I don't know If I'm an idiot, but I'm not seeing the huge deal here. Is the space from the pocket to the wrist such a chasm that it merits making a device like this?
I think a watch would be extremely handy to have while running, cycling, kayaking, etc. Something to track activity, change songs, or show a map when you are unable to use your phone.
Unfortunately, the $350 price point is way too high for something like that.
It wasn't mentioned, but I fully assume the watch will be waterproof (at least water resistant). They incidentally come in contact with water too often (rain, hand washing, etc) to not be.
The Moto360 is water resistant and the Pebble is water proof, so if the Apple Watch isn't, it's seriously in trouble.
No doubt the reason they didn't say yet, is because it hasn't been finished yet. But yes, it will be at least water resistant, since if it's not, it would be useless. Apple wants to sell these things, so it won't make them useless.
Are you saying that the phone in the water tight bag is not much use a a watch? Because yeah that makes sense. Or are you saying that the watch on your wrist with a Bluetooth connection to the phone is not much use as a watch? I don't understand that point.
I'd estimate at least 50% of all the times I look at my smartphone throughout the day are non-interactive uses--I'm checking on a notification, the time, or just the weather. I've been seriously looking into smartwatches lately as a way to eliminate this friction. It's not just an inconvenience -- it's awkward to pull out your phone repeatedly during dinner, for instance, just to see if it vibrated due to a critical work email or a BS Snapchat message that you don't care about.
It's the same reason the wristwatch itself was invented. It was preceded by detached timepieces that were stored in coat pockets. The pocket-to-wrist chasm was enough to merit creating wristwatches, and I think it's enough to merit smartwatches.
Lots of quick-release iPhone mounts for bikes out there. At the same time, constantly squinting at a watch is distracting. I wouldn't be inclined to use it for cycling, it's definitely not useful for water sports, and many runners will also object to the need to carry a large(r) iPhone somewhere on their person.
So if it's a sports/fitness accessory, it's primarily for use in the gym.
Really, this feels more like the Newton of smart watches, rather than the iPhone 1 of smart watches. A good start that will become indispensable to a very small number of people.
Automated trucking would be cool to see in my lifetime, but to be honest the idea makes me really uncomfortable because it would put roughly two million people out of work.
Every time you think or hear "it would be nice to make this more efficient, but it would put people out of work", think of discussions surrounding universal basic income. If the only reason for having humans behind the wheel is because those people have no other way to make money, maybe it's time to face the fact that we don't need them to make money. Take their job but keep paying them the same, and the benefits from not having them on the road (they won't get in accidents, won't need to stop and sleep, will be free to pursue other things to enhance their and their family's lives) will still ensure that the economy benefits.
It's not just truckers, but forklift drivers, cab drivers, nurse assistants, any other job that can be replaced by a robot. There should never be a situation where we are putting people to work or putting people in danger for no reason other than so we feel comfortable paying them to do poorly what a robot can do perfectly.
I'm reminded of my friend Ben, who has a PhD in Physics and drives a bus. Please, please put Ben out of the bus-driving business, if it means a basic income so he can do physics, or teach physics. This current economy is a waste, that demands smart people do stupid work so they can eat, instead of doing smart work that would enhance us all.
This is a dark, dark statement that paints a desperate individual killing himself out of fear as a good thing. It's not. Justifying suicide like that only makes it look like a good option for people who could get better.
