I regret buying an Apple Watch (and I knew I would)
I bought an Apple Watch. I didn’t preorder it, because at first I didn’t even want one. I warned people who asked me about the company’s first wearable: These things (Apple things) always get much better on the second attempt. Apple’s product history, perhaps even more so than other tech companies, is peppered with examples: the substantially thinner second iPad, the next iPhone that had 3G data, the MacBook Air sequel that had decent battery life and a slimmer design. Despite knowing that, something changed for me. I became an early adopter.
Our Editor-in-Chief Michael Gorman has already tested the Apple Watch. Thanks to a handful of early positive-but-with-caveat reviews and even more previews in the run-up to launch, I knew what it could do. Still, I felt like there must be a way that the watch would effortlessly dovetail into my life, reducing the need to constantly paw my phone and further lowering the barrier between myself and technology.
I’m not sure if it was Apple offering three different tiers of entry, or its plan to literally strap it to tastemakers and celebrities before mere muggles could buy one, but come launch day, I was intrigued. I called up my closest exclusive fashion boutique and made an appointment for a consultation. I wanted the old-school retail hit. The cold, hard sting that can only happen when you physically open your wallet to pay for This Thing You Want Right Now. To the tune of seven hundred dollars. Weeks later, it still stings.
I tried on a few different Apple watches (although several of the models were already sold out). And yes, of course I tried the Apple Watch Edition — in gold! — mostly for a laugh, and to see if I could tangibly feel the wealth. It was, er, heavier. However, I’d already decided I wanted the Apple Watch: I wanted the sapphire display and the stainless steel body, because I’m a clumsy fool and I’m bound to bump it against brickwork or accidentally drop it into a pit of spikes. The assistant gestured toward a corner: “There’s a mirror in the corner.” I winced, but then I went and stood in front of the full-length mirror. And stared at my wrist. And myself. And I looked like an idiot.
But I liked how the watch felt. More than the watch itself, I fell in love with the Milanese band that magnetically lashed it to my wrist. As it says on Apple’s own site:
“Selecting a watch is very personal. As with all things you wear, how it looks is at least as important as what it does.”
As a smartwatch — as a watch — it looks good. The materials, the attention to detail that Apple products are known for. It’s all on show here. Compared to the Android watches I’ve tested and played with, the feel, the quality, is on a completely different level. But many other (non-smart) watches at this price look just as good or better. I bought this because of what it could do beyond those mere timepieces. Indeed, it can do more, but it doesn’t do enough. Not yet. It doesn’t illuminate my life like my first iPhone, or revolutionize my work routine like the take-it-anywhere MacBook Air. To be fair, the Watch does some things well — notifications aren’t jarring and you have a lot of control over what appears and what doesn’t — but it just doesn’t do much once you’re wearing it. I use it a fraction of the time I use my phone. I’ve paid all that money for a smartwatch whose time hasn’t quite arrived.
I think about how much better next year’s Watch will be. It’ll almost certainly be thinner, possibly lighter, have a better screen and the battery will tick along substantially longer than this first model. (Curiously, I don’t really mind charging something nearly every day: With a metal strap, I would take the thing off each night regardless of whether or not the battery was on its last legs.)
But then, (nearly) every product sequel is better than the last, so why do I hold the Watch to a higher standard? Why do I regret the purchase? Me, the early adopter. (I bought a Pebble, for crying out loud.) It’s because I haven’t used it much since I got it home and synced the apps from my phone. I put it on and… I don’t know what to do with it. I flip around the watch faces, customize a chronograph with my own charms of choice and then waver between that and the addictive foot-tapping Mickey. I see how Instagram looks on my wrist; I get lost spinning around the moon, the Earth, the Milky Way. I send some NSFW doodles to a colleague, and then my heartbeat. I dictate to Siri a text message to my mum back in the UK. And I’m at a loss to what to do next. When I get a new phone, I can’t help but tinker around with apps, wallpaper, the camera, adding my music. The Apple Watch brings your apps closer, but it feels like a lot of things are trapped behind a glass display case. While I can see my notifications from a wide array of apps, interaction is either impossible for a lot of them, or limited to a few prescribed patterns or functions. Siri can send a text message, but you’d need the iPhone to do the same on email.
