πWatch is Getting Better SOON • unSure about Watch • This News Will Tip the Scales ⌚️π⌚️π⌚️π⌚️
Watch is Getting Better Soon. If you were unsure about Watch this News may very well Tip the Scales in your favor.
In the world of Watch, iPhone, iPads, and Computers, its mostly about the Software. “Politically Speaking” is about the Software Stupid… As may recall James Carvill saying to candidate Bill Clinton, “…it the economy stupid.”
The Computing Power of a single Watch is equivalent to the Processing Power of two Cray Super Computers, each drawing 200,000 Watts of power, requiring 2200 Amps of current generated by a 480vAC three-phase motor-generator. The Cray Super Computer created so much heat that this Super Computer required Immersion into Inert-Fluid Cooling tanks.
AppleWatch OS 2 is the Magic. Just Six weeks after Apple Watches began arriving to Apple’s on-line buyers in 9 countries around the world, Apple already has a major Watch update in the works. While Apple watch OS 2 will debut this fall, Apple used its 2015 Worldwide Developers Conference, the WWDC Keynote Address on Monday to show off what we all can expect from your upgraded Watch (operating system 2.0). There more than 10 features that will turn Watch from a nice-to-have wearable into a must have every-day tool. Plus, I will speculate on some features that may arrive in time for the roll-out in September, this year.
Watch is currently shipping with Watch OS 1.0.1 which supports third-party Apps but they (A) require a companion App on your iPhone, and (B) the App’s currently require the use the processing power of your iPhone. Apps that don’t run natively (currently Apple’s built-in watch apps) are not permitted to use the Watch hardware directly, for example Watch’s Accelerometer, Taptic Engine, Microphone, and the Heart rate sensors, to name a few.
Watch OS 2 Apple is opening up these hardware-features to App Developers and letting them to expand the Watch’s capabilities. For example, instead of waiting for the watch’s native Activity App to relay your heart rate to the iPhone Health App using HealthKit, third-party Apps can run natively within the Watch to collect that information directly in the Watch. This is a really big deal for Watch uses.
Watch Currently has an appealing array of watch-faces, but similarly to your iPhone’s home-screen background “Wallpaper,” you may desire to personalize your Watch with your pictures in addition to Apple’s stock image. Watch OS 2 also permits you to choose from a menu of 5 stock time-lapsed skyline scenes (very cool animations indeed), or use a still photo from your own collection, or a created album of favorites that rotates through these pre-selected images, each time you raise your wrist. This is a simple change, but folks will really like this customization feature.
Watch Time Travel offers an interesting way to view your Day with the OS 2’s Time Travel feature. This feature displays to you an overview of your day (or yesterday, or tomorrow) by using the Watch’s Digital Crown to scroll through your schedule to view contextual information like the weather, will be like (viewing the future) during your Day or tomorrow, as the Watch will obtain current Weather data, and Future Forecasts as you scroll the Digital Crown. Similarly for emails, scrolling backwards for email you may have missed from yesterday. Press-in the Digital Crown returns your display to your watch face. Time Travel is capable of drawing information directly from third-party Watch Apps, and will be particularly useful on your watch-faces that allow third-party creation of complications. More on that in a moment.
Watch will soon have the ability to use your Retailer’s Loyalty Cards plus Store Credit and Debit Cards, a must-have for many Apple Pay users. This feature will roll-out to both iPhones with iOS9 launches in the Fall and with the Watch with AppleWatch OS 2. Simply double-press the Watch side-button, then select the Card you want to use in your Watch Wallet. Major retail partners in this initiative include Walgreens, Target, Home Depot, JCPenney, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, to name a few.
Watch uses Plethysmography, a technology clinicians use to provide accurate estimates of your heart rate. More precise measurements about your body’s physiology, may come soon as Apple enables existing Watch hardware sensors and software algorithms, capable of measuring the 3 factors in real-time. If the FDA provides Apple Watch’s the “exemption Apple has been waiting for” meaning the Watch “…is Not intended to be a Medical Device….”
Presently, Watch provides accurate measurement of your Pulse Rate in real-time. Once the FDA permits Apple to use its technology Two additional circulatory system measurements may be taken by your Watch.
(A) Pulse Rate measured in Beats per Minute
(B) Blood-Oxygen Saturation percent {SpO2} of arterial blood flow, and
(C) Perfusion Index {PI} indicates arterial pulse strength.
Watch. There is lots more, but you are likely tired… lets save the balance of the exciting features for our next Story, soon, in a Day or two…
π⌚️ Fantastical Calendar Integrates to Watch • Best Calendar Period ⌚️π⌚️π⌚️π⌚️
Fantastical’s developer Flexibits has been teasing everyone about the arrival of an Apple Watch application for its highly popular Fantastical 2 Calendar App (a better alternate to Apple’s calendar) for all iOS and Mac OS X users. That App update has Now Arrived.
Coming soon to a Wrist Near You. In a new Web page that the application developers posted up on last Friday, Flexibits, the APP Developer, says that Fantastical 2 is “coming soon to a wrist near you” and allows you to sign up with your e-mail when the application is ready and hit the public Today.
Fantastical 2 screenshots for the Apple Watch looks great. It takes what you would normally see on your iPhone and packs it down into a beautifully compact Apple Watch view without any clutter or extraneous information.
Download Fantastical 2 from the App Store right now for the Apple Watch release; you can head over to this App Store link to download it for $4.99. It will be a free upgrade if you already own the Fantastical 2 application for iOS. IMHO, its worth every penny of this modest price. As an Apple Watch user, the Fantastical display is quite Fantastic.
Fantastical is the Best Calendar App for Booking Appointments, Reminders, Day Ticker. We have this App on our iPhones, because it is very simple to use, and more intuitive when needing to book an appointment or a reminder quickly. However, fear not, this is a Full Featured App, with all the “Bells and Whistles.” I particularly like this App as it is User Friendly and the Display Design and the White Lettering on a Black Background.
