I see a media meme already forming around Watch

[Rogifan]

...and the meme is that it's too complicated (and of course implied but not said is it wouldn't be if Jobs were still around). It all started with Nilay Patel at the Verge who listed out every possible interaction one might have with Watch (as if one would need to use all of them all the time). Then Business Insider ran two articles with faux worry calling the watch "alarmingly complicated". And now today I see a similar article from Forbes questioning if Watch will be to complicated to be a mass hit (using the different watch faces as an example).

It's as if there's this media echo chamber and they're all just parroting each other's talking points. Except all of these talking points are based off of not having used the device for one minute. No one in the media has gotten hands on time with the device outside of a supervised setting where the device was running a canned demo. So how can they know its complicated when they've never used it?

 

[PhiLLoW]

Welcome to 2014. A magical place where bad news about Apple generate a lot of clicks.

 

[Julien]

Seems ironic that The Verge and all other publications that are basically repeating this are complaining that the SDK has too many features while almost everyone else is complaining that the SDK is too limiting.

 

[MeFromHere]

...
It's as if there's this media echo chamber and they're all just parroting each other's talking points.
...

That describes about 90% of the media, on any topic.

Independent investigation and research are rare these days. Digging up real facts is hard and expensive. Why bother? Media consumers are so undemanding that you'll get nearly as many viewers/listeners/clickers by repeating useless gossip.

 

[Rogifan]

Seems ironic that The Verge and all other publications that are basically repeating this are complaining that the SDK has too many features while almost everyone else is complaining that the SDK is too limiting.

The same media outlets that have knocked iOS for years because Android is more customizable, has widgets, custom keyboards, etc. now have this faux concern that Watch is too complicated even though none of them have used it yet. Not buying it.

 

[samcraig]

The same media outlets that have knocked iOS for years because Android is more customizable, has widgets, custom keyboards, etc. now have this faux concern that Watch is too complicated even though none of them have used it yet. Not buying it.

Perhaps because Apple products are expected to be easy to use above all other manufacturers?

I think this is a case (justified or not) that Apple is held to a different standard. Android doesn't position itself as simple and easy to use (whether it is or not). Apple does. That's why Apple will be called to task - warranted or not - when something appears to not be. Even though they don't say "it just works" - that's the meme that's gone around.

So if there is a meme here - it might be more "How does it just work?!?!"

 

[Rogifan]

Perhaps because Apple products are expected to be easy to use above all other manufacturers?

I think this is a case (justified or not) that Apple is held to a different standard. Android doesn't position itself as simple and easy to use (whether it is or not). Apple does. That's why Apple will be called to task - warranted or not - when something appears to not be. Even though they don't say "it just works" - that's the meme that's gone around.

So if there is a meme here - it might be more "How does it just work?!?!"

True, but it's absolutely the case that iOS has been knocked in the past by the tech media for not having all the capabilities and customization Android has. So to now have this (IMO) faux concern that Watch will be too complicated is a bit rich. Especially when no one has actually used the device yet.

 

[samcraig]

True, but it's absolutely the case that iOS has been knocked in the past by the tech media for not having all the capabilities and customization Android has. So to now have this (IMO) faux concern that Watch will be too complicated is a bit rich. Especially when no one has actually used the device yet.

I'm not sure that's a great argument though given that you can have customization and/or other capabilities that are easy to use.

Take Apple Pay. Apparently that is very easy. Easier than what has been on other NFC devices previously. So a journalist in the past could call out Apple for not having that function. We see that having that function isn't difficult to use and Apple WAS able to implement it.

 

[jrswizzle]

That describes about 90% of the media, on any topic.

Independent investigation and research are rare these days. Digging up real facts is hard and expensive. Why bother? Media consumers are so undemanding that you'll get nearly as many viewers/listeners/clickers by repeating useless gossip.

This - I was a journalism major in college and I'm appalled and disgusted by the state of the America media. It's all regurgitated, emotion-inciting hyperbole and propaganda.

 

[Rogifan]

I'm not sure that's a great argument though given that you can have customization and/or other capabilities that are easy to use.

Take Apple Pay. Apparently that is very easy. Easier than what has been on other NFC devices previously. So a journalist in the past could call out Apple for not having that function. We see that having that function isn't difficult to use and Apple WAS able to implement it.

And that could be the case with Watch too. Take custom watch faces. Forbes and Busness Insider seem to think that's too much complication. Yet it's probably something a user will set up once and not have to adjust again. And until one actually uses the device how do they know that customizing a watch face will be complicated?

 

[samcraig]

And that could be the case with Watch too. Take custom watch faces. Forbes and Busness Insider seem to think that's too much complication. Yet it's probably something a user will set up once and not have to adjust again. And until one actually uses the device how do they know that customizing a watch face will be complicated?

I was responding to this: "True, but it's absolutely the case that iOS has been knocked in the past by the tech media for not having all the capabilities and customization Android has."

The fact they were knocked in the past for one thing and knocked for another now is irrelevant. Complexity doesn't necc equate to features or capabilities being offered. You can have a million features that are all simple. You can have one that is mindboggling complex.

 

[Tanegashima]

Take custom watch faces. Forbes and Busness Insider seem to think that's too much complication.

From Forbes and BI only comes the stinkiest **** in the web!

I wouldn't buy any smart watch without that ability... unless it's some kind of hybrid analog/lcd...

 

[Rogifan]

From Forbes and BI only comes the stinkiest **** in the web!

I wouldn't buy any smart watch without that ability... unless it's some kind of hybrid analog/lcd...

And we all know if Apple came out with only one watch that had a limited number of faces that weren't customizable there would be complaints about that. I'm sure if Apple doesn't offer 3rd party watch faces from day one the tech media will whine about it.

