[user219294]

If you could make calls, respond to messages (any platform), play music from a major music service, and stay up-to-date with the most important notifications, you could basically untether yourself from your phone completely. This would be a real game-changer from a personal health standpoint. People are losing their minds with the current smartphone pandemic. I, personally, would welcome this change. It seems like an easier path toward device freedom. Since you wear it, it would feel like you've freed yourself from a screen (for the most part).

[Avshalom]

How would an even more closely (physicallyly)coupled device help alleviate whatever pandemic you think exists?

[erikpukinskis]

The lack of a screen capable of paragraphs and videos would cut you off from the most forms of readily available content, which would blunt the device's addictive potential.

It's similar to the theory that mandating a lower nicotine content in tobacco would curb addiction.

[Avshalom]

A watch might be worse at keeping my attention but it is even better at demanding my attention.

[lathiat]

Getting my Apple Watch actually forced me to go through and get rid of a bunch of useless notifications also from my Phone. I didn't notice them on the phone so much - it was really great to do that.

And I already had a relatively "clean" notifications list, it's easy to get a total barage from all sorts of crappy third party games that want to beg you to play once a day.

The only thing I am longing for now is that I am on-call 24x7 and need to get Phone Calls & Messages.. you can set Do-not-disturb while sleeping to allow phone calls (all or from contacts), but not messages. I'd like to disable all notifications at night except messages or even better yet could set a per-app preference. Main reason is that I have notifications I like for youtube uploads for example, but I don't want them at night time.. which is common because a lot of channels are USA time and I am Australia time.

[brianpan]

You are in control of that- doesn't your watch let you configure notifications?

My watch is always on mute (vibrate only) and it has only a subset of the notifications that my phone has. My experience is it is less demanding of my attention than my phone.

[sly010]

> doesn't your watch let you configure notifications? Doesn't your phone too?

The whole argument reads to me like "to free myself i could just get a feature phone but that would be uncool, so i will buy a smartwatch instead"

[brianpan]

I think it's the opposite. If you want a feature phone, you don't want a smartwatch. But if you use your phone a lot, maybe a watch can reduce the friction of some of those tasks. If the laptop can stay in the bag and the phone can stay in the pocket (and the actions are just as fast or faster) then the watch is a win for me.

Do you pull your phone out of your pocket to set timers/alarms? Fire off quick texts? Do you pull your phone out of your purse just to check the time? Gee, why not put all of that on your wrist?

And the point of responding to the GP is, this super low friction doesn't have to mean even more overwhelming interruptions if you don't want it to. You can mute or DND notifications if you want.

[aptwebapps]

Sounds a good argument to me.

[Bud]

The Apple Watch's screen already allows for display of paragraphs. You can easily read rather long emails by scrolling.

[jasonkostempski]

Then people will just wear more watches.

[jamesjyu]

This would be pretty cool. I've started the habit of bringing a book (yes, paper!) to places to read. But, I still need to have my phone with me, in case of emergency calls or urgent messages. If the watch can do that, it'd basically act like a dumb phone with just enough capabilities to make me leave the phone at home.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

I recently bought a cheap feature phone and used that for a while, especially at work. Two things pushed me back to carrying a smartphone full time:

1. Typing messages on a keypad (T9 predictive), annoying as I usually just send messages for work 2. Swapping the sim card between two phones on the weekend / evenings

Battery life was phenomenal.

Does anyone know how to copy an Australian sim card?

[ben_w]

I have accidentally stumbled on a solution to 1., if nobody knows how to copy a SIM: I have an eleven year old Blackberry — full keyboard, not T9, and both new enough to be using the 3G network and so old nobody maintains distracting apps for it.

I can even, despite its age, use it to make a WiFi hotspot so my development phone with no credit can go online when I'm outdoors.

[jrochkind1]

I had no problems with my old samsung flip phone and it's t9. I could even touch type on it without looking. But AT&T said it's radio frequencies were no longer supported.

The problem with cheap feature phones for me right now is that I can't find any supported by most US networks that don't suck. The new ones suck way more than the old ones, noticeable delays when pressing keys, etc.

[taurath]

I really enjoyed my pre-iPhone Helio Ocean. Only messaging apps (text,MSN,aim,yim), physical keyboard. I would probably buy a modern version with no web browser.

[to_bpr]

That's what I'm thinking. The smartphone could be left home turned off, only to be brought out when I need the GPS or similar.

As such I love the thought. It's nothing a dumb phone can't offer right now, but the convenience of it being in watch form would just be fantastic.

[dTal]

Android watch phones are ten-a-penny from China. Here's one for the low low price of £47:

https://www.banggood.com/GW05-1_54-Screen-Camera-Smart-Watch...

Enjoy.

[m3kw9]

You'd be even more sick from trying to check your FB for Apple Watch when fb notice the trend to use watch only.

[dboreham]

A real game changer like the watches Samsung has been making for years that already do these things?

[shaggyfrog]

In theory, or in practice?

Developing for the Samsung Gear S2 was one of the most frustrating experiences in my life. Tizen is a trainwreck.

There are no games being changed with that platform.

[Bud]

Samsung makes nothing, and has never made anything, remotely close to this.

[dingaling]

The Samsung Gear S accepted a 3G Nano-SIM:

http://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00037221/

The Gear S2 3G has an eSIM for 3G. No phone required.

Many Chinese Android watches have offered direct cell connectivity for a couple of years now, as does the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Ed LTE ( Android Wear ).

[nolite]

Got a model reference? I'm curious

[nkerkin]

http://www.samsung.com/au/consumer/mobile-phone/wearables/ge...

Was pretty cool to be able to leave your phone at home and still have full 3g coverage, especially when out running/cycling/surfing. Opera mini browser was sufficient for looking things up on the go.

Like others have mentioned, Tizen is a hot mess though. In the end the lack of a spotify app was the main pain point for me. Apple will do well to fill that gap.