After two weeks of wearing the Watch, nothing has changed. I wear it, but I’m not gaining anything from the experience. My phone is typically nearby. Perhaps I’m just not a smartwatch kind of guy. I like to wear a watch, but when it’s the Apple Watch, it’s not giving me enough bang for my buck. I hand it to a friend to play with, and they press or swipe (or do something) and I see a screen I’ve never seen before — there’s very much a learning curve.
I’m not demanding (and not sure I want) smartphone-like functionality; I like the rigorously lightweight nature of how the Apple Watch deals with things. It takes a while to realize that, unlike iPhones and iPads, it’s not the apps that form the basis of how I use the Watch (it’s the swipe-up Glances for weather, music controls and activity monitoring). But I just don’t gain enough from these easily accessible features. At least not yet. Where the Apple Watch delivers best in functionality (like its fitness monitoring, which I’m continuing to use), I could get from a whole range of devices that are markedly cheaper.
It’s also (at least in my case) $700. Given how it looks and feels, and the technical accomplishments that go on inside that shell, is that the right price? I like it, but it’s not “hundreds of dollars” like. Maybe I’ll love next year’s model, or the 2017 edition — but I’ll likely be ill at ease to admit it, because I’ll still have the original Apple Watch, depreciated substantially. If anything is going to make smartwatches a mainstream thing, given what’s beating inside (and the HealthKit stuff, and Apple’s sheer influence when it comes to app developers), Apple will be the one to do it.
But it hasn’t yet — and I wish I hadn’t opened my wallet for this first effort. I expected that I’d be using it so much more than I am at the moment. The curse of a new product category, or an Apple product that I don’t need in my life? I’ll know one way or the other in the next six months. And if I change my mind, when I’m using Glances untold times a day, when the apps are perfectly attuned to a wearable, I’m willing to eat crow and tell you how it all changed.
Google Will Soon Limit Mac Chrome Extensions to Web Store to Curb Malware [Mac Blog]
Google has announced that it will be extending its policy that requires Chrome extensions to be hosted on the Chrome Web Store to all Mac users beginning in July 2015. Google says it is extending the policy, originally announced in May 2014, to protect users against unsafe Chrome extensions by malicious software developers.
“We originally did not enforce this policy on the Windows developer channel in order to allow developers to opt out,” writes Google. “Unfortunately, we’ve since observed malicious software forcing users into the developer channel in order to install unwanted off-store extensions. Affected users are left with malicious extensions running on a Chrome channel they did not choose. As such, starting today we will begin enforcing this policy on all Windows channels. Mac will soon follow, with enforcement for all channels beginning in July 2015.”
Google says it saw a 75% drop in customer support help requests from Chrome users inquiring about how to uninstall unwanted extensions since enforcing the policy for some Windows users. The company will continue to support local extension installs during development and installs via Enterprise policy. Developers with third-party extensions not currently on the Chrome Web Store can submit them for approval.
Facebook Debuts ‘Instant Articles’ for Faster Article Loading on iPhone [iOS Blog]
Facebook yesterday announced “Instant Articles,” a new iOS-based platform designed to speed up the loading times of articles when browsing on the company’s iPhone app.
Instant Articles offers publishers a new tool to host their stories on Facebook servers, negating the need to wait for a separate web app to load the content and in turn loading linked articles up to ten times faster than before. Publishers who take advantage of the feature will be provided with a suite of interactivity tools as well, including accelerometer-based photo zooming, audio captions, and the ability to like and comment on individual lines of an article.
The new feature is launching with nine partners: The New York Times, National Geographic, BuzzFeed, NBC, The Atlantic, The Guardian, BBC News, Spiegel and Bild. Facebook hopes that relegating full monetary control over an article to its publisher, including the ability to sell ads within Instant Articles and keep the full revenue, will entice more to support the service.