Fantastical is the fastest and friendliest calendar App, Period! Just type in “Lunch with John in Cupertino on Friday” and Fantastical will schedule it.
Your iPhone 4, 5, or 6 supports dictation ✔️ you can also “speak the details” for your event and Fantastical will handle the rest. Best of all, the beautiful interface makes using your calendar really easy.
Watch monitors the calories you burn and measures your heart rate readings obtained from the Watch sensors located in the ceramic underside of the Watch.
Watch is Capable of Monitoring your Blood Oxygen Saturation Levels, and Pulse Strength using Plethysmography, Pulse Oximerty.
Plethysmography is a technology clinicians use to provide accurate estimates of your heart rate. More precise measurements about your body’s physiology, may come soon as Apple enables existing Watch hardware sensors and software algorithms, capable of measuring the 3 factors in real-time.
Presently, Watch provides accurate measurement of your Pulse Rate in real-time. Once the FDA permits Apple to use its technology 2 additional circulatory system measurements may be taken by your Watch.
(A) Pulse Rate measured in Beats per Minute
(B) Blood-Oxygen Saturation percent {SpO2} of arterial blood flow, and
(C) Perfusion Index {PI} indicates arterial pulse strength.
We have identified that Watch presently contains all the onboard, internal sensors capable of detecting your heart-rate and your blood-oxygen saturation, plus your arterial pulse strength. Apple’s heart rate monitor actually employs a plethysmographic technique, which functions as a pulse oximeter. However, presently Watch (although capable of measuring SpO2, blood oxygen saturation level and PI, Perfusion Index which indicates arterial pulse strength) are not delivering this information, as Apple awaits FDA approval for this added capability.
Watch was launched on April 24. Apparently the FDA had not yet approved Blood-Oxygen Saturation measurement and Perfusion Index indicates arterial pulse strength capability. FDA reviews “medical devices” where Apple has made application some time ago. It is expected that the FDA should provide its approval in a relatively short time frame, because Apple is claiming that its Watch is not a medical device. That’s government-speak for “no one really knows when FDA approval may arrive.”
Assuming that FDA approval is eminent, these additional capabilities will provide Watch users a higher degree of measuring one’s biometric physiology, recording this data when the user is exercising, when out and about during one’s day, or when at rest. These added capabilities would be unique for any personal, everyday wearable smartwatch.
Imagine the usefulness of these expanded capabilities, delivering information to individuals wearing the Watch that are involved with jogging, track and field events, soccer, exercising in the gymnasium, marathon events and training. However, having continuous real-time blood oxygen saturation and arterial pulse strength monitoring would be very helpful also for individuals that, for example, are Cardiac or Surgery out-patients.
The last time you, a family member, or a friend were in a Hospital Emergency room due to an accident or medical condition, a nurse clipped a device called a pulse oximeter onto one of the patient’s fingers. This small wired electronic device detects both your pulse and blood-oxygen saturation level. This finger mounted device houses a pair of LEDs and photo-sensors; this information (and other biometrics are displayed on a Color LCD display used by the medical staff to monitor these factors.
Theory of the pulse oximeter. Pulse Oximetrics rely on the principle that hemoglobin (in your blood) absorbs Green and Infrared light differently, based on your blood oxygenation level and the flow of blood in your capillaries. By energizing the Green and Infrared light emitting diodes, the LEDs, onto one’s finger, the reflected Light is measured by the photo-sensors, making it possible to determine a person’s blood oxygen level and pulse rate using software algorithms to transform this data digitally in percent form.
Apple is mindful of the value of measuring and monitoring your Heart Rate and Blood-Oxygen Saturation, all the required sensors and software algorithms are already built into every Watch. Since the FDA has approved the pulse-rate capability the Watch OS software delivers this information to Watch users. However, as of the writing the FDA has not yet approved Blood-Oxygen monitor capability.
Until FDA approval is granted Apple has used a “software switch” to block the delivery of blood-oxygen monitoring. If and When the FDA provides its approval, then Apple can simply publish a Version Update of its Watch OS software, and viola, the Watch provides this added capability, with your existing Watch, and you don’t have to wait nor have to pay for a new Watch.
Blood Oxygen Saturation monitoring capability would be revolutionary for the Watch and for that matter the entire smartwatch industry. Only Apple would be so forward thinking, to have these hardware components and sensors already built into Watch’s initial release.
Apple is avidly interested in personal health and the use of Watch biometrics. Accordingly, Apple hired Michael O’Reilly, M.D. Dr. O’Reilly left his position in July 2013 to take on a significant role at Apple, apparently for its development of the Watch biometric monitoring.
Dr. O’Reilly was formerly the Chief Medical Officer and EVP of Medical Affairs at Masimo Corp. (www.masimo.com) Dr. O’Reilly and his team was responsible the company’s development of several pulse oximetry devices for the medical community. Dr. O’Reilly and his ream developed the iSpO2 Pulse Oximeter which device connects to the iPhone with a companion App. In addition to O’Reilly, Apple has hired a number of other professionals with expertise in pulse oximetry, vasculature visualization, vein location, non-invasive glucose monitoring, blood chemistry monitoring, heart rate and breath rate monitoring.
Watch needs to be paired, as most know with your Apple iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 or 6 Plus, the compatible iPhones, currently over 400 million users of these models, and growing by over 20 million a month. Also don’t forget to update your iPhone’s iOS to 8.3 which installs the Apple Watch Configuration App onto your iPhone.
Watch has a built-in “Glance” that tells you about the state of charge of your Watch. Several of the built-in Watch Faces have a convenient icon that you can Tap which will show your heart-rate through Watch “Glances.”
