Thanks, Mark, for taking the time to sort this article out and post it. I just got the notice from BestBuy that my watch is in, so I'll be picking it up in about an hour. WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!! Donna
> On Sep 26, 2018, at 12:39 PM, M. Taylor <mk...@ucla.edu> wrote: > > Hello Everyone, > > Because of all of the images and embedded tables, this was a particularly > challenging article to format for this post. Consequently, I had to remove > the specs comparison table and additional reading references. In order to > see these and other external items, use the link located at the end of the > article. > > Enjoy, > > Mark > > Apple Watch Series 4 review: A bigger, better watchOS experience, Ars > Technica > > Apple Watch Series 4 review: A bigger, better watchOS experience > A $399 starting price is a lot to ask, but Apple added a lot to this Watch. > by Valentina Palladino, Sep 26, 2018 5:00am PDT > > The fourth iteration of the Apple Watch still looks like a tiny iPhone on > your wrist, but for many, it was the most exciting device announced at > Apple's event earlier this month. A larger screen, faster performance with > improved sensors, fall detection, and ECG readings are just a few of the > features that inspired quick interest in the Apple Watch Series 4. The steps > forward in health monitoring alone point to a new era for Apple's wearable, > and users who could benefit most from them have a compelling reason to shell > out $399 or more for the Series 4. > > Otherwise, the Series 4 is an amalgamation of small improvements that make a > big difference in the Apple Watch experience. These improvements will > attract new users to the Watch who have been waiting for a device that's up > to their personal standards, and they will make existing Watch wearers > question their happiness with the smartwatch currently on their wrists. But > while the Series 4 represents the first major redesign of the Apple Watch > since its birth, that alone doesn't make it an automatic upgrade for all > Apple Watch users. > > The hardware > Models and pricing > > The Apple Watch Series 4 comes in two sizes—40mm and 44mm—and as either a > GPS-only device or a GPS-and-cellular device. The 40mm, GPS-only Series 4 > Watch with an aluminum case starts at $399, and the GPS-and-cellular Watch > of the same size starts at $499. The 44mm, GPS-only model starts at $429, > and adding cellular ups the starting price to $529. Stainless steel cases > are only available with GPS and cellular capabilities: a 40mm Watch costs > $699 while a 44mm Watch costs $749. > > All models come standard with either a sport band or a sport loop band. The > special edition Nike+ Watches have exclusive Nike sport bands, but the bands > don't affect the prices of those models. A few GPS-and-cellular, > stainless-steel Watches come with the premium Milanese loop bands, and they > cost $799 and $849 for the 40mm and 44mm sizes, respectively. > > Those who have bands from old Apple Watches are in luck—all old bands will > fit on the new sizes. Prices for additional bands haven't changed: a sport > band costs $49, while a Milanese loop (as well as special leather bands) > costs $149. > > The Series 4 comes in an Hermés collaboration edition just like previous > Apple Watches. These luxury devices start at $1,249 for a 44mm stainless > steel model with a single leather band. > > Let's talk about that new screen: first, it's the main reason the Series 4 > comes in new case sizes. The amount of screen area is larger on this new > Watch, and it will tempt many to eschew their Series 3 and Series 2 Watches > entirely. After wearing a Series 3 for a year, the Series 4's screen is a > welcome change I didn't know I wanted—complications are bigger and easier to > tap, photos have more detail, and graphics are bold and take on new life > thanks to the extra space in which they can live. It's an in-your-face > change, even if the information on the Apple Watch's screen hasn't changed > much at all. > > The edges of the screen are rounded now instead of sharp, but the bezels are > particularly noticeable when using certain watch faces. The new fire > animation only roars within the confines of the 759-square-mm screen area on > my 40mm Watch, leaving clear strips of black on all four sides. > > It's impossible for the naked eye to tell, but the Series 4 display panels > use different technology than those on Series 3 Watches. The new LTPO > (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) panels combine low-temperature > polysilicon thin-film transistor technology (LTPS-TFT) and Indium Gallium > Zinc Oxide technology (IGZO, or Oxide TFT) into one display. This means the > result is the best of both worlds. Essentially, LTPO tech produces a > high-quality OLED display that consumes less power. > > The main way Apple's LTPO displays drain less power is through dynamically > adjusting refresh rates. Depending on the