New iPhones/Apple Watch?

[explanade]

Well the Max is gett8ng closer to iPad in screen size so it might be possible to cram more pixels, even if the text and icons are smaller.

Many people think they can get by with a large screen in a phone where formerly they might have had a phone/iPad combo.

 

[captain3d]

All this apple talk inspired a phone upgrade. I am going from my 5c to an SE.

Small phones for the win.

Phil


Sent from my iPhone using Early Retirement Forum

 

[Katsmeow]

All this apple talk inspired a phone upgrade. I am going from my 5c to an SE.

Small phones for the win.

What I want is an expandable phone. I want it to be small when I want it small and then it magically expands when I want something iPad sized. I think there have been some attempts to do something like that but very clunky. Still that would be perfect...magic....

 

[explanade]

Samsung is rumored to be introducing a foldable phone soon.

 

[Ready]

Why would I need an additional data plan added to my current wireless plan. I have shared unlimited data (Verizon) for everything on my account. Why wouldn't that also apply to the Watch? If I have to buy a separate data plan for it that would be a huge negative!

You don't need an additional data plan. The $10 fee is what they refer to as a "device charge", meaning you are paying them $10 for an additional device to access your existing data plan.

When the cellular watch first came out last year there were lots of grumblings on the internet about how the carriers were gouging consumers by making them pay an additional $10 to let their watch access the data plans they are already paying for. It likely costs the carriers nothing extra, but it's obviously a profit source for them.

That being said, there are so many promotions out right now to get free or heavily subsidized phones if you purchase new lines that you can probably get a great deal by moving carriers, or at least threaten your existing carrier to do so unless they lower your bill.

 

[audreyh1]

Why would I need an additional data plan added to my current wireless plan. I have shared unlimited data (Verizon) for everything on my account. Why wouldn't that also apply to the Watch? If I have to buy a separate data plan for it that would be a huge negative!

There is an additional line fee with Verizon even though you don’t have an additional number. OK - I was calling that a data plan. But it’s $10 a month after the first 3 months free. Whatever you call it, US phone companies have decided to charge extra per month for the Apple Watch LTE service.

 

[mpeirce]

With att once you have a data plan you can add various devices to it. iPads and Apple Watches are $10 / month. Phones are $20 (but you get a phone number for it too). Laptops and WiFi hotspots are $20.

They do layer on “taxes and fees”

 

[TrvlBug]

There is an additional line fee with Verizon even though you don’t have an additional number. OK - I was calling that a data plan. But it’s $10 a month after the first 3 months free. Whatever you call it, US phone companies have decided to charge extra per month for the Apple Watch LTE service.

Don't forget the $30 activation fee with AT&T as well as junk fees and taxes on the $10/mo. device fee.

 

[explanade]

I can see leaving the home without the Watch but never the phone.

And in home you have Wifi.

So I think the value of the LTE Watch would be for people who want to jog without having to carry the phone.

And even then it's questionable that you'd need data, though I guess it's good to have in case of an emergency, though I don't think you can make calls other than with VOIP apps.

 

[audreyh1]

Don't forget the $30 activation fee with AT&T as well as junk fees and taxes on the $10/mo. device fee.

Apparently Verizon waives the $30 activation fee and gives you the first 3 months free.

 

[Katsmeow]

I can see leaving the home without the Watch but never the phone.

And in home you have Wifi.

So I think the value of the LTE Watch would be for people who want to jog without having to carry the phone.

Actually I am just the opposite. I plan to wear the Watch 24/7 except when charging and showering (I can shower with it but don't want to -- that will be a good time to charge).

I don't jog but I can think of a few situations where the LTE version is helpful.

1. At the Y when I am doing strength training. I can carry a phone in my pocket but it tends to easily fall out as I move. There aren't good places to put it down except the floor. With my Fitbit I had to bring the phone in because I used a chest strap for that activity and it couldn't talk directly to the Fitbit. It can talk to the Apple Watch.

So I will keep the phone in the car while I am at the Y. I like having the Watch be functional without the phone there.

The above is enough alone to make me want the cellular version. But a couple of other situations.

2. Outdoors at home.

3. Walking in the neighborhood.

4. Going in a store with DH where I don't need to pay so don't need my phone or credit card. I can just leave the phone in the car.

