But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones.
I had several runners argue with me about this, claiming it was unsafe to run with their iPhones because it makes them a robbery target. Srsly.
So they'll be mugged for their Apple Watch!. I thought the phone stealing was about done with as phones are all locked up so it's basically useless?
Clearly you dont live in a real urban city center. Of course they still steal phones, because people can still wipe them down the line. And no, not many thugs are stealing watches (yet anyway). Wallets and cellphones. Common crime report here.
Because of power/battery limitations, I suspect that this will not be a cutting of the cord between the Apple Watch and iPhone. Rather, it will kick in when the paired iPhone is no longer connected. But otherwise the AW will continue to rely on the higher powered iPhone for many services.
But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones. Well, that and having Apple Music streaming.
I think this will be a nice enhancement -- but not a game changer where the Apple Watch replaces the iPhone.
So true. Not particularly safe. Which is why it is a well known fact that solo exercises like running & cycling were invented in the early 1980s by wealthy Wall Street types who could afford the required equipment, and eventually was widely adopted in the late 1990s with the consumer cell phone revolution.
Because of power/battery limitations, I suspect that this will not be a cutting of the cord between the Apple Watch and iPhone. Rather, it will kick in when the paired iPhone is no longer connected. But otherwise the AW will continue to rely on the higher powered iPhone for many services.
But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones. Well, that and having Apple Music streaming.
I think this will be a nice enhancement -- but not a game changer where the Apple Watch replaces the iPhone.
So true. Not particularly safe. Which is why it is a well known fact that solo exercises like running & cycling were invented in the early 1980s by wealthy Wall Street types who could afford the required equipment, and eventually was widely adopted in the late 1990s with the consumer cell phone revolution.
What?! Is that suppose to be sarcastic?!
It isn't obvious?
For me, the only clue is your history of intelligent and reasonable posts.
I assume there will be some charge, but it should be minimal since the actual data usage will be low vs a tablet or phone (you aren't going to stream video to your watch). Something along the lines of $2 to $5/month. And it really needs to somehow work so you can be reached with the same phone number your phone uses. But this feature would allow you to do things like run, go to the beach, go to the pool, etc, without bringing your phone (or wallet), yet still be accessible (and be able to buy stuff with Apple Pay)
Verizon have already annouced LTE cat-m device can be added to an existing plan for $1.50 a month. I'd hope this sets benchmark for pricing world wide at what is a fairly reasonable level. Going further, given the carriers could avoid cost of billing and accounts while getting money upfront I'd think they'd be willing to sell device makers prepaid servce for maybe $10-15 a year.
Apple could well do an exclusive deal with carriers who can service Cat-m and build in a couple of years of service in to price.
I assume there will be some charge, but it should be minimal since the actual data usage will be low vs a tablet or phone (you aren't going to stream video to your watch). Something along the lines of $2 to $5/month. And it really needs to somehow work so you can be reached with the same phone number your phone uses. But this feature would allow you to do things like run, go to the beach, go to the pool, etc, without bringing your phone (or wallet), yet still be accessible (and be able to buy stuff with Apple Pay)
Verizon have already annouced LTE cat-m device can be added to an existing plan for $1.50 a month. I'd hope this sets benchmark for pricing world wide at what is a fairly reasonable level. Going further, given the carriers could avoid cost of billing and accounts while getting money upfront I'd think they'd be willing to sell device makers prepaid servce for maybe $10-15 a year.
Apple could well do an exclusive deal with carriers who can service Cat-m and build in a couple of years of service in to price.
But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones.
I had several runners argue with me about this, claiming it was unsafe to run with their iPhones because it makes them a robbery target. Srsly.
That's my philosophy also. I wear nothing of value for muggers or thieves to take. Keep in mind, runners (not to mention bicyclists) are attacked all the time by aggressive drivers. I've had things thrown at me several times and in both instances I was minding my own business and not even on the road.
