Apple Watch 3: Airball?

#apple #applewatch3 #applereviews

Most articles reporting about the Apple Watch 3 call attention to a product’s most important critic: users. And, Apple Watch users are largely unimpressed by this upgrade.

Whether or not the technology is worthy, the indifference perception is out. And that cannot be undone.

The $399 Apple Watch Series 3, on sale Friday, is the first Apple Watch to work without being tethered to the iPhone. In other words, you can leave your phone at home and take your watch out to dinner. Instead, it works via an LTE connection from your wireless carrier. Let freedom ring!

Well, the Apple Watch doesn’t always ring, and that’s the problem. Lauren Goode of The Verge was one of the most severe critics, and who can blame her?

The first Apple Watch came out about two years ago, and the top request for the watch since then was this ability precisely - a highly reliable, untethered communication device. Unfortunately, users aren’t consistently getting this experience, hence all the frustration. Many of them are having connectivity issues, and the LTE dramatically drains the battery. Both of these issues, especially when combined, rendered the watch effectively useless.

True to form, Apple swiftly, publicly addressed the issues, releasing this statement: "When Apple Watch Series 3 joins unauthenticated Wi-Fi networks without connectivity, it may at times prevent the watch from using cellular. We are investigating a fix for a future software release."

In good faith, Brian Chen of the NYT took the time to suss out on which occasions the watch would be convenient and which the iPhone remains the superior choice. His conclusion was more generous than most, in suggesting the Apple Watch 3 is indeed a step towards making smartwatches an everyday item.

It seems silly that Apple would bother releasing an upgrade that doesn’t consistently meet the basic demands of its consumers, but there’s merit to its new capabilities.

It certainly is a strong step ahead towards having a fully functional smart watch. Alas, until perhaps Apple Watch 4 or 5, users may have to contend with continuing to partner their iPhones with their Apple Watches. #friendsforever