content on the screen, the > internal tech will automatically adjust the refresh rate—an animation with > all its necessary vibrancy and life may require 60Hz, but a static image may > only need 30Hz to look lovely. > > The new display looks just as good as the old display, and most will notice > its increased size more than anything else about it. LTPO's biggest gains > come in battery life, but Apple still expects the Series 4 to get roughly > the same amount of alive time as the Series 3—up to 18 hours. > Further Reading > Apple Watch Series 3 review: LTE comes with high monetary and mental costs > > I was initially disappointed that the Series 4's battery life wasn't > dramatically batter (er, better) than the Series 3, but there's an > understandable reason for this. The Series 4 is designed to do more than the > Series 3—it's faster and constantly processing more information in the > background when you're not using it. In addition to the display, Apple > optimized other parts of the Watch's hardware, including the processor, > accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS. That means the Series 4 could do more > while having the same battery life as the Series 3. > > Apple's method worked: at its best, my Series 4 lasted a little more than 18 > hours, which is about the same amount of time as my Series 3 could last when > I really put it to the test. On the first full day of using the Series 4, > which involved much more poking and prodding than usual, the Watch was down > to 30 percent battery life after 15 hours. > Other case changes > > Most people will be distracted by the bigger screen and not notice the other > changes on the Series 4's case. It's marginally thinner now, measure 10.7mm > (down from 11.4mm), and its mic has been moved to reduce echo during > LTE-enabled calls. The internal speakers have been improved as well, which > lets Siri belt out stronger, louder answers to your requests. > > The digital crown has an electrode on its flat edge that, along with the > underside electrodes, takes ECG measurements, and it also has haptic > feedback. You'll feel tiny nudges when using the digital crown to scroll > through anything on the watch face, including apps in the dock, podcast > options in the Apple Podcasts app, timer values, and more. > > Ceramic and sapphire glass make up the underside of the case: sapphire > crystal between the heart-rate monitor and the electrode circle and ceramic > surrounding the electrode. Previous GPS-only Apple Watch models had > composite backs, but that design is no more with the Series 4, regardless of > cellular connectivity. The new construction should help LTE Watches make > clearer calls, though. > > Upon trying to set up LTE service on my Series 4, a message on my iPhone in > the Watch app told me that my device was incompatible with my service. A bit > of digging on Verizon's website shows that only certain data plans work with > the Series 4, most of which are new or unlimited data plans. Anyone thinking > of upgrading to a Series 4 should check their carrier's compatibility > details before buying the new Watch. Otherwise, they should be ready to get > on the phone with customer service to sort out discrepancies. > > S4 chip and internal sensors > Apple's new dual-core, 64-bit S4 chip powers the Series 4, and it's supposed > to make the Watch perform up to two times faster than the Series 3. It > delivers on this promise, with apps loading a few milliseconds faster than > they did on the Series 3. The transitions between watch face to open app (or > from the app grid to a specific app) are much smoother and have less lag > time. My one-year-old Series 3 is by no means sluggish, but the Series 4 is > noticeably faster when completing simple and complex tasks. > > While I noticed the speed difference between the Series 4 and the Series 3, > it's likely even more pronounced when comparing the Series 4 with even older > models. WatchOS 5 drops support for the first-generation Apple Watch, and > with all the new features and capabilities in Apple's wearable OS, older > Watches (particularly S0 and S1 devices) will have a continuously harder > time performing as fast and as smoothly as some users expect. > > The accelerometer and gyroscope inside the Series 4 are not the same as > those in previous Watches, and they make Apple's new fall-detection feature > possible. The new accelerometer not only consumes less power than its > predecessor, but it also can measure up to 32 g-forces. The improved > gyroscope can identify a wider range of motion and orientations. > > Fall detection > Combine those hardware improvements with Apple's new software and you get a > modern solution to the "I've fallen and I can't get up" devices of > yesteryear. After studying thousands of people falling in various > situations, Apple developed software that could detect real falls based on > acceleration, impact, and trajectory. > > Tricking the