They’re also allowing partners access to Facebook’s Audience Network for a chance at beefing up ad spaces and giving them access to comScore and “other analytics tools” to track traffic data on articles. The new platform will also be malleable to each individual publisher, with Facebook introducing a tool set that will allow each specific brand to set its own customizable typeface, color, and layout to closer match what readers expect from each brand.
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Introducing Instant Articles, a new tool for publishers to create fast, interactive articles on Facebook.
Posted by Facebook Media on Tuesday, May 12, 2015
“Fundamentally, this is a tool that enables publishers to provide a better experience for their readers on Facebook” said Facebook Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. “Instant Articles lets them deliver fast, interactive articles while maintaining control of their content and business models.”
Facebook’s new suite of publishing tools aims to provide a more streamlined, hassle-free experience for users of its mobile app, which is always a good thing for a company constantly trying to be forward thinking. However, as The Verge points out, Instant Articles essentially boils down to being “a new publishing format,” which could spell doom for those unwilling to join the ranks of Facebook’s partners in fear of losing creative control of their own stories.
Instant Articles is available now on the iPhone Facebook app, with special content produced by a few of its initial launch partners. The company hopes to launch to a wider range of smartphone devices in the coming months, as it attempts to gather more publishing partners and listen to user feedback to “help us improve the experience.”
Apple and A123 Systems Nearing Settlement in Battery Engineer Poaching Lawsuit
Apple and A123 Systems are close to reaching a settlement in an ongoing battery engineer poaching lawsuit between the two companies, according to The Boston Globe. A123 Systems, an advanced battery manufacturer, originally filed suit against Apple in February for poaching key battery engineering employees to join its own automative team, including former chief technology officer Mujeeb Ijaz.
“On Tuesday, a federal judge granted A123 more time to finalize the settlement with Apple,” reports The Boston Globe. “In a court filing, the two sides reported that they ‘have reached an agreement, signed a term sheet, and are in the process of drafting a final settlement agreement.’”
Apple’s much-rumored automotive team reportedly consists of hundreds of employees, including several former Tesla, Ford and GM employees and other talent from smaller firms such as A123 Systems, MIT Motorsports, Ogin, Autoliv, Concept Systems and General Dynamics. The team is believed to be working on an auto-related project, possibly involving an electric and potentially autonomous vehicle.
It was reported in late February that Apple is also looking to hire Samsung employees with expertise in battery technology, confirmed by a Samsung official that said some personnel have been hired by the iPhone maker. Apple reportedly has a “top-secret research lab” located near its Cupertino-based headquarters for its automotive project, but likely remains in the early stages of research and development.
Rumors about the so-called “Apple car” have gained momentum since camera-equipped Dodge Caravans leased to Apple started appearing in California earlier this year. The first sighting of the vans were actually in New York last summer, with vehicles spotted in Manhattan and Brooklyn in August and September respectively. The vans have since been spotted in at least six other states.
MacRumors has been tracking the Apple vans, which are likely being used for an unrelated Street View-like mapping project, for the past several months. We have created an interactive Google Maps tracker of the van sightings featuring pins that can be clicked on to view a photo or video of each van. To date, there have been over 30 sightings spanning Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, New York and Texas.
First Wave of Space Black, Leather Loop and Modern Buckle Apple Watch Orders Now Preparing to Ship
Nearly five weeks after Apple Watch pre-orders became available on April 10, the first stainless steel Apple Watch orders with Space Black Link Bracelets, Leather Loops and Modern Buckles are now being prepared to ship. A growing number of users tracking their Apple Watch orders within the MacRumors discussion forums confirmed the shipping status changes within the past twelve hours.
The stainless steel Apple Watch with Space Black Link Bracelet, Leather Loop and Modern Buckle were the last three models of the wrist-worn device that had yet to see movement, remaining in the Processing stage on the Apple Online Store until late Tuesday. Now, some orders have been updated to Preparing for Shipment in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and likely other first wave launch countries.
