Category: Let's talk
Hi, everyone.
With the AppleWatch slated to be in Apple stores on the 10th of April, how many of you are going to see it? What accessibility features would you like to see? Would you pay for something like this, or would it be pointless for you to consider?
I won't buy one, because I don't require the features if offers.
Example, the sports tracking.
I do lots of physical fitness, but don't think a tracking device will help me do it better.
I want it purely because I'm a geek but I don't need it.
the apple watch is absolutely pointless.
the fact that VoiceOver users have to lift their wrist to hear the speech is beyond ridiculous, not to mention how weird it would look from an onlooker's perspective. also, it doesn't do anything that people's iPhones don't already do. plus, people always have to be attached to their phones anyway, because we can't go past the 33-foot range that the Bluetooth capability provides. oh, and have I mentioned the outrageous price of $17,000? yeah, no thanks.
Not all the apple watches cost that much money, you're thinking of the Apple Watch edition, the gold one. there are also ones running at I believe 349 and 549 dollars, if memory serves. I personally don't like the Apple watch, I find it too limiting. I have my own choices on what I'd get if I got a Smartwatch.
I might, but if I do, it'll just be cause I'm a geek and always willing to and interested in tinkering with new tech. No, I would not pay for the Apple Edition. I'd just get the watch with the Milinaese loop and that's it.
all of the apple watch prices are outrageous, not just the one I mentioned.
You may think the prices are outragious but others don't. Your paying a premium to be an early adopter. I am not going to buy one but I will probably pay $50 to rent one for a week. If I like it I will probably weight until version 2 to buy one since you tend to get screwed on first generation apple hardware when it comes to upgrade. For more info on renting the watch see
http://www.macworld.com/article/2895814/lumoid-will-rent-the-apple-watch-starting-at-45-a-week.html
Wow, didn't know you could rent an Apple Watch. You guys have a good point in terms of seeing how weird that would look from a sighted person's perspective of putting your ear up to hear the speech. If I bought one, I would do so solely for the haptic feedback.
how come you say prices are outrageous, ? Its as if you haven't lived for the last 10 years or something.
No, I am not going to bother with this device. I'll stay with my Braille watch. I like being as quiet as possible if I need to check the time. I know that's only one feature of the unit, but still ... not bothering. Not all of us can afford a 3-400-dollar piece of technology, unless we saved up a while for it.
Very good points on waiting til the second release is out; If I were to get one, I' resist the temtation until then; it wouldn't be easy for me. Lol
how come I say the prices are outrageous? let's see Einstein, because they are absolutely so, and for what? to look like a dumbass holding a device up to my ear so I can hear the speech, when I have my phone easily accessible, and would be better off using that device anyway? nope, not buying it. more power to those of you who don't give a hoot about that though. have fun furthering blind people's not being accepted in society.
Lol Chelsea! The cheap Apple Watch is on par with the other smart watch offerings of the day. Would I get one? Probably, but because I'm a geek when it comes to that stuff. I'm not sure I'd pay $17,000 for anything that small that could easily be lost or stolen. Realy, I wish they'd come out with a $100 plastic one. That would be a no brainer. As far as making us look stupid, let's face it. Everyone will, especially if they're gonna do the Dick Tracey thing and use it as a speaker phone. Total geek factor. Getting back to the price though, the blind specific stuff on the market costs a whole lot more than that does, but there are plenty of us with Braille displays, magnifiers, and such things. If you put the cheap watch in that light, it's not so expensive to be a nerd!
everyone will look stupid, so that somehow makes it justifiable? what logic that is...not!!
I'm confused. Look stupid?
Most talking watches are not loud enough that you can hear them without
putting them near your ear.
The other thing about this watch, or any other smart watch, is they
vibrate differently depending on the alert you are receiving.
Example, if you have your phone in a purse or boat pocket and you don't
hear it ring or giving you an alert, if you have one of these devices on your
arm, you'll feel it, and know, you've just received a text, or your phone is
ringing.
At that point, you can answer or check to see who texted you without
pulling your phone out.
You can sleep with the watch on your arm and get a vibrate alert instead
of an audio alarm to wake up, or do something at a specific time of day.
It has lots of uses, if you are device connected like that.
I again, personal don't think I'd pay for the few venefits I'd use it for, but I
can understand why many blind persons will.
I think the Apple watch, and most smart watches, are really unnecessary. Everything I
need to do can be accomplished with the main device and bluetooth headsets/keyboards.