 

[audreyh1]

The Apple Watch has GPS, so it can track me cycling or walking in the neighborhood or swimming. I don't need the phone with me to monitor or record the exercise.

I can't receive a phone call or text in those situations, but that is not a problem for me. I can catch back up with those communications later.

 

[Ready]

I play pickleball for a few hours every day and I don't keep my phone on me when I'm on the court, so the watch allows me to stay connected when the phone is far away in my gym bag. And when I swim I don't take the phone into the pool with me but the watch keeps me connected as long as I'm not under water. It's also great at keeping track of my pace when swimming laps.

When I go for a walk I don't like to carry my phone. It's too big to fit comfortably in my pocket. So there are many times I'd prefer not to have a phone on me but still want to stay connected in case someone is trying to reach me.

 

[Chuckanut]

I thought watches were going out of style since everybody has a clock on their phone?

 

[Lsbcal]

I thought watches were going out of style since everybody has a clock on their phone?

That is so yesterday.

 

[audreyh1]

I play pickleball for a few hours every day and I don't keep my phone on me when I'm on the court, so the watch allows me to stay connected when the phone is far away in my gym bag. And when I swim I don't take the phone into the pool with me but the watch keeps me connected as long as I'm not under water. It's also great at keeping track of my pace when swimming laps.

When I go for a walk I don't like to carry my phone. It's too big to fit comfortably in my pocket. So there are many times I'd prefer not to have a phone on me but still want to stay connected in case someone is trying to reach me.

In the laps example - I leave my phone at home and swim in the pool, and the watch tracks my laps and pace just fine.

As far as I can determine, with the LTE connection:
You can receive calls and texts.
You can stream a lot more music.

All the workout related things don't require the phone to be with you.

If you have an LTE capable watch without an LTE plan, you can still make emergency calls.

 

[mpeirce]

I picked up a new Series 4 watch this morning. The Apple didn't have all the models available on day 1, but they had the one I wanted.

There was no "activation fee" with at&t for the cellular service . It's $10/m and the first month is free. Don't know what the "taxes & fees" are yet. They'll show up on the next bill.

The screen seems enormous actually. It's not really, but the extra size is nice. Physically it's a tad bigger too. I had a 42mm and now have the 44mm. Fits my wrist the same as best as I can tell.

 

[TrvlBug]

I picked up a new Series 4 watch this morning. The Apple didn't have all the models available on day 1, but they had the one I wanted.

There was no "activation fee" with at&t for the cellular service . It's $10/m and the first month is free. Don't know what the "taxes & fees" are yet. They'll show up on the next bill.

The screen seems enormous actually. It's not really, but the extra size is nice. Physically it's a tad bigger too. I had a 42mm and now have the 44mm. Fits my wrist the same as best as I can tell.

How crowded was it? We decided not to go today expecting huge crowds and will pick up our new watches next week.

 

[copyright1997reloaded]

Anyone order?

I ordered an iPhone XS Max (gold 256) which will be delivered on 9/21. This was a year where I think a lot of people will skip upgrading as it is a more incremental year. Next year is probably a "better" year to upgrade.

I upgraded for 2 reasons. First I do the Apple upgrade program. I have to pay the sales tax on an upgrade but otherwise the monthly amount doesn't change much. Of course, I was halfway through paying for the Apple X and now I have a new 2 year agreement so I understand that I am paying for it.

If Apple had only offered the iPhone XS for this year I don't think the upgrade would have been worth even using the upgrade program.

But, I did decide to go for the bigger screen of the XS Max. It was a bit debatable because I did like the X being smaller in width/length than my 7 Plus had been. That said -- the extra screen real estate on the Max is attractive. I particularly was swayed by the option of a split screen in horizontal mode for some apps. That is very, very attractive to me.

Still - if I hadn't been on the upgrade program I might have waited for next year's model.

I also today decided to order an Apple Watch 4. I have been on the fence about the Apple Watch ever since it came out. I have long used a Fitbit and been happy with it. In fact, I have the Fitbit Versa smartwatch which is only a few months old. (DH will likely inherit it from me).

I felt that the Apple Watch fitness stuff wasn't as good as on Fitbit and I didn't like that it didn't measure heart rate continuously.

