Apple Watch's Hidden Diagnostic Port To Allow Battery Straps, Innovative Add-Ons 113
MojoKid writes: Apple's Watch launched two weeks ago to some unbelievable hype and coverage in the press. However, it appears one feature flew under the radar and Apple actually had just one more trick up its sleeve. You see, on one side of the watch face is a hidden door that exposes a 6-pin port. It's assumed that this could be used for diagnostic purposes, but with an Apple Watch in hand, a company by the name of Reserve Strap was able to verify that it could also be used for charging. This seems pretty huge and strange at the same time: why would Apple keep such a thing quiet, when the Apple Watch's battery-life isn't what most people would consider impressive? Even more interesting is the fact that Apple didn't make use of this port to release its own charging straps — watch straps that carry a charge themselves. Apple's lack of transparency here doesn't much matter, though, as the aforementioned Reserve Strap is planning to get such a product to market as soon as possible. The company says about its first offering: "The Reserve Strap will come in White, Gray and Black and will fit both the 38mm and 42mm case sizes. The first batch of straps will be shipped in the Fall.
I've had the watch 10 days (Score:5, Informative)
And there hasn't been a day where I thought I'd run out of battery power. I've been wearing it at night, and most mornings I wake up with it still about 30% full. This is the 42mm model.
Re:I've had the watch 10 days (Score:4, Informative)
Battery life non-issue (Score:5, Informative)
"Apple Watch's battery-life isn't what most people would consider impressive"
This is yet another bullshit clickbait statement. Never gotten below 30% on mine, even when my phone has run dry.
Re:Battery life non-issue (Score:5, Interesting)
If a brand new one has only 30% at the end of the day, a year from now (or an OS update, whichever happens first) you'd better get used to charging your watch at lunch.
Re:Battery life non-issue (Score:5, Insightful)
a year from now (or an OS update,
Or he loads up a few more of those apps for it...
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That's simply not true. My Moto X gets about the same battery life today as it did when I bought it in 2013. Lithium batteries only get serious wear when charged/discharged outside of the normal operating region. As long as you don't let your watch drain all the way to zero every few days, it should last a good long time.
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Actually it's based on some pretty sound principles:
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You're being ridiculous. No OS update or battery degradation over a year is going to reduce the capacity to less than half. The battery itself is is rated to retain 80% capacity for a thousand cycles and battery tech is pretty predictable.
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He wasn't suggesting it would reduce capacity, but increase consumption.
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The issue is that, at the moment, no apps are really running on the Apple Watch itself, but rather, the display is basically streamed over Bluetooth from the connected iPhone. Once apps run on the watch itself, the situation will change.
Now whether it ends up being better or worse is anyone's guess, it will probably depend on the apps and implementation details, but I would expect that for most apps, it won't reduce power consumption.
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Why would you expect that? What apps will be able to do will be extremely curtailed - e.g. they will probably follow the original iPhone model of halting the process whenever the user isn't using it. Aside from the display, the radio is probably the biggest power draw on the system, plus there won't be any length negotiation with the phone, so having non-background applications run directly on the device will probably help battery li
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I guess it depends on the scope of applications, but I expect that typical apps will still use the radio to update data, but as they go native on the watch they'll start to do processing on the watch itself.
We'll have to wait and see, it really depends on what sort of apps end up being popular.
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"Apple Watch's battery-life isn't what most people would consider impressive"
This is yet another bullshit clickbait statement. Never gotten below 30% on mine, even when my phone has run dry.
So, while the device that actually provides real functionality to your iWatch is dead, we're not supposed to believe the bullshit clickbait statements.
There's a true Apple fan...
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First the watch battery isn't good. Then it's too good because the phone battery isn't. Just stop, dude, you're obviously dead set against Apple products.
I run a Macbook and a Mac Mini at home. I own two cell phones, one of which is an iPhone.
Nice try though.
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Let's so, YOUR opinion supersedes everyone else's then? The p1ss poor batter life is a major reason that I didn't get one. I might someday, but ~1 day is crap. That and it's not truly waterproof. Kind of important if your exercise includes the water.
