So I just got the Apple Watch and am starting to feel like it's horrible for running? Can I really not stream Pandora?

This is exactly what has happened for me. I have had my Apple Watch Series 4 (no cellular) for just over two months. My screen time (per the iPhone screen time) is down over 50% since I've owed the watch (~4 hours per day previously; less than 2 hours now). I also love having my AirPods connect to my watch so that I don't need to lug around my phone when I run/workout.

I can't speak to this as I don't have the cellular version, but per Apple's website, the only streaming that you are currently able to do is via Apple Music or Apple Podcasts. I have 3 music playlists on my watch, plus ~10 podcast episodes that keep me busy. I'm not much of a streamer (no Pandora or Spotify), so that isn't a deal breaker for me, but I can see how someone who relies on services like that may feel different.

Not at this moment, but Apple is notorious for launching new features with only their services and then opening it up to third parties (i.e., App Store)...so I could see something like this happening in the future.

They won't complain as it's their product. I've bought MacBooks from eBay and have brought them to Apple Stores for service and for trade-ins and they didn't bat an eye.

To each their own, but I went from an Apple Watch Series 3 (~1 year) to a Garmin Fenix 5 (~1 year) to the Apple Watch Series 4. I can't really see going back to any other watch after being back with an Apple Watch. The biggest thing for me is the freedom that it enables (i.e., leaving the phone in the locker at the gym or at home during a run, minimizing screen time so I'm more present with my kids and wife, and linking it to my health insurance/life insurance provider to get discounts on coverage) which has definitely increased my overall quality of life.

aoxomoxoa wrote:

To each their own, but I went from an Apple Watch Series 3 (~1 year) to a Garmin Fenix 5 (~1 year) to the Apple Watch Series 4. I can't really see going back to any other watch after being back with an Apple Watch. The biggest thing for me is the freedom that it enables (i.e., leaving the phone in the locker at the gym or at home during a run, minimizing screen time so I'm more present with my kids and wife, and linking it to my health insurance/life insurance provider to get discounts on coverage) which has definitely increased my overall quality of life.

Thanks for the good post.

Yeah, in a weird way, I'd like to turn off everything on the phone except the phone and streaming so if I need to take a call, that's it. No gmail interruptions, texts, etc.

Imagine not owning your music

Couldn’t be me

rojo wrote: I've had the Apple watch for less than 24 hours and am starting to feel like it's a ripoff. Tell me if I'm wrong.

You are correct (now). Yes, you were dumb to buy it. Or any expensive garbage electronic device that creates more problems than it solves and will be unused or trashed within a year. Macklemore said it well, but then again you ain't no coldass honky..

Mines wifi only but I use mine daily for playlists and podcast on the run to ditch my phone. Works fine and ran 2 marathons with AW4 tunes throughout via Trekz Air BT headphones.

Other nice features I appreciate for tracking recovery are automatic HRV and resting HR measurements. HRV also syncs with HRV4 Training app. Also prompts for stand and breathe sessions through the work day a feature that gets me moving instead of being a lump in a chair all day. Strava also works good watch only.

I use mine in lieu of my Garmin. Pandora does offline music so you’d have to pre-cache everything but it looks like you need to pay for it. I stream all my mp3s that I ripped from my audio CDs /torrented way back when that were uploaded to Apple Music (it’s like $25 a year). I can listen to my Audible books offline.

Workouts are recorded via the native app and exported to Strava or whatever using HealthFit and that’s $4. Every other app kills the watch battery.

It’s nice to leave the phone behind and yet still be able to reached in an emergency. I’m not going to carry on a lengthy phone conversation on my watch/headphones. Using Apple Pay is ok I guess.

Audible now works offline. Also, ismoothrun app is amazing for any running workout. Any Apple watch owner who runs should have that app. I'm not affiliated with. It is just that good.

AW4 User wrote:

Mines wifi only but I use mine daily for playlists and podcast on the run to ditch my phone. Works fine and ran 2 marathons with AW4 tunes throughout via Trekz Air BT headphones.

