A Review Of The Apple Watch

This week marks a milestone date in computing, at least for me. To those of us over 60… It’s the week the Dick Tracy 2-Way Wrist Radio, albeit a highly advanced model, arrived on my doorstep. The pulp fiction fantasy has become a reality. Behold the APPLE WATCH.

My observations:

The watch’s fit, finish, band (the Milanese Loop), appearance and feel are beautifully put together with premium materials.

The size (42 mm) is perfect. Although it felt a little heavy at first, I think that was simply because I have not worn a watch for years. After about a day, I no longer noticed it.

The screen is clear and exact.

The many watch faces are divergent, fun and easy to customize with date, appointment reminders, weather, remaining battery life and so on.

Apple Pay (credit purchases using the watch) is simple to use and extremely convenient.

Notifications (calls, emails, text messages, etc.) are subtle and easy to read, reply to, or simply ignore. A small red dot on the watch face is an indication that new notifications are available to be read.

The health and fitness app is one of my favorite features of the Apple Watch, allowing me to passively take stock of my daily moves and exercise. It tracks everything you do, from number of steps, calories burned, distance travelled, speed, and your heart rate. It is remarkably accurate.

The watch as a remote screen and shutter timer for my iPhone camera is a godsend (no more having to sprint back to be in the frame for a group shot).

Siri seems to work flawlessly on the Apple Watch…even better than on the iPhone.

Here’s what I like best:

The difference between glancing at your wrist versus reaching into your pocket, pulling out your iPhone, unlocking it and then reading a notification is significant….especially when you realize you have been doing it an average of 100 times a day. The Apple Watch provides a much quicker interface with a purpose: allowing you to keep your iPhone in your pocket, or pocketbook, or in another room.

The hands-free freedom of the Apple Watch is compelling and unencumbering. I can do a host of activities that do not require me to hold my phone, without missing anything I deem important. The Apple Watch is meant to be glanced at, for brief moments at a time. It’s not meant to be something you spend a lot of time gazing at. If I find I need to perform a more complex operation using my iPhone…I can “hand it off” to the phone easily and without interruption.

The Apple Watch is fashionable and functional. It is designed to keep you informed, in shape, and in touch… with ease and simplicity.

Of course it is also an incredibly accurate timepiece.

Note: Consumer Reports just named the stainless steel Apple Watch as their top smartwatch. Tested against 10 competitors, the Apple Watch held up best under multiple tests… including durability, health functionality, readability, ease of use and ease of interaction.

So there you have it. The Apple Watch is beautiful and promising…It’s the most ambitious smartwatch on the market. It allows you to take the first truly useful steps into the computing “wearables” world, combining a timepiece, notifications and health and fitness coaching. I predict Apple’s newest product will create an exciting and transformative trend. Leave it to Apple to once again lead the way.

Lastly…..Special thanks to Dick Tracy!