During the Apple Watch pre-order window, many models were listed with 4-6 weeks shipping estimates, or May 13 to May 27. With today marking the start of that timeframe, it appears that Apple is on schedule to begin shipping these delayed models to customers for delivery as soon as today. Many customers have received credit or debit card charges for their orders, indicating that shipments should begin imminently.
Many Apple Watch models now have shipping estimates of 3-5 weeks for new orders.
Jorno Review: Hands-On With a Tri-Fold Portable Keyboard for iOS Devices [iOS Blog]
Continuing on with our series of keyboard reviews, we’re taking a look at the portable, foldable Jorno keyboard. The Jorno made its debut on Kickstarter way back in 2012, and after years of refinements and design changes, the keyboard began shipping out to customers in March of 2015.
The Jorno’s look is quite a bit different than the original concept presented in 2012, but the basic idea is the same — it’s a tri-fold Bluetooth keyboard that collapses down for better portability. The Jorno name heralds the design of the keyboard, which resembles a Moleskine journal when it’s folded up for travel.
What’s in the Box and Setup
The Jorno ships in a compact box that includes the keyboard itself, the cover/stand that holds it up, and a USB cable for charging. Setting up the Jorno takes just a few seconds. When it’s unfolded, it’s powered on (as indicated by a green light) and Bluetooth can be activated by holding down function and tapping the Bluetooth key (the “C”).
From there, it pairs within the Settings menu of an iPhone or iPad like any other Bluetooth accessory.
Design
The Jorno is a two-piece accessory with a QWERTY keyboard and a separate stand rather than a keyboard case, so it’s able to work with a wide range of devices, including the iPhone, the iPad, and other smartphones and tablets. The main component of the Jorno is the keyboard itself, which is collapsible and can be folded down into a 5.7 by 3.5 inch package that’s then covered by the case/stand for travel.
When the Jorno is not in use, the black leather-like stand serves as a case, but when you need to type something, it folds into a triangle shape held together by magnets, much like an iPad Smart Cover. A small plastic lip at the bottom ensures an iPhone or an iPad stays in place, and the magnets that hold it all together are strong enough that nothing is in danger of falling over. Since it’s just a simple stand, the Jorno’s case can hold an iPhone or iPad in landscape or portrait mode for typing, watching videos, and more.
Read more 
Distracted Driving Laws Yet to Catch Up With Apple Watch
While several states and countries have laws in place that make operating a handheld device such as a smartphone or portable media player illegal, the release of the Apple Watch has created a gray area in terms of distracted driving legislation. Given that the Apple Watch is technically not a handheld device, the laws in many jurisdictions are left open to interpretation at this point.
Regardless of the laws in your local area, it is highly recommended that you keep your eyes on the road and remain focused on driving at all times. Using your Apple Watch while driving is dangerous for both you and the drivers sharing the road with you, no matter how skilled of a driver you may be, and distracted driving in general is still a punishable offence in many jurisdictions.
United States
In the United States, many states have similar distracted driving laws with different conditions that must be followed. All states except Arizona, Missouri and Montana have a text messaging ban that could extend to the Apple Watch, or confirmed plans to enact one within the next six months, and Arizona is the only state without a text messaging ban for novice drivers entirely.
None of the U.S. states have updated their distracted driving laws to specifically address the Apple Watch or other wearable devices¹, and National Safety Council CEO Deborah Hersman confirmed in April that no states currently have plans to do so. Essentially, this means that the Apple Watch is not illegal to use or operate while driving in the country, but it is still highly unrecommended.
Last month, a Coalition Against Distracted Driving led by Stephen L. Joseph filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles court against Apple, Samsung, Google and Microsoft, seeking an injunction that would require the companies to fund an “effective and ongoing” national public education campaign in the United States that explain the risks of using smartwatches and smartphones while driving.
