Is it worth buying apple? Why is everyone talking about this watch? Of all the software on the Apple Watch, I regularly use only

Useful tips

The release of smart watches from Apple was awaited for many years, there were many rumors, and in 2015 they finally appeared to the world. Since the first version of almost any device contains flaws and errors, I purchased the second iteration of the Apple Watch. After using them for a long time, I was able to determine the strengths and weak sides this device. And in this article I will try to describe as informatively as possible all the advantages and disadvantages of this gadget.

First impressions of Watch 2

My acquaintance and first impression were formed immediately while unpacking the gadget. Still, from the photographs and videos it was not entirely clear how beautiful and comfortable the watch is. A stylish, thin box, after opening which the full length of the Apple Watch 2 appears.

The appearance of the device is captivating. Matte black aluminum looks impressive, the silicone strap, surprisingly, turns out to be pleasant to the touch and practical to use. The gadget fastening system invented by Apple does not allow it to be unfastened, even with heavy load on the hand or shaking.

The set includes 2 straps: small and large, for any wrist size.

By the way, they are easy to replace and you can purchase any other one on the official Apple website or in other stores. There are options for every taste: from nylon to metal.

Functional

Also liked the software Apple software Watch 2, called watchOS.

Firstly, there are a huge number of watch faces to choose from. Analogue, digital, with a globe or butterflies - whatever you want, just have time to change it. Depending on your choice, you can display the weather, stock prices or, for example, battery charge on the screen. In general, there is somewhere to roam. Secondly, working with applications.

IN special store App Store There are a huge number of programs available. Call a taxi from your watch or view your balance bank card- all this is provided by the watchOS interface. It is especially convenient to watch the weather forecast in the morning. Everyone coming from iPhone notifications broadcast to the watch. Here you can somehow react to them using prepared phrases a la “Thank you” or through voice input. But there is also a noticeable disadvantage. Applications do not always work quickly. More often they are slow or refuse to work at all due to a poor connection to the smartphone.

With each watchOS update, Apple tries to optimize performance and soon you can expect a perfectly stable system. In general, everything is in the best traditions of the Cupertino people.

Other pleasant features include Bluetooth headphones, which allow you to listen to music without using iPhone. This scenario is well suited for sports.

Other nice things in Apple Watch 2

Separately, I would like to highlight the payment Apple system Pay. With its help, you can pay for purchases in a store by simply placing your watch on the terminal. No passwords or cards, just a device on your wrist. There are no problems with this in Moscow. This method of payment becomes especially relevant in the summer, when there are either no pockets on clothes or they are small. It is not possible to take cards or cash with you all the time, but the watch is always on your hand and is ready for payment at any time.

When I was on vacation in the UAE, the gadget was simply our salvation, especially in the water park and at sea.

By the way, you won’t be able to steal an Apple Watch Series 2 and pay with it. When removed from your wrist, the watch automatically sets a password. However, it is possible to steal watches and sell them, for example, for spare parts. It is still difficult to hack them, since Apple constantly releases software security patches.

The price of Apple Watch 2 in Russia is quite high - from 20,000 rubles. This somewhat slows down their development and spread in the CIS countries.

Options with a steel or ceramic case are especially expensive. But the uniqueness of the device is encouraging accessory manufacturers to create truly attractive docks, cases and bands for the Apple Watch Series 2.

What's the result?

The most negative aspects include the battery. You have to charge the gadget often; the battery life lasts for 2-3 days of use. The closest competitors in their Android world show similar or worse results.

Fortunately, charging is carried out quite quickly, the magnetic cable connection mechanism itself is pleasant and does not cause discomfort. However, my regular analog watch, which requires charging once every few years, simply crushes the Apple Watch 2 in this regard.

Looking back at the failures of competitors with Android Wear and Tizen, it’s safe to say that Apple’s watch was a success. The device is as convenient as possible in comparison with other wearable devices. Eat huge selection for a change appearance gadget. But you have to pay a lot for everything, so Apple Watch Series 2 is not for every iPhone user, much less smartphones from other manufacturers, with which Apple watches do not work at all.

Should you buy the Apple Watch 2 in 2017? If you have a MacBook, iPhone and other Apple gadgets, then the watch will fit perfectly into your Apple ecosystem. Just look at the automatic unlocking of your Mac when the clock is on you, or the phone search function. It's the little things that make us all love Apple.

