Like many of you, I had the Apple product announcement playing in the background at the studio recently. I was excited by the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but what I really wanted to see was the Apple Watch. There are so many possible applications for wearable computing devices and, until Apple, no manufacturer had come close to realizing that potential.
Why Does Apple Watch Matter to Photographers?
What makes the Apple Watch a potential game changer? A combination of form factor, Bluetooth, WiFi and apps that take advantage of all three. We’ve already seen manufacturers like Canon, GoPro and Panasonic marry their products to our smartphones and tablets via Bluetooth and Wifi. So what makes Apple Watch different?
Form Factor
In the field, camera management via one’s phone or tablet opens up a lot of possibilities, but it can be somewhat clunky to use and puts the device at risk of damage from the elements. Ever chosen to keep your phone or tablet in your bag because of inclement weather? I have.
Designed to be worn on the wrist, the Apple Watch is engineered to be durable and withstand the elements. And, while the watch form factor is small, it is incredibly powerful, particularly when married to the Haptic Engine.
What Can It Do?
While the device hasn’t been released yet, here are just a few of the ways I expect Apple Watch to find its way into the standard kit of many photographers.
- Camera Remote: Seems simple. But, imagine never having to pack camera remotes for anything more than backups. One less thing to lug to location or find in the studio.
- Intervalometer: I love my Promotes, but again, it would be great to replace them all with the something like TriggerTrap or CamRanger activated by the Apple Watch. You’d probably still build and test your shots on your tablet, but activate and monitor them from your wrist.
- Notifications: Shooting a long time lapse? Grab a coffee and wait for your wrist to buzz when it is almost done. Different buzzes could alert you to low batteries and memory cards as well. Lots of possibilities.
- Review: Clearly, the screen is too small to seriously vet images as you shoot them. So, I don’t expect to see much wrist chimping. Still, in instances where you are operating the camera remotely, I can see value in using the Apple Watch to do a rough check of framing and exposure.
- Portfolio: Have your portfolio with you at all times, on your wrist. As needed, toss it up on the big screen via Airplay.
To be fair, Google was in this space before Apple with Glass and a variety of wearables similar to the Apple Watch. While I am sure these devices will find their place in the market, I expect Apple will eventually own the space.
Why Choose Apple?
Google tends to be a first mover, willing to put things out there and iterate until it finds the functionality sweet spot. In contrast, Apple is fine with being “late” into a market because they are obsessive about getting it right the first time. Both approaches are valid and both work, as proven by the sustained success of both companies.
Ultimately, when I add a new bit of physical gear to my kit, I need to know I can count on it almost out of the box. For this reason, I give the “wearables” edge to Apple. Their hardware track record speaks for itself.
What do you think of Apple Watch? Will it find a place in your kit? Let me know in the comments below.
Yes I will be getting the Apple Watch :)
Carole – Me too!
Wearable tech devices have been around a long time – 80’s calculator etc and others. All have either niche or fail at prices much lower than those floated by Apple. to be a success beyond fanboy some other function will be required. We photographers are not a large enough niche for that.
Dave – Excellent point. The post is written for photographers and how I think the Apple Watch can, and likely will, serve us. But, I do not think this community will make or break the sales of the device. The big reason Apple Watch is a possible game changer for wearables is the health monitoring functions it enables. The Haptic Engine interprets body movement to help track activity in ways the FitBit and other health trackers do not. It has other sensors which track other health measurements as well. This enables entirely new options for personal health monitoring and management.… Read more »
But I submit for thought that the fitness model is also a niche. Plus there are other devices that do similar things at various price points low to super high for pro level athletes. To me it has the marks of a fail, without something that has been unannounced. When was the last time you wore a watch that needed winding every day. Basic watches today last a year or better on a single battery. From the bling side where image is everything, Rolex life style, also a niche, what has been shown doesn’t fit. The other thing that is… Read more »
Again, good points. I agree that fitness has, in the past, been a niche. However, I believe that niche is poised to go mainstream and this device, among others, will help make that happen.
Many thought Apple was foolish when they launched the iPhone and established the smartphone market. We know how that turned out. I expect we’ll see the same result here.
