In my original review, I tried to assess whether the Apple Watch was a business tool or a luxury gadget.So a year on, has it become an essential part of my daily life or will it end up as another gadget gathering dust in a drawer
The best of the Apple Watch
(1) It has made me fitter
A bold claim I know, but by monitoring my day I find myself driven to reach my goals (active calories, stand hours and active minutes). This is most useful on those really busy work days where perhaps I have a few hours on a train and then a day of meetings. Despite getting home feeling mentally tired the watch will inform me that Ive actually done very little physical exercise.
Now, Im not saying I immediately dash to the gym, but it at least gives me an awareness that a mentally busy day isnt necessarily enough. I dont tend to use the Apple Workout app other than at the gym, but I use Strava for my regular cycling (commuting and pleasure). With the WatchOS 2 update Strava can access heart rate data and properly integrates into the Apple Health service.
(2) Navigation is easier and safer
I often have to visit places Ive never been to before. Staring at my phone for navigation can be dangerous, but now the watch helpfully tells me when I need to make a navigational change and a quick glance at the screen gives me more information.
(3) It does have a business use
Many people have argued that from a business perspective, it’s little more than a simple calendar/notification device. I disagree. Maybe it is the type of business I work for, or the tools I use, but I find it very useful not essential to deliver a more productive business day.
Beyond email and calendar notifications are very useful and I use Slack for messaging and Trello for project management, which both have Apple Watch apps.
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(4) Hard wearing
I have worn it every day since getting it. This means it has survived gardening, decorating, DIY, children, work, winter, mountain biking, etc.
There have been the inevitable knocks and bangs but the surround and face I went for the sapphire glass model are still like new. After mountain biking it often gets muddy and wet, and whilst not waterproof it is water resistant so a quick run under the tap and it cleans up well.
(5) Keeps getting better
As with most of its devices, Apple keeps adding features and functionality through OS updates. Having the ability to reply to emails was a much needed update. The Bedside Mode is great and this has now replaced my standard alarm clock/display.
Also, the accessories industry has matured around the Watch chargers, stands, straps etc. I purchased mine with the sports strap mainly because I wasnt willing to pay several hundred pounds for the original Apple straps. Last year, I added a third party metal strap for a fraction of the Apple price.
It can’t be all good, so what needs improving Find out about the ugly side of the Apple Watch on the next page.
The worst of the Apple Watch
(1) Battery Life
This is what everyone, myself included, was worried about at launch. In normal use it easily lasts the entire day. However, using the workout apps drains the battery far quicker due to operating the heart rate monitor continually.
This means that after a full 18-hour day, including a one-hour workout, it will be down to 30 per cent or so by the time I go to bed. Not a major issue, but if you do a lot of workouts or forget to charge it up, it could become a problem.
(2) Flexibility
It would be much better if there were more options to customise the watch face. Yes, theyve added the ability to have a photo as the watch face but why can’t you then choose what information is being displayed on it
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(3) Siri
In order to reply to an email or make a phone call you need to use Siri. This is fine in quiet areas, but given the tiny microphone it can be hard to get this to work reliably and you look really silly shouting at your wrist! But having said that, one of my common uses of the watch is a quick reply message or adding a reminder to do something.
(4) Apple Pay
Technically not an Apple Watch issue, but the time it has taken for card issuers in the UK to adopt Apple Pay has been frustrating. My card providers include Smile.co.uk, N&P, YBS, Post Office and Barclaycard but, until April this year, none of them offered Apple Pay despite supporting contactless cards.
Now that I have it, I love it not just on the iPhone, but on the Watch it means I can just leave my phone in my bag and still get my lunch, morning cup of tea and so on.
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(5) Apps
Despite a choice of hundreds of apps, their quality and usefulness is very hit and miss. A prime use for the Watch is around travel, and whilst the Apple Wallet works brilliantly for flight boarding cards, for example, I find the third party apps less useful.
In the case of train apps, Ive tried all the usual providers and some less well known, but still find myself resorting to my phone to check which platform my train departs from.
Summary
The Apple Watchtells the time AND doesmuchmore besides. The fact I havent worn my other traditional watches since getting theApple Watch says a lot.
But, it’s not all great and, for the money, it doesn’t really justify itself unless you love gadgets. I’d miss it if I didn’t have it, but I’d survive, which is something I couldn’t say about some of my other gadgets my Sonos system for example.
However, if money is not an issue, and you find yourself tired of brands such as Apple and Samsung, this $15,000 smartphone could be right up your street.
Kevin Linsell is director of strategy & architecture at cloud services provider and integrator Adapt