I just bought a Bradley for Christmas, now, that was $300 well spent. Stylish and
functional.
I'm sure I looked like an idiot 10 years ago carrying a braille note around my neck with a chord running up to a GPS on my shoulder. You know what no one cared. People realized that it was something that helped me to get around and left at that. I didn't have a single person tell me that because sited people didn't carry around bulky electronic devices with chords running over there shoulder I shouldn't do it if it made my life easier when walking around campus.
I'm just going to wait and see.
Wait an see about what?
The watch will and can do somethings for you.
It will depend on what you want to get out of it.
Wayne: you can set up custome vibrations on your phone already, I wouldn't think that would be a good reason to get one. I suppose I have no interest in the watch because I use my phone with a braille display all the time. So when I get a notification, I don't take my phone out of my pocket, I read the braille display around my left shoulder. No sticking anything up to my ear, and probably 10 times more efficient, even with the shitty inplimentation of braille display keyboard input on iOS 8. So in sum, no Apple Watch for me. If my employer purchases one and wants me to evaluate it, fantastic, otherwise, this braille display user is fine with what he has.
Exactly my point.
It really depends on the user, sighted or blind, or other.
The only advantage for you would be if you didn't have your phone in your pocket, or someplace on your body.
The watch has Bluetooth, so you'd be alerted, say in the bathroom, or sleeping.
Now, you have to decide if that little bit is worth 350.
We've had these watches around for a long time. Apple is just hyping this one, because they want in the market.
I see no need to get an Apple Watch. I do have one friend that is totally jazzed about getting one, but I haven't been able to talk to her yet to determine why. I just don't see the point, especially not with that price tag.
cnet.com has a great review on it now.
Just go to the main page and you'll find it.
I probably won't even if only for financial reasons. It does sound intriguing though.
There is always This article which describes the watch and accessibility setting quite well. And no, I'm still not interested enough to buy one. I'll wait another generation or 2, if I ever do.
My question is what can it do that the IPhone itself can't? Guess it's time to do some research...
you cant talk to the phone like how you can talk to the watch, or rather, stare to the watch... lol.
Alright. SO here is what I think about the apple watch, and I will also respond to some of the other posts in this message
The apple watch is a nitch product. It is not seen as a need, mor like something I can use when I am working out, and something I can have on me so I don't have to have my phone out to do little things. the device is designed for light wait interaction. For example, if I get a text message, I will feel it if I don't feel my phone. if I am sending several quick messages, it would be faster just to lift my wrist, respond, then go about my day. a lot better than getting my phone, unlocking it, typing, and putting it back in my pocket over, and over. Now as far as it looking stupid, chelsi, how can it look any mor stupid than people lifting that pop tart sized iPhone 6 plus or galaxy phone to one's face to answer a phone call. Or having voice over speaking outloud in a room. Me personally, I have a tiny little blue tooth ear peace that sits inside my ear. very small, very minimalist. I can interact with my watch without people hearing a thing. and because you can press the digital crown to activate the watch over being forced to lift your wrist like most people think, I can just have my hand in my lap and be suddly and discreetly tapping and swiping, not drawing any attention to myself while interacting with it. its a lot mor suddle than interacting with a big old smart phone. Now addressing the price. 349 is about the price of a smart phone. so chelsi, if you own an iphone I don't want to hear it. The watch does not do anything the iphone does. it is made to take some of the load off of your phone usage. I would love to be able to do small little things like checking the time, responding to messages, checking tweets and facebook alerts, and monitoring the progress of my uber driver without always having my phone glood to my hand. So no, contrary to your close minded thinking chelsi, its not a smart phone on your wrist. Its a high end time peace with a computer inside. the price point is paying for the amazing construction, custom alloy's designed specificly for the watch, and apple managing to fit an entire computer system onto a chip about the size of a frosted flake broken in half. If you take a smart phone and open it up, you will see that the logic board that houses everything from the flash memory to the processer and ram, is about 3 times that size. And them being able to fit a power source that runs all fo that for 18 hours on a single charge is no small thing. Android devices may be able to run longer, but they also do not have as many sensors in them as the apple watch does. I will close by saying I personally see the value in the watch, but not everyone will. But on another note, just because you do not see the value in it, doesn't mean you should bash the product, or hate on others who decide to spend money on it because they think they need it or want it. The respectable and civilized response to someone getting the watch would be, I hope you enjoy it, but its not for me. Saying its pointless suggests you are speaking of the opinion of every single3 person whgo ordered, or is thinking about ordering one. By the way chelsi, if it is so pointless, explain this. In a single day, apple sold over 1 million apple watches. In 2014, Samsung, pebble, and LG, all makers of smart watches, barely managed half that. If it is so pointless, why does everyone want it.