Blood Oxygen Saturation and Pulse Rate provide important critical information regarding one’s circulatory system. Fingertip pulse oximeters are increasingly being purchased for personal use. This technology is available with Measure-through Motion and Low Perfusion pulse oximetry, the same technology used on over 100 million patients a year in leading hospitals worldwide.
Watch’s pulse oximeter is providing accurate measurements that out-patients can rely on this technology; However, the Watch does not claim to be a “Medical Device” according to FDA standards. The information is collected from one’s wrist in a similar way finger clip-on sensors measure pulse oximetry. Fingertip pulse oximetry provides accurate blood oxygen saturation and pulse rate measurements as will the Watch, soon to display three data-streams, providing (1) oxygen saturation (SpO2), (2) pulse rate (PR) measured in beats per minute, and (3) perfusion index (PI) which measures the arterial pulse intensity.
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Paradox with this App is the Watch already has a Battery Glance installed on your Watch by default. To visualize the state-of-charge of your Watch, simply “swipe up” on your Watch-face and your first Glance appears on the watch face. If you’ve looked at a Glance perviously, when swiping up, the Watch will display the last Glance you viewed of the 20 available glances. To view another Glance simply swipe left or right to see another Glance. So what does this App do… it displays the state-of-charge of your paired iPhone.
Watch, once out and about, lets say you generally keep your iPhone in your pocket, purse, briefcase, on your credenza or desk at the office. The Watch is taking advantage of all of the unique capabilities of your iPhone’s processing power, GPS, Gyroscope, its sensors and the M8 motion chip. Accordingly, you may lose track of how long you have until the LiON battery in your iPhone runs Low, assuming its not plugged in.
Watch Battery Monitor is a unique App that will provide to you a remote look at the remaining battery-life of your iPhone, by looking at a new “Glance” displayed on your Watch. The App will show the iPhone’s state-of-charge, and if it is actually charging, or not. The Watch already has a Battery Glance which is pre-loaded into your new Watch which displays the battery level of the Watch. This App loads another Battery Monitor Glance, that displays the battery level of your paired iPhone.
Battery Monitor is a new App for the Apple Watch created by Tom Etminan, who is a finance professional with experience trading and risk managing a broad range of derivatives products in an Investment Bank and Hedge Fund environment. This App is Tom’s first App Store available App, a really nice App for someone’s first App.
Battery Monitor App will display your iPhone’s battery-life, once this Battery Monitor is enabled in the Watch Glances menu. To set this up, Firstly, install the Battery Monitor App onto your iPhone; then go to the Apple Watch App on your iPhone using the Apple Watch App, tap onto My Watch > Glances > add Battery Monitor, then, look down to the bottom part of the list of all the GREEN Glances, and you will find the “Battery Monitor” Glance.
Remember, only 20 glances are permitted for display on your Watch; so if you already have chosen 20 Glances, the RED Glances at the top of the list, move one of the RED Glances by tapping onto the RED negative sign, choosing a Glance you do not use often. When you delete one of the RED Glances it auto-moves this Glance to the lower GREEN List of Glances for future use. Then Move {slide up} the Battery Monitor Glance UP into the top portion of the RED Glances. All of the RED Glances are those Glances that you will be able to visualize on your Watch. I placed this “Battery Monitor” Glance next to the existing Battery Glance, so they are close together. I made a screen-image of my iPhone showing how I have arranged some of my Glances.
When we first got the Watch we were looking at the remaining battery life of the Watch frequently at first as Apple said the Watch will last 18 hours or so. After a few days you’ll not be so paranoid about battery-life. In my case, with fairly significant usage of the Watch notifications and other features of the Watch, I have yet to have any Watch battery-life concerns.
Personally, I get up in the morning at 6am and put on my Watch by 6:30am, and am done with my day by about 11:30pm or so. Then I place the Watch onto my TwelveSouth charging stand, which is displayed below. When doing so, the Watch shows its state-of-charge and provides the Watch Green Ring showing generally about 30% remaining-battery-life plus a green lightning-bolt icon, confirming that the Watch is properly seated on the magnetic-disk, and is in fact Charging.
For my 18+ hour day, I am using on average roughly 70% of the Watch’s battery; sometimes I’ll have a higher level of remaining battery-life, perhaps 40%. Therefore, when Apple stated that its Watch has sufficient battery-life for a full-days’s activities, I have confirmed this by my usage for the last 3 weeks of actual Watch usage. As an avid product-reviewer, I am taking full advantage of most of the Watch functions, its notification capabilities, exercising monitoring, etc.
In sum, Marilyn and I are totally satisfied with our Watches, and its convenience for what’s going on communications-wise, and of course knowing the time of day… after all the Watch is a “watch” too.
My guess, the Watch will be a huge success for Apple and for many iPhone users, likely many more iPhone users than the critics currently predict. I have discussed Apple iPhone 6 and Watch sales with Apple retail associates. They tell me that there are a large number of Switchers” from Android, so they can use the Watch. So these folks are buying a new iPhone 6 and an Watch. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO predicted this months ago. Recall, the Critics said that Apple had no chance of success for the iPhone in 2007, nor the iPad in 2010, years later Apple has sold over 700,000,000 iPhones and iPads, with a Satisfaction Ratings of +99%, unheard of in the Consumer Technology-Products category. Once more with the Watch, Apple again has “re-invented” the traditional “Watch” which has been around since the 16th Century.
Battery Monitor App. This App will display to you the State-of-Charge of your iPhone’s battery and provides an easy to read display of the iPhone’s Battery-Life {Percent} Remaining. The Battery Monitor will also display to you when the Battery is 100% charged, or other real-time battery-life-remaining percentage, and if the iPhone is Charging.