Other nice features I appreciate for tracking recovery are automatic HRV and resting HR measurements. HRV also syncs with HRV4 Training app. Also prompts for stand and breathe sessions through the work day a feature that gets me moving instead of being a lump in a chair all day. Strava also works good watch only.

I don't like playlists as I know what songs are coming. I want streaming. How hard can it be?

I also tried to create a shopping list. You can't even do that?

My take:

If you are just a runner and not doing triathlons, biking or ultras, an apple watch is fine. Yes you are limited to their ecosystem and the crappy battery life, but it does have LTE connectivity plus way more smart watch features compared to Garmin. Its primarily a smart watch with GPS, while Garmin is a GPS watch with some smart watch features.

However, I do multi sports and hate having to charge the battery each night, so I went with a Fenix 5 Plus. Allows me to play offline spotify music (yes still pay 10$ monthly), works for swimming, biking (can buzz for varia radar), can transmit HR data to Edge head unit, and has half way decent maps (especially trail maps). Furthermore I get a week+ before having to charge and is great for all day hikes with GPS. I imagine for the letsrun crowd, I am the exception to the rule on use cases.

Additionally, I travel allot and love to try new running routes, so I love the course and turn by turn directions on the Fenix5. I can map out a course on my ipad and move it over easily to my garmin watch to run a specific route. The way garmin does courses and integrates it to the normal running data fields is seamless and way better than Apple.

For me, once Garmin puts LTE in their Fenix 6 series, I will have everything I could possibly want, for live streaming my position (to wife), to emergency situations. I have ZERO interest in taking calls or having full connectivity to the internet on my watch while running - I like the detached aspect. However, I always have Garmin pay in case I need to get water or a cab back home.

Oh and add structured workouts to the garmin playbook. Easy to program 4x1600's with rest intervals, rolling mile paces, etc...

When I first got my Series 3 with cell service last year, it was for similar reasons: no kids but I need to be reachable for work and I have elderly parents, plus I wanted music, Apple Pay, an electronic key to my house, and GPS (I travel a lot and frequently run in unfamiliar places).

The cell service sucks. The first time I relied on the watch for GPS the lag was so bad I had to stop and get directions. Forget streaming. I have Apple Music and I’ve enabled auto download of new music when the watch is charging so the rotation isn’t too stale, but I do relate to wanting to hear songs I’m not expecting and not having that option. Phone calls are a joke. It’s OK for emergencies and quick calls with people I know, but the quality is horrible and if I need to really be available for something important, I bring my phone. Also, taking calls and Strava drain the battery very quickly. If I’m going on a long run someplace new, I don’t turn on Strava so that my watch doesn’t die before I get back.

Useful device for the price? Yes. There’s enough convenience there to justify having one and I will upgrade to the next generation this year. But it definitely doesn’t replace a phone.

You tell us, Ivy boy.

Yet again, rojo demonstrates that he has the mental capacity of dimwitted kindergartner. Is rojo the poster child for the college admissions scandal or is he just the village idiot?

Thorough wrote:

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/461550-men-have-become-the-tools-of-their-tools-money-is

That quote didn't age well

Grammar is only a rumor for rojo.

Rojo may not have the best grammar normally but I thought it was a solid post and brought up a lot of good points, plus he wrote well. I don't have an Apple watch so this was a good reminder for me not to get one.

You are right some of the time but not here wrote:

Rojo may not have the best grammar normally but I thought it was a solid post and brought up a lot of good points, plus he wrote well. I don't have an Apple watch so this was a good reminder for me not to get one.

This.

rojo said: I also tried to create a shopping list. You can't even do that?

in another thread this morning someone asked me whether I had ever visited Earth.

if by Earth he means that place where not being able to put a shopping list on your watch is an actual complaint, then I'm sure glad I do not.

whatever happened to just going for a run?

cheers.