I picked up a watch as a toy gadget to try. Seems absolutely horrible. Apps take FOREVER to load. Twitter crashes on startup. The dock is barely navigable - certainly way faster to just use my phone for any task besides checking the time. Returning this unless someone can help me figure out how this is useful at all. I like my kaleidoscope face.
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Apple Pre-order Thread - iPhone 8, 8+, Watch Series 3, AppleTV 4K
- Thread starter wachie
- Start date
WoolyNinja
Member
Hmmm - you got a series 3 watch? Mines super fast with pretty much everything. I click the Workout app and it opens instantly. It tells time, and shows my notifications so I don't have to pull my phone out of my pocket all the damn time. I also found that its awesome for skipping to songs in Spotify playing on my phone while I'm driving. A lot safer and easier than picking up my phone and skipping songs. On top of that it has fantastic workout tracking.
Not exactly sure what you expected from a watch but I've been pleasantly surprised so far.
EDIT: Also just tried the photo app and that too opened quite quickly?
dont expect the watch to replace your phone, its first and foremost a companion device. Its useful for notifications and bite sized info dumps like messages/mail/tweet notifications. In addition, its a great health/workout tool.
I have never heard an Apple Watch be referred to as a toy gadget. Nonetheless, my experience is the complete opposite of yours.
Yeah, with LTE even. I have a trigger on my steering wheel for skipping songs. I tried Siri to search for a song, but no luck.
Eaten By A Grue
Member
That process was so satisfying. I felt like it was Ghost in the Shell-like and a ghost was being transferred from one shell into the next shell.
The 8 Plus is great so far. Everything runs so smoothly as expected, even upgrading from a 6S Plus. The entire thing being enclosed in glass feels so much better than the 6S Plus as well.
DOWN
Banned
I have the black leather case and the saddle brown leather for 7 Plus. I got tired of the black and still love the saddle brown.
Eaten By A Grue
Member
Let that puppy be naked!
Always use a case for the first few months while you're still in that "new phone" mode. Once the novelty wears off, unsheath it and begin to enjoy it's naked glory.
That way you can avoid getting annoyed over initial scratches right when you get it.
I cant. It doesnt really have anything to do with protection, though. I just love the feel of silicone or a grippy case. Feels too slick otherwise.
Eaten By A Grue
Member
I feel like the glass makes it really grippy this time around. My iPhone 6S Plus was slippery as an eel.
holygeesus
Banned
My watch is primarily to tell me the time - shocker! Closely followed by using it as a device to determine if it is worth digging my phone out of my pocket. When it pings with a notification, a quick raise determines this for me, and I can choose whether it is worth stopping my day and responding. If your phone is constantly out, I can't really see the point of the Apple Watch, but for people like me, who are constantly on the go during the working day, it has pretty much become essential - couldn't do without mine.
I bought a 8 Plus today - there was a line at the store that took about 5 minutes to clear. And they absolutely had a ton of phones available. So far I almost feel like the display is better on my 6s? Not terribly impressed having the 8 be the exact same screen size. Playing games felt exactly the same on both phones. I haven't tried AR yet. I may return the phone and sign up for the upgrade program.
The camera is neat. Thankfully I have 14 days to think on this purchase.
The camera is neat. Thankfully I have 14 days to think on this purchase.
Perfect! Thanks so much for that. I hadnt seen the article.
Got my watch yesterday. Opted for the 38mm aluminium version, with a few third party straps. Its pretty nice, but itll take some getting used to.
Using faces with the Now Playing complication makes a big difference. Just a shame that music apps arent available on the watch. Even the official Music app cant control the music stored on my phone. Im grateful for the Overcast podcast app, at least, but its a shame that Spotify and Amazon wont support it. Same with Apple TV I guess.
Using faces with the Now Playing complication makes a big difference. Just a shame that music apps arent available on the watch. Even the official Music app cant control the music stored on my phone. Im grateful for the Overcast podcast app, at least, but its a shame that Spotify and Amazon wont support it. Same with Apple TV I guess.
holygeesus
Banned
Has something changed then as I could control Spotify using my watch before?
victreeb3l
Member
Kinda wanna upgrade to the 8 Plus but I also kinda wanna get the X. I can upgrade to the 8+ painlessly with Verizon but I dont know how early they'll let me swap that in for the X.
I was using the watch to skip tracks yesterday with Spotify. Change the volume too. Seemed to have the same functionality it always has in that regard
You can skip and pause any iPhone music source, including Spotify, with Now Playing. You cant choose what to listen to, however.
holygeesus
Banned
Ah gotcha. I'm pretty sure I read you can access your library though from your watch.