Remember the reason that the IPhone was a success was that it was actually a better phone than others on market. It gave better range and cleaner calls than others. It was not angry birds that made it a success. I don’t think the Iwatch can find a better way to tell time.
Dave – The goal of the Apple Watch is not to find a better way to tell time, just as the goal of the iPhone was not better way to make mobile phone calls. The iPhone was a convergence device that took the form factor of the mobile phone and married to it the following: 1) Point & Shoot Quality Camera 2) Readable, useable web browser. 3) PDA functionality 4) An accessible application platform 5) An easy to manage user interface Since launch, all of these functions have dramatically improved and new ones have been added. Now, in place of… Read more »
This has been an interesting chat but nothing will be resolved for either side till something is actually on the market.
Till then it would be nice to be able to upload images to iPad from a memory card.
Ridiculous! This will prove to be more toy than camera utility… Speaking AS an Apple fanboy since OS 8, I can tell you that Apple is degrading the functionality of it’s professional tools, not enhancing them, all in the name of supplying the simple minded more shiny things. Having worked as Mac tech, I was asked the other day by a computer store owner & friend what the iPhone 6 provided the end user that the iPhone 5 didn’t…?
Eric – Obviously, I disagree about the Apple Watch. But, I do understand your frustration. I’ve had much the same perspective on Apple’s regard, or lack thereof, for the Pro Tools community. Aperture is gone. Final Cut Pro X, while innovative, does not seem to be aggressively supported and developed; certainly not to the same extent that Adobe develops Creative Suite. When I picked up my iPhone 5s, I was upgrading from an iPhone 4. Prior to that, I had bought every upgrade as it came out. I might have hung on for the iPhone 6 but I needed a… Read more »
Do you believe a watch is more useful for photographers than glasses? Or even a phone? A wristwatch is less operable because you have to use it with one hand only. You need to keep watching at it (glasses are always watched through…), small display (glasses can use huge ‘virtual’ display’). For simple remote control a phone is better. Otherwise glasses are better. A watch is just a smaller smartphone put on your wrist. Less usable, shorter battery life, no real advantage. Apple may own the luxury smartphones watch market, but those devices will never be a step forward in… Read more »
KMORWATH – I do not think the watch form factor will replace the phone form factor anytime soon. And, I think the eyeglass form factor has definite application, not the least of which is the large virtual display. So, I am not suggesting that the watch form factor is better than either the phone or the eyeglasses form factor. Rather, I am pointing out the potential advantages the watch form factor can and likely will supply. Wearable computing is a huge, green field. Lots of ideas and form factors have room to grow within it. What works for me may… Read more »
I want to take a moment to address a concern raised about this article by someone on Twitter. In summary, the challenger suggests this article is guilty of the following “sins”. 1) Disparaging the Google/Android ecosystem. 2) Fawning over the Apple Watch like a slavish Apple Fan Boy. 3) Misleading the reader with “disinformation” about the wearable computing ecosystem. I have big shoulders, I can take the weight of critique, which in this case was quite pointed and not at all gentle or respectful. Wading through a long back and forth, the crux of the critique boiled down to the… Read more »
This time I don’t think they got it right. They try to bring to much phone stuff on a watch and miss the part of glancebable notifications. This time I like Googles approach a lot more because it looks much clearer and less distracting. Although I don’t think that it’s worth to buy any 1.0 or 2.0 wearable of any company. There will be so much progress in the next years and at least gps should be build into the device.
In case you missed it, Frederick Van Johnson and the TWIP crew discussed this issue (and article) here:
http://thisweekinphoto.com/twip-411-gray-black-white/
Yes I will be getting the Apple Watch :)
Carole – Me too!
Ridiculous! This will prove to be more toy than camera utility… Speaking AS an Apple fanboy since OS 8, I can tell you that Apple is degrading the functionality of it’s professional tools, not enhancing them, all in the name of supplying the simple minded more shiny things. Having worked as Mac tech, I was asked the other day by a computer store owner & friend what the iPhone 6 provided the end user that the iPhone 5 didn’t…?