In the end, everyone makes their own choice. Personally, I didn’t regret buying the Watch 2, but I know people for whom this accessory became just another unnecessary thing, which needs to be charged. Don't forget that this is an addition to your iPhone, and not a full-fledged device.

Basic functions and capabilities of Apple Watch, pros and cons.

Main Apple function Watch - help you at the moment when your phone is not in your hands.

Duplicate notifications from iPhone to Apple Watch.

Yes, it really helps, it’s convenient and thought out to the smallest detail. All notifications from skype, viber, whatsapp, telegram

and other instant messengers and email clients installed on your

iPhone will be properly duplicated on the watch, provided that the phone is locked (after all smart watch This is exactly an assistant that allows you not to take your phone out of your pocket). Having received a message, you have the opportunity to quickly respond to it with one button, or dictate a full answer “on the clock”.

Pros of Apple Watch

Whatever the haters say, Apple makes a very high-quality product and Apple Watch that not an exception. The watch looks great and fits perfectly on the hand and performs its functions, if not 5 plus, then 5 minus - that’s for sure, especially considering the constantly updated software.
High-quality bright screen, convenient touch screen
Well-thought-out mode for receiving notifications
The ability to receive a call directly from the watch and transfer the call to the phone
Unlock your Mac automatically when you use your watch
The ability to make a note or set a Siri task without taking out your phone
Ability to quickly respond to a message or SMS call
Dials can be selected and partially customized to suit your functions
Apple Pay- yes, it’s very convenient and cool (if you have the right plastic card), more details.
Sports functions

Cons of Apple Watch

Apple Watch FAQ.

Can I make calls and talk on Apple Watch?

Yes, you can. Another thing is that doing this is not always convenient. This can be a great help while driving, or on the way somewhere - if you need to answer a person very briefly. This also helps a lot if, for example, you left the phone on the table and went into another room and someone called you - you can receive the call on the watch, and then walk to the phone while talking and continue the conversation through the iPhone without interrupting the conversation.

What programs are convenient to use on Apple Watch?

At first, you will rush to install all sorts of programs of different types on your watch, but believe me, after a week you will stop using them and most likely will use only what was originally on the watch :)

Of all the software on the Apple Watch, I regularly use only:

Weather ( native app, in the morning it can be useful to find out what’s outside the window)
Music (native application - I actively use it in the car. It’s convenient to launch music on the watch that plays in the car via Bluetooth and switch tracks)
Phone (in the car - convenient to take a call if the phone is not nearby)
Activity (during training - counting steps, calories, etc.)
Breathing (I didn’t turn it off, it really allows you to take your mind off everything)
Siri (very sometimes in the car, voice assistant may help)

How long does the Apple Watch battery last?

Apple Watch Series 1 should be charged every night. There is always enough of them for a full working day with a huge reserve; before going to bed, about 30%-40% of the charge remains. If you want the watch to last longer, you can reduce the brightness, for example.

Apple watch discharges very quickly after update

Carefully go through the notification settings and turn off everything unnecessary. If it doesn’t help, then you’ll just have to untie the watch, reset all settings on it and re-bind it with everything installed.

How does Apple Watch count steps?

Yes, in principle, he thinks it’s normal. There is, of course, an error, but in general - I even tried to count them in parallel - in general everything agrees. Of course, your hand waves, etc., will also be counted, but in general it’s tolerable and you can easily navigate using this pedometer. The only thing that is especially fun is when the Apple Watch offers to do a warm-up for you when you are sitting at the computer - you can ignore this message and sit further, but if at this time you, for example, are actively typing, the Apple Watch will perceive this as a workout and support you with the words “Well done, keep up the pace!”...

Can Apple watch get wet?

Apple Watch Series 1 is splash-resistant, which means you can wash dishes or brush your teeth without taking off the watch, but you can't shower with it on.

Apple Watch Series 2 has full protection against water and you can swim, bathe, shower, etc. in it.

Apple Watch 38 or 42, which one to choose for a girl?

For the average girl, I would definitely recommend 38 mm - then the Apple Watch looks very neat and feminine, like a small electronic, but very stylish watch. 42 mm should be taken by girls only if they love big clock. In any case, go to the nearest store and try them on your hand, at the same time choose the color of the watch and strap that suits you.

Which Apple Watch 38 or 42 to choose for a man?

For men, the 38mm Apple Watch will definitely be small, and don’t even think about considering it for yourself, otherwise you risk getting a child’s watch on your wrist. Take the 42mm version and don't worry (no matter what height or build you are, don't take the 38mm). Again, no one is stopping you from going and trying on the watch in the store in person (and making sure I’m right).

