Category: Watch

my new apple watch

whbeebe1 Comment

Last week, during Amazon’s two-day sale, I relented my stance towards buying anything new from Apple and purchased a sale-priced 45mm Apple Watch Series 7. I was using (and still own) a 42mm Apple Watch Series 3 I’d purchased heavily discounted back in early 2019. I expected to use that watch until it literally died (i.e. the battery stopped charging or the electronics failed). That was based on a world-view that has shifted fundamentally since retirement, and it’s now centered on tracking my health.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is going to be dropped in September from Watch OS 9 updates and beyond. That wouldn’t have concerned me except that Watch OS 9 is supposed to have the added ability to track my medications. I don’t take all that many but they are important, and I’ve had mornings where things got hectic around my house and as a consequence I didn’t take that day’s dosage. Nothing horrible happened, but there’s a reason you take your meds on a daily basis. I’ve now decided I want to have a personal device that will help me track when I need to take my meds and remind me. Most of the time it won’t matter, but for those odd times I will need that gentle (or perhaps not so gentle) reminder.

The other reason for purchasing this new watch has been its surprising new medical measurement features which aren’t available for the Series 3. For example I’m now tracking my blood oxygen levels.

A bigger help is the newer, bigger battery in the Series 7. The Series 3 battery is showing its age, to the point I can’t wear it at night while I sleep. The Series 7 lasts longer and charges much faster than the Series 3. Instead of leaving the Apple Watch on the charger all night, I can top up the battery to 100% in 15 minutes on the charger, usually while I’m eating supper. When I put the Series 7 back on again I have more than enough charge to last through the night and into the morning. In the morning, I top up the watch again during breakfast, so that I have it for the rest of the day. With all that time wearing the Series 7 I have a much more complete view into my health, especially heart rate and mobility. For the past two months I’ve been walking the dogs twice/day, once before sunup and again right after sunset. The individual walks are shorter, but the combined distance and exercise are longer due to the two walks. And both dogs certainly love it, especially my 14-year-old Ruby.

I must admit the Series 7 is quite the upgrade from the Series 3, and the sales price for the Series 7 was significantly low. However, it was still several hundreds of dollars, and I’m very conscious of saving money on a fixed income. I’m pretty certain my doctors are going to be happy I have the Series 7 over the Series 3. I suppose that a device that can help me monitor and maintain my health is a device I should have, except I have the nagging feeling I’m trying to justify purchasing a new expensive geegaw.

I have also picked a new watch face.


I like this face because I can track sunrise and sunset, and I just like the face design. i did turn off the always-on watch face feature in order to increase battery life, and it’s noticeable. The watch shows its face faster when I raise my wrist, so I don’t miss the always-on feature.

And yes, it’s hot here in Florida. As you can see it was 8:38 pm and the outside temperature was 86°.

Do I feel the purchase was justified? Technically, absolutely. There is a major difference in operation and features between the older Series 3 and the current Series 7. My hesitation is due to how much it cost, even on sale.

old timer

whbeebe

You’re looking at my mechanical Citizen Eco-Drive WR 100 Titanium wrist watch, given to me by my wife some twenty years ago. I’d kept it in a drawer along with other nearly forgotten items from my past. Six days ago I pulled it out, put it out into the light, and let the internal battery recharge. Almost immediately the second sweep hand started to move across the face. It was skipping every other second, which indicated it wasn’t completely charged. After the third day the sweep hand was moving from second mark to second mark. I then set the time and date, and started to wear it in place of my Apple Watch 3.

Why would I switch to an old mechanical watch and stop wearing my Apple Watch? I suppose because I got tired of having that “wearable tech” on my wrist that required I take it off and place it on its charger, or it would stop working. I also like that the Citizen is much lighter than the Apple Watch.

I appreciate the simplicity of the Citizen. It just keeps time, and does it accurately enough for me.The only quirk is that I have to change the date to the first of a month, if the prior month has less than 31 days. Small price to pay for a watch that doesn’t need winding or charging. It doesn’t have WiFi or Bluetooth, which in this day of exploits I consider a blessing. It doesn’t take my pulse or count my steps, it just keeps accurate time. I don’t have to lift my wrist to turn on the display and check the time. Nor do I have to spend at least US$350 minimum to get an Apple Watch 6 so I can have a “wearable tech” watch that can always display the time. This Citizen, and every watch like it, does that for free as it were. It’s water resistant down to 100 meters. I can swim with it or get caught in the Florida rain, and not have to worry about that aspect of life.

And it looks so nice, like a classic watch.

I’m amazed it started right back up. I knew that Citizen has a reputation for great watches, and this is an example of that. Furthermore the watch was manufactured completely in Japan. Today’s Citizen watches are probably manufactured in China.

I know that Apple is ready to release a new generation Apple Watch. I don’t care. I won’t buy another in the foreseeable future. Nor do I see myself purchasing a competitive product in that category. I’m done with that aspect of wearable tech, especially from Apple.