Hello all,
I went to the Apple store this morning to see the Apple Watch.
The display watches are not working models and simply have a video loop showing screenshots of the various functions.
I assume this is for security, which makes sense.
But I was assured that the watch is accessible. Here is a link:
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/watch/
But I did try one on, a 38mm with a Milinase loop band. It was heavier than I expected, but I haven't worn a watch in 25 years, so that may be me.
It is a good looking watch.
Chuck
Comments
Probably change once it starts shipping!
Chuck:
Thanks for this heads up for those of us who are curious about the Watch, but I am assuming the preorder model you tried on this morning was just that, a preorder model. Once the Watch starts shipping on the 24th, I would be very surprised if the Apple stores didn't actually have a Watch you could "play" with in stock. Apple stores are basically show rooms for all Apple products. As this is a product Apple really wants to highlight, they will most assuredly have a few working models people can try out after the 24th. They will make you order
the exact mmodel you want online instead of picking it up in the store, but that is a different story.
Jim
Hi Chuck,
Hi Chuck,
yes, I can confirm your observation after my trip to an Apple Store yesterday.
The problem is that, unlike Apple's other devices, the Apple Watch cannot be used as a stand-alone device. Instead, the Apple Watch requires to be paired with an iPhone, and only one Watch can be paired per phone. Thus, for every Apple Watch on display, Apple would have to also provision one corresponding iPhone to go along with it, which apparently they don't want to do. As far as I understand, that's why you can only watch a demo video and feel the Taptic engine 'tapping' on your wrist. I guess they'll sooner or later come up with a way of getting around this issue, but I don't know for sure.
Robin
Apple watch.
In the UK, I was aloud to have a short physical examination and a brief play, after making an appointment. First impressions of Apple watch are that it is Heavier than expected, not uncomfortably so, more buttons and physical controls than I imagined, impressively put together. Voiceover slick and responsive. Apparently the horse I bet on, in our annual grand national today, came second at 66 to 1,, maybe I'll buy a watch with the winnings.
Darren, Tell us more
Hi Darren,
As I said, here in the US they do not have working models it the Apple store.
You said "Voiceover slick and responsive".
I did not have the opportunity to use voice over. Are the gestures the same?
Sound quality and volume?
Please tell us more.
Thanks,
Hi chuck.
In terms of gestures for Voiceover, they are broadly the same, though as David Woodbridge's excellent notes explained, there is no rotor function, probably due to screen size. It has the enhanced voices for UK, America and Australia, perhaps Alex as well, I didn't have the time to check, and really, I had a very limited experience, though I was very fortunate to get any time at all obviously. I only saw the Apple watch version, not the sport or the edition, but the fact that I'm even considering getting one is somewhat surprising for me, as I've not had a watch of any kind since I was a very small child, finding one generally uncomfortable and distracting. The speaker wasn't very loud, but then again, didn't really have time to adjust the volume significantly. I could certainly envisage using one, I was genuinely impressed. The only consideration for me is obsolescence, and Apple haven't entirely addressed that question yet.
this doesn't make much sense
If you cannot work with the Apple watch, how do you explain the other articles posted that told of author's experiences using the device, and how well it works for blind people? David Woodbridge wrote a very extensive report on how a blind person will be able to use it.
Must differ from store to store
This must differ from store to store or something because on Friday I watched Sebastian Page from iDownloadBlog playing with the Watch at an Apple Store live on Periscope.
I couldn't play with it
I couldn't play with it either as the apple store i went to in the UK had the demmo versions. They said if i call in next week, they should have one. I'm still going between wanting one, and not. The only reason i want it is because of the work out app as i find the phone a hassle to check my time etc.
I will make my mind up when i see the accessibility features.
I was able to play with it!
Hello All,
I just got back from the Apple Store near Paris here in France. They had two areas for the Apple watch. First was a table with watches under a glass display. We asked to see a watch and the salesman was very helpful. My wife and I got to try one on.
However, there was a second area by the wall where they had working Apple watches. We were able to test out Voice Over and I agree that it will work great for blind people using Voice Over.
This is just my experience when we went to the Apple Store. Perhaps, it does differ between stores.
Making an Appointment
True. I just returned from an appointment. All the demo watches just run a loop, they just play a video. Sadly none of them can turn on VoiceOver.