fall-detection feature is unlikely because its hardware and > software are looking for specific concoctions of those three variables. Fake > tripping, no matter how hard you try, isn't the same as actually eating it > on the pavement. That's because your body moves and reacts differently in > both cases. The new accelerometer comes into play here—when you actually > fall, your body may hit the ground at an impact of close to 32 g-forces. The > old accelerometer could only measure up to 16 g-forces, which is why fall > detection is a feature exclusive to the Series 4. > > If and when the Watch detects a real fall, it will nudge you, vibrate, and > emit progressively louder sounds until one minute of inactivity goes by. > Then, assuming you're incapacitated and need help, the Watch will call > emergency services and send a text message to your emergency contact that > includes your last known location. > > Fall detection, along with the new ECG features that we'll cover soon, opens > up the Apple Watch to a new segment of older and elderly users. Fall > detection is automatically turned on for users 65 and older, but younger > users who want its protection can turn it on in the Watch iOS app. > > As someone with an elderly family member who has taken numerous falls in the > past, I can see how this feature could be lifesaving. Family members must > provide constant check-ups and attention to their loved ones who can't move > as well as they once could, because a fall could be deadly. If fall > detection works as promised, the Series 4 could immediately connect those in > need of assistance with the right people—both in emergency services and in > their contacts list. > > I couldn't trigger fall detection on my own, despite a couple attempts at my > best fake-fall. But the bright side is that the Series 4 never incorrectly > detected a fall while I was wearing it. So at least it isn't prone to false > positives. > > Heart-rate monitor, digital crown, and ECG tech > The back of the Series 4 looks quite different from the Series 3—the first > thing I noticed was the apparent switch from a multiple-LED optical > heart-rate monitor to a single LED, but that's not exactly the case. The > optical heart-rate monitor still uses multiple green and IR LEDs to take > your pulse, but now the cluster has just been clustered closer together to > make room for the circular electrode that surrounds it. This electrode is > made of a chromium silicon carbon nitride layer that has been fused to the > sapphire back using a physical vapor deposition method—combined with the > titanium electrode on the flat edge of the digital crown, together they can > take electrocardiograms, or ECGs. > > Typically measured by doctors using a machine with multiple leads, ECGs can > help monitor for heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation and heart > attacks. The Apple Watch Series 4 isn't a medical device, but it and its > accompanying ECG app have been cleared by the FDA. That announcement brought > no shortage of praise when the Watch debuted earlier this month, but it's > important to understand what that really means for the Series 4's ECG > measurements. > > The Series 4, its ECG app, and its Irregular Rhythm Notification feature are > cleared under the FDA's Class II category, and they're described as: > An electrocardiograph software device for over-the-counter use creates, > analyzes, and displays electrocardiograph data, and [it] can provide > information for identifying cardiac arrhythmias. This device is not intended > to provide a diagnosis. > > The Series 4 won't replace a visit to your doctor, and it won't diagnose any > heart-related conditions like atrial fibrillation. However, it can be used > to inform such diagnoses. In other words, it provides extra information that > you can measure yourself, at home and at your leisure, and provide to your > doctor when necessary. > > The FDA notes that the technology isn't suitable for people under the age of > 22 or for those who have already been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation or > other arrhythmias. In addition, the FDA letter is specific about the > Irregular Rhythm Notification feature: users shouldn't rely on the Series 4 > to detect every instance of abnormal heart rate. > It is not intended to provide a notification on every episode of > irregular rhythm suggestive of AFib, and the absence of a notification is > not intended to indicate no disease process is present; rather, the feature > is intended to opportunistically surface a notification of possible AFib > when sufficient data are available for analysis. > > The ECG app won't be available until later this year through a software > update, but I received a short demo of it upon getting my Apple Watch. When > first opened, dozens of red dots form the ethereal image of a heart on the > screen. They just float in the black abyss until you press your finger to > the