Sam Shueh
Realty One Group
Silicon Valley, CA
The new 2016 Apple watch is expected to launch next Wednesday on September 7. It has been rumored and speculated what the new features and design will be for enhancement. While Apple was a leading flag watch shipped over 2.2 M watches (Apple-watch-ships). It already slipped its market share as of Q1 2016 after good two quarters. Apple does not want to alarm its investors and often dodge questions like the shipment and cost of development. It target high end users.
I have nothing against those want to show their latest wearable gadget. At SFO the custom would stop every 10th travelers coming out of a Hong Kong flight hoping to catch those bought Rolex watch and get them pay for import duties. When it was my turn the officer asked the routine question and said let me look at your wrest watch. "Where did you get this watch?" "I bought it at CompUSA final out of business sale". "How much did you pay for it?" "$1.99". Go on to exit.
That plastic band watch in some ways remind me of Apple watch same as my $1.99 Timex type. The difference is Apple watch is a status symbol which costs $329 today on Amazon. Hey, I am successful I can afford an Apple 2 watch.
1) Apple Pay
I do not handle our bills. My wife takes care of it. When I ask her about Apple pay. She gave me a dirty look. What the heck is it? What is wrong with your Visa with new chip. It does not work?
2) Hotel or Car key Replacement
Assuming I wear my wrist Apple watch 24/7 I am locked out of my hotel room, I will go to the same place where I check out the key for a replacement. I have key-less entry so when would I want to stick a key inside the ignition? I plainly do not get it. So I can unlock someones car with a tap of my Apple watch and break the watch glass?
3) Novel Digital Crown-aka watch home knob
Smart watches these days are hard to see because of their tiny displays, but the Apple Watch will have a Digital Crown which is a knob on the right edge that acts like a home button on iPhone.
4) Fitness and Health Tracking
I can get the same information like steps from iPhone not to mention I have my Dad's pedometer which he got from a yard sale for $1.00. If my heart stops pumping my wife will call a Realtor. Put the home on the market, get rid of my husband's hoard and his body as well.
I do not need a watch remind me to get up when I enjoy sitting down. No, I don't need reward points from my watch I get enough from Active Rain already.
The heart rate sensor is of marginal interest. What is wrong with a heart rate or blood pressure checker? So I missed a pulse but I am still functioning. My brother-in-law wears a pace maker and his heart works 24/7 as long as the 10 year old battery lasts.
5) Full fledged Applications
I am sure there are plenty of applications out there as a tenant showed me one she wrote and submitted. I told her good luck and ran off.
In addition to Apple's own Activity, Calendar, Maps, Passbook, Music, Alarm, Stocks, Weather, photos and Settings. One can download third-party apps to your iWatch. These include but not limited Instagram, Uber, MLB.com At Bat, Nike+ Running, OpenTable, Twitter and WeChat. Did I miss anything? Oh, MLS, Supra. A spam will not be easy to get rid of, since Anti-virus has not been developed yet.
6) Remote Control Functions
That is another reason to become a couch potato. You may never have to leave your couch again, with the Apple Watch doubling as a remote control for your devices while Apple watch 2 reminds me I need to get up walking around?
7) Passbook Integration
One can breeze airport security on your next vacation. Thanks to Passbook on the Apple Watch, you can quickly pull up your plane tickets, boarding passes without having to reach for your iPhone. The only thing is you left your Apple watch at Dept of Home Land and Security tub.
8) Digital Touch Communication
Keeping up with your loved ones will be more fun with the Apple watch's Digital Touch feature. Send your heartbeat to your ex. The heart rate sensor will pick up your pulse, and transmit that to your ex: "Hey I am still kicking!".
9) Siri
My question to Siri when 2016 Apple watch will come out and what features it provides. Siri says check Apple website. Siri substitute a few key strokes of keyword search. It is still to early for search command.
According to those speculations and gossips the 2016 Apple watch may have a LED clear display, GPS instead of calculated steps from its accelerometer. GPS will support a better location, and more accurate distance.
The LED consumes less battery and may be that is where the battery life improvement comes from.
It might come with a water proof version.
My dad's Omega Seamaster mechanical watch(paid $350 in 1960) has a cover seal that is fifty some years old. I had the watch "cleaned" and during car wash I was not aware moisture got inside. The seal replacement is $150 and I left it in its sad state. It was my father's favorite gadget. As for me, I will replace battery of my $1.99 Timex watch and be satisfied with it for years.
Sources:
Kjellberg, Anders Aug 29, 2016 ( Apple Watch 2)
Axworthy Jon, J. Aug 11, 2016 ( New 2016 iWatch wearables)
Shueh, Sam How is my Silicon Valley home worth? (Silicon Valley Home Values)
Silicon Valley Real Estate July 2016 (San Jose area real estate update)
Shueh, Sam (Real EstateBlogs)
Sam Shueh Realtor
I've called San Francisco South Bay home for over 30 years. We love this area and all it has to offer, and I enjoy sharing what I know about homes. I documented in several books about Silicon Valley history. I have much expertise in real estate...please give me a call. SamshuehRealtor@gmail.com
(Four-O-Eight) 425-1601
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