The animated-ring display-style employed by this App uses different colors depending on how much battery-life remains, giving you the information you need with a quick “Glance,” that’s precisely why Apple chose to name these nifty tid-bits of information GLANCES.
Presently, the Battery Monitor App is a free download from Apple’s App Store. However, the developer mentions in the App description that he will be adding new features to this App in the near future, which may be accompanied by price hike for the App.
This iPhone BATTERY MONITOR App is an example of the creativity of Apple’s independent developer network, demonstrating their ability of Designing and Delivering unique Apps for all Watch users.
Apple reports that there are currently {May, 2015} over 4,500 Watch Apps. Personally I think this iPhone “Battery Monitor” is a terrific utility, since the Watch and my iPhone are “paired” for every-day use.
Watch, Easy Set-Up Guide and Helpful Use Tips for Watch. As Apple is currently delivering the Watch globally, this article will give new and potential Watch owners and early adopters our First Impressions, helpful use tips for its set-up and pairing with your iPhone, configuration settings.
Speaking from experience, Marilyn and I ordered Watches, on-line using the Apple Store App. Marilyn chose the 38mm Stainless Steel Watch paired with the Milanese band. I chose the 38mm Stainless Steel Watch with the Link Bracelet. Apple designed the Watch so that regular folks are able to remove and change Watch bands, without any tools or special talents.
Watch was Engineered to facilitate users buying several watch-band colors and types to suit a particular occasion, season, activity, or mood, effortlessly. No miniature tools, screwdrivers, and no special talent needed. Marilyn received her Watch on April 28th, my Watch arrived May 15th, shipping on the date promised on the pre-order. Our pre-order was placed on-line 5am on April 10.
Watch Background. Given the Apple brand has an unmatched consumer base, we think Apple’s wearables category is their “silver bullet” product, that will start to move consumers toward this new avenue of technology growth, and drive adoption of the Watch. Management indicated recently that current demand is exceeding supply, and Apple is ramping up to meet demand. We think Apple has a massive opportunity with this new technology, that will open up many doors for enterprises looking to create applications, services, and solutions around the Watch market with Apple commanding a very strong lead in this niche market, currently niche, soon to be main-stream. When in the Apple Store, I interviewed some of the sales associates who indicated that customers were switching to the iPhone 6, so that they could buy the Watch and pair them.
Watch Impressions – Packaging. Apple learned long ago that “Packaging” is critical in creating a “First Impression.” The Watch packaging takes this notion to an even higher level. Firstly, the Shipping Carton and the two shock-resistant separators are carefully engineered to house the Watch product Box. I interviewed the UPS driver who was delivering thousands of Watch boxes last week who said there were many enthusiastic Watch buyers awaiting their delivery, self included.
Watch Impressions – The Watch Case. The carton and its two inserts precisely protect the product box. The product Box is pure white, and built with a heavy-weight polished cardboard, thicker and more sturdy than any other Apple product box I’ve seen to date. Lift Out the product box, at 5.5″ top and bottom, by 3.75″ tall. Inside this box is a beautifully crafted 4mm thick-walled, pure-white poly-carbonate Watch-Case with 1/4″ rounded edges and corners, with a relief Apple Logo impressed on its lid.
The Watch Product Box and the Watch-Case Box are machined to such tolerances, a vacuum is created when lifting the lids. Remove another layer of cellophane, lift up the heavy gauge synthetic lid, and the Watch simply rests in its middle, worn on “C” shaped insert. Underneath this impressive Watch-Case, the bottom of the product box contains an induction-charging cable, charger, and brief pictorial instruction pamphlet. Everything about the packaging has been engineered with precision. Its so impressive I had to spent a few moments telling you about the Boxes.
When meeting People for the first time, or when presented a new Product…
You Never get a Second Chance at making a First Impression, and Apple knows it.
Watch Impressions – The Watch. Marilyn and I visited our local Apple retail store for their “Try-On Reservations” that we booked for noon Sunday on April 12. The Apple staff was well trained and very helpful, as they placed each Watch and Band that we were interested in, in our case: The Stainless Watch with the Black Sports Band, the Stainless Milanese Band, the Modern Leather Buckle, and the Stainless Link Bracelet.
Watch Try-On at the Apple Store was about a 20 minute adventure. These try-ons were used to confirm the selections we made on-line, actually 2 Days before on April 10th. We then moved over to the stand-up counters on the store’s perimeter, where we played with the Watch models, to get used to the digital-crown, the side button, the settings, watch-face selections, and the ease to personalize the watch-faces with content and colors for the numerals, second hand, etc. A valuable experience.
Watch Impressions – Our Watches. Admittedly, after unpacking each Watch at home, “in the flesh” the Watch is even more impressive than we imagined at the Apple Store. Both watches arrived with their battery 90% charged, so we moved directly to the Set-up procedure, which is another Watch miracle.
The pairing process is simple and almost entirely automated. Simply start the Watch, after a few Q&A’s then a circular display shows on the Watch-face, you then awaken your iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6 or 6 Plus, and use the iPhone Camera to focus onto the illuminated Watch-face (an automated caption signals you to image the Watch-face) and within a few seconds the devices are paired for bluetooth and your home WiFi. Then the Watch set-up enters an automated synchronization of your compatible iPhone-Watch Apps that you’d like on your Watch, you can choose which Apps you’d like. Don’t select all, be selective. The entire process takes about 10 minutes.
Watch – One more Set-Up thing. Once the automated setup is completed, return to your iPhone and launch the App named Apple Watch. At the menu Tap onto Notifications, and examine each line-item, like Activity, Calendar, Mail, Maps, Messages… and make selections that you want to appear on your Watch.
Watch eMail, if you use the iPhone’s VIP eMail, then only your VIP email messages will come to the Watch, rather than every email. I have 12 email accounts on my iPhone 6 Plus, and have carefully indicated which email-contacts are VIP. Of my 3,176 contacts, likely 200 have been chosen to be VIP, where only these very important Contact emails will Notify me on my Watch.