 

[Tanegashima]

And we all know if Apple came out with only one watch that had a limited number of faces that weren't customizable there would be complaints about that. I'm sure if Apple doesn't offer 3rd party watch faces from day one the tech media will whine about it.

They will whine about anything they can anyways...

 

[Tycho24]

I was responding to this: "True, but it's absolutely the case that iOS has been knocked in the past by the tech media for not having all the capabilities and customization Android has."

The fact they were knocked in the past for one thing and knocked for another now is irrelevant. Complexity doesn't necc equate to features or capabilities being offered. You can have a million features that are all simple. You can have one that is mindboggling complex.

So... please clarify.
If you are in agreement... what are you in agreement of, exactly?? Which feature is it that you agree with the press that is just too darn complex of an option for an Apple product?

 

[Michael CM1]

This - I was a journalism major in college and I'm appalled and disgusted by the state of the America media. It's all regurgitated, emotion-inciting hyperbole and propaganda.

I'm in the media and it's disgusting. What's worse is you'll look on social media and what do people post millions of times? Not the stuff that's important and is done by professionals and takes research. No, they'll repost pictures of the damn English prince or Justin Bieber farting in public. Or when it's actual news, they'll throw up a link from some aggregator that they probably found out about because of two teenagers who sit around all day and post clickbait on social media.

Meanwhile, someone you work with uncovers a scandal on, say, a city council and nobody seems to care.

Then on the other side of things you have so many people in the old media who have no clue about what I just said even though in a few years it'll punt them to the street. It's quite sad because of how important real reporting is. Instead, I find gems like this: http://www.businessinsider.com/should-you-buy-an-android-phone-2014-12

It's merely some guy opinionizing on a site called Business Insider. Yeah, you might prefer some of those features. But he leaves out the easy downsides like more prone to malware, fragmented OS, good luck getting updates, that SD card has limitations. The kicker was the "standard" USB cord, which is actually I beleive mini or micro USB. It's also hardly something much easier to find than a Lightning cable since everybody who sells phone accessories will sell the cord half of all mobile phones use.

 

[samcraig]

So... please clarify.
If you are in agreement... what are you in agreement of, exactly?? Which feature is it that you agree with the press that is just too darn complex of an option for an Apple product?

I don't believe I agreed or disagreed.

 

[Tycho24]

I don't believe I agreed or disagreed.

Oh, ok.
Well, I'm just as confused as you are then. Lol. I've watched the keynote demo & all the videos more than once and the "light interactions" they show and describe definitely do not seem complex to me. I'm at a bit of a loss what the heck these media people consider overly complicated.

 

[Rogifan]

Oh, ok.
Well, I'm just as confused as you are then. Lol. I've watched the keynote demo & all the videos more than once and the "light interactions" they show and describe definitely do not seem complex to me. I'm at a bit of a loss what the heck these media people consider overly complicated.

It's all about generating hits. Heck on the Verge you can be banned just for complaining about click bait in the comments section. The other thing is this assumption that iOS was/is always intuitive (and now without Steve to edit Apple is becoming to complex). But that's just BS. If I handed someone who had never used an iOS device an iPhone or iPad would they just intuitively know how to use it without any instruction? No. Sure it's easy to learn and remember. But I'm sure Watch will become just as easy to learn and remember. And I'm sure if someone listed out all the different ways to navigate an iPhone or iPad it might looks just as complicated as the media claims Watch is.

 

[magicMac]

Apparently you can't post one word on these forums. But what I was going to call this is "CompliGate".

 

[Rogifan]

Another meme I'm seeing is that there are too many choices with Watch. That it will be too confusing/overwhelming for consumers. That the role of designers is to make choices for consumers. I get that. But I honestly think Apple feels people want more personalization with what they wear. I suppose Apple could have launched one watch style and let 3rd parties supply different bands. But that isn't eliminating choice is it? And I think we all know if Apple did announce just one watch with one or two watch faces and one or two bands people would complain about not enough choice, and what Apple offered doesn't reflect their style.

 

[Patriot24]

...and the meme is that it's too complicated...

The argument would be valid if these interactions were all wholly new. The reality is that people are comfortable with swipes, taps, and so-forth. The only new interaction to learn is with the Digital Crown. I don't see that being an issue due to the years of training we all had with the iPod click wheel. 5 minutes and it will all come back to us.

Another meme I'm seeing is that there are too many choices with Watch.

Choice and personalization is what is going to allow this to be a mass market device with broad appeal. Consumers don't appear to be confused about the benefits of personalizing their iPhones and iPads with colorful cases. The media doesn't give folks enough credit. We're smart people - we'll figure it out.

Fashion is the selling point, not a limiting factor. Apple understands this and has provided accordingly.

 

[Rogifan]

The argument would be valid if these interactions were all wholly new. The reality is that people are comfortable with swipes, taps, and so-forth. The only new interaction to learn is with the Digital Crown. I don't see that being an issue due to the years of training we all had with the iPod click wheel. 5 minutes and it will all come back to us.



Choice and personalization is what is going to allow this to be a mass market device with broad appeal. Consumers don't appear to be confused about the benefits of personalizing their iPhones and iPads with colorful cases. The media doesn't give folks enough credit. We're smart people - we'll figure it out.

Fashion is the selling point, not a limiting factor. Apple understands this and has provided accordingly.

Exactly. And I find it ironic how Apple typically gets criticized for lack of choice but with the Watch The criticism is too much choice.

 

[Tanegashima]

I don't see that being an issue due to the years of training we all had with the iPod click wheel. 5 minutes and it will all come back to us.

Not to mention that most mouses have that wheel (remember that non-magic mouses and non-laptop trackpads still exist)