1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,080 Every time I come to sit down and write about the Apple Watch, I find myself struggling. 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,200 The company says this new series 10 model is a 3 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:15,680 beautiful new design. And they're right. But it doesn't look any different. 4 00:00:16,400 --> 00:00:21,200 I like the Apple Watch. It's quite convenient. And I've been wearing one for coming up for 5 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:27,840 years now. I also don't like having an Apple Watch. It's quite expensive. And I've long 6 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:33,360 disagreed with its whole form. Yes, this is a great watch, but I've always kind of hated what 7 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,040 the Apple Watch is. Let me try to explain. 8 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:53,600 What is it that makes this such a big redesign? Well, the series 10's got a bigger screen and 9 00:00:53,600 --> 00:01:00,400 thinner profile. But while these two dimensional changes are slim, they are still noticeable. 10 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:05,520 It does seem to sit more comfortably under sleeves on my wrist. And I think I'm bashing tables and 11 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:11,280 door frames less often too. While the bigger screen does enable for slightly more content to be 12 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:16,240 displayed, you're not going to be getting whole extra message bubbles. Rather, far more useful 13 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:20,960 is the larger typefaces and buttons, which is great for those with weakening eyesight. 14 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:25,440 It's kind of comical looking on this, the larger 46 millimeter Apple Watch, 15 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,440 because the screen is actually slightly bigger than the one found on the Ultra model. 16 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,880 I think the biggest benefit though will be for people who like to get the smaller one, 17 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:37,920 because now even the small watch gets a big screen. On the outside, the Apple Watch is now 18 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:42,880 available in this sleek polished Jet Black finish on the base model. And the premium finish has 19 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,680 gone from using stainless steel to polished titanium, if you want to pay ultra prices. 20 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,840 Jet Black is as shiny as the glass covering the OLED screen, which also has been incrementally 21 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:59,760 improved. It's now brighter at a wider angle. Though I never really thought that the Series 6 22 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:05,280 I've been using was too dim on an angle. In the announcement, Apple made hay about the fact that 23 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:12,720 the always on display is now power efficient enough to show a second hand when dimmed. Finally, though, 24 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:22,160 why hasn't this been a thing since the Series 5 was announced? Back then, they said the display could run between 1 and 60 hertz. That's why on the stopwatch on 25 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:28,000 this Series 8, you can see the seconds go up even when dimmed. Watch faces don't get that privilege 26 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:37,520 apparently. Until now. While I like that it does feel more watch light with the second hand moving 27 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:42,800 around, I can hear the phantom quartz movement in my head when I see it. It's a shame that only the 28 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,080 two newest watch faces get it. The second hand on the existing watch faces still disappear. 29 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,440 Oh, the Apple Watch is telling me my heart rate is up. 30 00:02:53,120 --> 00:02:59,280 Okay, let me rapid fire through the new features and I'll get to renting later. The big headline 31 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:05,040 new health feature with the Series 10 is the sleep apnea notifications. It's not exclusive to 32 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,640 the Series 10, it's actually available on the Series 9 and Ultra II models as well. 33 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,880 And a few weeks later, I'm pleased to report that it's available in Canada. 34 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,720 Using the accelerometer, Apple detects movements at the wrist associated with breathing disturbances, 35 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:24,240 which then tallies in the health app. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is a serious health concern, so 36 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,720 learning that you have it could be extremely helpful. I gave an Ultra II to a colleague who 37 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:34,640 thinks he has sleep apnea to see if it catches any of his sleep disturbances. Well, turns out he has 38 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:41,120 no sleep disturbances. As for me, it appears that my breathing disturbances are not elevated. 39 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:44,800 Now, if only I could just get to sleep earlier. Such a night owl. 40 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:52,880 The Series 10 does have a blood oxygen sensor, which works in Canada. Unfortunately for US 41 00:03:52,880 --> 00:03:58,240 customers, Apple is still in a patent dispute with Masimo. This means that it's deactivated on your 42 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:03,440 models. I haven't seen any updates on the matter except for another matter where Apple won their 43 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:10,000 patent dispute against Masimo for $250. It's possible when this gets resolved that the Series 44 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:15,360 109 will regain that functionality, but you can't make any guarantees and you don't know when and 45 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,280 if that's going to happen. If you're an avid swimmer, there's a new depth app, 46 00:04:19,280 --> 00:04:22,960 cribbed from the Ultra model, though this won't go down deeper than six meters. 47 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:26,480 It does tell the water temperature, though. I actually tried it in my friend's hot tub, 48 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:32,320 and yeah, the reading did match the heater's temperature setting. Fast charging is even faster. 49 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:37,280 Apple claims that it can now get to 80% after only 30 minutes instead of 45 before, 50 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:41,920 which is perfect for shower chargers like me. And in my testing, it actually got to 85%. 