Is it possible to change straps on an apple watch?

Yes, you can, but to be honest, I go with the stock strap out of the box and am very pleased. The hand under it does not sweat, the watch does not rub, the strap does not come unfastened and sits very securely. They never came unfastened by accident; in short, they were very comfortable. If you want something new, then AliExpress is waiting for you - there are Apple Watch straps for every taste and pocket.

Is it worth buying an Apple Watch?

The main question that a good half poses to itself Apple buyers Watch. Like many, I had great doubts before purchasing, reviewed dozens of reviews, re-read dozens of articles. Everyone's opinions were different, but short conclusion everyone had this: Apple Watch thing definitely cool, but probably not for that kind of money. That is, of course, smart watches perform all the declared functions, everything is beautiful and convenient - but initially you expect something more from them or something... and what exactly is unclear :) Like many - I will repeat the phrase - this is not a phone substitute, it rather an assistant and a functional accessory. Some people who bought an Apple Watch stopped using it after a few months.

You get used to smart watches very quickly and when you wake up in the morning, the first thing your hand reaches for is the watch. During the day, they will allow you not to miss important notifications, and in the car you can easily turn on music or answer a call without touching the phone at all.

Brief conclusion on buying an Apple Watch.

If you are driving active image life, constantly on the move, receiving dozens or hundreds of notifications and emails a day - take an Apple Watch and your life can become a little more productive. Well, if you read your email only once a day, don’t know what viber or whatsapp is, and you practically never have important calls, you can consider the Apple Watch only as a beautiful accessory...

Would I buy an Apple Watch now?

The answer is more likely yes than no. Now I’m so used to them that without Apple Watch I would feel like a person who forgot his smartphone at home.

IN Russia iPhone X pre-orders sold out in three minutes. A test smartphone fell into the hands of an RT correspondent for a day, who was figuring out whether it was worth buying new flagship Apple, after all, about a new device released for the tenth anniversary of first iPhone, many conflicting reviews. Read about first impressions, pros and cons of the iPhone X in RT's material.

A frameless screen, but with an incomprehensible cutout at the top. High demand, but limited supply. Innovative facial recognition sensor, but is it better than the usual fingerprint scanner? The atmosphere around the iPhone X, released to mark the tenth anniversary of the very first iPhone, seems to be woven from contradictions. A test smartphone fell into the hands of an RT correspondent for a day. Is it worth buying an iPhone X, is Apple asking too much for the new flagship, and is the cutout on the screen really necessary? RT found out.

Case and dimensions

iPhone X is available in two colors - silver and gray space" They differ from each other not only in the color of the rear panel, but also in the steel edging of the case. The silver device has a chrome plate, and therefore the device in this color is somewhat reminiscent of the very first iPhone ten years ago. On an iPhone in “space gray” color, the tone of the edging fully matches the black front panel.

Glass is used both front and rear to provide wireless charging. With its help, the iPhone charges about one and a half to two times slower than through a wire.

By iPhone size X is only slightly larger than the iPhone 8/7/6 and, accordingly, smaller than the Plus version.

IN iPhone hand X lies pleasantly heavy. However, due to the fact that the screen is elongated, thumb has difficulty reaching the top edge of the screen. Sometimes you have to intercept the phone more conveniently. 5.8 inches is still too large a diagonal for comfortable work with her with one hand. It will definitely not be easy for fragile girls.

Screen

And yet the so-called frameless OLED screen with support for extended dynamic range HDR is one of the main features of the new iPhone. It can be called frameless with two reservations. First: thin, 3-4 millimeters, there are still frames around the edges. Second: at the top there is the now famous cutout, in which several sensors, an infrared camera, an emitter, a microphone, a selfie camera and a dot projector are hidden. But more about them a little later.

Does this cutout affect the experience of the content? Depends on the application. IN portrait mode When you hold the phone vertically, the cutout is almost invisible - all the same, various technical information is collected at the top. In landscape mode, most apps leave empty margins on the sides by default, and the cutout falls into one of them. A dark spot on a white background doesn’t look very nice, but it’s tolerable.

IN native application“Video” you can choose how to watch movies: with borders around the edges or so that the content fills the entire screen, but then the cutout will “eat off” a small part of the picture.