To check distracted driving laws on a state-by-state basis, the U.S. government has setup a useful website called Distraction.gov that displays an interactive map outlining primary and secondary laws for text messaging and cell phone use behind the wheel. Currently, 45 states, DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers.
Canada
In Ontario, for example, it is illegal for drivers to talk, text, type, dial or email using hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices², such as smartphones, portable media players, GPS systems and laptops. The province has not currently designated the Apple Watch or other smartwatches as being illegal to use while operating a motor vehicle.
Nevertheless, endangering others because of any distraction in Ontario can result in being charged with careless driving, which carries penalties of six demerit points, fines up to $2,000 and/or a jail term of six months and up to a two-year license suspension. Ontario Provincial Police officers are free to interpret the Ontario Highway Traffic Act as they wish as it relates to distracted driving.
Québec’s Highway Safety Code outlaws holding or operating handheld electronic devices with a telephone function while driving, but does not make any references to the Apple Watch or other wearable devices. The Canadian Press reported in September 2014 that Québec was reviewing its distracted driving law³, but the province has yet to make any changes to date.
British Columbia has a similar ban on holding or operating handheld electronic devices while driving, but has not specifically outlawed using the Apple Watch behind the wheel. The province’s Motor Vehicle Act further stipulates that drivers must not send or receive text messages or emails on any type of electronic device, and new and learning drivers are prohibited from using any electronic devices while driving.
Ultimately, this information should be followed for reference only and does not serve as legal advice. We encourage drivers in various countries to check their local laws for the most accurate and up-to-date information. More importantly, remember that you are sharing the road with others and drive safely.
How to Use Siri on Apple Watch [iOS Blog]
Anyone with an iPhone 4S or newer knows how to use Siri. Even if you’ve never used the “Hey Siri” feature on iOS 8, you can probably figure it out fairly easily. However, on a completely different device, like Apple Watch, accessing Siri may need a little bit of extra training.
If you are having trouble getting Siri to activate, we’ve got a tutorial that may help shed some light on how to get her attention. Plus with one simple question, you can find out everything that your personal assistant can help you with on Apple Watch
Using “Hey Siri”
You can get Siri’s attention by raising your wrist and speaking the words “Hey Siri” within range of Apple Watch. You can also ask follow up questions the same way.
If you have experienced problems getting the Hey Siri feature to work, there are a couple of factors that may be keeping her from responding.
First of all, if you navigated to the watch face by pressing the Digital Crown from another view, like the Home screen, Hey Siri won’t work. It also doesn’t work if you are in the Glances screen.
Instead, you will have to lower your wrist until the Apple Watch screen goes to sleep. Then, wake Apple Watch by lifting your wrist again. Then, say “Hey Siri” to activate your personal assistant.
You can use Hey Siri while you are viewing an app, in the Notifications screen, or on the Home screen. But if you are having trouble getting her attention, try the steps above.
One other reason that you may be having trouble using Hey Siri is if the microphone is blocked. Apple Watch’s microphone is on the side of the casing, so if you have a bulky jacket sleeve up against the side where the mic is, it may muffle your voice.
Read more
Third-Party Apple Watch Cases Provide Options for Improved Protection [iOS Blog]
Alongside the launch of the Apple Watch, many third-party businesses have found room to expand their organizations, or create completely new ones, with various collections of charging stands, band swapping websites, and even more rugged cases for Apple’s new wearable. These cases, it should be noted, work in conjunction with Apple’s previously existing band options.
One of the more notable accessory manufacturers to throw its hat into the Apple Watch case ring is Speck, with a line of multi-colored cases for the Apple Watch, called CandyShell Fit, launching later this month. Speck promises the CandyShell Fit is perfect for customers with an intensely active lifestyle, as it “provides full bezel protection to guard the smartwatch’s glass screen, defend against shock, and allow complete access to the digital crown and side button.”
The CandyShell Fit Case by Speck
“You only need to do a few things to protect Apple Watch, but you have to do them perfectly and minimally, and in a way that fully honors the design of the device,” said Bryan Hynecek, Speck VP of Design. “Speck is about giving people the courage to live their life fully and completely with Apple Watch on, exactly as it was intended to be used.”
