Apple Watch Ultra 3 Will Support Texting via Satellite

[applefan8254]

Can we get android support for Apple watch? They could even require the Apple watch ultra for Android compatibility. This way, it's an upsell, so everyone wins. Apple gets more revenue and profit, and android users get the ability to use apple watch.

 

[Marx55]

Really? Apple Watch? Nope until they allow to:

1. Setup and use smartwatch without any dependency. No other device needed, albeit I could live with Mac dependency, but never ever with smartphone dependency. No, I do not want a smartphone, even for free!

2. Camera to take pictures and access QR-codes. Ideally, telescopic rotating retractable camera in the crown neck.

3. Full standalone Safari application.

4. True rectangular display with sharp (90 degree) corners (no round or curved ones that hide part of buttons and other information in applications, web pages, etc).

Until then, I will use Android smartwatches, which are much, much, much cheaper (about 100 dollars), albeit I would pay 1,000 dollars for an Apple Watch Ultra with the features indicated above.

 

[svish]

Very possible that the next watch can get it and that too only the Ultra. But would like to see satellite service made available in many other countries too.

 

[Quotageek]

I do.. and know MANY MANY others that do! Ultra isn’t designed for the average user.. and that’s were people don’t understand.. regular smart watch users want to force it to be what they want when there’s another watch line for that..

I’m an average user. I had the regular AW before switching to the Ultra. The only reason I won’t switch back to the regular is the battery life. I sleep with the watch on. It’s great not having to worry about battery life because I have forgotten before. But the fast charging has alleviated that issue to some extent.

 

[hans1972]

It's hilarious that Apple is trying to push people to upgrade their hardware via a crummy implementation of a feature that carriers/SpaceX are adding a better version of to existing cellular devices at no added cost.

Pretty sure Apple knew what was happening and they just pushed this through anyways.

I don't see the problem. If there exist free equivalent services, then Apple will not get many customers for a paid service.

 

[iHeading]

I’m an average user. I had the regular AW before switching to the Ultra. The only reason I won’t switch back to the regular is the battery life. I sleep with the watch on. It’s great not having to worry about battery life because I have forgotten before. But the fast charging has alleviated that issue to some extent.

My point being if you are an average user don’t complaint about a watch and it’s features if you are not the target demographic for it.. and the company makes another one for you but you simply don’t like something about it such as in your case it’s battery life..

 

[Neodym]

Really? Apple Watch? Nope until they allow to:

1. Setup and use smartwatch without any dependency. No other device needed, albeit I could live with Mac dependency, but never ever with smartphone dependency. No, I do not want a smartphone, even for free!

2. Camera to take pictures and access QR-codes. Ideally, telescopic rotating retractable camera in the crown neck.

3. Full standalone Safari application.

4. True rectangular display with sharp (90 degree) corners (no round or curved ones that hide part of buttons and other information in applications, web pages, etc).

Until then, I will use Android smartwatches, which are much, much, much cheaper (about 100 dollars), albeit I would pay 1,000 dollars for an Apple Watch Ultra with the features indicated above.

Good news for you: You are about to save a lot of money, as your requirements won’t be fulfilled by an Apple Watch for a long time coming …

 

[Howard2k]

Really? Apple Watch? Nope until they allow to:

1. Setup and use smartwatch without any dependency. No other device needed, albeit I could live with Mac dependency, but never ever with smartphone dependency. No, I do not want a smartphone, even for free!

2. Camera to take pictures and access QR-codes. Ideally, telescopic rotating retractable camera in the crown neck.

3. Full standalone Safari application.

4. True rectangular display with sharp (90 degree) corners (no round or curved ones that hide part of buttons and other information in applications, web pages, etc).

Until then, I will use Android smartwatches, which are much, much, much cheaper (about 100 dollars), albeit I would pay 1,000 dollars for an Apple Watch Ultra with the features indicated above.

And a pop-out car in case I need to get somewhere in an emergency.

 

[srshaw]

How many countries will this apply to? We can’t get satellite messaging using iPhones yet in the uk (or at least not on my iPhone 14 Pro)… I imagine it wouldn’t work with the Apple Watch either.

 

[iFunk]

I am hoping for blood alcohol sensor built into the watch that auto locks my car when I leave the bar! Getting tired of this thing!!!

 

[iFunk]

Really? Apple Watch? Nope until they allow to:

1. Setup and use smartwatch without any dependency. No other device needed, albeit I could live with Mac dependency, but never ever with smartphone dependency. No, I do not want a smartphone, even for free!

2. Camera to take pictures and access QR-codes. Ideally, telescopic rotating retractable camera in the crown neck.

3. Full standalone Safari application.

4. True rectangular display with sharp (90 degree) corners (no round or curved ones that hide part of buttons and other information in applications, web pages, etc).

Until then, I will use Android smartwatches, which are much, much, much cheaper (about 100 dollars), albeit I would pay 1,000 dollars for an Apple Watch Ultra with the features indicated above.

Yes, I am with you! These are great ideas and would satisfy me paying $1,000 as well!

 

[allenvanhellen]

You don't have to do anything at all as long as your device has LTE. Your carrier just signs an agreement with SpaceX. T-Mobile already has within the US. Other carriers are signed on in other parts of the world. Part of the agreement is that carriers make it available to all their customers at no extra cost to them.

How does LTE magically connect to satellites?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

How does LTE magically connect to satellites?

How does it not? It's all just radio waves. Just make the satellite sensitive enough so it can pick up the signal from the phone + make the signals it sends strong enough that phones can receive it.

I'm obviously enormously oversimplifying, but it's not "magic". There's no physical reason it couldn't happen.

I think generally the issue with talking with a satellite would be latency, which is why Starlink operates at a much lower altitude (~300 km) instead of from a much higher orbit.

 

[Downundermac]

Was waiting for AW Ultra 3 and almost bought the Ultra 2 black, but Apple’s smartwatch current battery life and reliance on 3rd party apps put me off. Instead bought a Garmin Epix Pro 51mm titanium sapphire (2nd gen) model on one of the run out half price specials a few days ago. Cheaper than an Ultra 2 and overall superior sports tracking system compared to Apple watches. Only things I don’t like about the Garmin and where AWU2 hardware is killer are the waterproof buttons and wireless charging (Fenix 8 has resolved the button issue at least, but it is a bit overpriced). Will see how my Epix holds up in terms of features and reliability over the next couple years, and if/when Apple can produce an overall superior watch in that time... Generally speaking Garmin’s tend to keep going until they’re totally obsolete - my Edge 520 bike computer is about 10 years old and still works fine.

 

[Downundermac]

How does it not? It's all just radio waves. Just make the satellite sensitive enough so it can pick up the signal from the phone + make the signals it sends strong enough that phones can receive it.

I'm obviously enormously oversimplifying, but it's not "magic". There's no physical reason it couldn't happen.

I think generally the issue with talking with a satellite would be latency, which is why Starlink operates at a much lower altitude (~300 km) instead of from a much higher orbit.

Problem is who’d want to support Musk with his greed, tendency towards misinformation and the Starlink monopoly.