The notch shows itself worst in applications that stretch across the entire screen without any alternative. For example, in Yandex. Maps", if the phone is turned horizontally, the cutout may block an important technical information about the next maneuver and speed.

In the Telegram messenger, the “ears” along the edges of the cutout for some reason remained transparent, and pieces of content are displayed unattractively there when scrolling.

Most likely all developers popular applications they will soon redraw them to fit the iPhone X screen to avoid such troubles.

A wealth of technology in the cutout at the top iPhone screen X is needed for the new phone unlocking mechanism - FaceID.

30 thousand dots are projected onto your face, they are read by an infrared camera (the emitter is connected for recognition in the dark), checked against a standard and unlocked your smartphone.

Everything happens in about a second. According to subjective feelings, FaceID works very quickly when unlocking the phone and a little slower inside applications. Perhaps this is not a hardware limitation, but the need to show the unlock animation. There is no need to specifically look at the camera - it is enough for the screen to be at the level of your face.

In my tests, the sensor did not immediately respond in complete darkness. However, in the end there was no need to enter a passcode. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts, FaceID finally recognized my face and unlocked the phone.

It also worked flawlessly when I wore clear glasses. I haven’t tested it with sunglasses, but the iPhone itself warns in the settings that with some black glasses and the attention tracking function turned on (that is, the eyes must be open), unlocking may not occur.

What is more convenient - FaceID or Touch ID? New way unlock the smartphone definitely outperforms the old one in terms of ease of setup - just look at front camera and move your head in a circle a couple of times.

But in one use case, TouchID completely outperforms FaceID. Imagine: your phone is lying away from you on the table, and you want to check some application without lifting your iPhone from the table. With TouchID everything is simple - you touch it, the phone opens, you launch the application. With FaceID, you'll have to move to look at the phone, press the side button, or lift it to simply unlock it. It's annoying.

Gesture control

The first few times, your finger will intuitively try to press the Home button at the bottom of the screen, but then you'll quickly switch to swipe up.

Swiping or swiping without a Home button was surprisingly easy and fast. To switch between applications, you now just need to swipe left or right along the bottom edge of the screen.

If you want to look at applications in the form of a familiar deck of cards, you can swipe up and hold your finger in the middle of the screen for a split second.

The only gesture that seemed inconvenient to me was calling the “control point”. To go to it, you need to pull down from the top right corner of the screen. Due to the large diagonal, as we have already said, it is inconvenient to reach there with your hand. And you can see the remaining percentage of battery charge and, say, the VPN connection indicator only in this very control point - the “ears” on the sides of the cutout show only the time, signal level, connection type and battery icon.

The upper corners of the screen in some applications that have not yet been redrawn for the iPhone X turned out to be problematic. The buttons in these corners are flush with the indicators and therefore do not respond to pressing - you have to literally search for the active zone of the button by touch. This should also probably be fixed in next versions applications.

Here are all the new gestures that iPhone X owners will have to master:

Return to main screen- swipe up.

Calling the control point - swipe down from the upper right corner.

Take a screenshot - briefly press the sound up plus the side button.

Apple Pay - quickly double-click on the side.

Turn off - hold the side button and any of the volume buttons.

Switch applications - swipe up and hold your finger or swipe left and right along the bottom edge of the screen.

All this looks like a set of codes for Mortal Kombat, but in fact it is learned quickly.

Camera

Main differences iPhone cameras X from iPhone 8 Plus: the telefocus camera aperture received an index of 2.4 instead of 2.8. It's cooler because smaller number aperture means a wider opening. That is, a little more light enters your lens, which helps you get a better exposure.

Is it worth taking?

iPhone X - powerful smartphone with one of the most quality cameras on the market, a large display that occupies almost 82% of the front panel, and an unusual built-in face scanner for unlocking.

The only thing that can confuse you is the inconvenience of using one hand, just like with iPhones in the Plus version - if this is critical for you, be sure to touch the iPhone X before buying.

The developers should correct the shortcomings with rendering applications for the new screen format relatively quickly (perhaps by the start of sales you will no longer be able to reproduce the bugs that I mentioned).

The iPhone X can definitely be recommended for upgrading from any generation of previous iPhones (except, perhaps, the iPhone 8, which is not even two months old). But if you've already bought an iPhone 8, you're unlikely to be looking at the iPhone X.

For Android fans, there are several devices that have similar technical characteristics to the iPhone X, but for less money. At the same time, the strengths of Apple devices are high-quality optimization software and iron, as well as the ecosystem cloud services, connecting different devices. This is why the company asks more for its devices than its competitors.