Also, battery life isn't as good and many people have to charge the Apple Watch overnight. I would want to use it at night with sleep tracking apps.

But -- I finally decided this was the year to switch. The big draw for me was couping the Apple Watch with cellular with the iPhone Max.

Currently with my Fitbit, it doesn't measure calorie burn/heart rate very well when I am at the Y doing strength training. So I use a chest strap heart rate monitor. Fitbit won't allow the chest strap to directly attach to it. Instead the chest strap has to talk to an app on my phone and then that app sends the heart rate data to Fitbit and I get better calorie burn data.

The negative is that I have to have my phone with me while exercising. That is tolerable with the iPhone X but I don't look forward to it with the iPhone Max.

The Apple Watch 4 solves this problem. No -- it isn't any better at measuring calorie burn and heart rate during weight lifting. But -- it will let you directly sync a chest strap monitor with it. So, I don't have to have my phone there. Now -- I like having a phone available however.

That is why I am getting the cellular version of the Apple Watch. It will act as a phone in the absence of my actual phone. That way when I am places where a large iPhone would be inconvenient to use I can just use the Apple Watch.

I think the battery life will be OK. I can charge it when I am getting dressed, showering in the morning and then charge again in the evening when getting ready for bed. That should be enough to get me through most days.

The Watch isn't scheduled to be delivered until 10/12 to 10/19 but maybe it will arrive earlier....

As an Apple stockholder, I thank you for your purchases.

Actually, I wasn't aware that the Apple Watch allows synch from a chest strap HRM. I'm currently using BOTH a Fitbit (for all day/night HRM) as well as a Garmin 230 - for which I use a chest strap HRM when running. I was intrigued with the new series 4 watch, now I am even more so. Thanks.

 

[mpeirce]

How crowded was it? We decided not to go today expecting huge crowds and will pick up our new watches next week.

Not really crowed. Partially because the cheaper phone wasn't release, just the Xs and Xs Max.

I'd call your local store and ask them if it's worthwhile to stop in. I did that yesterday and they said they would have a number watches and phones available in the morning). My DS was able to pick up his watch at Best Buy. So that's another option to check (also Target and the phone stores at&t/Verizon/etc).

 

[audreyh1]

As an Apple stockholder, I thank you for your purchases.

Actually, I wasn't aware that the Apple Watch allows synch from a chest strap HRM. I'm currently using BOTH a Fitbit (for all day/night HRM) as well as a Garmin 230 - for which I use a chest strap HRM when running. I was intrigued with the new series 4 watch, now I am even more so. Thanks.

I didn’t either. I’ll check it out. My polar chest strap may be too old. I’ve been running it simultaneously with the polar app just to have an easy to see distant display while I’m doing my weights/cardio combo.

 

[Ready]

I picked up my Apple Watch Series 4 today at the local Apple store. I preordered it so I was hoping the lines would not be too long. When I got there, there was only one person in line ahead of me. My total wait time was less than one minute. They even agreed to buy back my old watch for the same price as the online quote I got and I only had to give them the watch unit itself. They let me keep my wrist band and all my accessories. I had my new watch up and running before I walked out of the store, all in less than fifteen minutes from start to finish. It was a very pleasant experience.

 

[audreyh1]

I picked up my Apple Watch Series 4 today at the local Apple store. I preordered it so I was hoping the lines would not be too long. When I got there, there was only one person in line ahead of me. My total wait time was less than one minute. They even agreed to buy back my old watch for the same price as the online quote I got and I only had to give them the watch unit itself. They let me keep my wrist band and all my accessories. I had my new watch up and running before I walked out of the store, all in less than fifteen minutes from start to finish. It was a very pleasant experience.

Nice!

 

[explanade]

I picked up my Apple Watch Series 4 today at the local Apple store. I preordered it so I was hoping the lines would not be too long. When I got there, there was only one person in line ahead of me. My total wait time was less than one minute. They even agreed to buy back my old watch for the same price as the online quote I got and I only had to give them the watch unit itself. They let me keep my wrist band and all my accessories. I had my new watch up and running before I walked out of the store, all in less than fifteen minutes from start to finish. It was a very pleasant experience.

Which online place, Gazelle?

 

[audreyh1]

Which online place, Gazelle?

It must be at apple.com to pick up in the Apple Store.