Apple Watch As My Primary Device

[musicpenguy]

So I wanted to share my recent Apple Watch experience with this thread only for obvious reasons. I recently purchased a series 4 Aluminum with LTE and returned it after a few days. Here are my initial issues and impression of a product I really wanted to love, yet fell a bit short for me. I realize this may be unique to me but I think its relevant to the discussion here.......

As a regular watch wearer most of my life I figured I would finally take the plunge since the series 4 hardware simply looks amazing.

MY REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE:
It was super fast, everything was instant, it was comfortable. But things quickly started to become almost anxiety inducing, even after taking a couple hours setting up preferences. I felt like it was almost information overload at times even just with a few complications. Now I know I could keep the watch simple and bare bones but then whats the point of owning this $529 smart watch (besides the fitness tracking of which I would only use for the basics including periodic walks I take). I found myself definitely using my phone less which seemed like a good thing, but then realized...ok now I just check my wrist 40 times per day instead of the phone. As far as LTE I think it's pointless for most except for pure fitness. Let me explain. If I were to ever go out anywhere I would have my phone with me for one simple thing.....taking pictures. Therefore the phone would always be around and tethered to the watch so no need for LTE. At work, home, other peoples homes I would have wifi too so I could still leave my phone and walk around the office for example and LTE would still be pointless. Not to mention $10 plus tax for allowing me to use my own number and data plan every once in a while seems ridiculous.

HABITS OF A LIFELONG WATCH WEARER:
Apple needs to figure out how to make an always on screen (like a simple watch face to glance at that then fades in complications and brightens the screen WHEN YOU DELIBERATELY raise your wrist). When my arms are folded or in my pockets and I want to check the time on a regular watch I can do it extremely quickly and discreetly. I noticed I simply cant do this with an Apple Watch. I have to make a very deliberate flick of the wrist motion which is flat out silly when my hands are either folded, arms crossed, or in my pocket. On the opposite end of that spectrum the watch was constantly lighting up when I didn't want it to. Like when sitting on the couch while using my iPad. Seems like all that wasted battery with the screen lighting up could be better used with some sort of dim, simple always on mode as stated above.

CONCLUSION: While I know the watch makes total sense to millions of people, I think its a much different story coming from the standard watch perspective. Just about everyone I have heard of who owns one never wore a regular watch. So my views might be unique. But as I stated, I want my camera with me all the time which is what is so amazing about the iPhone. So I just don't see the watch being a replacement for being out and about and wanting to snap a photo or look up a great place to eat around town or do a quick price comparison at the store. The watch doesn't work for any of that really.

I encourage others to continue this discussion. But right now I don't see the apple watch as anything more than a fitness device that does a few other cool things. It still has a ways to go before even coming close to replacing a phone or a real watch with always accessible time, if ever... or once again, a CAMERA! Maybe I would feel differently if the device was cheaper (aside from no always on display). But right now, the newest model is $399+. Apple seems to be raising prices on everything this year because it can, but thats a totally different topic for another time.

Please discuss. I welcome the feedback on how I may be right, wrong or off my rocker. One thing is for sure. The Apple Watch fascinates me now more than ever especially as to how it actually fits into everyones life. One day it very well might fit in mine, just not today.

So I frequently leave my phone behind now for date nights when I don’t want the temptation of distraction. I don’t always need my camera with me as someone else will have one. I also love in the summer to not have a phone in my pocket. I like going on walks with just the watch and some AirPods or headphones. Not everyone wants this but for those that don’t want to be tethered to the phone when you leave the house its great. Especially with the XS Max I could see more and more people leaving the phone in the car or behind for when they are out and about because it is such an unwieldy device.

 

[jonnyb098]

So I frequently leave my phone behind now for date nights when I don’t want the temptation of distraction. I don’t always need my camera with me as someone else will have one. I also love in the summer to not have a phone in my pocket. I like going on walks with just the watch and some AirPods or headphones. Not everyone wants this but for those that don’t want to be tethered to the phone when you leave the house its great. Especially with the XS Max I could see more and more people leaving the phone in the car or behind for when they are out and about because it is such an unwieldy device.

With all due respect. I totally understand and appreciate that. I totally get the want to be untethered. My comments were more in regard to purely using it with LTE. BUT.....why would you spend $1100 + on a phone to just leave it around and barely use it???

 

[Mabus51]

With all due respect. I totally understand and appreciate that. I totally get the want to be untethered. My comments were more in regard to purely using it with LTE. BUT.....why would you spend $1100 + on a phone to just leave it around and barely use it???

It’s fine to leave the phone behind on occasions the watch fills in nicely. But as a primary only source the Watch does not fill that gap yet. It’s still way to limited.