If you are not utilizing Apple’s VIP capability, this is a terrific time to choose your VIP eMail Contacts. this is a simple process and does not change the email arrangements in your iPhone, the VIP method only limits the emails that are transferred to your Watch. Tinker with it, and if you have difficulties, call Apple Help or make a Genius-Bar appointment at your local Apple Store.
Watch – iPhone VIP eMail. With the Watch we only want the important “Notifications” showing on the Watch. Utilizing your iPhone and iPad VIP mail box is the perfect tool so that All your eMail does NOT show up on your Watch, just the VIP email. Notice on the APP screen-images, check “Custom” rather than “Mirror my iPhone.”
Watch Recommendation, Check ✔️mark only the eMail accounts that you desire notification onto your Watch, and ✔️mark the VIP line-item. We have heard from many Watch users, complaining that they receive too many notification on their Watch. eMail and SMS Text Messaging are usually the culprits; therefore, take a few moments to be more specific with your Watch notifications, rather than having all the Notifications “Mirroring your iPhone.”
Watch, with each Article that’s published, I like to include some additional information about the Watch, as this new Apple product is extraordinary. Personally, we fully appreciate the new Watch commercials {clip #1}… the Sounds, the Animation, the Colors, the Beat… having seen these clips a few times… Goose-Bumps for sure, take a look for yourself. If you don’t get at least ONE Goosey watching the first-clip, you may want to consider some therapy. Have a great DAY
Watch User Guide. The link above will take you directly to the Watch User Guide housed on Apple.com’s website.
Quick Summary. The entire “Pairing” process takes less than 10 minutes, plus 5 minutes to remind ourselves how easy it is to use and set-up. Visiting our local Apple Store several weeks ago was very helpful, as it prepared both of us for this new wearable device and its controls.
In preparation of this article, I knew that detailed step-by-step dialogs would not be necessary. As we were getting Marilyn’s Watch up and running, the process was actually effortless; therefore this article was easy to deliver to you, and had extra time for some Use Tips and Suggestions, so Relax and Enjoy.
The beauty of the Watch and its Operating System, is its simplicity, and its intuitive operation. Watch is very easy to Set-up, the Syncing is automated, and Customization is intuitive and easy to perform. As a seasoned “gadget guy” there is nothing more annoying than receiving a revolutionary product, that has been released with complicated or untested instructions, or where the instructions are the result of a terrible translation, with critical errors that frustrate the use of a new product.
Watch set up and personalizing the features for you is effortless yet comprehensive. To get things going fast you can use the Watch default settings, then optimize later once you become more comfortable with everything.
It quickly became obvious that Apple’s team designed a flawless, practiced, automated Watch set-up process. Everything about the Watch is top quality. Even the Packaging of the Watch is outstanding, as it rests inside a heavy-weight white polycarbonate Jewelry Box, is impressive too, all of which gives an excellent first impression, as we opened it and removed the contents.
Watch being a technology product, we purchased AppleCare+ which increases the Warranty period to 2 years, and importantly adds Accident Coverage in the event you drop it, break it, you youngster throws it out the window…, any cause that is not covered by the warranty, except loosing it.
Watch is IPX7 Water Resistant. Dropping it into the the dirty dish-water, bath tub, or shower, will not damage the Watch. However, with AppleCare+ you must return the Watch to an Apple Store or Apple Service Center, to receive coverage, repair, or replacement, even if you bring your Watch back to Apple in a zip-lock bag crushed in pieces. Currently AppleCare+ provides 2 Years of coverage, and is priced at a $69 premium.
Watch Order Status: Surprise, the Apple Store changed Marilyn’s Order Status on April 27th from “Processing Items” to “Preparing for Shipment,” several hours later, Marilyn’s credit card was charged $687.94 for the Watch, the band, and FL sales tax. The $69 AppleCare+ premium was charged to her credit card on April 12th.
Watch Preparation #1. In preparation for delivery of the Watch, we updated both our iPhone 6 Plus to iOS 8.3 as this version includes the Watch Pairing APP which links your new Watch to your iPhone. The Watch is compatible and may be paired with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6, and 6 Plus. Earlier versions of iPhone 4S, 4, 3GS, etc are not compatible with the Watch and will not “Pair.”
Watch Preparation #2. While you are updating your iPhone to iOS 8.3 begin unpacking the Watch and the Charging cable, plug it in and Charge the Watch.
Watch Preparation #3. Launch the AppleWatch APP. This App was automatically installed on your iPhone’s Home Screen as part of the iOS 8.3 update.
Watch Side-Button is located on the side of the case next to the Digital-Crown, that serves as the equivalent of the Power on/off button at the top of an iPhone 5, or the right-side of the iPhone 6, opposite the Volume buttons. Watch arrived fully charged and in sleep mode; press and hold the Side Button to wake it up, and you will see the Apple logo for several moments, before the Watch interface starts.
Watch should arrive charged, in our case it was 100% charged. Watch charging works via wireless induction. The charger is a small white circular Disk, a bit larger in size than three 25¢ coins; plug the USB cord it in, and then the charger body into your A/C Power line, then mate the back of the Watch with magnetic-charging Disk.
As the Magnetic Charging-Disk is placed on the back of the Watch an icon appears on the Watch-display that reads “Charging” the message will soon disappear, and a “lightning-bolt” icon remains displayed at the top of the Watch-display, indicating that the Watch is charging; However, our Watch arrived fully charged.
Watch Set Up and Pair with your iPhone. The rest of the setup requires the iPhone you plan to use with the Apple Watch. Start up the Watch App on your iPhone and you’ll be prompted to turn-on Bluetooth if you haven’t already done so.
