Hi all,
I'm going to be honest, the Apple Watch has always seemed really pointless to me unless you're into fitness and stuff like that, because of how well it integrates with the Health app on iOS, but all the other functions like replying to texts, answering calls etc all on your wrist just wasn't something I needed. However, I've recently been matched with my first guide dog, Iggy, we've just finished our training and I'm starting to get out and about more with her which is amazing! I started looking into a Bluetooth headset that was clear enough for me to use Google Maps with, so I can hear the directions in my ear without fiddling with wires, when one of my friends asked if the Apple Watch would be any good for that sort of thing.
I looked into it and had a listen to David's podcast on walking directions on the Apple Watch and it actually does sound quite cool. I really love how it tells you when to turn left and right etc, but then gives you the little ticks and vibration when you're more or less at the corner. So because of little things like that, do people find it easier to use than just using Apple Maps on your phone? And if it is better, how easy is it to use in general? I've felt one before and the screen felt far to small to me, but if i'm going to look into one, I might as well use the functions I previously thought I'd never need. After all, I'd rather not spend nearly £300 on something that I'm just gonna use for a Satnav :)
I've gone for the cheaper option for now and bought myself a £16 Bluetooth headset, but if the Apple Watch is good then I'll keep it in mind for the future.
Cheers,
Callum.
Comments
Use of the Apple Watch
I say save your money or invest in some type of blue tooth ear piece. I tried out an apple watch for a couple of weeks and it had many down sides. I was not impressed with the voice over performance and I had a lot of pairing issues.
Like yourself I am a guide dog user and thought it would be awesome to use to help track our routes and see how far we have walked. one major down side to the watch is you cannot use it if you wear it on one wrist and hold onto the dog with the other hand. the only way it is useful is if you were to stop and use your hand from the harness to swipe on the watch. That I find very annoying. Fortunately for me I will stick to the traditional iPhone and just swipe with my right hand. while I work my dog. I am able to hold my phone between my thumb and pinky finger and swipe with my pointer finger. It pretty much makes the watch useless because its not able to be accessed with your free hand because the face is on your wrist.
I found it frustrating and not very useful. Pretty much any function you want to do can be done easier from accessing the phone.
I would say stick with the phone and pair it with a blue tooth device if you want to hear the phone. I spent way too much time trying to configure apps on the watch while I was trying to navigate and monitor my walks.
Extention to my previous post
The apple watch is only useful if you have two hands free and are able to use it such as if you were sitting at a desk. I know it has a lot of hands free features, but you still have to press and hold the digital crown to be able to speak to Siri. If you have a guide dog or a mobility aid such as a cane you can't interact with the watch unless you stop and rest the cane against your body, or loop a guide dog leash around your arm so you can use your second hand to swipe on the watch interface. Wish I would have known this before I purchased and tested the watch.
You have a point but......
Hi. I have had my apple watch series 1 for 3 days and honestly, I really like it. For me, though I bought it for the fitness stats and also because i wanted a timepiece that i could tell the time on discretely that would last longer than a year. Braille watchs these days are so poorly made. My watch I got for Christmas in 2015 already looks scruffy. I haven't tried it out yet but if you own a pair of aftershokz Bluez 2s, there is a speak button on the lefthand side and if you press that you can, I would think talk to your watch. As for stopping to look at stuff on your phone, to me, more people ought to do this so I don't have a problem with it myself. The amount of people that have walked into me and my guide dog because they have been too busy looking at their phones is ridiculous.
Kerry