Issue 20.15
You are probably seeing all the news and advertising for the new Apple Watch. It is another game-changer from one of the truly innovative companies out there. I want to share some of what I have learned about it, but I also want to inform you of some alternatives that, depending on your needs, might be a better choice (or at least a little less expensive choice) depending on what you want it to do.
Let’s start near the bottom as far as cost goes. While the Apple Watch generally runs from $350 to $600 (depending on features and design) and can cost upwards of $12,000 if you want the gold plated versions, you can get a wearable watch that does a number of things for much less. I recently purchased the UP Move. It is a simple and small (think of a fat coin stuck in a rubber clip-on or a watch band) monitor that keeps track of the time, your steps, heart rate and sleep during the day. An accompanying app (application software) runs on my IPhone or IPad and reports all that to me as well as allowing me to track my calorie or food type consumption and water intake every day. It lets me set goals and lets me know how I am doing on them. The battery lasts a few months and is replaceable. So far, it seems to be fairly waterproof and sturdy and only cost $50.
In the same general range are the Misfit Flash and the Fitbit Zip. The low end Fitbit does not track sleep, but they have an upscale version for about $100 that does and has some other nifty features. There are a couple of others on the market in the price range as well, but I haven’t been able to find out a lot about them. They include the Razer Nabu X, the Archos Activity Tracker and the Fitbug Orb.
The Apple Watch has multiple screens, watch faces and many of the same apps as your IPhone and links with the phone so you can make and receive calls, send and receive messages, get GPS directions and ask SIRI questions. It is almost another phone and links through Bluetooth to your IPhone. It covers the activity tracking and heart rate monitoring of the less expensive competitors but I haven’t yet found out if it tracks your sleep or is waterproof. It definitely has more functionality than the fitness trackers, but for some it may be too expensive or have more features than they really want in a wearable.
Not to be left out, Android users (at least Samsung Galaxy users) have a similar device in the Galaxy Gear. It is only $199 and has many of the same types of features that the Apple Watch does. It is, according to the literature, “water and dust resistant” with an IP rating of 67 which is very good. It can run many android based apps and has a number of very attractive watch faces to tell the time, temperature, heart rate or other info you choose.
Basically, if you mostly want something to keep track of your activity and help you be healthy, the low cost fitness trackers are your best bet. If you want a cool Dick Tracy type watch with lots of bells and whistles (and alarms and GPS and voice interactivity and etc. etc. etc) you will likely want to get one that works with your phone and costs a bit more. So choose wisely – and always remember to back up anything on your computer that is important to you.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 33 years, 26 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.