51 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:48,320 And if you're away from your AirPods or iPhone, you can still listen to your podcast because the 52 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:53,520 speaker supports media playback. It's pretty loud and clear, but I swear that was a feature on the 53 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:58,640 first few generations of Apple Watch before it was removed. Let me know in the comments if I'm right 54 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:05,440 or if I'm suffering from a Mandela effect. Okay, enough about the series 10. 55 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:10,480 The Apple Watch has been with us for almost a decade now, and it's remarkable how incremental 56 00:05:10,480 --> 00:05:15,920 the changes have been to this device. It's carved itself a niche as a pricey fitness tracker and 57 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:20,960 smartwatch that works best with the iPhone. I like having a watch on my wrist because I'm 58 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:26,080 terrible with time. Not that this helps me with that that much. But what I do like about the Apple 59 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:30,880 Watch are the gentle taps for navigation and reliable notifications. There aren't many apps, 60 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:36,560 but there is one that opens the door to the office. The fitness tracking is handy on the occasion I 61 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,880 do get to the gym or walk to a friend's house. And I really do love its sleep tracking and 62 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:46,400 taptic alarm. It's the best way to wake up in the morning. But I'm also still frustrated with the 63 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:51,440 Apple Watch. Really, from a design standpoint, I've never really had an opportunity to talk about 64 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:56,800 this. But I don't think the Apple Watch is cool. They tried really hard when it first came out to 65 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:03,200 make it cool. But the mistake was making it square. Square watches, though they have a place, are 66 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:09,120 dorky. It's not a deal breaker, but then there are the watch faces. Sure, apples are fine, but 67 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:15,040 they are all very samey. It's also very soft and rounded off from the bars and dials of the 68 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:20,720 complications to the analog hands. Everything must use the same rounded San Francisco typeface and 69 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:26,000 all analog faces have the exact same watch hands. Apple has touted this as their most 70 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:31,760 personal product. And yet every time I look at it, it's just so boring. Every new face option is 71 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:36,000 just really a fancy wallpaper. And when it comes to complications, yeah, I guess there's a lot of 72 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:41,280 options, but there's really only three different types to choose from. Two at best. That's it. 73 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:46,720 I know that Wear OS isn't as good an operating system, but when I go into the play store and see 74 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:53,280 all those interesting designs that people can sell as watch faces, I get very envious. I want that. 75 00:06:53,280 --> 00:06:57,600 I mean, look at this cool retro segmented digital face with a glowing backlight effect, 76 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:03,280 or this richly detailed analog face with unique hands. Or better still, check out this hybrid face. 77 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:09,360 These faces are about one to two dollars each, but this is personalization. 78 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:15,280 Google even has a whole customizable API and studio app that enables this sort of design 79 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:21,600 customization. And I really don't understand why the designers at Apple are lacking in inspiration, 80 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:28,320 unless earlier this year, the American Department of Justice Antitrust Division filed a lawsuit 81 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:33,520 against Apple. In it, they allege a lot of things, but they devoted one whole section to the Apple Watch. 82 00:07:34,080 --> 00:07:39,440 In it, they say, quote, by suppressing key functions of third party smartwatches, 83 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:44,160 including the ability to respond to notifications and messages and to maintain consistent connections 84 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:49,360 with the iPhone. Apple has denied users access to high performing smartwatches with preferred 85 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:54,720 styling, better user interfaces and services, or better batteries. And it has harmed smartwatch 86 00:07:54,720 --> 00:08:00,480 developers by decreasing their ability to innovate and sell products. I think the Apple Watch can 87 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:06,160 be better, but it doesn't have to be. There's few opportunities for outside ideas. And as I 88 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:11,680 lamented when I used the Apple Watch as my only device last year, it's too tied to the iPhone 89 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:18,160 to fully realize its potential. It's also quite expensive. I think that if you are interested in 90 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:23,280 an Apple Watch right now, the Series 10 is the one to get. It is a sizable jump from the $250 91 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:28,800 Apple Watch SE, which is a thoroughly constrained option. It means that the de facto price of entry 92 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:36,720 for a smartwatch for iPhone users is $400. I won't be upgrading from a Series 6, because 93 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:42,400 last year's battery replacement I did has it ticking like new. But what if you have, say, 94 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:48,400 a Series 4? Well, then you have to answer yourself how pleased you are with your Apple Watch. If 95 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:54,640 it's proved its usefulness, or you like the Apple Watch faces, then the Series 10 will be great. 96 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,680 Apple seems to be very pleased with how the Apple Watch works. Still wish I was. 97 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:05,520 Thanks for adding the second hand to this Mac Address. I'm curious in the comments below who 98 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:10,400 have you missed skeuomorphism, because that'd be really nice on an Apple Watch. And if you want to 99 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:16,880 watch another video, watch the video where I used an Apple Watch as my only device for a whole week. 100 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:22,640 The result was actually surprising.