fastEddie
fastEddie SuperDork
9/1/12 1:45 p.m.

...but I'm not one of them, I haven't worn a watch in probably 8-10 years (that's what cell phones are for, duh!).

That said, I thought this was pretty cool from a tech standpoint, mixing classic analog and that new Blueteeth and iCellPhone stuff the youngins talk about.

http://www.ablogtoread.com/citizen-proximity-bluetooth-watch-for-iphone/

Osterkraut
Osterkraut UltraDork
9/1/12 2:35 p.m.
Article said: it has been specially designed to only work with the Apple iPhone.

Max_Archer
Max_Archer Reader
9/1/12 3:36 p.m.

It's too bad it's kind of, umm, hideous. Too many colors and fiddly little labels and stuff. I'd be interested if they made all the markings white or something.

There are already a bunch of watches out there that only work with Android, so an iPhone-compatible one isn't the worst thing. It makes a lot more sense from a business standpoint too, since Apple has the high-end smartphone market basically locked down (most of the Android phones out there are "free with contract" ones that many people never even download apps for) and developing is much simpler because OS updates come a lot slower and version is much more consistent across the install base. That's especially true with something like this, where anybody who'd buy it is basically guaranteed to have the newest iPhone anyway.

Basil Exposition
Basil Exposition Reader
9/1/12 5:10 p.m.

Ok, a couple of mini-rants:

1) Most men that have an iPhone keeps it on their person. It has programmable alerts, including noises and vibrations. It also keeps supremely accurate time. Why in the world would you need another gadget on your wrist to tell you what the thing in your pocket is doing? I could see some utility for a woman that keeps the phone in her purse, but that's no woman's watch. I can even see wearing a watch for fashion or convenience, but redundant gadgets seem just silly.

2) I'm sick and tired of seeing Eco or Green on every damned thing. It is usually meaningless and to put it on what is essentially a throw-away consumer good is downright stupidly contradictory. Do people really buy a throw-away watch thinking it is friendly to the environment some way?

Sorry, please return to your regularly scheduled program.

Derick Freese
Derick Freese SuperDork
9/1/12 5:34 p.m.

Dude, Eco-drive is a line of Citizen watches that they've been making for years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eco-Drive

Additionally, phones may not be allowed everywhere, like at work. I used to work in a call center, and if you got caught on the production floor with your phone out by a manager, you were supposed to be fired on the spot. While in practice, this only affected habitual phone users, most people wore a watch specifically for this reason, even though the computers all have clocks. In general, you don't always have the opportunity to check a phone or a computer for the time

Osterkraut
Osterkraut UltraDork
9/1/12 5:38 p.m.
Max_Archer wrote: since Apple has the high-end smartphone market basically locked down (most of the Android phones out there are "free with contract" ones that many people never even download apps for)

You've got to be berkeleying joking, right?

There are of course, more "free with contract" Android phones out there, because it's an open OS. That doesn't mean there aren't some dual-core monsters running around out there (Galaxy Nexus, Droid Razr, HTC Sensation, etc).

Curmudgeon
Curmudgeon MegaDork
9/1/12 6:13 p.m.

Crap. I wear an analog watch mostly because it doesn't depend on that kind of crap. I prefer standalone redundant systems.

Secretariata
Secretariata GRM+ Memberand Reader
9/1/12 9:22 p.m.

I use the sun...and a multitude of years experience to be aware of and estimate the passage of time. Haven't worn or carried a watch in 20 years or thereabouts.

Max_Archer
Max_Archer Reader
9/2/12 4:41 p.m.
Osterkraut wrote:
Max_Archer wrote: since Apple has the high-end smartphone market basically locked down (most of the Android phones out there are "free with contract" ones that many people never even download apps for)
You've got to be berkeleying joking, right? There are of course, more "free with contract" Android phones out there, because it's an open OS. That doesn't mean there aren't some dual-core monsters running around out there (Galaxy Nexus, Droid Razr, HTC Sensation, etc).

Yeah, there are. But how many of them are owned by the kind of people who will spend several hundred dollars on a watch to pair with their phone? Most of the Android people with high-end phones that I know are the types who don't believe in watches because their phone tells the time for them. iPhone owners have proven themselves more than willing to spend tons on phone accessories.

Anyway, there have been several Android-only BT watches released in the past. I don't think any were commercial successes, and it was funny how I never saw anybody complaining about how unfair it was that it didn't support iPhone. The whole reason to have an iPhone is for application and accessory support, and the lack thereof is a downside to Android that any buyer knows when they're buying their phone. My next phone will probably be an Android phone, by the way, and I'm prepared to accept that I'm going to see a lot of things that come out for the iPhone that I can't get.

Derick Freese
Derick Freese SuperDork
9/2/12 4:45 p.m.