 

[Orangeman13]

is the cellular reception better on series 4?

 

[musicpenguy]

With all due respect. I totally understand and appreciate that. I totally get the want to be untethered. My comments were more in regard to purely using it with LTE. BUT.....why would you spend $1100 + on a phone to just leave it around and barely use it???

I could see some people doing that yes, if you are going to be out and about and perhaps are in a situation of damaging your rather expensive phone then yea why bring your expensive phone to the beach for instance?
[doublepost=1537988367][/doublepost]

is the cellular reception better on series 4?

It has been for me it is both getting a cell signal faster for me and getting a signal in places I didn’t before (elevators and lower coverage areas).

 

[ipedro]

Rumours of a new iPad Mini seem to help further this goal of using an Apple Watch as a primary device.

During the time that I attempted this shift, I found a few barriers.

1. Siri not good enough as a reliable assistant that can fetch information on demand and interact with apps primarily through voice.

2. The world is very much focused on written messaging as the communication medium of choice. Even more than email. Dictating long conversations doesn’t work.

3. Carrying a powerful iOS device with me as I work as a photographer has become critical to my line of work. I unload photos as I’m shooting and publish them live.

Apple Watch has come a long way since I created this thread. It’s now more than fast enough to not notice any lag. The screen is bigger which makes it easier to retrieve information and even to write through scribbles.

Apple is betting big on AI — one of the few areas still growing, and not subject to a hiring freeze. I’m expecting Apple Watch Series 5 and AirPods 2 to focus heavily on Siri this year.

The iPad Mini would be easy to carry around like a small notepad in times when I’m expecting to perform visual tasks, message or email a lot and to carry in my camera bag for work.

Later this year, I’ll be attempting the goal of this thread again, to replace my iPhone X with an Apple Watch Series 5 and AirPods as my primary always on me device for communication and Siri as an assistant and then have an iPad Mini that I can carry if I’m expecting to do any extensive messaging, browsing, photo/video viewing or other work on the go.

An all screen iPad mini could either be much smaller, if they maintain the screen size, or have a bigger screen. I hope they decide on the former. A very portable iPad with an 8” screen would be fantastic.

 

[elfxmilhouse]

Rumours of a new iPad Mini seem to help further this goal of using an Apple Watch as a primary device.

During the time that I attempted this shift, I found a few barriers.

1. Siri not good enough as a reliable assistant that can fetch information on demand and interact with apps primarily through voice.

2. The world is very much focused on written messaging as the communication medium of choice. Even more than email. Dictating long conversations doesn’t work.

3. Carrying a powerful iOS device with me as I work as a photographer has become critical to my line of work. I unload photos as I’m shooting and publish them live.

Apple Watch has come a long way since I created this thread. It’s now more than fast enough to not notice any lag. The screen is bigger which makes it easier to retrieve information and even to write through scribbles.

Apple is betting big on AI — one of the few areas still growing, and not subject to a hiring freeze. I’m expecting Apple Watch Series 5 and AirPods 2 to focus heavily on Siri this year.

The iPad Mini would be easy to carry around like a small notepad in times when I’m expecting to perform visual tasks, message or email a lot and to carry in my camera bag for work.

Later this year, I’ll be attempting the goal of this thread again, to replace my iPhone X with an Apple Watch Series 5 and AirPods as my primary always on me device for communication and Siri as an assistant and then have an iPad Mini that I can carry if I’m expecting to do any extensive messaging, browsing, photo/video viewing or other work on the go.

An all screen iPad mini could either be much smaller, if they maintain the screen size, or have a bigger screen. I hope they decide on the former. A very portable iPad with an 8” screen would be fantastic.

For the series 4 I got the LTE model in order to try and use it untethered more. However the issue I run into the most is battery life. The AW doesnt get anywhere close to the battery life I get with the iphone.

For now I only go untethered when I don't want to carry my personal phone during work.

 

[RecentlyConverted]

Rumours of a new iPad Mini seem to help further this goal of using an Apple Watch as a primary device.

During the time that I attempted this shift, I found a few barriers.

1. Siri not good enough as a reliable assistant that can fetch information on demand and interact with apps primarily through voice.

2. The world is very much focused on written messaging as the communication medium of choice. Even more than email. Dictating long conversations doesn’t work.

3. Carrying a powerful iOS device with me as I work as a photographer has become critical to my line of work. I unload photos as I’m shooting and publish them live.

Apple Watch has come a long way since I created this thread. It’s now more than fast enough to not notice any lag. The screen is bigger which makes it easier to retrieve information and even to write through scribbles.