electrode on the digital crown. Then the red dots spring to life and > swirl like a swarm of tiny bees on the screen as the electrodes work > together to form the electric loop necessary to take an ECG reading. You > must hold your finger to the digital crown for about 25 seconds before the > reading is complete. During that time, a timer on the Watch's display counts > down, and the line of your heartbeat moves on the screen as the device takes > your pulse. > > When all is said and done, the Watch's screen shows your ECG waveform and > includes a description of what that reading means. During my demo, the Watch > informed the wearer that they had a sinus rhythm, or an otherwise > uninteresting ECG reading with a normal heartbeat and rhythm. If their heart > beat had been abnormal or showed signs of atrial fibrillation, the message > would have been quite different. > > Underneath the ECG reading and description is a button that allows you to > add symptoms if you're feeling strange or unwell. Even if an ECG reading > comes back normal, tracking any feelings or issues you may be experiencing > is useful because it could help your doctor understand your overall state in > the future. You can tap on the necessary symptoms to add them to your ECG > reading, which is then saved to your profile in the Health app. At any time, > you can export the reading (or multiple readings) as a PDF so you can easily > give it to your doctor. > > See that irregular up-and-down motion right before the big beat? That's > atrial fibrillation, something the new Apple Watch may help detect. > > This is a big step forward for Apple's wearable, and it will undoubtedly > attract new users. Most people who would use the ECG app frequently > understand that almost nothing (certainly not a luxury smartphone accessory) > will replace a doctor's visit. But the ECG tech allows users to take a more > active role in monitoring their health. An ECG screening once a day, or even > just when the user is feeling abnormal, could record pertinent information > that can help doctors better assess that user's health. While it won't > provide the same results as a 12-lead machine in a hospital would, it's more > information than the Watch could provide before. > > I'm curious about the future of the electrodes on the Apple Watch. > Currently, they will be used only with the ECG app, but they could be used > to better monitor heart rate during exercise. Polar announced two new > devices that use bioimpedance sensors (tech that's similar to the electrodes > on the Apple Watch) to better read pulse data during periods of intense > exercise. The Apple Watch's optical heart-rate monitor remains one of the > most accurate wrist-based monitors I've used, but adding electrical pulse > data to the mix would appeal to the most active users. > > The optical heart-rate monitor can also now detect when your heart rate is > abnormally low in addition to when it's abnormally high. This was another > feature I couldn't really test, but even while wearing the Series 3, I never > received an alert that my heart rate was too high. The idea is that the > Watch can let you know when you need to calm down or, in the new case of a > too-low heart rate, when you may need more nutrients and may be in danger of > fainting. > > The software > WatchOS 5 compatibility > > Every Apple Watch Series 4 ships with watchOS 5 on it. The newest version of > Apple's wearable software requires an iPhone 5S or later, running iOS 12 or > later, and will work on Apple Watch Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, and Series > 4 models. The original Apple Watch, now referred to as the Series 0, doesn't > support watchOS 5. This is the first time that a watchOS update leaves an > Apple Watch in the dust, which means that an entire group of Watch wearers > will have to make the decision to upgrade or not. > > New watch faces and complications > > As with all new version of watchOS, the new operating system includes new > watch faces that are designed to show off both new OS features and the > stunning nature of the Series 4's display. The fire and water, vapor, and > liquid metal watch faces starred in many ads for the new Watch. And rightly > so: they give the Watch face a hypnotic quality that will appeal to many. > > Fire and water made it onto my Series 4 for a little while because I enjoy > how the face's animations make flames and droplets appear out of the dark > center of the screen. But I fell back into my comfort zone quickly, back to > watch faces that make way for numerous complications. The two > newbies—infograph and infograph modular—are polarizing for sure, the former > more so than the latter. > > Infograph also premiered in Apple Watch ads, and some industry watchers > truly detest its information-overload aesthetic. Up to eight complications > can fit into that one watch face, and while I programmed mine to my liking, > it was a bit too