Apple Watch: Early impressions

In case you haven't heard, a smartwatch from a little fruit company in California started shipping today. Gizmag has an Apple Watch in house, along with some early thoughts (very early, mind you, as we're going to take some time before running our full Apple Watch review).

Out of all the big new Apple products from the last 15 years – the iPod, iPhone and iPad – the Apple Watch makes the least striking first impression. Okay, well maybe if you've never used a smartwatch, you'll be blown away from the first moment you see notifications and voice control on your wrist, but we've already been there many times over. There were no "holy shit!" moments after strapping on the Apple Watch.

But that isn't to say this won't be a damn good smartwatch, and potentially a game-changer for wearables. And as the hours pass by in our first day with the Apple Watch, our appreciation has only grown.

First, there's an attention to detail here that we haven't yet seen in wearables. The software is a bit more complicated, with a steeper learning curve, than you might expect from Apple, but once you start getting used to the UI and navigation methods, you realize everything is placed very intuitively.

For example, "glances" (quick access cards for individual apps) live below the main clock face, just a swipe away. You check on notifications with a swipe down, just like on smartphones. The Digital Crown button mirrors an iPhone's home button: single tap to go your app home screen, double-tap to jump between your most recent app and the clock face. A long-press summons Siri. A second button below jumps to a list of frequent contacts.

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Why I do not plan on buying an Apple Watch

I don't own an iPhone. I really could end this train of thought with that, but here's what's more: study after study has shown that most people planning on purchasing an Apple Watch also have an iPhone. Many of those people also wear a watch on a regular basis. Apple is in a pretty good position to displace the watches on the wrists of iPhone users over the next few weeks, as it were. But for me - there're really no way I'd end up with an Apple Watch on my wrist.

Let me continue to be as up front with you as possible: I am not your average consumer. I haven't paid full price for a smartphone... ever. Over the past several years I've been using review unit after review unit for my main daily mobile phone, and I have no intention of changing out from this pattern of exchanges.

I'm currently using a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge - I'm reviewing it for Android Community. For the past year or so, I'd been using an HTC One M8 in-between reviews of other devices.

I've reviewed several smartwatches over the past few months, including such excellent pieces of work as the LG G Watch R.

But I just can't manage to figure out what's so great about a smartwatch in the first place.

Why would I keep this device on my wrist if I didn't already have a need for a piece of hardware there in the first place?

For fashion, perhaps. Maybe in order to keep notifications from my phone up closer to my hand

I was really excited to review the Samsung Galaxy Gear back in October of 2013. The idea that I'd have a tiny computer on my wrist with a camera to boot - that was exciting to me.

But it wasn't long before, again, the lack of necessity turned the device into another desk-dweller.

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Apple Contacting Some Early Apple Watch Customers: 'We're Working on Your Order'

Apple on Wednesday emailed select customers that pre-ordered the Apple Watch to reassure them that the company is working on their orders and will provide them with specific delivery dates and tracking information when available. Apple appears to have sent the email to customers with Apple Watch pre-orders that have yet to be prepared for shipment ahead of Friday's launch. 

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Popular Apple Watch App Screenshots Revealed Ahead of Friday's Launch

A new tool created by developer Steven Troughton-Smith that allows you to search for Apple Watch app screenshots based on iTunes links has provided an early glimpse at several popular apps for the wrist-worn device. Some developers have already shared screenshots, and other websites have shared additional ones, but this tool provides the closest look yet at third-party apps for Apple Watch ahead of its April 24 launch. 

Apple Watch: Buyers Guide to the Best +50 Features

Find more screenshots here.

iPhone Killer: The Secret History of the Apple Watch

IN EARLY 2013, Kevin Lynch accepted a job offer from Apple. Funny thing about the offer: It didn’t say what he would be doing. So intense is Apple’s secrecy that all Lynch knew was his vague title, vice president of technology, and that he’d be working on something completely new. It was odd that Apple even offered him a job. During his eight years at Adobe, most recently as chief technology officer, he was best known as the only person dumb enough to publicly fight Steve Jobs over the iPhone’s lack of support for Flash videos. When Lynch announced his move, the reaction was immediate: They want this guy? Apple blogger John Gruber called Lynch “a bozo, a bad hire.”

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