Apple is betting big on AI — one of the few areas still growing, and not subject to a hiring freeze. I’m expecting Apple Watch Series 5 and AirPods 2 to focus heavily on Siri this year.

The iPad Mini would be easy to carry around like a small notepad in times when I’m expecting to perform visual tasks, message or email a lot and to carry in my camera bag for work.

Later this year, I’ll be attempting the goal of this thread again, to replace my iPhone X with an Apple Watch Series 5 and AirPods as my primary always on me device for communication and Siri as an assistant and then have an iPad Mini that I can carry if I’m expecting to do any extensive messaging, browsing, photo/video viewing or other work on the go.

An all screen iPad mini could either be much smaller, if they maintain the screen size, or have a bigger screen. I hope they decide on the former. A very portable iPad with an 8” screen would be fantastic.

For me, 99%+ of my business is email. Most of my emails are identical (name change and some content tweaks). If I could manage email on the watch - edit, compose easily, I would get a S4. Just bought one SS S4 for the other half. Looks lovely, but just doesnt do enough to justify me upgrading my SS S0. I so want to leave the phone at home, to go swimming in the sea. Ended up buying waterproof bags for the iPhone. Again wont update the iPhone, in case the bags should leak.

 

[cics]

I am reviving this thread to share my experience of using the Apple Watch as primary device and thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

TL;DR it can be my primary cellular device, but with some limitations. It couldn't be my sole device.

I have been playing with the idea of using the Apple Watch as primary device for months, then I pulled the trigger for an AW S4 cellular and a pair of AirPods... guys that changed everything. I still carried the iPhone with me, until a couple of weeks ago I decided to test going solo with AW and leaving my iPhone at home.

If any of you have a fairly active lifestyle, and active doesn't mean just going to the gym or for a short run, I can see the Apple Watch being a primary device. I work 9 to 6 in an office, but when I am home I have discovered there are multiple situations when taking out my iPhone from my pocket was just inconvenient. There are multiple situations where having a computer on your wrist can help... I have a big dog that is quite demanding in terms of walks (and when he sees other dogs he just go nuts and want to play)... when you do grocery shopping and walk with lots of shopping bags, or carry anything else... when it's raining outside and one hand is busy holding up the umbrella... and if you have baby... well you understand what it means. In all these situations, AW really helps in being connected while decluttering the digital world from unnecessary stuff and the convenience of being connected without pulling out a giant slab of glass from your pocket, when your hands are already busy, is priceless. During that week when I tried the Apple Watch as my primary device, my girlfriend (she's pregnant) has been put in absolute rest by her doc, so it became even more helpful for me because I had to cook, do housekeeping stuff, and so on.

I don't think Apple Watch will ever be the one and only device we use. Each device has its own purpose. I couldn't imagine doing my job just using an Apple Watch or even an iPhone... I need a MacBook Pro. I couldn't imagine watching movies on my Apple Watch... I would need an Apple TV or an iPad... I couldn't imagine booking my next trip or buy my next pair of shirts online with an Apple Watch or shooting a movie with it.

I do think though that the Apple Watch can be a primary cellular device, especially when I am outside or driving or home busy doing stuff like cooking for example. I would always need a bigger screen, be it an iPad Mini, iPad Pro or a big iPhone, for those situations when I want to consume media or I need to produce something. But for anything else I can see the Apple Watch that could have a more prominent role in reducing drastically the usage of iPhones and in general changing the way we relate with smartphones.

I see some limitations though:
1) I live in Italy, so having Whatsapp it's a no brainer for me (even if I hate anything Facebook does)
2) If I decide to use SMS, there are very big limitations in how they are handled... I think that's because, even with LTE, the Apple Watch is a secondary cellular device. I hope they can overcome this limitation in the future.
3) I very need the notes app!!
4) One of the biggest issues is CarPlay... yes, we need Apple Watch to have CarPlay support, so I can control Music, Maps and Phone Calls from my car and leaving my iPhone at home
5) When I am abroad, I need to have my iPhone with me (not sure why)
6) You always need AirPods with you if you want privacy during phone calls

These are just 6 limitations I have found among other minor, but I see the direction Apple Watch is heading with Watch OS 6. I truly believe AW is the most exciting piece of tech of last 5 years.

If Apple allow us to use AW as a primary cellular device and pair it with the iPad, I will definitely see a future where I only use my Apple Watch when I am outside or in general when I am busy doing something (even at home) + the iPad when I am in chill out mode and I need a big screen to browse videos, read something, etc.

Last thing: I love sci fi and of course I believe in the very next future our setup will be AW+AirPods+Glasses... and a slab of glass at home for convenience.