We continue our series of articles “Ten reasons not to buy...”, two materials have already been published in it about Windows Phone and Android, each of which generated some pretty lively discussions. It is curious that in the comments the readers did not provide any additional reasons, which means we were able to find all the pain points of these systems. Let's try to do the same for iOS, but since there is only one manufacturer and an Apple iPhone product, they will be mentioned on an equal footing in the text.

Given the popularity of the iPhone and the fact that many perceive this subject as a sacred cow, I have a huge request to try to put aside emotions and use common sense in the comments. As usual, discuss, share a link to the article, but most importantly – think!

Reason #1. Economic, or cost of iPhone

Probably, one of the main reasons not to buy an iPhone and choose iOS is the cost of devices on this platform. If for everyone else operating systems There is budget models, devices of the middle price group, then the iPhone can only be purchased at the maximum price. The recently released plastic iPhone 5c, which was predicted to have a budget status, clearly proves that cheap in the case of Apple means very expensive compared to the rest of the market.

In terms of price/quality ratio, the Apple iPhone was almost ideal until recently and was only slightly inferior to its competitors due to their lower prices, as well as the fixed small screen diagonal, which leads to less convenient, less readable texts and fonts. But these are hardware limitations that will be corrected in subsequent iPhone versions, already in 2014. We are not interested in such restrictions, we are looking for systemic reasons don't buy the device.

The barrier to entry into the Apple world is the cost of admission ticket. You must pay the full cost of the current model; there are almost no options to save. You can play on the difference in cost in other countries, low or no taxes - for example, buy a device in the USA or Hong Kong. But the difference won't be overwhelming.

A natural limitation on the distribution of the iPhone on the market is its cost; many people would like to purchase it, but do not consider the purchase possible or justified. Many consumers set themselves a certain price level, more than which they are not willing to spend on a phone. Surprisingly, in most countries there are about 10 percent of people who are price insensitive, and just over half of them choose the iPhone.

The first reason lies solely in the economic plane - it can be reformulated differently, whether you can afford an iPhone or not. As a rule, this is the main question from which all other considerations flow. It is impossible to say that the iPhone is only for the rich - this device is democratic in terms of who uses it, but the premium relative to the market, formed back in 2007, remains high. Gradually, this premium, the markup for the brand, worsens the price/quality ratio. And here everyone decides for themselves whether to pay or not. For some, the high cost of the device is not a minus, but rather a plus - such people believe that the limited number of users creates a kind of club. The only problem is that this has not been the case for a long time; the iPhone is one of the most successful and widespread smartphones on the planet and can be found in the hands of first-graders, schoolchildren, students, workers and businessmen. Democratic structure, as I said above. The initial disadvantage turns out to be a plus; on the secondary market, the iPhone is minimally cheaper compared to other devices. But it all depends on his condition.

Reason #2. iTunes is a program you don't have to love

For many people new to the world of iOS, it is not at all obvious that iTunes and a computer are needed in order to copy music, files, and videos to your device. In recent years, there has been a relaxation - you can activate the device when you first start it without iTunes, but transfer files only from your computer. Some programs have acquired direct file downloading, for example, Podcasts. But in general, we can say that, unlike the vast majority of modern devices, you will feel the need to transfer files to iOS via a computer. And it doesn’t matter so much whether you have a Mac or Windows on your desk; the requirement to have a PC to work with files has become legendary. Apple is criticized for this; some people get used to using iTunes, others still can’t.

Reason #3. Closed ecosystem: entry – ruble, exit – ten

One of the most serious iOS restrictions, oddly enough, is its closedness, which, on the one hand, guarantees quite fast work systems, responsiveness of the interface and programs, but also does not allow you to fully enjoy modern devices. Thus, iOS users cannot use technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi to send their files or receive them from other non-Apple devices.

It gets ridiculous - you want to send several types of files in regular mail, mail client does not allow you to do this, you have to create several letters. When you try to send screenshots en masse from the Photo gallery, you need to copy them and only then open them, for example, in Gmail. Convenience is at the level of the Stone Age, and to all the lamentations of users, Apple is either silent or says that no one needs it.

Those who want to turn their phone or tablet into more functional device, hack your device and install Cydia (the installation is very simple, but potentially creates security holes, especially if you don’t understand what you are doing and what you are installing, and most importantly, from where). And now Cydia has utilities that activate file transfer via Bluetooth - for example, AirBlue Sharing.

