Ever since 2011 when I first saw the 6th gen iPod Nano on someone’s wrist, I’ve dreamed of having an iPod watch. As an avid runner and weight-lifter I’d been using my iPhone to listen to music and podcasts during my workouts by using an armband. But that original idea of the 6th gen iPod on your wrist had so many pitfalls it wasn’t workable.
Wearing my iPhone on my arm was starting to get pretty cumbersome after Apple moved to the 4.7” screen and putting the Plus model on my arm was unthinkable. The iPhone 6 was both larger and heavier than the iPhone 5. And when you’re in the gym lifting weights, there is no good place to put the phone where it’s not eventually in the way or you worry about shattering the screen.
Then came the Apple Watch unveiling three years later when we first saw Apple’s wearable. It looked like I was finally going to get my wish. And for the most part, I have. I’ve created a playlist titled “Apple Watch” which allows me to add or subtract songs to my watch’s playlist from my iPad or Mac. When I go running without my iPhone I can listen to music from my watch using my wireless headphones. No need for wires or an iPhone.
Also, when I’m at the gym. I use my watch as my iPhone proxy. I can leave my iPhone in my duffel bag and control my music from my wrist. Plus, since my iPhone is within range, I can still get text messages or take an urgent call if I need to. Or if like me, you do some of your best thinking when you’re working out, you can use Siri to add these ideas to your reminders or record yourself a voice memo.
But there are still a couple of large issues with using my Apple Watch as my new iPod Nano. I hoped that they would be corrected with the next Watch OS but I’m running Watch OS 3 on my watch now and there doesn’t appear to be any changes to these pain points.
Music Synchronization is Cumbersome
One of the things that made me move away from an iPod Nano and start using my iPhone as my main music device was the absence of cords. If I come home from work and change clothes for a quick run, the last thing I want to do is fire up my computer to manage my playlists or download a podcast. I loved the iPhone’s ability to acquire music and podcasts in a matter of seconds while I’m sitting on my couch. The Apple Watch doesn’t enjoy this same ability.
Moving music to your Apple Watch still requires that you remove your watch and dock it to the power cord. This might be tolerable if the transfer from your phone took place in a matter of seconds. But it still takes a long time to sync your music. Unless you’re adding only a few songs, it’s going to be from five to 45 minutes of wait time.
Getting music to your Apple Watch needs to be quicker by an exponential amount. And better yet, it would be great if it was wireless.
Podcasts Can’t Be Loaded
But at least you can transfer your music, even if it does take a while. You don’t have that option with podcasts at all. I’m aware that you can go into iTunes on a Mac to change the properties of a podcast and sync it to your iPhone and then later sync it to your watch. Just thinking about tinkering with metadata and doing two separate wired syncs makes me tired.
To be fair, you do have the option of using your watch to control the podcasts on your iPhone. Which is what I currently do using the excellent watch app Downcast. But there are two drawbacks to this method. First, you have to carry your iPhone with you. Second, using your watch as a middleman will always introduce a bit of lag.
I wish that if my watch was connected to my home WIFI, that I could browse available podcasts and download the ones that I want. It would be so nice to be able to grab podcasts even if I’m sitting in my living room and my iPhone is sitting on my nightstand in my bedroom.
Conclusion
Oddly, Apple hasn’t made music much of a focus for the Apple Watch. If you go to the Apple Watch home page at Apple.com and scroll down. You’ll see in this order the watch attributes listed as:
I have no problem with any of these. But people love music and they can relate to it. I would think that in a world of ever expanding phone girth, the Apple Watch as the new music player makes a lot of sense. I’m no marketing guy, but in my view, I'd think that music has just as much appeal as fitness & health. Maybe more.
My Apple Watch has made working out so much nicer. Sometimes when I tell Siri to start a playlist or open my podcast app I smile at the thought of that old 6th gen Nano. But it’s time for music and podcasting to get some love in Watch OS.
Then came the Apple Watch unveiling three years later when we first saw Apple’s wearable. It looked like I was finally going to get my wish. And for the most part, I have. I’ve created a playlist titled “Apple Watch” which allows me to add or subtract songs to my watch’s playlist from my iPad or Mac. When I go running without my iPhone I can listen to music from my watch using my wireless headphones. No need for wires or an iPhone.
Also, when I’m at the gym. I use my watch as my iPhone proxy. I can leave my iPhone in my duffel bag and control my music from my wrist. Plus, since my iPhone is within range, I can still get text messages or take an urgent call if I need to. Or if like me, you do some of your best thinking when you’re working out, you can use Siri to add these ideas to your reminders or record yourself a voice memo.
But there are still a couple of large issues with using my Apple Watch as my new iPod Nano. I hoped that they would be corrected with the next Watch OS but I’m running Watch OS 3 on my watch now and there doesn’t appear to be any changes to these pain points.
Music Synchronization is Cumbersome
One of the things that made me move away from an iPod Nano and start using my iPhone as my main music device was the absence of cords. If I come home from work and change clothes for a quick run, the last thing I want to do is fire up my computer to manage my playlists or download a podcast. I loved the iPhone’s ability to acquire music and podcasts in a matter of seconds while I’m sitting on my couch. The Apple Watch doesn’t enjoy this same ability.
Moving music to your Apple Watch still requires that you remove your watch and dock it to the power cord. This might be tolerable if the transfer from your phone took place in a matter of seconds. But it still takes a long time to sync your music. Unless you’re adding only a few songs, it’s going to be from five to 45 minutes of wait time.
Getting music to your Apple Watch needs to be quicker by an exponential amount. And better yet, it would be great if it was wireless.
Podcasts Can’t Be Loaded
But at least you can transfer your music, even if it does take a while. You don’t have that option with podcasts at all. I’m aware that you can go into iTunes on a Mac to change the properties of a podcast and sync it to your iPhone and then later sync it to your watch. Just thinking about tinkering with metadata and doing two separate wired syncs makes me tired.
To be fair, you do have the option of using your watch to control the podcasts on your iPhone. Which is what I currently do using the excellent watch app Downcast. But there are two drawbacks to this method. First, you have to carry your iPhone with you. Second, using your watch as a middleman will always introduce a bit of lag.
I wish that if my watch was connected to my home WIFI, that I could browse available podcasts and download the ones that I want. It would be so nice to be able to grab podcasts even if I’m sitting in my living room and my iPhone is sitting on my nightstand in my bedroom.
Conclusion
Oddly, Apple hasn’t made music much of a focus for the Apple Watch. If you go to the Apple Watch home page at Apple.com and scroll down. You’ll see in this order the watch attributes listed as:
- Notifications
- Fitness & Health
- Personalization
I have no problem with any of these. But people love music and they can relate to it. I would think that in a world of ever expanding phone girth, the Apple Watch as the new music player makes a lot of sense. I’m no marketing guy, but in my view, I'd think that music has just as much appeal as fitness & health. Maybe more.
My Apple Watch has made working out so much nicer. Sometimes when I tell Siri to start a playlist or open my podcast app I smile at the thought of that old 6th gen Nano. But it’s time for music and podcasting to get some love in Watch OS.
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