 

[ipedro]

I am reviving this thread to share my experience of using the Apple Watch as primary device and thanks to the OP for starting this thread.

TL;DR it can be my primary cellular device, but with some limitations. It couldn't be my sole device.

I have been playing with the idea of using the Apple Watch as primary device for months, then I pulled the trigger for an AW S4 cellular and a pair of AirPods... guys that changed everything. I still carried the iPhone with me, until a couple of weeks ago I decided to test going solo with AW and leaving my iPhone at home.

If any of you have a fairly active lifestyle, and active doesn't mean just going to the gym or for a short run, I can see the Apple Watch being a primary device. I work 9 to 6 in an office, but when I am home I have discovered there are multiple situations when taking out my iPhone from my pocket was just inconvenient. There are multiple situations where having a computer on your wrist can help... I have a big dog that is quite demanding in terms of walks (and when he sees other dogs he just go nuts and want to play)... when you do grocery shopping and walk with lots of shopping bags, or carry anything else... when it's raining outside and one hand is busy holding up the umbrella... and if you have baby... well you understand what it means. In all these situations, AW really helps in being connected while decluttering the digital world from unnecessary stuff and the convenience of being connected without pulling out a giant slab of glass from your pocket, when your hands are already busy, is priceless. During that week when I tried the Apple Watch as my primary device, my girlfriend (she's pregnant) has been put in absolute rest by her doc, so it became even more helpful for me because I had to cook, do housekeeping stuff, and so on.

I don't think Apple Watch will ever be the one and only device we use. Each device has its own purpose. I couldn't imagine doing my job just using an Apple Watch or even an iPhone... I need a MacBook Pro. I couldn't imagine watching movies on my Apple Watch... I would need an Apple TV or an iPad... I couldn't imagine booking my next trip or buy my next pair of shirts online with an Apple Watch or shooting a movie with it.

I do think though that the Apple Watch can be a primary cellular device, especially when I am outside or driving or home busy doing stuff like cooking for example. I would always need a bigger screen, be it an iPad Mini, iPad Pro or a big iPhone, for those situations when I want to consume media or I need to produce something. But for anything else I can see the Apple Watch that could have a more prominent role in reducing drastically the usage of iPhones and in general changing the way we relate with smartphones.

I see some limitations though:
1) I live in Italy, so having Whatsapp it's a no brainer for me (even if I hate anything Facebook does)
2) If I decide to use SMS, there are very big limitations in how they are handled... I think that's because, even with LTE, the Apple Watch is a secondary cellular device. I hope they can overcome this limitation in the future.
3) I very need the notes app!!
4) One of the biggest issues is CarPlay... yes, we need Apple Watch to have CarPlay support, so I can control Music, Maps and Phone Calls from my car and leaving my iPhone at home
5) When I am abroad, I need to have my iPhone with me (not sure why)
6) You always need AirPods with you if you want privacy during phone calls

These are just 6 limitations I have found among other minor, but I see the direction Apple Watch is heading with Watch OS 6. I truly believe AW is the most exciting piece of tech of last 5 years.

If Apple allow us to use AW as a primary cellular device and pair it with the iPad, I will definitely see a future where I only use my Apple Watch when I am outside or in general when I am busy doing something (even at home) + the iPad when I am in chill out mode and I need a big screen to browse videos, read something, etc.

Last thing: I love sci fi and of course I believe in the very next future our setup will be AW+AirPods+Glasses... and a slab of glass at home for convenience.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Up front, I want to clarify that when I say the Watch as the primary device, I mean it as your personal device, the role your phone plays today. Large screens for watching video, for reading and for browsing photos and keyboards for long typing tasks will always be there. But the device that you carry with you, your communication device, your personal assistant for managing your schedule, taking notes, giving you directions, accessing the knowledge of the internet — the Watch is gradually filling all of those roles in the same way that the iPhone gradually took over the need to carry a laptop around for many of the tasks we use the iPhone for today.

Some of the outstanding tasks you describe will be filled by the last remaining element of the wearable trinity: Watch + AirPods + AR glasses. Some things are just visual. Virtually trying on clothes that you're shopping for will be one of the use cases for augmented reality glasses and it'll improve on what we have today with the iPhone where you look at photos of clothes in an app. Taking photos and videos will also be roles taken up by the glasses.

Certain limitations are cultural. Making calls was so commonplace not very long ago but today everyone wants to text. Texting is not practical on a Watch. It's the primary limitation that had me reach for my iPhone again. However, Apple has been seeding the concept of sending short voice messages in an asynchronous conversation just like text. Rather than commit to having a live conversation, you and your recipient send each other voice snippets back and forth. Converting voice to text is getting pretty accurate so that can function as a bridge.