I could really care less about LTE, especially if they add an extra monthly cost for it to add it to my plan. I really care most about a new form factor. The current watch is ugly, and I HATE the digital crown and the rounded glass front. The Watch 2 was a disappointment, I didn't upgrade. I really hope that in the 3rd year of this device that they have a lot more to show than just LTE. It's a device with so much potential but terrible implementation.
You're not going to see a round AppleWatch from Apple. The square design is perfect for text and messages as it takes advantage of the square area. Text on a round face simply isn't as efficient for packing the most info into an area. I understand there are those who like round watch faces but we're living in the digital age and moving hands on a clock are rather old-fashioned. I think you would be better off with some Android wearable. Anything goes when it comes to Android. Someone will want a triangular smartwatch and I'm sure some Android wearable company will provide it. I'm not sure what would be a good replacement for the digital crown. It seems to be perfect for a square watch design.
But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones.
I had several runners argue with me about this, claiming it was unsafe to run with their iPhones because it makes them a robbery target. Srsly.
That's my philosophy also. I wear nothing of value for muggers or thieves to take. Keep in mind, runners (not to mention bicyclists) are attacked all the time by aggressive drivers. I've had things thrown at me several times and in both instances I was minding my own business and not even on the road.
I run shirtless, with smiley face stickers on my nipples, in a speedo, and toe shoes. Not only to people not approach me, they seem to actively give me plenty of space.
I assume there will be some charge, but it should be minimal since the actual data usage will be low vs a tablet or phone (you aren't going to stream video to your watch). Something along the lines of $2 to $5/month. And it really needs to somehow work so you can be reached with the same phone number your phone uses. But this feature would allow you to do things like run, go to the beach, go to the pool, etc, without bringing your phone (or wallet), yet still be accessible (and be able to buy stuff with Apple Pay)
Verizon have already annouced LTE cat-m device can be added to an existing plan for $1.50 a month. I'd hope this sets benchmark for pricing world wide at what is a fairly reasonable level. Going further, given the carriers could avoid cost of billing and accounts while getting money upfront I'd think they'd be willing to sell device makers prepaid servce for maybe $10-15 a year.
Apple could well do an exclusive deal with carriers who can service Cat-m and build in a couple of years of service in to price.
This would be a nice, low-cost addition, but is this tech ready for an Apple Watch this year?
Modules for embedded projects have been shipping all year for under $10 apparently and half the price of that is the SIM which Apple could just use the existing secure enclave for. Maybe will see a W2 bluetooth and lte cat-m chip as Apples next custom job.
I assume there will be some charge, but it should be minimal since the actual data usage will be low vs a tablet or phone (you aren't going to stream video to your watch). Something along the lines of $2 to $5/month. And it really needs to somehow work so you can be reached with the same phone number your phone uses. But this feature would allow you to do things like run, go to the beach, go to the pool, etc, without bringing your phone (or wallet), yet still be accessible (and be able to buy stuff with Apple Pay)
Verizon have already annouced LTE cat-m device can be added to an existing plan for $1.50 a month. I'd hope this sets benchmark for pricing world wide at what is a fairly reasonable level. Going further, given the carriers could avoid cost of billing and accounts while getting money upfront I'd think they'd be willing to sell device makers prepaid servce for maybe $10-15 a year.
Apple could well do an exclusive deal with carriers who can service Cat-m and build in a couple of years of service in to price.
This would be a nice, low-cost addition, but is this tech ready for an Apple Watch this year?
Modules for embedded projects have been shipping all year for under $10 apparently and half the price of that is the SIM which Apple could just use the existing secure enclave for. Maybe will see a W2 bluetooth and lte cat-m chip as Apples next custom job.
Are there any devices using LTE-M at this point? If so, which ones and do they have a hefty activation fee which would be 2–3x what they annual cost for data access would apparently be?
Just a personal anecdote. The first 2 generations of the iPad that I purchased were the WiFi + Cellular models. However, every subsequent model was just the WiFi one. In the scenarios where I am not connected to a secure WiFi point, I use my iPhone as a Personal Hotspot.