On the other hand, if you only have Apple devices, then you can use Air Drop, a proprietary feature in iOS7, when by connecting to the same Wi-Fi network, you can transfer your content to supported Apple devices (what the system allows , – photos, contacts, geotags, bookmarks). Interesting point, you also need to have account iCloud, without it this function will not work. Unfortunately, you won't be able to send files from your Mac to your phone or vice versa using this feature.

In terms of freedom to add your own iOS files very closed - there are many ways to bypass these built-in restrictions, for example, you can buy iFlashDrive, but the cost of such a solution is excessive.

It is sincerely unclear to me why Apple ignores generally accepted standards and does not allow the use Wi-Fi Direct and other progressive standards for information exchange. This system is very selfish, closed in on itself - sharing even with others Apple devices extremely limited.

Reason #4. Changing default applications and interface

Most people perceive Apple's interface as very easy to understand, something you can work with right out of the box. And this strong point system, something for which it can only be praised. Both a child and a pensioner can understand how iOS works. Negative side becomes what for Apple settings interface and its immutability turn into a fetish. No third party programs to replace standard applications. They are simply not allowed in the App Store, nor are they given sufficient rights at the system level. Unfortunately, everyone iOS user, which is not ready to install Cydia, will be tied, and tightly, to those programs that are available for standard functions. They are not bad at all, many people like them. But if you suddenly don’t like something, something irritates you, then you definitely won’t have the choice, like on Android, and the ability to change everything to suit yourself. Hence the famous maxim of iPhone users: “I don’t need it.” With the release of new iOS versions when this “not necessary” suddenly becomes standard function, their opinion changes, but they prefer not to remember their old position.

This reason is important for those who are constantly in search - those who are conservative and perceive Apple programs, as if they were once cut out in the screen, they don’t have to worry, everything will suit them. An interesting point is that Apple consciously cultivated this attitude among users, this is loyalty to the company’s products. Therefore, when iOS7 was announced, where the interface had changed a lot and became more airy and unusual, many users were hostile to it. Only a few have given up using iPhone/iPad, some are left with old version software, but the majority still switched and got used to it. Now they are praising this version and are slowly becoming conservatives again.

The bottom line is - do you know what standard applications can do, do you like their appearance and functionality, do you need anything extra? Then Apple will fit perfectly into your life.

Reason #5. Openwork beauty of fonts - art above convenience

New ones were used in iOS7 color schemes, but they also made the fonts very thin, however, look at their style for yourself.

From additional settings There is only one option for a font - make it bold. In this case, the fonts are more comfortable to read, but still do not reach the level of convenience of other systems; for example, Android has a much larger number of settings, as well as options for the size of system fonts and their writing. For tablets this is not always a problem, but Apple phones may not be suitable for everyone. Very often you hear this reason for buying phablets from different companies - comfortable font size. On an iPhone you have to look at the screen, especially if you don’t have 100% vision. I am sure that many people with glasses and at the same time iPhone users will begin to assure that they have no problems. This is an excellent point. But a lot of people have these problems, which means it's a serious argument against the platform. I really hope that additional settings for fonts will be added to iOS in the future.

Reason #6. App Store - paid content and credit card

Moralists should skip this point. Really, it's not worth reading. Are you sure you want to read it?

I completely disagree that stealing is good, moreover, I condemn theft. But many people think completely differently and steal programs every day. In the case of iOS, this is extremely difficult to do, and you will have to buy programs. Moreover, the App Store (or rather iTunes) is the best place to register your credit card. Recently, you don’t have to do this, but it’s better to do it anyway so that you can buy applications in a couple of clicks. The cost of toys and applications for iOS is not at all astronomical, in Last year The shareware model that came with Android is being actively promoted. Therefore, we can say that everything is quite good.

For me, the convenience of shopping in the App Store is a point for the system, everything is simple and clear. There are quite a lot of applications, some interesting and some good - on par with Android, which last year grew to the App Store in terms of the release of interesting applications. But stealing won't work, and this pushes some people away from the system. And I’m not against it at all, let them not use it.

As an alternative reason #6, I propose to consider a minor issue - the lack of built-in support for most video codecs, you will have to download VLC player, and even then it is not omnivorous, it has serious limitations. While on the same Android there are many programs, both with hardware and software decoding - all conceivable and inconceivable codecs. The reason for many is not very important, but it is there for the youth who watch the video. Why did I add this reason here? An unconverted video is usually a stolen video!

