I have made it no secret that I want a larger iPhone. Last year, I posted my reasons for keeping my iPhone 4S for another year. Simply put, I needed a larger phone to change the way I use it. With the new 4.7 and 5.5 inch iPhone screens, I have gotten my wish! I am glad I don't need to change to Android or a Windows phone, which I would have done if a larger iPhone wasn't introduced today. I am sure they make nice phones, their vocal fan base sure thinks they do, but I just don't want to worry about how that will affect the Apple things I use like Airplay and Photostream. Not to mention, I have apps that I use every day that only work with iOS (Roomie Remote and Fidelia) and there are many apps that come to iOS first and Android and Windows are a second thought that comes later (Lightroom app is a recent example). I just don't want the lifestyle change to be honest.
I have thought about which iPhone to get, but I have decided on the iPhone 6 Plus. It is has the bigger screen, but I have XL hands, so I am not worried about the size difference. It will be slim enough and light enough that using it with one hand shouldn't be a big deal. I thought about getting the 4.7 inch since I have read that many people think that size is perfect. However, I think I would regret it every time I opened Flipboard or Safari. Also, the camera stabilization (that isn't included in the 4.7 inch model) will come in handy. The only issue is getting it into pant pockets and I don't think it will be an issue with the Bill's Khakis I normally wear or with the cargo shorts I wear in the summer. It may be an issue with jeans, but I will just have to wait and see. I don't wear jeans very often and it is mainly in the fall/winter when I would have a jacket or coat anyway.
Now that I got that out of the way, is bigger always better? Apparently not if you like the Apple Watch. I have been reading a lot of snarky comments about how bad it looks, how it compares to other watches, how the tiny screen may be hard to use, and how it is limited by the fact that it requires an iPhone to work. Of course, many of these critics also thought the iPad would be a failure.
Personally, I think I would use it, but it would be a luxury item. I have an "iPad with Retina" and it is a luxury, as well, but I have no problem having a luxury item if I think it will be useful on a daily basis. I use the iPad every single day, so it may be a luxury item compared to a laptop, but it is a very useful luxury item. Also, I have a watch that costs more than $350 that I rarely ever wear and I would consider it more of a luxury item since it only comes out on special occasions.
So I know that I don't wear the watches very often, so what would make this different? I think I would use it because of the health monitoring, the convenience and stealthiness of looking at the watch to check emails and other messages, Twitter, etc.. Very nice for work. Personally, I think I will like the way it looks with the band/strap I would choose and its square face will be a nice change of pace from my round faced watches.
The fact that I could just skip songs and use Airplay without picking up the iPhone would be a nice feature, as well. I am wondering if it will interface with Spotify, Rdio, or Beats Music. If it does, it would probably give me a much larger incentive to buy it. I admit that some of the features seem juvenile, but there are juvenile apps for iOS I ignore. It isn't like I refused to buy the iPhone because I didn't want to use a Howard Stern recommended app.
There are downsides to the Apple Watch. The price starts at $349 which is a lot to pay considering that Apple has crippled two year old devices in the past (anyone remember how long it took before the Original iPad stopped getting updates?). Also, do I really want to deal with wearing a watch and charging another device? In addition to the known issues, there are issues like battery life, water resistance, being the beta tester for version 1, how much will the non-base models cost, etc.. Also, I am wondering why the screen only shows up when you lift your arm. Seems strange that I will have a "watch" on and it will look like it is broke without anything on the screen most of the time.
Since the watch won't hit the market until next year, there should be a lot of questions that will be answered before I make a firm decision. I can see how it would be a lot more useful than a regular watch, but I am still not sure the price makes sense for how I would use it. Also, unlike other Apple devices, I have to see this one in person before I know if it is for me or not.
I have thought about which iPhone to get, but I have decided on the iPhone 6 Plus. It is has the bigger screen, but I have XL hands, so I am not worried about the size difference. It will be slim enough and light enough that using it with one hand shouldn't be a big deal. I thought about getting the 4.7 inch since I have read that many people think that size is perfect. However, I think I would regret it every time I opened Flipboard or Safari. Also, the camera stabilization (that isn't included in the 4.7 inch model) will come in handy. The only issue is getting it into pant pockets and I don't think it will be an issue with the Bill's Khakis I normally wear or with the cargo shorts I wear in the summer. It may be an issue with jeans, but I will just have to wait and see. I don't wear jeans very often and it is mainly in the fall/winter when I would have a jacket or coat anyway.
Now that I got that out of the way, is bigger always better? Apparently not if you like the Apple Watch. I have been reading a lot of snarky comments about how bad it looks, how it compares to other watches, how the tiny screen may be hard to use, and how it is limited by the fact that it requires an iPhone to work. Of course, many of these critics also thought the iPad would be a failure.
Personally, I think I would use it, but it would be a luxury item. I have an "iPad with Retina" and it is a luxury, as well, but I have no problem having a luxury item if I think it will be useful on a daily basis. I use the iPad every single day, so it may be a luxury item compared to a laptop, but it is a very useful luxury item. Also, I have a watch that costs more than $350 that I rarely ever wear and I would consider it more of a luxury item since it only comes out on special occasions.
So I know that I don't wear the watches very often, so what would make this different? I think I would use it because of the health monitoring, the convenience and stealthiness of looking at the watch to check emails and other messages, Twitter, etc.. Very nice for work. Personally, I think I will like the way it looks with the band/strap I would choose and its square face will be a nice change of pace from my round faced watches.
The fact that I could just skip songs and use Airplay without picking up the iPhone would be a nice feature, as well. I am wondering if it will interface with Spotify, Rdio, or Beats Music. If it does, it would probably give me a much larger incentive to buy it. I admit that some of the features seem juvenile, but there are juvenile apps for iOS I ignore. It isn't like I refused to buy the iPhone because I didn't want to use a Howard Stern recommended app.
There are downsides to the Apple Watch. The price starts at $349 which is a lot to pay considering that Apple has crippled two year old devices in the past (anyone remember how long it took before the Original iPad stopped getting updates?). Also, do I really want to deal with wearing a watch and charging another device? In addition to the known issues, there are issues like battery life, water resistance, being the beta tester for version 1, how much will the non-base models cost, etc.. Also, I am wondering why the screen only shows up when you lift your arm. Seems strange that I will have a "watch" on and it will look like it is broke without anything on the screen most of the time.
Since the watch won't hit the market until next year, there should be a lot of questions that will be answered before I make a firm decision. I can see how it would be a lot more useful than a regular watch, but I am still not sure the price makes sense for how I would use it. Also, unlike other Apple devices, I have to see this one in person before I know if it is for me or not.
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