Worth the Wait

Strangely enough, I’ve never owned an Apple Watch until now. Seven years ago, during its initial launch, I didn’t quite grasp its appeal.

At that point, I was already entrenched in the Apple ecosystem, equipped with a Mac, an iPhone, and numerous Apple subscriptions. I was fully immersed in Apple Music and had upgraded my iCloud storage, so it’s clear I was committed to the brand.

However, the iPad and Apple Watch were two products that I overlooked.

While I do own an iPad mini, it hasn’t become integral to my daily tasks. I prefer macOS for its drag-and-drop functionality and comprehensive multitasking capabilities, with multiple windows and tabs open simultaneously. Essentially, I’m a Mac enthusiast. I might be tempted to explore the iPad more if Stage Manager proves beneficial, but for now, my M2 MacBook Air meets my mobile needs.

The Apple Watch, however, presents a whole different narrative.

Third Time's the Charm

Interestingly, I’ve purchased two Apple Watches before, but neither was for my own use. Both were gifts — one for my daughter and another for my girlfriend. Consequently, I haven’t personally experienced the advantages of wearing one or being part of the Apple Watch community.

That’s about to change. Following last week’s Far Out Apple event, I finally ordered my own Apple Watch! I opted for the latest model, the Apple Watch 8, featuring a 45mm face in Silver Aluminium with a midnight Solo Loop band.

I’m uncertain about what to expect, or perhaps more accurately, what I want from it. It seems that those who wear Apple Watches tend to become quite devoted to them. From my perspective, there’s a close competition between the iPhone and the Apple Watch regarding which device holds more significance for users.

With a 10-day wait ahead until my watch arrives, here’s what I hope to gain from it.

Typical Apple Experience

Apple’s design initially drew me in. The Apple Watch appears to be both tactile and stunning, with a vibrant, always-on display and slim bezels. I believe the anticipation for this device will be worth it.

I can also see why the bands become such a style statement. Additionally, I’m excited about the prospect of changing watch faces whenever I feel like it. The Apple Watch seems durable enough to withstand the rigors of my everyday life!

A New Chapter

In my younger days, I was heavily involved in sports and training. I nearly reached professional status as a cricketer and later competed nationally as a bodybuilder, making fitness a significant part of my life.

I became a bit lazy for a few years, but during lockdown, I rediscovered my love for being outdoors and staying active. I hope to reap health benefits from this renewed enthusiasm.

Now, in my middle years, taking care of my health is becoming increasingly important. While it won’t be the center of my day as it once was, managing the basics daily is essential.

Health Monitoring

I’ve always been self-motivated and have never needed a personal trainer to guide my workouts. However, I hope that the additional data I can access will encourage me to push myself further during my sessions.

The ECG app will allow me to monitor my heart health, which is a nice feature. Having recently recovered from a severe case of COVID, I’m particularly looking forward to using the blood oxygen monitoring app. It turns out, keeping an eye on my breathing is quite beneficial!

While the new temperature sensor may not be immediately useful, I’m curious to see how Apple will enhance it over the years. At least the Apple Watch 8 comes equipped with it, and I expect further developments in the future.

Fitness Tracking

I’m intrigued by the Workout app and what insights the Workout Views provide. As someone who enjoys data and technology, the ability to track my heart rate zones and monitor my cardio sessions sounds appealing.

With the watch, I believe I receive a three-month free trial of Fitness+, so I plan to take advantage of the audio-guided walks and possibly even try out the meditation workouts.

Sleep Insights

Sleep is an area where I know I need improvement. I tend to be a light sleeper and have never logged my sleep patterns. I usually go to bed late and wake up early, averaging around 5 to 6 hours of sleep each night.

Tracking my sleep may be beneficial. It might motivate me to improve my sleep habits. As a competitive person, I’m driven by numbers, and I’m eager to see what data I can gather. I understand the watch tracks REM, Core, and Deep sleep, along with how many times I wake up at night.

Many people I know don’t utilize this app, citing discomfort from wearing an Apple Watch while sleeping and charging it overnight. However, this version has improved battery life and a better low-power mode, so I'm definitely going to give it a try!

Enhanced Safety Features

Apple is cleverly playing on our fears of leaving home without our devices. Recently, the focus on safety during the iPhone and Apple Watch reveal included the new Crash Detection feature.

This new addition, described as an “innovation we hope you’ll never need,” reinforces the notion that having a device on hand at all times is essential. The Apple Watch 8 can detect severe crashes through an enhanced 3-axis gyroscope, a new high g-force accelerometer, microphone, barometer, and GPS.

It can withstand impacts of up to 256G, which is significant, and employs a sophisticated sensor-fusion algorithm trained on over a million hours of real-world crash data. In the event of a serious crash, the watch can automatically alert emergency services.

A Convenient Lifestyle

While I didn’t opt for the cellular model, I’m looking forward to the convenience of leaving my phone in my pocket more often now that I have the Apple Watch.

I rarely carry a debit card anymore; it always felt like one more item to misplace. I’m a fan of Apple Pay, and using it with the watch should be even quicker and more convenient.

I’m excited about the possibility of making calls, sending and receiving iMessages, streaming music and podcasts (to my new AirPods Pro 2), and using Apple Pay without needing to reach for my phone. It looks like navigation will also be accessible on the watch.

I’ll need to see how well I adjust to the 45mm screen. If you’ve been following my thoughts over the past few months, you know that I prefer larger screens! Reading messages on my wrist might be a different experience — only time will tell.

Conclusion

Having waited so long for my first Apple Watch, it feels fitting that it’s finally here. This device seems to be as refined as it will get, boasting decent battery life, a swift processor, and resolved early issues with health apps.

A new segment of the Apple ecosystem is about to unfold for me, and I’m eager to discover the real benefits the Apple Watch has to offer.

I’d love to hear about your experiences. As I await my watch's arrival, help me feel confident that I’ve made the right choice. Are you an Apple Watch enthusiast? What advantages have you found most valuable?

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Feel the vibe and listen to today’s soundtrack while reading. I wrote this piece while listening to [Make It Last Forever (2012 Remaster)](https://music.apple.com/gb/album/make-it-last-forever-2012-remaster/1455154579).

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Originally published at https://talkingtechandaudio.com on September 12, 2022.