Next, the Watch App will prompt you to line up the display-screen of the Watch with your iPhone’s Camera as directed. You’ll notice that the Watch automatically detects the presence of your iPhone readying both for pairing; the Watch then displays an attractive circular image, that represents your Watch-codes that the iPhone camera scans, loading proprietary Coding that creates secure-paring sequences, so that you don’t have to enter any digits or coding.
Set Up Options and Preferences. Firstly, you are to follow the Watch App preference requests, as to whether you’re going to wear the Watch on your left or right wrist. Then you’ll be asked to enter your Apple ID password that you also use on your iPhone. The balance of the preferences are shown to you, for your personalized use of the Watch, and the notifications that you desire to be linked with your iPhone.
Watch Telephone Calls. Just for fun, once we completed the initial Watch setup, BTW, she selected the Mickey-Mouse watch-face… Marilyn called my iPhone using her Watch. I dashed into our library, 100 feet away, to answer her telephone call… to my surprise her voice quality was excellent. She did not hold her Watch closer to her mouth for the Call.
If I didn’t know better, I would have believed she called using her iPhone. When Marilyn was listening to me speak, the Watch delivered very clear Audio; however, the Watch’s miniature speaker is effective, but likely an issue in a noisy location. She held the Watch about 14″ away, a comfortable distance as if she was looking at the Watch-face checking the time. Bottom line, if you answer a Telephone Call using your Watch, the caller will receive excellent voice clarity from your Watch.
Watch Initial Observation 1. Marilyn reports from her office that having her iPhone 6+ on her credenza, and “floating around” her Banking Center, her Watch remained continuously synced with her iPhone; however, the iPhone battery may experience additional demand.
Watch Initial Observation 2.In her first day in her office, iPhone battery drain was higher than usual; However, in Day-Two and Day-Three, there was no apparent significant iPhone battery drain. My conclusion, is Marilyn’s iPhone may have had several Apps open on her iPhone in Day-One that was constantly “Refreshing Data” causing battery consumption.
Watch Initial Observation 3. Marilyn’s Watch after Three Days of use is functioning perfectly. Note, Marilyn took off her beautiful Lady-Cartier (that she has been wearing for 30 years) whose watch-case measures 24mm. Now she’s donned her new Watch with a Stainless Steel watch-case of 38mm, with the Milanese band. The Watch is quite a size and style change for Marilyn. She is also looking forward to adding several Colored Sports bands too. I’m delighted that in only 4 days, she has fully adopted the Watch with its subtle connectivity and the TAP… TAP… wrist notifications rather than constantly looking to her iPhone 6. There are several images that show the relative size of her 24mm Cartier watch compared to the 27mm Watch Charger Disk.
Suggestion, attach your iPhone to its Charger to maintain the iPhone’s battery, as you leave your iPhone at your desk or credenza, while you move around your office {or home}. The Watch Battery is functioning fine though; its the iPhone that may consume more power to maintain the Watch-iPhone connectivity. Otherwise, make sure your iPhone does not have too many “Data Refreshing Apps” open. Surely Apple will be optimizing the current iOS 8.3 operating system to address this excessive iPhone battery drain when its “linked” to the Watch.
OH one more thing Watch has earned a “Water Resistance Rating” of IPX7 under IEC Standard 60529 {International Electrotechnical Commission, is a non-profit, non-governmental international standards organization that creates and publishes International Standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies}.
Watch briefly, in addition to being something you’ll love to wear every day, the Watch is also water resistant, therefore you may wash your hands, take a shower while wearing it, or be out in the rain, and may be submerged in water 3 feet or 1 Meter in depth, as defined by the International Standard classification of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529.
Watch, the fine-print about its IPX7 rating reads: The device is splash and water resistant but not waterproof. This Water Resistance rating means, the Watch is capable of “ …withstanding incidental exposure to water of up to 1 meter in depth, for up to 30 minutes, for Indoor or outdoor use in the presence of rain, snow or brief splashes of water; However, any immersion in water greater than 1 meter in depth, regardless of duration of immersion, or any immersion of more than 30 minutes, regardless of depth of immersion exceeds the IPX7 Standard…” Below is a summary of the Water Resistance IPX7 rating as it relates to the Watch:
(A) Immersion of the Watch in Water deeper than 1 meter or 3 feet, for any length of time may render the Watch inoperable (B) Immersion of the Watch in Water at 1 meter or 3 feet for more than 30 minutes may render the Watch inoperable (C) Immersion of the Watch in Water at any depth for more than 30 minutes may render the Watch inoperable.
Watch News and Views. Recent News Reports indicate that the TAPTIC Engine, an internal component of the Watch is supplied by two Suppliers. However, one of Apple’s suppliers {China’s AAC Technologies} of the TAPTIC Engine, is not passing Apple’s stringent quality control standards. The Good news, Apple rarely depends on Only One Supplier for any of its component suppliers. A second Watch TAPTIC Engine supplier {Japan’s NIDEC Corp} is delivering this component complying with Apple’s strict quality standards.
The TAPTIC Engine issue may be a contributing cause for Watch shipping delays. Sources report that Apple has shifted almost all of this component’s production to Japan’s NIDEC Corp for the TAPTIC Engine. WS Journal WSJ.com has a complete report on this topic. The TAPTIC Engine is a electro-magnetic “Motor” component housed inside the Watch, that creates the TAP sensation onto your wrist, when messages and notifications arrive. {The TAP feels like someone tapped several times on your Watch-Face, which is different than the Buzz-Vibration notification one senses when their iPhone ringer is silenced}
This Gold Bracelet not unique though, because fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld also has one, something we learned after his bodyguard posted a picture of his Watch on Instagram. The strap appears to be a gold version of the steel Link Bracelet, and is attached to the Yellow Gold Watch Edition.