The case combines a hard polycarbonate outer layer shell and a TPU interior to work in combination at providing exterior and interior shock absorption, respectively. The case includes a slightly raised bezel above the Apple Watch touch screen – about 1.5mm – in order to act as a protective bumper between the Watch and outside environment. As exepcted, the CandyShell Fit has been put through a test of basic high intensity activities to see its reaction to sweat, high temperatures and even basic sunscreens and lotions. Speck says the new Apple Watch case will launch in multiple colors “later this month” and be priced at $29.99.
Popular accessory manufacturer Spigen also has a range of Apple Watch accessories on its website, from stands to screen protectors. It also provides a diverse array of durable cases for the Watch, providing various degrees of thickness and protection to customers interested in protecting their Apple Watch. Ranging in price from $14.99 to $24.99, Spigen provides increasing degrees of drop and hazard defense to the Apple Watch in multiple color options – including a transparent “liquid crystal” version. The company also promises each case provides full availability to the Watch’s heart rate sensor and two side buttons.
The Rugged Armor Case by Spigen
A few MacRumors forum members have posted screenshots and short reviews on some models offered by Spigen. Most users note the general addition of bulk onto the somewhat slim basic Apple Watch case, but if true protection is desired it doesn’t appear to be too bad of a trade off.
Another durability-focused Apple Watch case, called The Bumper, began taking pre-orders a few weeks ago and plans to begin shipping sometime in June. The Bumper’s ultra-resistant rubber material allows for ease of use when inserting and removing the Apple Watch, with the 360 degree shock absorbing case providing full access to the touch screen, Digital Crown, contacts button, speaker, microphone, and heart rate sensor.
The Bumper by ActionProof
The case also appears to be the only third-party Apple Watch case that provides protection to the Digital Crown while still allowing Apple’s new input device to be fully rotated and pressed. The Bumper will be available in white, black, and orange, and those interested can pre-order The Bumper right now for $35 on ActionProof’s official website.
With the nascence of the Apple Watch, there will no doubt be more and more options for various protection-related Apple Watch accessories as we move further into the year, with other companies getting their hands on their own models of the wearable. Given that some of these manufacturers created useful accessories before even having an Apple Watch in hand, it’ll be interesting to see what other third-party companies do moving forward.
Apple Tops Greenpeace Clean Energy Index Based on Renewable Energy Initiatives
Apple continues to set the bar among technology companies for its commitment to running its worldwide operations on renewable energy, topping Amazon, Facebook, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, Yahoo and other large corporations in Greenpeace’s Clean Energy Index included as part of its 2015 Click Clean Report [PDF].
“The report found that Apple continues to be the most aggressive in powering its data center operations with renewable energy. Despite continued rapid growth, Apple appears to have kept pace with its supply of renewable energy, maintaining its claim of a 100% renewably powered cloud for another year, followed by Yahoo, Facebook and Google with 73%, 49% and 46% clean energy respectively. Greenpeace found that Amazon’s current investments would deliver an energy mix of 23% renewable energy for its operations.”
The annual report is based on energy transparency, renewable energy commitment and policy, energy efficiency and mitigation, and renewable energy deployment and advocacy, all categories in which Apple received an A, the highest score awarded. Apple was the only technology company with a perfect scorecard in the report.
Greenpeace has been evaluating the energy demand of the internet and internet-related companies since 2010. The non-governmental environmental activist group was critical of Apple’s environmental record for several years, and remained skeptical about the company’s early push into renewable energy sources, but started recognizing and commending the iPhone maker for its efforts beginning last year.
Greenpeace’s full-length 2015 Click Clean Report [PDF] offers in-depth information about environmental initiatives that Apple and other technology companies have been undertaking, renewable energy for the cloud, powering data centers with renewable energy, a road map to a green internet and more. It also explains the methodology behind its letter-based scoring system.
AIVAnet 