run overview from the Nike+ app?
And can both devices work independently when running, so that they can then compare the results if both measures are the same?
So I will pay a lot of money for something, which I will only then think about and research, why I actually bought it and what it will do me good for, only then will I literally forcibly search within myself for a reason and a use. No thank you. I like Apple, but I'm not really a fanatic. However, of course, I wish everyone to justify it to themselves and find the "meaning". :-)
The author writes that voice dictation works for him in Czech. Can you please tell me where to set it? When writing messages, only recognition works in English, I can't set Czech anywhere. Thanks a lot (and otherwise nice article) :)
I would also be interested, I haven't figured out how to do it yet and I can only dictate in English. It must be some nonsense that I overlooked :-D
Well, it probably won't be anywhere in the settings. After turning the watch off and on, I could dictate in Czech, but I sent about three messages and suddenly it started converting the text to English again. I don't quite understand it, the watch is supposed to detect it by itself (language of speech), but so far it doesn't work very well.
Can someone tell me why those watches are actually good? What can they be useful for? (Apart from such brilliant things, of course, that they show me that I have an SMS or that I have a message on FB, or that the small display will show me navigation or other useful and irreplaceable notifications.)
I see, DusanK, you are spamming with this in almost every post...
If you don't know or are not interested in answering my question, why are you writing completely irrelevant things here?
Thanks for the nice article!
The watch is simply divine! I don't know how you managed to get your iPhone to last longer on charge, but on the contrary, it drained mine much earlier. And that's mainly because BT was on all day and also because GPS navigation was running on my iPhone when I wanted to find something on the map on the watch and then I didn't turn it off manually... My impressions of the watch are great, I don't have to take out my phone when checking email, calendar, notifications, etc.. which is nice.. It's a shame that Siri has limited commands, but it's great for writing SMS. But not in the Czech Republic, because they don't speak Czech yet... it's a shame, so we'll see if there will ever be a Czech Siri...
If you would like to enjoy the watch as well, we have it on Aukra, it's just that they are running out fast :) ( http://tinyurl.com/khn7z6j and more info on our FB page ( https://www.facebook.com/BazarCom ) or on the Youtube channel ( http://tinyurl.com/nywfjtn )