As for my Watch, I use it more than my iPad (never thought I'd say that!!). But since most of my workouts are cardio-based in a gym, I don't have a problem with having my iPhone with me.
But I can see how the option to have a standalone Watch with cellular connectivity would be helpful, especially for long-distance runners.
Whatever Apple offers next, I'm sure they've thought it through and will release the best they can do. And I do not see them releasing a product whose battery life is less than what it currently is. And the Apple Watch Series 2 does have an amazing battery life.
What we want is LTE Cat-1, FaceTime Audio and a version of WatchOS that provided better support for durable background tasks (perhaps by monitoring their actual energy use vs. battery capacity and user's permission) --and inductive wristband stems (for use with wristbands that have embedded batteries).
What we probably will get is LTE Cat-M1 with carrier-specific VoLTE and the same WatchOS (that locks down third-party backgrounding to nearly unusable levels).
LTE is basically for runners. They are the only legitimate use case where it is desirable to stay connected with Apple Watch but leave iPhone behind.
Respectfully disagree. I think more than just runners will appreciate a wrist based emergency device. Especially if the activation includes transmitting GPS coordinates.
Appreciate? Sure. Buy it and pay more for it because of that? Nope.
C'mon MIke! A very clunky sentence: "The LTE connectivity will allow users to not remain within range of an iPhone for nearly all functions and permit things like making phone calls straight from the watch, plus music streaming to the device over wireless." How about "LTE connectivity will allow users to be outside iPhone range and still be able to access nearly all functions, including making phone calls straight from the watch and music streaming to the device over wireless." It is also slightly shorter.
More importantly, if there anything more important than good grammar :-), and as I have posted many times, this is another step in replacing the iPhone with the Apple Watch. Just like the iPod gradually reduced in size to the iPod Nano and spawned the iPhone along the way, the iPhone has spawned it's own replacement and in 5 years time the chatteratti will be saying "wow, didn't see that coming!"
I agree with you. It's not really really required but with music streaming and emergency services LTE will be a nice addition to be away from your iPhone.
Because of power/battery limitations, I suspect that this will not be a cutting of the cord between the Apple Watch and iPhone. Rather, it will kick in when the paired iPhone is no longer connected. But otherwise the AW will continue to rely on the higher powered iPhone for many services.
But, many runners and other exercisers do not want to carry a phone with them while exercising. But, it's not particularly safe to run without a way of calling for help if you need it. It's why most runners carry their phones. Well, that and having Apple Music streaming.
I think this will be a nice enhancement -- but not a game changer where the Apple Watch replaces the iPhone.
Comments
Clearly you dont live in a real urban city center. Of course they still steal phones, because people can still wipe them down the line. And no, not many thugs are stealing watches (yet anyway). Wallets and cellphones. Common crime report here.
I'd hope this sets benchmark for pricing world wide at what is a fairly reasonable level. Going further, given the carriers could avoid cost of billing and accounts while getting money upfront I'd think they'd be willing to sell device makers prepaid servce for maybe $10-15 a year.
Apple could well do an exclusive deal with carriers who can service Cat-m and build in a couple of years of service in to price.
This would be a nice, low-cost addition, but is this tech ready for an Apple Watch this year?
Just a personal anecdote. The first 2 generations of the iPad that I purchased were the WiFi + Cellular models. However, every subsequent model was just the WiFi one. In the scenarios where I am not connected to a secure WiFi point, I use my iPhone as a Personal Hotspot.
As for my Watch, I use it more than my iPad (never thought I'd say that!!). But since most of my workouts are cardio-based in a gym, I don't have a problem with having my iPhone with me.
But I can see how the option to have a standalone Watch with cellular connectivity would be helpful, especially for long-distance runners.
Whatever Apple offers next, I'm sure they've thought it through and will release the best they can do. And I do not see them releasing a product whose battery life is less than what it currently is. And the Apple Watch Series 2 does have an amazing battery life.
What we probably will get is LTE Cat-M1 with carrier-specific VoLTE and the same WatchOS (that locks down third-party backgrounding to nearly unusable levels).