Reason #7. Do you happen to have a charging cable?

In terms of operating time, Apple devices have always been the standard and even today they slightly outperform Android devices, but the gap is closing. The downside is that all manufacturers have switched to the microUSB connector, but Apple continues to create its own “unique” solutions. As a result, you will have to buy a charger for your car, for work, and leave the one that came with it at home. When traveling, there is usually always someone who forgot his cable at home and has to borrow his own. In developed countries, where there are electronics stores, this is not a problem; somewhere in places forgotten by God and people, this can become a problem - it’s hard to find Lightning cables there even now. Conclusion? Never forget accessories from Apple, they cannot be bought in all parts of the world, and the cost is quite high.

Reason #8. Multitasking as Apple understands it

iOS has multitasking, you can switch between applications, do something in them and return to the same state in the previous application after some time. The main problem is that the applications in background They don’t know how to do many things, for example, files are not added to Dropbox, new videos are not loaded into the program for viewing them. That is, you need to stay in the application. This is a very annoying iOS feature that is key. I really hope that this will change in the future, but now those who are not used to waiting and want to use all the functions at the same time should look towards other operating systems. The funny thing is that if you don’t have an Internet connection, you won’t even be able to send a message on Whatsapp; the program needs to know that you’re online. On Android there is simply no such problem, write as much as you like, a network will appear and everything will be sent. The same story applies to most other applications running on the network - you can type text on the keyboard, but you cannot send it. When the network appears, you need to go back and press the button, which will become active.

Reason #9. Lack of NFC, or no future for Apple

You can safely assume that this is a hardware limitation; adding NFC will not be difficult in the future, and Apple knows how to turn new technologies around so that they become convenient and easy to use. It is possible that in the future everything will be exactly like this. Those who believe that NFC is almost inapplicable today are also right. real life and not too necessary. For the average person, this is an unnecessary technology and is not a reason to abandon iOS. For those few who are used to being at the forefront and trying out the various possibilities of technology, NFC provides very interesting use cases - in the Yandex.Metro application you can find out the number of trips that are left on your card, set up tags for different actions (Sony includes them in the kit some phones), exchange contacts with other phones or pair them to transfer large files. One touch and everything works, no additional settings. This is technology that makes life easier and many additional functions, - however, Apple devices do not have these functions, so there is no need for NFC, there is nothing to make it easier - the problem is solved in this simple way.

Reason #10. Lack of memory cards and nanoSIM

Most manufacturers offer universal solutions, which are focused on user convenience. For example, if your phone battery runs out, you can easily take out the SIM card and insert it into another device. In the case of Apple products, you will need a needle or a sharp object, and then you will be faced with a nanoSIM, which without an adapter will have nowhere to insert. Well, unless it’s in another device or in the latest generation Vertu.

All manufacturers rushed after Apple and introduced microSIM cards into use, but no one dared to go further and actively introduce nanoSIM. Cause? It makes no sense from a technical point of view, this is an attempt by Apple to separate itself from other companies, to prevent its users from inserting a SIM card, for example, into an Android smartphone and seeing the difference. The attempt is naive. Those who compete with the iPhone will use this card format in some products, but it will not become a mass phenomenon - at least I really hope so.

About the same idea with additional memory cards - well, why are they needed if they don’t allow you to copy anything, but rather prohibit it. Moreover, this cheap way memory expansion - you can buy a 16 GB model, and then buy an additional 64 GB card, it turns out that you have not paid Apple an additional 200 dollars for the difference between the models. A memory card will cost much less. This is the math about Apple.

Thank you for your comments, I hope they will be accompanied by facts, thoughts, and not just emotions. Share a link to the article, bring your friends to discuss it. And offer your reasons, which may not be covered in the article. After all, we are all human, and something might have slipped out of my sight. It is also possible that the above reasons do not bother you and/or the advantages of iOS outweigh them. This is fine. The purpose of this material, like the entire series, is to show the negative aspects associated with each system. The most striking, but negative moments. Smartphone manufacturers will be next in line. Follow the announcements, I think we will return to this series of articles in early March, after MWC2014.

P.S. Good luck to you in good deeds!

What is Apple Watch for?

The creators conceived the Apple Watch as a stylish and functional accessory. To meet the needs of a large number of customers, engineers and designers have created several versions of watches made of different materials. The sheer number of straps and bracelets deserves attention: such an assortment from other companies is not easy to find.