much for me to look at on most days. Infograph modular > ended up being my happy medium, which wasn't surprising since my favorite > watch face has always been Apple's regular module design. > > Apple also turned its Breathe app into a watch face, so users can access > guided breathing exercises more quickly. It has a similar, calming animation > as the fire and water watch face, with a light-blue flower blooming from the > middle of the screen. Even if you're not into meditation, it's a nice watch > face if you're into florals or minimalist art. Tapping on the completed > flower instantly opens the Breathe app, where you can start a meditation > session. > > Complication icons, as well as most other graphics in watchOS 5, have been > slightly redesigned to be rounder, bigger, and more touch-friendly. The new > screen real estate makes it easier to tap, swipe, and navigate on the Series > 4, so Apple accounted for that by making the on-screen UI use as much of > that space as possible. But don't worry—with the exception of the infograph > watch face, enough of the screen's inky blackness comes through so you > shouldn't feel overwhelmed by colors and light. > > Overall, I like the balance of functional and fun that Apple achieved in the > selection of new watch faces. However, the quirkiest thing about them will > bother some users—new complications in watchOS 5 are only compatible in new > watchOS 5 watch faces. That means complications like air quality, UV index, > and Walkie Talkie are not programmable on old watch faces. The change is > disappointing because it forces users into wearing a watch face they may not > be totally happy with if they want to quickly access some new features. > > I'm also disappointed that Apple hasn't allowed third-party watch faces into > the mix, but I'm also not surprised by this decision. Apple likes to control > user experience as much as possible, and a lot of that comes with the > default screen on the Apple Watch. It's unclear if Apple would ever consider > doing this, so for now, we're all stuck with Apple's ideas of what a digital > clock should look like. > Workouts > > The Series 4 builds upon the exercise features of the Series 3, which > include all-day heart-rate monitoring, workout tracking for a bunch of > activities, GymKit connectivity, and more. Two popular workout profiles make > their debut in watchOS 5: yoga and hiking. > > It's surprising that Apple didn't have these programmed into the Workout app > until now, considering how popular both activities are and how many other > wearables consider them standard exercises to track. Both show up in the > Workout app as green cards, like the rest of the workout profiles do, and > the hiking profile takes elevation into account when tracking your treks. > > But the feature that most excited me upon learning about watchOS 5 was > automatic workout detection and ending. With watchOS 5, the Apple Watch can > recognize when you're doing one of seven exercises (walking, indoor and > outdoor running, pool and open-water swimming, rowing, and elliptical > training), even if you didn't use the Workout app before you started. > > After about three minutes of an elliptical workout, my Series 4 gave me a > haptic nudge, displayed a message on the screen that said it recognized my > elliptical training, and asked if I wanted to start tracking it with the > Workout app. A quick tap on the screen opened the Workout app, which showed > that my previous three minutes of exercise were already recorded. The same > process occurs when ending a workout: if you forget to do so, the Watch > nudges you after three minutes of pause or less vigorous movement. > > The threshold for auto-start detection is different only for walking: you'll > need to be moving for 15 minutes before the Watch will ask if you want to > record this session. Apple didn't want to intrude on users who complete > short bursts of walking frequently throughout the day—you wouldn't want the > Watch asking you if you're working out when you're just walking to and from > meetings in the office—so it upped the time threshold for this exercise. > > Auto-start and end detection elevates the Apple Watch as a fitness device, > and it's about time. Fitbit, Garmin, and other companies have been making > wearables that can auto-detect workouts for years now; considering the Apple > Watch's other fitness capabilities and the device's price, it's only fitting > that the Watch should include this feature as well. > > I've believed for a while now that the Apple Watch is a fantastic fitness > device for most people. However, it's not the best or most comprehensive > fitness wearable available (certainly not at its current price point of $399 > or more). It shows its weakness partially in its ability to track strength > training exercises and other non-cardio workouts. > > Heart-rate data constructs the foundation for these workout profiles—the > Watch measures