WEBVTT 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. 00:00:06.080 --> 00:00:09.200 The company says this new series 10 model is a 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:15.680 beautiful new design. And they're right. But it doesn't look any different. 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 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 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 00:00:33.360 --> 00:00:37.040 the Apple Watch is. Let me try to explain. 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 00:00:53.600 --> 00:01:00.400 thinner profile. But while these two dimensional changes are slim, they are still noticeable. 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 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 00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:16.240 displayed, you're not going to be getting whole extra message bubbles. Rather, far more useful 00:01:16.240 --> 00:01:20.960 is the larger typefaces and buttons, which is great for those with weakening eyesight. 00:01:21.600 --> 00:01:25.440 It's kind of comical looking on this, the larger 46 millimeter Apple Watch, 00:01:25.440 --> 00:01:29.440 because the screen is actually slightly bigger than the one found on the Ultra model. 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, 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 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 00:01:42.880 --> 00:01:47.680 gone from using stainless steel to polished titanium, if you want to pay ultra prices. 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 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 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 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, 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 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 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 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 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:48.080 two newest watch faces get it. The second hand on the existing watch faces still disappear. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:51.440 Oh, the Apple Watch is telling me my heart rate is up. 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 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 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. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:12.880 And a few weeks later, I'm pleased to report that it's available in Canada. 00:03:13.440 --> 00:03:18.720 Using the accelerometer, Apple detects movements at the wrist associated with breathing disturbances, 00:03:18.720 --> 00:03:24.240 which then tallies in the health app. Undiagnosed sleep apnea is a serious health concern, so 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 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 00:03:34.640 --> 00:03:41.120 no sleep disturbances. As for me, it appears that my breathing disturbances are not elevated. 00:03:41.760 --> 00:03:44.800 Now, if only I could just get to sleep earlier. Such a night owl. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:52.880 The Series 10 does have a blood oxygen sensor, which works in Canada. Unfortunately for US 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 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 00:04:03.440 --> 00:04:10.000 patent dispute against Masimo for $250. It's possible when this gets resolved that the Series 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 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, 00:04:19.280 --> 00:04:22.960 cribbed from the Ultra model, though this won't go down deeper than six meters. 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, 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:32.320 and yeah, the reading did match the heater's temperature setting. Fast charging is even faster. 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, 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%. 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 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 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 00:04:58.640 --> 00:05:05.440 or if I'm suffering from a Mandela effect. Okay, enough about the series 10. 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 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 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 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 00:05:26.080 --> 00:05:30.880 Watch are the gentle taps for navigation and reliable notifications. There aren't many apps, 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 00:06:15.040 --> 00:06:20.720 complications to the analog hands. Everything must use the same rounded San Francisco typeface and 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:26.000 all analog faces have the exact same watch hands. Apple has touted this as their most 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 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 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. 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 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. 00:06:53.280 --> 00:06:57.600 I mean, look at this cool retro segmented digital face with a glowing backlight effect, 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. 00:07:04.480 --> 00:07:09.360 These faces are about one to two dollars each, but this is personalization. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:15.280 Google even has a whole customizable API and studio app that enables this sort of design 00:07:15.280 --> 00:07:21.600 customization. And I really don't understand why the designers at Apple are lacking in inspiration, 00:07:22.640 --> 00:07:28.320 unless earlier this year, the American Department of Justice Antitrust Division filed a lawsuit 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. 00:07:34.080 --> 00:07:39.440 In it, they say, quote, by suppressing key functions of third party smartwatches, 00:07:39.440 --> 00:07:44.160 including the ability to respond to notifications and messages and to maintain consistent connections 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:49.360 with the iPhone. Apple has denied users access to high performing smartwatches with preferred 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:54.720 styling, better user interfaces and services, or better batteries. And it has harmed smartwatch 00:07:54.720 --> 00:08:00.480 developers by decreasing their ability to innovate and sell products. I think the Apple Watch can 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 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 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 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 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 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 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, 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 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. 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:59.680 Apple seems to be very pleased with how the Apple Watch works. Still wish I was. 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 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 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. 00:09:17.760 --> 00:09:22.640 The result was actually surprising.