They probably struggle to keep up with demand for repairs.
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Unlike Apple Watch, Google Will Not Repair Broken Pixel Watches
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Not surprised. Google has no long term infrastructure for this product because they don’t intend on supporting it long term. They need a large user base, and they will never have that. This product was doomed from the beginning, and Google knew it. They priced it to extract as much profit from it as possible knowing that there wouldn’t be many buyers at any price.
I agree with that, partly. Their leadership is clueless about strategy beyond Search. With all their resources and brainpower, they could make products that actually compete with Apple but they don't...no clue what they're thinking.
I'm actually not happy with Apple Watch. There's a bug that keeps showing up where music doesn't sync properly. The engineers acknowledge the issue but haven't been able to fix it since AW5/6. Apple's getting to cocky and I want someone to actually complete. When one company dominates, it's never good for the consumer.
I imagine the watches are too intricate to repair in the stores. Fancier hardware is probably required.
My guess is that Apple replaces your watch because that’s the most expedient solution for the customer. They don’t have to be kept waiting as long, and in my case, I was happy to receive a replacement because my original watch alto had numerous scratches on it.
Meanwhile, Apple probably takes your watch and repairs it on the backend where it becomes the replacement unit for when a subsequent customer brings their Apple watch in for servicing.
I doubt that they are all tossed out entirely.
At least with Apple, they do replace the watch. My original series 0 model had a screen delaminate after 1.5 years, and they replaced it with a new series 1. I didn’t even have Applecare on that watch. And after owning around 5 versions (0, 1, 3, 4, 7), I have never cracked one screen or had any other mechanical problem with my AW’s. They are all still running just fine. I do have applecare on my latest watch, it costs like $50 per year, well worth not worrying about a pricey replacement in the event I somehow damage it.
What is the Music problem? I use Apple Music with my watch and I haven’t had any problems. Just curious.
You work at the repair facility? Can you show documentation?
They depress me lately. I have never liked Android or Chromebooks or any of that stuff, but Google in their prime made some great things and now it seems like they've sputtered out and aren't taking themselves seriously anymore. It's just one half-attempt after another and then if the public doesn't eat it up and make it into an instant hit, they ditch it rather than follow their vision and continue building it out.
I think they're foolish if they're not seriously afraid of both Microsoft and Apple right now. They seem rudderless and hopelessly behind on so many fronts.
I’m still surprised people bother with Google at all. Different strokes.
Sorry to be pedantic (OK, not sorry at all, I'm that guy), but that's a badly written headline.
> Unlike Apple Watch, Google Will Not Repair Broken Pixel Watches
This implies that Apple Watch will repair broken Pixel Watches, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't (unless that's a feature of the new Ultra?). I think you mean to say "Unlike Apple, Google Will Not Repair Broken Watches" or "Unlike Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watches Not Repairable by Manufacturer", or just skip the click-bait comparison and say "Google Will Not Repair Broken Pixel Watches".
> Unlike Apple Watch, Google Will Not Repair Broken Pixel Watches
This implies that Apple Watch will repair broken Pixel Watches, which I'm pretty sure it doesn't (unless that's a feature of the new Ultra?). I think you mean to say "Unlike Apple, Google Will Not Repair Broken Watches" or "Unlike Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watches Not Repairable by Manufacturer", or just skip the click-bait comparison and say "Google Will Not Repair Broken Pixel Watches".
I’ve given up on smart watches pretty much entirely. I still put my Apple Watch on to workout, but that’s it. I went back to my watch collection. I missed it and they’re far more fashionable than that black square that everyone else has. For daily health tracking, I use an Oura Ring. It’s especially good for sleep tracking and only needs to be charged once a week. The only reason I put the Apple Watch on for workouts is that the ring isn’t convenient to wear while lifting.
Funny thing. I don’t miss the Apple Watch much at all…
I've also been thinking about an Oura Ring. Does it also get in the way if you wear weightlifting gloves?
I guess I'm more worried about scratching or deforming it. I wear it on my index finger and when I do lift with it, I generally try to keep pressure off of that finger, which usually isn't an issue. With gloves it should be fine. It's made out of titanium. The other reason I use my Apple Watch when lifting is that I use the Shred app, which has a nice interface to the watch.
I highly recommend the Oura. It does a fantastic job of tracking your health data and it interfaces directly to Apple Health. I feel some of the numbers might be more accurate than the Apple Watch. I also really like the fact that it only needs to be charged about once a week, versus every day for my Apple Watch, which makes it tough to use for sleep tracking. Best of all, I can wear my bling again and not look like another black square drone in public.
I'm good with it as a ring. It's perfect for me.
The sensor data is pretty amazing, in particular the Readiness score. When it says it's low, I really do feel like it's low. I've noticed it particularly if I've been out drinking. I cut way back on drinking, but every other week my wife and I go out to dinner and I'll have three or four bourbons. I can actually see the damage the drinking does to my readiness, and it takes about two to three days for my readiness score to rebound back to optimal. The readiness score is based on 20 or so different readings that the ring tracks, including sleep and temperature.
Definitely worth the money if you're thinking about it, and for lifting, it's fine if I'm not wearing it since I use the Shred app. I still use it for my other cardio exercises.