duration and heart rate, and that's about it. The Watch can't > recognize exercises like the newest version of Google Fit can, and it can't > count reps like various Garmin devices. Admittedly, those features in > competing devices aren't always accurate, but their inclusion in other > wearables shows that OEMs are trying to make devices that suit a variety of > athletic needs and interests. > > But one feature that's considered standard for other wearables that the > Apple Watch continues to lack is native sleep tracking. A handful of > third-party apps track sleep through the Apple Watch, but Apple itself > hasn't programmed that into the Watch's health chops. Those who elect to use > a third-party sleep tracking app must charge the device more frequently than > most since the Watch still cannot match the battery life of devices like the > Fitbit Versa or the Garmin Vivoactive 3, both of which track sleep without > breaking a sweat. > > My guess is that native sleep tracking will only come when Apple has made > the necessary and significant gains in battery life that such a feature > demands. > > Walkie Talkie > Apple added the new Walkie Talkie feature to improve upon the Watch's > already solid communications capabilities. However, after using it, Walkie > Talkie feels like a feature that was added primarily to bolster the keynote > last month; it's a "Look, it works!" feature that isn't necessary in most > contexts. > > Walkie Talkie turns an Apple Watch into exactly that—a walkie-talkie that > can transmit a voice message to another Apple Watch with a simple press on > the screen. Press and hold the big yellow circle to record your message, and > when finished, the message zooms off to your contact via the Wi-Fi or > cellular airwaves. You can add people to your Walkie Talkie list by > rummaging through your contacts for those who have Apple Watches, and the > app helps you along by providing recommended contacts (presumably those who > have an Apple Watch linked to their accounts) at the top of the screen. > > It's a cool feature that works as promised, and the clarity of the messages > I received surprised me, too. My friend's voice was crisp and clear, with > little to no background noise infiltrating the recording. When you don't > want to be bothered by Walkie Talkie messages, just swipe down from the top > of the screen when in the app and turn off your Available status. If the > Watch is in Theater Mode or Do Not Disturb mode, it will automatically make > you unavailable in Walkie Talkie as well. > > With the plentiful messaging options available to Apple Watch and iPhone > users, I'm not sure when I'd choose Walkie Talkie over another. Users can > dictate or scribble messages directly from the Watch, and iPhones give you > the added option to send a voice message. Walkie Talkie is equivalent to a > voice message in iMessage, and I predict those who forgo typed text and > solely send snippets of their voice to their friends will be the ones using > Walkie Talkie the most. > > Siri and everything else > Apple claims Siri gets smarter on the Watch the more you use the virtual > assistant. That means speaking to your wrist and using the Siri watch face > could benefit you in the long run. I don't use Siri a lot, but I was > impressed by how much faster and louder she is on the Series 4. Siri is a > few milliseconds faster at answering my questions, and her voice comes > through clearly thanks to the improved speakers. > > Instead of tapping the Siri complication or pressing the digital crown, now > you can just raise your wrist to your face and speak to Siri as well. The > assistant hears you even before the Watch's screen turns black as her UI > pops up on the screen. I appreciate the convenience that the new > raise-to-talk feature provides, and that alone could get me to experiment > with Siri more. > > Siri also has the power to evoke Shortcuts, or quick ways to trigger > multiple actions from your iPhone. The Shortcuts app on iOS 12 lets you > customize numerous Shortcuts and assign them trigger phrases. Apple created > a bunch to get users started, and those live in the Gallery section of the > Shortcuts app. I tried to make a few Shortcuts of my own and use some of > Apple's pre-fab ones, but Siri on my Series 4 couldn't complete any of them. > When I tried to trigger a Shortcut using the appropriate phrase, Siri on my > Watch "thought" for a few seconds and then told me to open my iPhone to > continue with the Shortcut—my iPhone showed no signs that any Shortcut had > been evoked. > > In an update that will spark joy for many Watch users, Apple brought the > Podcast app to watchOS 5. Those who use Apple Podcasts as their primary > player can now download episodes to the Watch and listen with a pair of > connected Bluetooth headphones. > > Similarly to Apple Music on the Watch, Podcasts heavily features show > artwork and you can scroll through different shows as if