Edit - is this not what you mean?
Valkyr Junkie
Member
It looks like the 8 I got my wife has managed to brick itself on the iCloud restore. Its been stuck on the last pixel for 12 hours, and none of the home/power button combinations are doing anything. Fun.
Draconestra
Member
I think how Apple started to advertised the Apple Watch when it first came out is still causing some confusion out there. Honestly, the original Apple Watch was not really able to handle those apps back then. They were more akin to bite sized versions of their iPhone counterparts and were really only meant to be used to check something quickly and moving on with your life. Of course getting your iPhone out is going to be a far better experience.
To me, the Apple Watch is a companion device that lets me handle notifications differently and take care of my health. Honestly, now its a lot more of a fitness device than it was before.
So, whenever someone asked me if the Apple Watch was worth getting, Ive always told them that its definitely worth your money if youre into fitness or would like to handle your notifications a bit better. Beyond thats, its really hard to recommend when people think its yet another way to browse their favorite apps.
A good example would be the Amazon app. I think originally you could buy stuff from it. Why? Im not sure, it makes no sense to browse the amazon shop on your wrist, the screen is too tiny. Makes much more sense to use your iPhone instead. I think now its gone, but it wouldve make more sense for the Watch app to be used to check in the status of your orders real quick, or say reordering an item, like the dash buttons.
Like someone else mentioned, its fantastic for notifications. I mean, I think its nice to see a notification and decide if it needs my attention immediately or not. If it does, and as long as the app is supported, it can handle it right from my watch. Otherwise it can wait and I can see it on my watch later and take care of it then.
For Fitness, I gotta say that it has improved my health dramatically. To the point that its addicting trying to close those damn rings. I mean, the watch really does a wonderful job trying to get you to be a bit more active than usual. I usually sit at my desk for 9 hours a day, so its nice to get a reminder when Im busy, lost track of time, to stand up and try to get a bit of activity before the hour expires. The watch doesnt demand much either, just go walk down the hall for a bit and youre closer to your goal for the day. Thats it, its so simple yet so effective. You can even adjust your active calorie goal to your liking.
So, to me, the watch was a valuable investment that I continue to use every day for the past year and a half.
holygeesus
Banned
That sucks then. It can't be that difficult to stream across surely? In effect you would still only be controlling the library on your phone. Must be a technical rather than design issue.
It's a design issue
IonicSnake
Banned
Got the space gray series 3. Im really liking it so far as an extension of my phone.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
I can see that on the old ones but the glass back is pretty grippy. I stopped using cases due to the bulk and the idea that if you want a specific color then it defeats the purpose by having to put a case on it.
Y'all going caseless are crazy, especially with back glass replacements costing $100 — with AppleCare. Much more without it.
https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/service/pricing
https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/service/pricing
Same thing happened to me. You need to force restart it, but everything has already loaded.
Press the up volume, then the down volume, then hold the power button.
Do it all normal speed.
So click, click, hold
The Last Wizard
Member
You guys must hate photos
This is what i do
I forget where, but there is a way to switch between songs on your watch and phone. Try swiping up or down when in the music app.
thechristoph
Sir!
I ended up getting a Series 2. This video does not represent my experience at all. It's showing loading times of 3-4 seconds for the most basic apps. For me, they load up instantly. I kinda have a hard time believing that's actually a Series 2 in this video.
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
What?You guys must hate photos
Wait, you have to pay for repairs with Apple care? The store makes it sound like it covers accidental damage.
holygeesus
Banned
I notice that Amazon have slashed the price of their 4K titles on Prime now, obviously to compete with iTunes. Good times for the consumer. Passengers is like half the price now, and I always find Amazon the best PQ of the 3 main hitters.
Any drop tests yet? I only occasionally drop my phone and usually only a couple of feet from table to floor - short pile carpet in the office, or wood at home.
Picked up a series 3 Watch, upgrading internally but downgrading externally from my series 0 SS.
Accidental damage is an extra fee.
Only AppleCare+ does accidental damage, and only a limited number of claims
Sir Abacus
Member
On some of the more repeated brutal drop tests some of the shattered back glass started to fly off. We're talking a dozen drops from six feet onto concrete but it's still kind of worrying if you're a butterfingers.
I find the usual thin, clear cases to be not nice to hold - eg TPU. Tempered glass front and rear to protect from scratches, and a thin bumper around the edge would be a good option. The K11 seems popular but looks bulky
Valkyr Junkie
Member
Zaraki_Kenpachi
Member
Hmm, interesting. I only remember them talking about one Apple care with my phone when I bought it. I didnt get anything though since I never drop my devices.