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TECHNOLOGY A23
Thursday 23 July 2015
Even Apple loyalists taking their
time on Apple Watch
BARBARA ORTUTAY In this April 10, 2015, file photo, a customer tries on an Apple locations — even if they are
AP Technology Writer Watch at an Apple Store in Hong Kong. far away — rather than the
NEW YORK (AP) — For stops closest to you at the
all those who hailed the Associated Press moment, as the phone app
iPhone as the “Jesus does. As for message notifi-
Phone” in 2007, the Apple weeks. The last straw? It time in Japan, where many cations, it’s great when it’s
Watch’s arrival has hardly nagged the physically ac- of his business clients are. from someone you want to
been the second coming. tive New Yorker to stand up But even so, there’s a long hear from — but annoying
Sure, it can do many use- during a six-hour flight. wish list, including smarter when it’s not.
ful, even delightful things, “Apple is famous for telling apps. Apple is already ad- It’ll take time for apps to
such as showing incoming us what we need before we dressing some of this with anticipate what users need
texts and email, tracking need them,” Clayton said. a software update this fall. most.
heart rates during exercise “I thought this would be the Falkenstein would also like Apps will get better when
or sending digital doo- case with the watch. But it to see the battery life im- Apple updates the watch’s
dles to friends. But is that (just) added something to prove from the 18 hours software this fall to per-
enough to spend $350 or my life that I didn’t need that’s currently promised. mit more “native” apps —
more, especially when it added.” Apple has run television those that aren’t just exten-
requires wearing a watch That’s not to say the Apple commercials showing the sions of phone apps. Some
again while still carrying an Watch is a bomb. For one, watch in everyday life, and apps could even work
iPhone around? it’s too soon to tell. Expec- it has devoted tables at its without the phone nearby,
Early Apple Watch owners tations are so high that it’s retail stores for people to try including games, audio re-
seem generally happy with easy to forget, as Apple one on and learn more. corders and tools that ana-
it, but Apple’s bigger wor- said, that the watch actu- Connected wirelessly to an lyze golf swings.
ry should be those on the ally sold better in its first 9 iPhone, the Apple Watch Apple also needs to en-
sidelines — even hardcore weeks than the iPhone and isn’t meant to replace the sure that the watch gets
Apple fans, not to mention the iPad did when those phone, but rather provide the types of essential “killer
everybody else — who are came out. tidbits of information read- apps” that propelled the
waiting to take the plunge. Most analysts and tech re- ily while the phone is in a iPhone into an extension
The wait-and-see attitude is viewers, including The As- pocket or purse. There’s of ourselves. For now, it’s
not exactly helping investor sociated Press, see prom- no keyboard, so searches sometimes easier to just pull
sentiment. Apple hasn’t re- ise, especially compared and messages are done out the phone, and there’s
leased Apple Watch sales with rival smartwatches by voice dictation or the no app you absolutely
figures, but the company’s from Samsung and others. selection of a canned re- need the watch for. With
quarterly financial report Wristly, a research com- sponse. You can also send phones, you now have
Tuesday suggests that they pany created to study the doodles and emoji. maps, cameras and other
were lower than many Wall watch, found that early David Lubarsky, a Fairfield, essentials.
Street analysts expected, buyers are overwhelming- Connecticut, photogra- It might be hard to remem-
though Apple said they ly satisfied, more so than pher, loves that he can get ber, but the first iPhone in
exceeded internal projec- with the original iPad and “basic information, quick” 2007 was just a little more
tions. A bigger worry for in- iPhone. and avoid staring at Face- than a phone. Apps from
vestors: iPhone sales, which And of the more than a book on the phone all day. outside companies didn’t
at $31 billion account for dozen early Apple Watch It lets him see texts, emails, come until Apple launched
more than half of Apple’s owners interviewed by the calendar appointments its app store the following
business. AP by phone, email or in and baseball scores. year — with just 500 apps.
IPhone sales are still grow- person, most of them love But he gets frustrated when Now, it has more than a
ing rapidly, but the pace their watch. After all, early using it to pay for coffee at million. At first, iPhone apps
of growth is slowing. Wor- adopters of new technolo- Starbucks. were dumbed-down ver-
ries about the iPhone’s mo- gies tend to understand “Your wrist doesn’t neces- sions of websites. Now
mentum sent Apple’s stock that what they’re getting sarily twist to the right po- many apps, such as Insta-
down nearly 5 percent, isn’t perfect. sition to the scanner so it’s gram, do more than what’s
knocking about $36 billion “I’d recommend it to peo- pretty awkward,” he said. possible over Web brows-
off the company’s market ple with an open mind,” Apple Watch also doesn’t ers. Apple Watch doesn’t
capitalization. said Dennis Falkenstein of always provide the right subject owners to ridicule
Among people holding off Danville, California. He said information at the right the way Google Glass had,
on the watch, some say the watch gets him “every- time. The watch version of yet it’s still, in essence, a
they are waiting for early thing I want” such as local one transit app offers bus computer on your wrist. Yes,
kinks to be worked out and temperature, or the current schedules for your saved the Apple Watch comes in
others, for an “aha mo- multiple sizes, materials and
ment.” bands — 54 configurations
“It’s been cast as a want, in all — and other compa-
not a need,” said Matt nies sell additional bands.
Quick, a Topeka, Kansas, But the watch isn’t stylish
engineer and Apple fan enough for everyone and
who is holding off on get- won’t match every outfit.
ting one. “I’m kind of wait- The watch could ultimately
ing to see what next year’s be more than just a Ro-
model will bring.” lex for the tech-savvy set.
Patrick Clayton, who has But for that to happen,
had Mac computers all his Apple needs to show how
life and owns an iPhone the benefits of wearing a
and several iPads, returned watch outweigh the has-
his Apple Watch after three sles of wearing a watch.q