This Gold Link Bracelet is not standard option with any of the Watch Edition models presently, as the only “Apple” Link Bracelet available today is of polished Stainless Steel or with a Space Black finish. We can not place a price on this exclusive Gold Link Bracelet edition; However, it’s price may be around $20,000 for the Gold Bracelet plus $10,000 for the Gold Watch Edition.
Elderly Draco Malfoy impersonator Karl Lagerfeld also had his Watch, with his wrist photographed clad in this mysterious gold link Apple Watch. These two celebrities, one likely upsettingly expensive Watch.
The caption on Lagerfeld’s wrist glamor shot, posted on Instagram by his ebullient assistant Sebastien Jondeau, the Post reads “1st apple watch specially made for KarL!! Amazing!!!”
Questions: (A) Is Apple fabricating a secret CELEBS ONLY Apple Watch? (B) Is Apple pairing with celebrities to promote the upcoming entry into the super-luxury Watch market? Answer: YES !
Apple is definitely jumping into the luxury fashion market with its high-end-expensive luxury Watch bands. These wearables are supposed to make you feel good. But as The Verge pointed out, it looks like Apple may be withholding some of its highest-end “experimental” designs from the general public presently.
The Apple Store does not currently advertise or sell a gold link bracelet, even if you’re buying the Watch Gold Edition, with a starting price of $10,000. In fact, across all Watch current configurations, Watch Edition can not be presently ordered with any metal bracelets in the box. The “classic” and “modern” leather bands that Apple sells feature clasps and buckles that, like the Edition itself, are crafted from 18-karat gold components.
Jony Ive showed-off some new Watch-Band designs in Milan, none of which looked like this opulent band; However, there were many colors and bands styles not currently in the Watch product lineup.
Watch • Let’s Take a Look Inside the Worlds Best SmartWatch
BULLETIN: Latest News from APPLE regarding the 3 Million Watch Pre-Orders
“We’re happy to be updating many customer’s “Status” on their Apple-Store accounts today {April 21} with the news that their Watch will arrive sooner than expected,” Apple Officials said: “…Our team is working to fill orders as quickly as possible based on the available supply and the order in which they were received. We know many customers are facing long lead-times and we appreciate their patience…”
Watch • Let’s take a look inside the Worlds Best “SmartWatch” • Our estimate is, Apple sold 3.0 million Watch units on Launch Day, may have actually sold-out Apple’s entire stock of pre-release inventory within the first 3 hours of availability.
3 Million Watch unit sales was abstracted from Slice Intelligence’s report, a survey of 2,000,000-accounts pool of on-line electronic eReceipts. While this 3 million units is equivalent to the first 3-Day weekend sales of iPhone 4, Watch’s pre-sales dwarfs all other smartwatch sales, and represents a new milestone in wearable “smartwatch” sales.
Since Grade School, taking things apart to see how thing work is part of my DNA. These renderings, [rather than a disassembly] take us for a first-look inside the Watch. Post Release, iFixit will likely publish a step-by-step teardown of the Watch. These graphics are not captioned as the components are relatively easy to recognize.
Latest News from APPLE regarding Watch Pre-Orders “We’re happy to be updating many customers today {April 21) with the News that their Watch may arrive sooner than expected,” an Apple official spokesperson said: “Our team is working to fill orders as quickly as possible based on the available supply and the order in which they were received. We know many customers are still facing long lead times and we appreciate their patience.”
Watch, with each Article that is published, I like to include some new information about the Watch, as this new Apple product is extraordinary. Personally, we fully appreciate the new Watch commercials {clip #1}… the Sounds, the Animation, the Colors, the Beat… having seen all these clips many times… Goose-Bumps for sure, take a look for yourself. If you don’t get at least ONE Goosey watching the first-clip, you may want to consider some therapy.
Watch Sales are Built to Order • Watch Buyers Delivery Starts Friday April 24th
Watch Launch is almost two weeks since it went Live on Friday April 10, 2015 at 3:01 AM Eastern. Watch Sales are likely to be Built-to-Order, as there are hundreds of Watch-Band Combinations.
Watch Buyer pre-orders on Friday April 10th, Deliveries commence Friday April 24th. Subsequent pre-sales shipped Daily thereafter as all Watch pre-sales are shipped. We expect that shipment have already commenced to assure Watches arrive at Customer front-doors Friday morning.
We believe the Watch initial production-run sold out quickly; However, we don’t know precisely how many Watch units were sold. A Financial Spreadsheet has been formulated, showing a financial model that suggests the initial production-run of 3.0 million Watch units, yielding Watch revenues of $2.2 billion for the April 10th pre-sale launch.
We estimate 3.0 million Watch finished Cases were in inventory on Launch Day. This figure was abstracted from investigative reporting from China who examined supply-line leaks regarding quantities of Watch displays, Sapphire Crystals, and S1 Electronics Chips. While this figure is equivalent to the first 3-Day weekend sales of iPhone 4, it dwarfs all other smartwatch sales to date and represents a milestone in wearable “smartwatch” sales.
Watch Sport model lead in unit-sales volume, selling 1.8 million units for a total revenue of $693,000,000, while the Watch, the middle-Tier model, lead in revenue, garnering about $851,000,000 versus Watch Sport $693,000,000. The profitability-magic of the Watch three-Tier model line-up, is Apple’s inclusion of the Watch Edition an 18 Karat Gold luxury model. We estimate that 50,000 Gold units were available for the on-line launch and at 70 Apple Stores at Launch generated $675,000,000 in gross sales.