they were albums in > Apple Music. Overcast is my podcast app of choice, but I'm happy to see > Apple Podcasts get some love on the Watch because plenty of users have been > asking for this app for a long time. > > WebKit support in Messages and Mail lies deep within the grab-bag of other > watchOS 5 improvements, but it's a feature that could change how you use the > Watch. Previously, if someone sent you a link in Messages or Mail, it would > come up as plain text on the screen with a prompt saying that you should > open the link on your iPhone. Now, webpages actually render in full on the > Watch's screen, and they're not as terrible as you'd think. No, you're not > going to browse Amazon from the Series 4's display, but you can view a > linked Amazon wishlist without wanting to gouge your eyes out. > > This has the potential to be quite useful—if a coworker sends you a link in > an email and wants your feedback on said link before you arrive at work, now > you could view the contents of the link on the Watch. When your phone is on > your bag or somewhere else entirely, WebKit's new Watch abilities could come > in handy. I hope to see WebKit capabilities stretch to third-party apps in > the future. > Indispensable for some, desirable for others > > The Apple Watch Series 4 contains the most significant improvements since > the Series 2 brought onboard GPS to the smartwatch. Most notable out of all > the new features are fall detection and ECG readings, as these have the > potential to change people's lives or, quite literally, save them. > > The Series 4 is a worthwhile upgrade for those additions alone, particularly > for those who will benefit from them the most. Fall detection and ECG > readings will also be reason enough for some who have never worn an Apple > Watch to get the Series 4 now. By introducing these health-oriented > additions, Apple seems to be realizing some of its original vision for the > Watch by making it a device that can connect you to the right people at the > right time, as well as a device that can give you more control over your > long-term well being. > > As for the other improvements that the Series 4 brings, they make a > noticeable difference in the Apple Watch experience. But I'm convinced that > much of the perceived greatness of the Series 4 comes from the larger > screen: it amplifies everything, and pretty much everything runs well on the > Series 4. > > Of course, everything still runs well on the Series 3, too. For that reason, > I don't recommend that Series 3 owners abandon their one-year-old smartwatch > yet. WatchOS 5 perks that don't require special hardware, including Walkie > Talkie, will work on old devices. So the Series 3 gets revitalized in that > sense. > > Users with older devices (Series 2 and earlier) will want to consider > upgrading purely for the performance improvements. WatchOS 5 and all of its > new features will run better on the Series 4 thanks to the S4 chip, and that > combined with the new health features make it a worthy (albeit expensive) > upgrade. > > The Good > Bigger, better screen. > All old Watch bands fit on the Series 4. > Good battery life. > Faster performance. > Fall detection has the potential to be lifesaving. > ECG features give users more control to monitor their health on a daily > basis. > Accurate auto workout detection and ending feature. > WebKit support makes viewing HTML links tolerable. > > The Bad > ECG app isn't available yet. > WatchOS 5 drops support for Series 0 devices. > New complications are only compatible with new watch faces. > Still no support for third-party watch faces. > Still no native sleep tracking. > Siri has trouble completing Shortcuts. > > The Ugly > More expensive than any other Apple Watch, and all future models will > likely follow that trend. > > Original Article at: > https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/09/apple-watch-series-4-review-a-bigger > -better-watchos-experience/ > > > -- > The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries > list. > > If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if > you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or > moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. > > Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: > mk...@ucla.edu and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at > caraqu...@caraquinn.com > > The archives for this list can be searched at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. -- The following information is important for all members of the Mac Visionaries list. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. Your Mac Visionaries list moderator is Mark Taylor. You can reach mark at: mk...@ucla.edu and your owner is Cara Quinn - you can reach Cara at caraqu...@caraquinn.com The archives for this list can be searched at: http://www.mail-archive.com/macvisionaries@googlegroups.com/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
