Did it sound like the aluminum is their top model!? I.e., no stainless steel, etc.?
No, at their site the SS and titanium models are shown. I just ordered a series 6 in black SS (again). But now the black costs the same as the silver and gold finishes. I looked for a while to see if it mentioned the previous carbon diamond finish, but couldn’t find anything about that. It just said that the case is “durable”. I guess I’ll just have to find out when it comes.
In interesting news, this also indirectly confirms iOS 14 will be released by Friday. Can't set up a watchOS 7 watch with an iOS 13 phone.
Edited to add: Had to take a work call during the event, and I apparently missed the part where they announced iOS 14 and watchOS 7 were being released tomorrow. Derp. Don't mind me.
I am getting it no matter what (part of the every-other-year cycle). But I really wanted a battery life metric. Also, WTF was the lady talking about with “no power adapter”?
Rumor has it that there will be no charging adaptor in the new iPhones, so possibly no charging adaptor in the Watch Series 6, if so they still would have to include (I assume) the charging “puck”.
That’s what they said.
this is something being pushed by the EU. For several years, Apple has had a running battle with them about charging connectors. The EU doesn’t want manufacturers giving chargers away with watches, phones, tablets, and possibly, laptops and other mobile devices. The EU has wanted Apple to change the input socket on their devices to “standard” charging sockets, which for a long time has been, and still is on my Beats Studio 3 phones, micro USB. Now, USB 3 is superseding that, thank heavens. But I don’t know what’s going to happen long term. They passed the law a year ago, or so. I don’t know if Apple is the first to adhere to it or not. I suppose we’ll find out when other manufacturers come out with new products.
A little disappointed that the blood oxygen monitor can't be activated in earlier models as was rumored.
If they did that there'd be nothing new in the new models, it is disappointing though I agree.
It's disappointing they can't go back in time and add new hardware sensors to older models lacking those sensors? I really have to scratch my head at what disappoints people sometimes...
Well, that's obvious. However, there was talk that the sensors were already built in but that they could not offer that feature yet. That's all.
Of course, there would be no disappointment, even minimal, if it was always known that that the capability required new sensors.
There are rumors about anything and everything...but everything we know about sensors indicates new sensing abilities require new sensor hardware to do the sensing. It's only sensible. 😎
It’s been said that blood pressure can use the same sensor as heart rate, with new software. Possibly, the software is difficult.
Blood oxygen levels are also useful for those with worsening COVID19 cases. Not sure if Apple's works like finger pulse oximeters, but those can be used to tell you when to go in to a hospital for oxygen treatment (my brother and his wife had COVID bad and had to do this, the treatment saved their lives):
Hopefully Tim will give his friend Donald Trump on of these.
They’re not friends. Tim has said, correctly, that it’s better to have some input, than no input at all. And Trump has said, in a response to a question as to why he consults Tim that; “He’s the only one who calls.”
A little disappointed that the blood oxygen monitor can't be activated in earlier models as was rumored.
Earlier models don’t have the sensors. These Watches aren’t magic, you know. They are engineered for specific functions.
As I stated earlier, there was talk that the sensors were
already built in but that they could not offer that feature yet. That's
all. Of course, there would be no disappointment, even minimal, if it was always known that that the capability required new sensors.
Talk smawk, the fact is that no matter what some random person here or there might say, it wasn’t. If anyone watched today, they would had heard, and seen, Apple show off a “new sensor”.
Removing the USB charging cable is an insult from Apple. All devices ought to come minimally with the way to charge and run them.
They are just removing the power adapter, not the cable. I don't know about you but I have at least 5 of the 5W power adapters sitting in various drawers. I don't need another one since I rarely use even one but instead use my wireless base station power or a USB-C cable and puck that works with my iPad Pro.
A little disappointed that the blood oxygen monitor can't be activated in earlier models as was rumored.
If they did that there'd be nothing new in the new models, it is disappointing though I agree.
It's disappointing they can't go back in time and add new hardware sensors to older models lacking those sensors? I really have to scratch my head at what disappoints people sometimes...
The old sensors right back to series 0 could support blood oxygen readings.
Then why does it have new sensors to perform this? The new sensors aren’t the old sensors.
Did it sound like the aluminum is their top model!? I.e., no stainless steel, etc.?
No, at their site the SS and titanium models are shown. I just ordered a series 6 in black SS (again). But now the black costs the same as the silver and gold finishes. I looked for a while to see if it mentioned the previous carbon diamond finish, but couldn’t find anything about that. It just said that the case is “durable”. I guess I’ll just have to find out when it comes.
I noticed the Milanese loops are cheaper now too.
Yes, I was surprised. I’m disappointed though, that the SS bracelet seems to be gone. When I bought the watch the second year, it was $500. Then two years later they reduced it to $350, which was a fantastic price for that. And now it’s gone. It’s a shame. Last year, with the gold SS watch I was hoping they would have a gold bracelet, but no, so I bought the black model again. Still using the original bracelet. It’s holding up really well. The diamond coating really works.