I got a chance to see what an Apple Watch looks like yesterday, I'm not exactly impressed by it's design. If anything it looks like a shortened and fattened IPhone that sits on your wrist. One thing I do like however is how it does the tapping on your wrist. It's completely different than a standard vibration.
So, you actually have your watch today poster 29?
How did you like the fitting?
How did you get your watch so quickly?
I thought it was something that had to be ordered?
The watch will be shipped to me on the 24th. I did, how ever go into the apple store and try one on, and I got to play with a display model. Voice over isn't loud, but if you are going to have it speak to you all the time, I suggest a blue tooth ear peace. this is not much different from wearing ear buds with your phone so no one else can hear your voice over. the design is not quite like an iphone, its a bit mor rounded and it has a swell on the back of it where it makes contact with your skin that houses all of the sensors and the taptic feedback engine.
Ah, okay.
You made it sound as if you had it.
I understand even the sighted, and professional testers are having a bit of troble with the settings.
They are claiming battery won't last but half a day.
Please, post your findings.
I have not gone in for a fitting, or to see it only because I'm not interested in the product.
After the rush dies down, I might make an appointment just to check it out.
Hmmm, I can indeed see instances where it might come in handy. Of course I have rather slender wrists so actually getting it fitted for me might take a little more work. Comes of being a rather small guy I suppose.
the charge does last as advertised, even under heavy use. note that was without voice over. so we may get 16 or 17 hours at a time witch should be plenty mainly because most people charge devices every night anyway
LTE, thank you for posting what you have. I've heard plenty of people hating on the product, which is their right, and I haven't much seen the point myself, but that's part of why I've been genuinely curious why the people that like it feel the way they do. You were able to write out some concrete reasons for liking it, and the pros it has. While I still don't think I'd get one, it's nice to understand why others will, or already have. I'd like to at least see it at some point. We don't have an Apple store where I live, but whenever I'm next in a city that does have one, I may go take a look to satisfy my curiosity.
I love the idea of getting a vibrate alarm when I wake up. when my bf is off I want to go see it.
since we're about to have a baby, a vibrate only alarm would work wonders for us so I can wake up just before feeding time and hopefully head off many crying spells that would wake up my partner.
I also don't have my phone to hand at all times. nor do I really want to have it on hand at all times, so being able to see who called while making dinner, while in bed or doing a range of other things would be useful.
not sure at the moment if I want it, but I do want to have a play with it.
This seems like a nifty gadget, but for me at least, a bit overkill, as I already have a 4s and don't see the need for more fiddling.
One question to you though, Perestroika: do you actually expect to have a "feeding time", as such? In my admittedly limited experience, babies don't conform well to the schedules of other people. They're hungry when they're hungry, and they'll fuss when they want something. Your idea of using a vibrating alarm sounds neat, but I wonder how practical it is.
Just harmless observation. If you have a play with the apple watch and end up liking it, then power to ya.
they do definitely have their own time, and will wake up when they want, but roughly if I set my alarm to every 3 hours once she's home it should be reasonably accurate, or just under, at least.
Naw. Babies are going to do what they'll do.
It is really a sweet idea though. Smile.
I was going to order my watch today and after adding it to cart I saw that it would not be shipping until June. I thought it was supposed to be on the 24 of this month so I was kind of confused. I sent a chat and this is what she told me:
I understand that you are very excited about the Apple Watch and want to receive one as soon as possible. We have experienced very strong demand for the Watch. The best way to get your Watch as quickly as possible is to place an order, as that determines when you will receive it. As soon as it is ready, we will ship your Watch using the fastest free shipping method.
So is there not an actual date now or only those people who ordered it last Friday going to get it on the 24?
what ended up happening is, pre orders started on the tenth. only those who got orders in early will get the watch on the 24th. as people placed orders, delivery dates slipped. aple sold well over a million on launch day alone.
I was lucky and got my order in not 20 seconds after the store launched so I have an early date.
This is just usual technology companies not having enough product for demand.
This goes on all the time.