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so = see
Re:Battery life non-issue (Score:4, Insightful)
Not really. Full disclosure: I've got a Pebble Time ordered with 7 days battery life.
"My Apple Watch never gets below 90%! Sure I'm charging it every 15 minutes, but it's battery life is a non-issue"
For a watch where a regular watches battery lasts years, a watch with a battery life of a single day at best is hilariously bad.
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For a watch where a regular watches battery lasts years, a watch with a battery life of a single day at best is hilariously bad.
They may be calling it a 'watch' but it's a bit more than just a electric motor that turns three dials in circles so if you can convince yourself to stop regarding this device as a watch and see it as a wrist mounted tablet perhaps the battery life is less disappointing.
Re:Battery life non-issue (Score:4, Insightful)
But nobody needs a watch battery to last years though - the comparison is meaningless. People don't use their watches while they sleep - charging every night in exchange for the extra functionality is a good deal for most people.
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People don't use their watches while they sleep - charging every night in exchange for the extra functionality is a good deal for most people.
Depends on how you use it. I use my Pebble for sleep tracking, and it vibrates in the morning when my alarm goes off.
Yes, I could do without that; I just use it 'coz it's there. Then again, I can also do without all the "bloat" they seem to be adding to smart watches. Trading in the extra functionality for longer operational time between charges is a good deal to me. I don't need a miniature tablet on my wrist, I just want something that notifies me of incoming calls, SMS, emails and IMs, and calendar event
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Maybe that's because your standard for impressive is a little different than other peoples? The last watch I wore had a battery that lasted a couple of years. I find the idea of a watch that needs a weekly charge, let alone a daily charge to be abhorrent. MAYBE if it was a replacement for a cellphone I'd be all right with daily charging, but it's not even that. It's a little extension for those people for whom pulling their phone out of their pocket is too much of a bother.
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"Apple Watch's battery-life isn't what most people would consider impressive"
This is yet another bullshit clickbait statement. Never gotten below 30% on mine, even when my phone has run dry.
If the battery lasted until the heat-death of the universe, most people would consider it impressive.
If the battery lasted until the sun dies, most people would consider it impressive.
If the battery lasted until the year 2050, most people would consider it impressive.
If the battery lasted 12 months, most people would consider it impressive.
If the battery lasted a month, most people would consider it impressive.
If the battery lasted a week, most people would consider it acceptable.
At a week's battery
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Used to be that you had to wind watches every night, I don't recall people complaining.
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Used to be that you had to wind watches every night, I don't recall people complaining.
Seriously? Ten seconds of twisting a knob is the same as taking the watch off and leaving it plugged in for the couple hours it takes to fully charge, during which you can't use it?
Also, people used to not complain that you couldn't tell time on cloudy days because the sundial didn't work. Progress is progressive. The Apple Watch's battery lifespan isn't impressive which is what the person I replied to was pretty bombastically disputing. I reiterate: it's acceptable. But you already knew that.
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Most people get at least "a couple hours" of sleep every night. How is "Twist the knob to wind it up, then sleep for 6 hours," all that different from "Connect watch to charger, then sleep for 6 hours"?
While it'd be nice if the watch got a lifetime of use on a single charge... given the typical schedule most people keep, I fail to see how
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Really? That's the big objection? Exactly how long, and how out of breath, do you expect to get unstrapping a watch from your wrist? Mechanically, it's not much more significant an effort than pulling a phone out of your pocket... so why is "unstrap watch, plug in to charge" so much more excessive?
I know this may sound shocking, but not everybody needs to be co
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As an
Re: Battery life non-issue (Score:2)
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We complained, believe me. That's why I was so fond of my old self-winding wristwatch. It wasn't as precise as some, but but it was quite effective.
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Who's piling up the bullshit? Two people in a row with the same answer. 'My watch has never gone below 30%.' You don't even bother to provide a time period over which your watch has never gotten below the magical 30% mark.
Here's what we can assume from your statement. ____
You haven't told anyone a thing. Like how long did it go without a charge? And more importantly, how many apps did you use and for how long? Because, again, you told us nothing. If you are just wearing it as a fashion statement, well I'm t
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#3 will shock you!