The black SS DLC is STILL available, but they have made it exclusive the Hermes edition. The cheapest version is now just pennies under $1300. I have purchased the black SS every year since series 0 and was really bummed by the move. I debated not messing with the Series 6 but decided to try the space black titanium case as it should still match my original series 0 black stainless link band and all the other bands that I have collected over these years.
A little disappointed that the blood oxygen monitor can't be activated in earlier models as was rumored.
If they did that there'd be nothing new in the new models, it is disappointing though I agree.
It's disappointing they can't go back in time and add new hardware sensors to older models lacking those sensors? I really have to scratch my head at what disappoints people sometimes...
Well, that's obvious. However, there was talk that the sensors were already built in but that they could not offer that feature yet. That's all.
Of course, there would be no disappointment, even minimal, if it was always known that that the capability required new sensors.
There's always talk. If it wasn't for rumors no one would have anything to write about -- which I actually would love.
Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear and see nothing until there was actually something?
The keynote showed a funny commercial about the Apple Watch, ending at the International Space Station. I realize that scene was probably CGI, but I suppose Apple could have actually filmed it aboard the ISS. Does anyone know if it was real or CGI?
A somewhat messy-sounding, too-much-going-on-at-the-same-time presentation... very different from the vibe with crowds present.
Incredibly annoying music.
Okay boomer!
I was apparently watching a different presentation. Barely noticed any music except during transitions, Craig being in the way made me laugh each time, each "section" was incredibly focused on that product, and instead of being a read-aloud spec sheet they (IMO) nicely interspersed it with details about actual use by customers (where applicable) or demonstrations of how to use it. Plus lots of yummy architecture porn of the Spaceship and (again IMO) better mix of presenters.
Sorry you seem to have gotten onto the wrong event. While I certainly do miss some portion of the "live audience" vibe, I think presentations like this are the future even after the pandemic recedes. They are shorter, more focused, and incredibly polished -- with a few nice surprises they managed to keep secret.
Imagine if they had tried to cram the iPhone 12 and whatever else they now plan for October into another hour! Now THAT would have been a "messy, too-much-going-on" type presentation!
elijahg said: If they did that there'd be nothing new in the new models, it is disappointing though I agree.
It's disappointing they can't go back in time and add new hardware sensors to older models lacking those sensors? I really have to scratch my head at what disappoints people sometimes...
Well, that's obvious. However, there was talk that the sensors were already built in but that they could not offer that feature yet. That's all.
Of course, there would be no disappointment, even minimal, if it was always known that that the capability required new sensors.
This is merely speculation, but I am inclined to think that Apple's earlier sensor did indeed have some basic capability for this, but it was decided somewhere along the line (FDA? Apple?) that it wasn't accurate enough and thus never turned on. They are, very clearly, using some new tech in the Watch 6 sensor, so that suggests FDA-approved improvement in measurement.
My standalone pulse oximeter takes only 5 seconds to get a reading, while Apple's takes 30 seconds. Although I wouldn't have to manually enter my SpO2 reading into the iOS health app each time I take a reading. Still, 30 seconds is a disappointment. I'm not an Apple hater, I'm allowed to point out negatives like this however.
My question is.. does the Apple Watch still try to connect to the iPhone for everything even when it’s not nearby? It’s so annoying. If my phone is on a charger and I’m on the other side of the house I can’t sent a text. It sucks.
My Apple Watch doesn't even need my iPhone on the same continent to send texts or make phone calls. It has LTE support. I think it cost US$100 more and about US$7 per month extra to the phone company. I'm not sure if the WIFI Watch has the problems you describe.
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Edited to add: Had to take a work call during the event, and I apparently missed the part where they announced iOS 14 and watchOS 7 were being released tomorrow. Derp. Don't mind me.
That’s what they said.
this is something being pushed by the EU. For several years, Apple has had a running battle with them about charging connectors. The EU doesn’t want manufacturers giving chargers away with watches, phones, tablets, and possibly, laptops and other mobile devices. The EU has wanted Apple to change the input socket on their devices to “standard” charging sockets, which for a long time has been, and still is on my Beats Studio 3 phones, micro USB. Now, USB 3 is superseding that, thank heavens. But I don’t know what’s going to happen long term. They passed the law a year ago, or so. I don’t know if Apple is the first to adhere to it or not. I suppose we’ll find out when other manufacturers come out with new products.
It’s been said that blood pressure can use the same sensor as heart rate, with new software. Possibly, the software is difficult.
Talk smawk, the fact is that no matter what some random person here or there might say, it wasn’t. If anyone watched today, they would had heard, and seen, Apple show off a “new sensor”.
I was apparently watching a different presentation. Barely noticed any music except during transitions, Craig being in the way made me laugh each time, each "section" was incredibly focused on that product, and instead of being a read-aloud spec sheet they (IMO) nicely interspersed it with details about actual use by customers (where applicable) or demonstrations of how to use it. Plus lots of yummy architecture porn of the Spaceship and (again IMO) better mix of presenters.