Finally, some limitations due to battery use and CPU power are being overcome. LTE will soon be replaced by 5G which will enable powerful cloud computing on servers with with speed measured in teraflops, not Ghz. The chip in your Watch won't matter so much because 5G's zero latency will enable power hungry applications to work in the cloud and feel like they're actually being processed on your Watch. That means a human like Siri conversation AI that can run tasks for you like: "Hey Siri, find me a cheap flight to New York next weekend... oh and book me that hotel I stayed at last year for Christmas". You won't need a big screen for many of these tasks because you'll just ask for them to be done and Siri will deliver.

This may all sound like science fiction but a lot of it is already possible with the technology that exists today. It just needs to be implemented. Apple has been taking the Apple Watch in this very direction. I'm very tempted to upgrade my Series 3 LTE to the Series 5 but I'm going to try to wait for the 5G version next year.

That said, the large always on display, CPU power and battery life of the Series 5 is making a lot of these scenarios possible right now.

 

[douglasf13]

If it wasn't for the camera and ability to log in to my work computer for doing quick things on the go, I could totally leave my phone at home most of the time.

 

[cics]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Up front, I want to clarify that when I say the Watch as the primary device, I mean it as your personal device, the role your phone plays today. Large screens for watching video, for reading and for browsing photos and keyboards for long typing tasks will always be there. But the device that you carry with you, your communication device, your personal assistant for managing your schedule, taking notes, giving you directions, accessing the knowledge of the internet — the Watch is gradually filling all of those roles in the same way that the iPhone gradually took over the need to carry a laptop around for many of the tasks we use the iPhone for today.

Some of the outstanding tasks you describe will be filled by the last remaining element of the wearable trinity: Watch + AirPods + AR glasses. Some things are just visual. Virtually trying on clothes that you're shopping for will be one of the use cases for augmented reality glasses and it'll improve on what we have today with the iPhone where you look at photos of clothes in an app. Taking photos and videos will also be roles taken up by the glasses.

Certain limitations are cultural. Making calls was so commonplace not very long ago but today everyone wants to text. Texting is not practical on a Watch. It's the primary limitation that had me reach for my iPhone again. However, Apple has been seeding the concept of sending short voice messages in an asynchronous conversation just like text. Rather than commit to having a live conversation, you and your recipient send each other voice snippets back and forth. Converting voice to text is getting pretty accurate so that can function as a bridge.

Finally, some limitations due to battery use and CPU power are being overcome. LTE will soon be replaced by 5G which will enable powerful cloud computing on servers with with speed measured in teraflops, not Ghz. The chip in your Watch won't matter so much because 5G's zero latency will enable power hungry applications to work in the cloud and feel like they're actually being processed on your Watch. That means a human like Siri conversation AI that can run tasks for you like: "Hey Siri, find me a cheap flight to New York next weekend... oh and book me that hotel I stayed at last year for Christmas". You won't need a big screen for many of these tasks because you'll just ask for them to be done and Siri will deliver.

This may all sound like science fiction but a lot of it is already possible with the technology that exists today. It just needs to be implemented. Apple has been taking the Apple Watch in this very direction. I'm very tempted to upgrade my Series 3 LTE to the Series 5 but I'm going to try to wait for the 5G version next year.

That said, the large always on display, CPU power and battery life of the Series 5 is making a lot of these scenarios possible right now.

I totally agree with this vision. Also, the perfect setup for me would be the AW+Airpods and an iPad Mini/Air for "big screen" content consumption, online shopping and so on, but unfortunately we can't pair AW with iPads (yet) and it's also missing a couple of crucial apps (Wallet and Health above all).

I agree on long messages: scribble is tedious, but the dictation works really well if you know exactly what to do. Otherwise voice messages (in Europe there are already lot of users that use Whatsapp this way... I constantly see people talking at their phones).

 

[ipedro]

I totally agree with this vision. Also, the perfect setup for me would be the AW+Airpods and an iPad Mini/Air for "big screen" content consumption, online shopping and so on, but unfortunately we can't pair AW with iPads (yet) and it's also missing a couple of crucial apps (Wallet and Health above all).

I agree on long messages: scribble is tedious, but the dictation works really well if you know exactly what to do. Otherwise voice messages (in Europe there are already lot of users that use Whatsapp this way... I constantly see people talking at their phones).

I can see Apple releasing a flexible screen device, perhaps rollable or just a foldable iPad that functions as the bigger screen that’s an optional accessory whereas the Watch becomes the centre of our personal digital world that we always have on us.