Samsung is experiencing this now with the S6, and Apple does it every year with the iPhone.
to whomever wrote up the nice little review of the watch on this message board,
thank you. That gives me a much clearer picture of how this device works. I still
feel I don't need one, but more power to those of you who do.
Heh, Heh, Heh
http://www.cnet.com/news/omg-oh-my-gold-beyonce-has-a-special-gold-apple-watch/
The tenth of June isn't that far off, about six weeks or so.That's the length of one teenage relationship or thereabouts.
I'm so behind here, but Jared is right.
No-one cares how we look because they realize we're using Technology, and if they find out it is to help us, they'd be even more understanding.
I think it's very poor of you Chelsea to attack those of us who may get one saying that it would make us blindies look "even more of an outcast". I almost fell off my chair. Angry much!
My time with the apple watch
I have had my watch for a little while and I just want to post my findings
While it is well built, I think the bands feel a little small on them and could be a bit bigger
The operating system works well, but can be a big buggy at times, but what can you expect from a generation one product.
With the suttle alerts and haptic feedback taps, the watch makes itself known differently than the phone does. When the phone alerts me, this is what I hear. Hey, you have an alert, I need you now. When the watch alerts you its mor like this. Hey, you have an alert, but you can get to it when your ready. It doesn't even light up when the alert comes in. It sits quietly and waits until you turn on the screen. I love this at work, because when I get alerts and I am in the flow, I don't feel like I have to stop to lok at them.
it keeps me active
Yes believe it or not, it motivates me mor than any other device I have had to stay active. it gives me a move gtoal to meet every day separated into 3 parts. moving, exersize, and standing. Speaking of standing, I have been sitting still for about an hour, and it just gave me a little reminder to stand and move around for about 5 minutes.
Now that I am back to my desk, it just told me I have earned another hour onto my stand goal. the goal is to be active at some point 12 hours of the day. Because of wrist ditection, it only gives you these alerts when you are wearing your watch. Also, all of these features are opt in, you do not have to use them. It counts how many callaries you burn during the day, counts your steps, and things like that. My girlfriend and I actually compeet to see who can get the most steps during the day. I really have to work at it though, but because I can actually look at them throughout the day, I am much mor motivated to beet her.
Third party apps
I don't doo too much on my watch, its mor for phytnis, looking at alerts, and looking nice on my arm. But the aps third party developers are comeing out with are pretty cool.
Battery life
The watch lasts all day. I get home from a full day of activity with 30 to 40 percent left, and because I look at some alerts on the watch, I have also noticed my iphone charge lasting longer as well.
I get my watch today. I have been listening to the Apple Watch podcasts on Applevis.
LTE if you can get a standing desk you can walk in place at your desk. That's what I do using my iPhone to count steps. The insurance companies are trying to run these programs now to get you to conform so in theory lower your premiums. The steps is the easiest part. But anyway if you can set your desk up as a standing desk and walk in place while you work, you'll find you put some miles on quick. Sorry to derail the thread just wanted to point this out after LTE's post.
I'm looking forward to getting an apple watch because of the fitness aspect too; It sounds like it would be way better for us than using a fitbit - more accessible out of the box. And the fact that we could sink it to our fitbit app and maybe even in future, myfitness pal would be awesome.
Thanks for your posts. :)
Sadly I can't set my desk up in that configuration. how does walking and typing work anyway
I don't see what practical purpose the Apple Watch would serve since you need your phone in your pocket anyway to operate it. What is so inconvenient about taking your phone out of your pocket to get a text? Why do we need this on our wrists? It's a marketing gimmick, is all, but one admittedly that apple will make millions on.
The Fitbit app works on the iPhone already, set it up to use the iPhone step counter and you're good to go.
Typing and walking? Takes a little practice but now it's getting popular.
Yes you do raise a good point Leaffan; it's because we're geeks; that's all it is.
Leo, i just now feel that by the time I buy a fancy shmancy fitbit, I may as well buy the lower end scale apple watch.
That's just it, I don't own a FitBit, I use the free app and have it use the step
counter in my iPhone. But you don't even need that with the Health app on the
iPhone. I only did it for the insurance company.
I say go for them.
It is a fun toy actually.
It won't be for everyone, but nothing is.
I'm saving my pennies for the iPhone 7 or 6S. Lol
iPhone in my pocket and braille watch on my wrist does me just fine.
Ah Leo, see I've not really explored the Health app much; must do that.
Thanks. :)
Nor have I actually.