Watch average selling price, the APS achieved a level of $740/unit sold. The total Sales revenues of Watch first day sales earned $2,219,000,000 (that’s $2.219 Billion). Our bet is the Watch Line will (on average) achieve a +60% gross Profit, yielding to Apple’s bottom line $1.33 Billion in profit for each 3 million units sold. If Apple enjoys 30 million Watch sales in its first year of availability, Apple’s bottom-Line profits will gain another $13.3 Billion Annually or $3.325 Billion quarterly. Accordingly, this new Watch product-line may likely increase earnings accretive by +20% to Apple’s quarterly earnings.
We believe the pre-orders of 3 Million Watch sales estimated, may be considerably below the total number of pre-orders for Watch achieved by the April 24th Lunch Day. As Apple is offering 38 different Models & Bands of the Watch, with no previous order-history to consider when projecting model inventory levels, we expect that Pre-Orders will be Assembled-to-Order.
Apple estimating the Model-Mix to build, however, it is believed that Apple pre-manufactured 6 Million Watch S1 electronics Modules and Cases.
Apple may execute Final-Assembly of each Watch pre-Sale on a Build-to-Order, based on the Customers’ choice of the Case-Band actually sold. This approach permits Apple to maintain more efficient levels of Watch Case inventories, while simultaneously shipping promptly to as many Consumers as possible.
1,150,000 (38.33%) Watch units sold Globally 1,800,000 (60.00%) Watch SPORT units sold Globally 0,050,000 (1.67%) Watch EDITION Gold units sold Globally 3,000,000 (100%) Watch Total units sold Globally
News Reports indicate that the first Quarter of Watch sales may reach 6 million units, and assuming our ASPs are close to reality Apple’s Quarterly profits could receive a +$3.3 Billion jump due to the Watch.
To learn more how Watch may work for you take a VIEW at these two brief video clips:
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π iWatch π Apple Watch – Apple’s Entry into Electronic Wearables
π⌚️ Mobile Phones. 22 years after the Motorola 8500XL known as “the Brick”, Apple reinvented the mobile phone with their first iPhone in 2007, which was so much more than a mobile phone, literally a “smartphone” weighing in at 6oz and about 1/4″ thin, 2.5″x0.26″x4.0″ that Apple continues to enhanced with the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.
π⌚️ Apple’s critics reported that Apple has no business getting into the mature field of experienced mobile phone makers.
π⌚️ In 7 years Apple has delivered 500,000,000 premium priced iPhones, and are now selling iPhone 6 and 6+ at a pace well over 200,000,000 yearly. Not a typo, Apple is currently selling premium iPhones at a pace of 72 million units reportedly per calendar quarter with a profit margin over 30%. Its been also been reported that, based on actual cellular activations, iPhone 6 models were 51.3% of all global smartphone sales in December, 2014, outselling Samsung 3-to-1. Marilyn and I each own the iPhone 6 Plus and love them.
π⌚️ Tablets. Similarly, tablets were available several years before Apple reinvented it with the iPad in 2010. Apple carefully examined how Apple could develop such a device that folks would really want and use. Apple’s critics again reported that Apple was waisting their energies on tablets into such a mature tablet-marketplace, where Apple would be lucky of it could sell 5 million units in a good year.
π⌚️ The market place “voted” with their Wallets as iPads are selling at a clip 60 million units yearly with over 250 million in use today. Marilyn has the iPad mini, fits perfectly in here handbag, and I have the iPad Air 2, fits perfectly into my nifty DECODED black leather case.
π⌚️ 30,000,000 iWatch sales may “vote” their Wallets in 2015. Looking at Apple’s iPhone sales history, they show an adoption rate of 11 million units in its 1st fiscal year (21 million 2nd fiscal year, 39 million 3rd year, 72 million 4th year, 125 million 5th year) compared to current iPhone sales of 72 million units per quarter. With about 450 million iPhones currently in circulation, if 6.5% iPhone users adopt the iWatch, this may yield about 30 million iWatch 1st year sales, then 60 million 2nd year sales, 120 million 3rd year sales, your guess thereafter…
π⌚️ Watch. Some Watch history. The watch which was developed in the 16th century (circa 1530) was a mechanical device, powered by winding a mainspring which turned gears which moved the hands, and kept time with a rotating balance wheel. Most of the subsequent 500 year history of watches was devoted to refining the mechanical watch.
π⌚️ The Quartz Watch in the 1960s, which ran on electricity and kept time with a vibrating quartz crystal, proved a radical departure for the industry. During the 1980s quartz watches took over the market from mechanical watches, an event referred to as the “quartz crisis”. Although mechanical watches still sell at the high end of the market, the vast majority of watches now have quartz movements.
π⌚️ The origin of the word “Watch” is that it came from the Old English word woecce which meant “watchman”, because it was used by town watchmen to keep track of their shifts. Another says that the term came from 17th century sailors, who used the new mechanisms to time the length of their shipboard watches (duty shifts).
π⌚️ First watches were strictly mechanical, driven by spring-powered clockwork. As technology progressed, mechanical devices, used to control the speed of the watch, were largely superseded by vibrating quartz crystals, producing accurately timed electronic pulses. Some watches use radio-clock-technology to regularly correct the time. The first digital electronic watch was developed in 1970, the Pulsar LED.
π⌚️ Apple Watch. Apple again, is reinventing the Watch, certainly entering a very mature field, dating back to the 16th century, 500 years ago and the “electronic” watch of 1970’s, some 50 years in the making. Apple’s entry into the “Watch” arena may be similar to its entry into Mobile Phones, when it made cell phones literally “Smart.” With the iWatch, Apple will be making the timekeeping wearable very “Smart” too.
π⌚️ Apple Watch. Apple has created three venues for their Wearable: Apple Watch, Sports, and the Edition, each containing many designs, metals, and bands, generating thousands of possibilities to reach a huge audience, with no compromise with its core capability. Presently I am wearing a RADO for the past 10 years, loving it. However, with the release of the Apple Watch, I’m highly motivated towards the Apple Watch.
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