Eric – Obviously, I disagree about the Apple Watch. But, I do understand your frustration. I’ve had much the same perspective on Apple’s regard, or lack thereof, for the Pro Tools community. Aperture is gone. Final Cut Pro X, while innovative, does not seem to be aggressively supported and developed; certainly not to the same extent that Adobe develops Creative Suite. When I picked up my iPhone 5s, I was upgrading from an iPhone 4. Prior to that, I had bought every upgrade as it came out. I might have hung on for the iPhone 6 but I needed a… Read more »
Do you believe a watch is more useful for photographers than glasses? Or even a phone? A wristwatch is less operable because you have to use it with one hand only. You need to keep watching at it (glasses are always watched through…), small display (glasses can use huge ‘virtual’ display’). For simple remote control a phone is better. Otherwise glasses are better. A watch is just a smaller smartphone put on your wrist. Less usable, shorter battery life, no real advantage. Apple may own the luxury smartphones watch market, but those devices will never be a step forward in… Read more »
KMORWATH – I do not think the watch form factor will replace the phone form factor anytime soon. And, I think the eyeglass form factor has definite application, not the least of which is the large virtual display. So, I am not suggesting that the watch form factor is better than either the phone or the eyeglasses form factor. Rather, I am pointing out the potential advantages the watch form factor can and likely will supply. Wearable computing is a huge, green field. Lots of ideas and form factors have room to grow within it. What works for me may… Read more »
Wearable tech devices have been around a long time – 80’s calculator etc and others. All have either niche or fail at prices much lower than those floated by Apple. to be a success beyond fanboy some other function will be required. We photographers are not a large enough niche for that.
Dave – Excellent point. The post is written for photographers and how I think the Apple Watch can, and likely will, serve us. But, I do not think this community will make or break the sales of the device. The big reason Apple Watch is a possible game changer for wearables is the health monitoring functions it enables. The Haptic Engine interprets body movement to help track activity in ways the FitBit and other health trackers do not. It has other sensors which track other health measurements as well. This enables entirely new options for personal health monitoring and management.… Read more »
But I submit for thought that the fitness model is also a niche. Plus there are other devices that do similar things at various price points low to super high for pro level athletes. To me it has the marks of a fail, without something that has been unannounced. When was the last time you wore a watch that needed winding every day. Basic watches today last a year or better on a single battery. From the bling side where image is everything, Rolex life style, also a niche, what has been shown doesn’t fit. The other thing that is… Read more »
Dave – The goal of the Apple Watch is not to find a better way to tell time, just as the goal of the iPhone was not better way to make mobile phone calls. The iPhone was a convergence device that took the form factor of the mobile phone and married to it the following: 1) Point & Shoot Quality Camera 2) Readable, useable web browser. 3) PDA functionality 4) An accessible application platform 5) An easy to manage user interface Since launch, all of these functions have dramatically improved and new ones have been added. Now, in place of… Read more »
This has been an interesting chat but nothing will be resolved for either side till something is actually on the market.
Till then it would be nice to be able to upload images to iPad from a memory card.
Again, good points. I agree that fitness has, in the past, been a niche. However, I believe that niche is poised to go mainstream and this device, among others, will help make that happen.
Many thought Apple was foolish when they launched the iPhone and established the smartphone market. We know how that turned out. I expect we’ll see the same result here.
Remember the reason that the IPhone was a success was that it was actually a better phone than others on market. It gave better range and cleaner calls than others. It was not angry birds that made it a success. I don’t think the Iwatch can find a better way to tell time.
This time I don’t think they got it right. They try to bring to much phone stuff on a watch and miss the part of glancebable notifications. This time I like Googles approach a lot more because it looks much clearer and less distracting. Although I don’t think that it’s worth to buy any 1.0 or 2.0 wearable of any company. There will be so much progress in the next years and at least gps should be build into the device.
In case you missed it, Frederick Van Johnson and the TWIP crew discussed this issue (and article) here:
http://thisweekinphoto.com/twip-411-gray-black-white/
I want to take a moment to address a concern raised about this article by someone on Twitter. In summary, the challenger suggests this article is guilty of the following “sins”. 1) Disparaging the Google/Android ecosystem. 2) Fawning over the Apple Watch like a slavish Apple Fan Boy. 3) Misleading the reader with “disinformation” about the wearable computing ecosystem. I have big shoulders, I can take the weight of critique, which in this case was quite pointed and not at all gentle or respectful. Wading through a long back and forth, the crux of the critique boiled down to the… Read more »