As with the release of any new tech product or gadget, consumers are closely eyeing reviews and reports about early adopter experiences. Fortunately, I have the opportunity of being one of those early adopters of the hottest wearable on the market: the Apple Watch. At this point, it’s been just over a week since I received my device, and I wanted to share a few thoughts and ideas about my experiences out of the gate.
Set Up and Initial Likes
First, opening the box was a good experience and setting up the watch was seamless! It did take 4-5 minutes to completely sync with my iPhone. I like the fact that I no longer need to grab my phone to determine the time, view upcoming calendar events, see incoming texts or even follow directions to my next destination. I have answered text messages with it using Siri and even answered a phone call from my wife (I’ll be honest; I was too scared to try it with one of my clients this early in the game!). Surprisingly (or not), it all worked well.
I have used it during exercise to track my steps and standing hours. Although I’ve found myself looking at it quite a bit this first week, I am getting over the newness and the attraction it has to my inner geek. I have it set to highlight upcoming events with a slight vibration, which allows me to keep my phone in my jacket pocket and get the information without disruption. Right now, I am using it as a personal assistant and convenience tool. Because I haven’t worn a watch for the past three years, I was worried about the weight and how it would feel under long sleeves. Thankfully, it’s lightweight (much more so than my Rolex and TAG watches were … and cheaper!), and the rounded corners don’t snag on my shirts.
Translation to the Workplace
As a business owner, I am constantly thinking about how this device might assist employees, enhance communication, and possibly increase overall productivity. But first I want to underscore my initial concerns about security. Fortunately, when I take the Apple Watch off, it locks, which requires me to input the four-digit passcode I set up when syncing the watch with my iPhone before using it again. Because my iPhone is enrolled in our enterprise mobility management (EMM) solution, the “profile” of my phone controls the profile of the watch. That’s good, because many of the millions of Apple Watches already sold will be walking into your offices and accessing vital data including emails, contacts and texts very soon.
I haven’t found the Apple Watch as a replacement for everything I do on the iPhone, but it is very powerful, easy to use and intuitive, which makes it a good helper. With more than 3,500 apps already available for the Apple Watch, there is certainly more to come. Keep checking back for future reviews on productivity experiences and much more!
Phil Poje | CEO, TechOrchard
A serial entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive leadership and ownership experience, Phil has a unique understanding of the challenges that exist within the rapidly growing technology sector. Contact him directly at phil@techorchard.com to discuss innovative ways for overcoming those challenges and propelling your organization to new levels of success.