I don't know man, most of the iPhones I see are of the FreeGS variety. I have a couple dead ones kicking around, all killed by friends.

Cole_Trickle
Cole_Trickle HalfDork
9/2/12 5:07 p.m.

Im looking at getting another TAG sometime. I love my Formula One.

vwcorvette
vwcorvette GRM+ Memberand Dork
9/2/12 8:10 p.m.

My newest.

My favorite:

Still have it and it works though the band is broken.

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
9/2/12 8:31 p.m.

The only half-way nice watch that I've ever worn was like this LL Bean (Hamilton) Officer's Field Watch.

When I was 24, I sold it because I needed money to buy a $450 motorcycle.

I suddenly found myself without a watch, but with a motorcycle. I never realized how much I looked at my watch until it was gone, but I found myself becoming more aware of my surroundings, as I would look for banks and churches with clocks. I think I may have become a lot more relaxed as well.

I haven't worn a watch since, though yesterday, my father offered me the Gruen Curvex that my mother gave him as a wedding gift in 1951. I never really liked it, but it was my father's watch, so if I get it from him, I'll hold onto it for good.

RedS13Coupe
RedS13Coupe Reader
9/2/12 9:32 p.m.
Max_Archer wrote:
Osterkraut wrote:
Max_Archer wrote: since Apple has the high-end smartphone market basically locked down (most of the Android phones out there are "free with contract" ones that many people never even download apps for)
You've got to be berkeleying joking, right? There are of course, more "free with contract" Android phones out there, because it's an open OS. That doesn't mean there aren't some dual-core monsters running around out there (Galaxy Nexus, Droid Razr, HTC Sensation, etc).
Yeah, there are. But how many of them are owned by the kind of people who will spend several hundred dollars on a watch to pair with their phone? Most of the Android people with high-end phones that I know are the types who don't believe in watches because their phone tells the time for them. iPhone owners have proven themselves more than willing to spend tons on phone accessories. Anyway, there have been several Android-only BT watches released in the past. I don't think any were commercial successes, and it was funny how I never saw anybody complaining about how unfair it was that it didn't support iPhone. The whole reason to have an iPhone is for application and accessory support, and the lack thereof is a downside to Android that any buyer knows when they're buying their phone. My next phone will probably be an Android phone, by the way, and I'm prepared to accept that I'm going to see a lot of things that come out for the iPhone that I can't get.

Honestly, I think your kinda off on this one... Android has a lot of support... Honestly, its only gaining support... and check out this map from 2011 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/05/iphone-android-state_n_919488.html

If nothing else, look at the market... as you said there have already been a few options for android... not so much for iphone, and that is not for no reason.

Android draws techies. It is HUGELY more appealing to the open source/gadget crowd. iOS users want simplicity, not gadgets... they want the one gadget, their phone, and they don't want to have to mess with it.

As a 28 year old, every single person I know who is into cellphones as a piece of technology, and not just as something they can check info on real quick, is into android.

And as far as iPhone for support... not really. Hell you cannot even supply apps with out going through apple first. Android has crazy support because if I was a developer and I wanted, I could email you my app, no app store needed. Its open for everyone to play, and they definitely do. There is very little with iphone only support at this point.

I like my eco drive a lot. As mentioned its not riding the "eco" craze... the name has been around forever and is their name for their solar powered watches that don't need new batteries. Mines over a decade old now I think, and its just runs. But that watch looks terrible and offers nothing. I know my phone has a call from the ringer, I know I have a text because the text notification sounds... Mail makes the mail tone. Unless it actually shows me the text, tells me who is calling or lets me trigger stuff like voice commands on the phone, it really isn't giving me any info other then check your phone... and the vibration setting does great for that.

GameboyRMH
GameboyRMH GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
9/3/12 10:58 a.m.
Osterkraut wrote:
Article said: it has been specially designed to only work with the Apple iPhone.

This. Might have been interested in it otherwise. A lot of the Bluetooth watches coming out these days require proprietary apps to work, I don't get it, there's a standard for this that existed before non-geeks were using smartphones...

Teh E36 M3
Teh E36 M3 Dork
9/3/12 5:50 p.m.

Concur with the "I don't wear a watch" crowd. Try it. You'll find yourself more relaxed and enjoying the day quite a bit more than before. You'll arrive when you are meant to be there- that is.... leave with plenty of time to get there, but if traffic is terrible, you won't sweat it half as bad as if you were checking your watch 40 times a minute.

pinchvalve
pinchvalve GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
9/3/12 6:41 p.m.

My wife could emerge from a 25 year coma and guess the time to within 5 minutes.

In the middle of the day, I could be convinced that the time is anywhere from 9 am to 7 pm. Just no clue whatsoever.

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
P1gBdgw16kxHlqOiGqVisGe6S9DGC6Rny6du7EnX0LKCALaR9bnchJAxGhuYVgbV