Buyers have access to more than 30 modifications of the Apple Watch, differing in size (38 and 42 mm), case material (stainless steel, aluminum and gold). They, in turn, are equipped with a metal bracelet, leather or silicone strap, of which there are many design variations and colors. Thus, if not everyone, then most buyers will be able to choose a device to suit their taste and style.

The question arises: why do we need an Apple Watch, which costs from $350 to $17,000? But really: gold is gold, but they are far from Swiss chronographs. An Apple watch is a gadget with an attractive (and even luxurious, in some cases) design, but a mass-produced product. And for 1-10 thousand dollars there are much more stylish and exclusive creations of Swiss brands. Thus, even gold Apple The Watch doesn't quite qualify as a luxury item. But what else, besides the external component, attracts the brainchild of Apple?

Gold Apple Watch Edition

Apple Watch is used as a headset (you can talk without taking your smartphone out of your pocket), a remote control for controlling the iPhone player, a fitness tracker and an organizer. The watch screen can act as a smartphone camera viewfinder. Apple smartwatches can also be used for their intended purpose (to view the exact time).

The internal components of the watch (both for 400 dollars and for 17 thousand) are identical. The screens differ: the 38 mm version has a resolution of 272x340, and the 42 mm version has 312x390 pixels. The exact characteristics of the watch's hardware have not yet been revealed, but it is known that it has 8 GB of memory installed. The user has access to 6 of them, of which 2 GB are allocated for music and another 75 MB for photos. Supported interfaces include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC. There is a gyroscope and accelerometer on board. But the watch does not have a GPS receiver.

Features of Apple Watch functionality

At first glance, the functionality of the Apple Watch looks typical and standard for the smartwatch class. But the implementation features make their own adjustments, making the gadget quite specific and unusual. There are both positive points, and negative sides.

The operating system of Apple smart watches is WatchOS, specially designed for them. Outwardly, it strongly resembles iOS, but with round icons. This is where the similarities between the systems end. In terms of the kernel, this is a completely different product with its own architecture and specific capabilities. Some of them (time display, heart rate measurement, pedometer, calendar, alarm clock) are implemented well and are a pleasure to use, but there are also those that could be improved.

Technology is also pleasing Force Touch which provides sensitivity touch screen to the pressing force, and depending on this determines what action needs to be performed.

But not everything is so smooth: with the help of the watch you can accept or reject a call, or talk on the phone. But there is no dialer in the system, so you won’t be able to make a call so easily from the Apple Watch. The system for displaying notifications is also disappointing: some of them simply do not fit on the screen, and you have to take the iPhone out of your pocket.

The watch itself is only compatible with Apple smartphones, and only based on iOS 8 (5S and newer models). After synchronizing with the device in apple menu Watch application icons will appear, but without connecting to mobile device they won't work. The very implementation of compatibility of programs with watches lies on the conscience of their developers. Some (like Instagram) work almost fully, while others can only display notifications.

An unpleasant feature is the time battery life. A day without recharging for an Apple watch is very good indicator. At active work The battery charge will last for 6 hours, maximum 10. And this takes into account the flawlessly working system for turning on/off the display and the absence of GPS. The reason for the short operating time is explained by information about the battery capacity: it is 205 mAh.

Considering the mentioned unpleasant features, the question naturally arises: is an Apple Watch necessary at all?

Do you need an Apple Watch?

If you judge with an open mind, you can identify a number of advantages and serious disadvantages in smart watches from Apple. The advantages of the device include:

a wide range of modifications;
Force Touch technology;
stylish design;
intuitively clear interface systems;
good workmanship.

But the gadget also has a number of big disadvantages:

short battery life;
incompatibility with outdated iPhone and devices based on other OS;
an abundance of functional defects.

To understand whether it is worth buying an Apple Watch, you need to determine for yourself what the purpose of the purchase is. If you just need a stylish accessory that will harmoniously complement your existing Apple devices, and the ratio of functionality and price does not play an important role, it’s worth it. There is a reason to buy Apple smart watches from true fans of the company's products.

It makes sense for those who are used to getting maximum functionality for reasonable money to think about whether an Apple Watch is necessary. Apple Watch– beautiful, stylish, recognizable. But their capabilities in relation to price are quite modest compared to competing solutions. Apple has prioritized ergonomics and design of its products before. technical characteristics, but before the death of Steve Jobs there were fewer obvious flaws in the software.