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And you're bragging about that? Call me crazy, but I'm accustomed to replacing my watch battery every few YEARS. Charging it daily (or when the battery wears down in 6-12 months) twice a day is a complete non-starter.
This is an interesting device, but a complete fail when it comes to utility.
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And there hasn't been a day where I thought I'd run out of battery power. I've been wearing it at night, and most mornings I wake up with it still about 30% full. This is the 42mm model.
With a little prescience we can go one step further than that. I simply strapped an iPhone 3GS onto my wrist. If we look evolution of the original iPhone through to the current iPhone 6+, it doesn't take a genius to see that a 3GS will be very similar in specifications to the iWatch, er, Apple Watch 6+
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Agreed, no problem on watch battery (at 78% at the end of today). But it seems to be killing my iPhone battery, likely all the low level continuous Bluetooth communication. I know it's supposed to be blue tooth LE. But still my iPhone battery is dying. Anybody else having the same problem?
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Thats if the band lasts. Mine's broken after 5 years. The metal loop the pin goes through has broken off. Just the wear and tear of taking it on and off once a day.
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Used for charging... (Score:5, Insightful)
...until Apple breaks it for unlicensed third party hardware, that is.
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JTAG? (Score:5, Funny)
well, its apple. so, not a JTAG port but a PRICETAG port, perhaps?
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maybe a future strap will be used to wirelessly charge the watch,
really? (Score:1)
... why would Apple keep such a thing quiet,
Uh, so that they have something to roll out in the future with more hype? Maybe share a charge with your iPhone or iPad?
Some of you guys talk about elite Google engineers, but Apple's marketing prowess and ability is just incredible.
One massive problem potential down... (Score:2)
Plenty more to go. The single biggest one being, of course, only being able to use it with an iPhone. I mean, c'mon... at least give iPad support too!
Water Resistance? (Score:5, Insightful)
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While you're at it (Score:2)
*effects
Band would seem to cover port pretty well... (Score:2)
The diagnostic port is hidden by a cover. I'd be interested to see if removing the cover adversely affect's the watch's water resistance.
It may somewhat, but given that the port itself is located under the round part of the band that slides into the watch, it seems like it would be sealed away fairly well (especially if you designed the strap with that in mind).
It seems pretty sure sweat would not be able to get in there, really only submersion would have a chance.
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We must be grateful and thank the mighty (Score:2)
For transparency doesn't give us the courage to find these hidden treasures which have been bestowed upon us.
May we be forever grateful and humbled by our overlords.
Water resistance? (Score:2)
There's a few reasons I can imagine Apple was mum on this. Either it just really isn't actually useful, or meant to be released, or the software/frameworks aren't ready for primetime.
Still, my biggest concern is water resistance. It's exposed pins and it's a wearable. I can't imagine a strap alone is going to help matters here. Right now the watch can survive in relatively shallow depths for short amounts of time, but I wonder if it'll even survive getting dripped on with the diagnostic port exposed.
Sealed connectors (Score:5, Informative)
Right now the watch can survive in relatively shallow depths for short amounts of time, but I wonder if it'll even survive getting dripped on with the diagnostic port exposed.
You are aware that sealed connectors are a thing, yes? I run a company that makes wire harnesses and it is a pretty straight forward exercise to make a water tight sealed connector good to reasonable depths. (It's very easy if you don't care about bulk) I don't know if this is the case here but I suspect it wouldn't be terribly hard for Apple to make a port water tight when open or connected. You could have corrosion of the pins over time, particularly with salt water but it would have to be pretty bad to compromise the seal.
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Indeed. Look at the picture! It is just a line of metallic contacts. Easy peasy to make waterproof. The pointy parts are going to be on the band.
iphone to watch charger (Score:2)
I'm waiting for Apple to put a charger in their iPhone so that you can place ur Apple Watch on ur iPhone for a quick partial charge.
Re: Sealed connectors (Score:1)
Agreed. I have a 2-pin connector on the side of my watch-style Suunto D6 dive computer. That's good to depths of 200 metres or more, so this is existing, well-established engineering...
Lawsuit (Score:5, Interesting)
Wait for Apple to sue them like they sued these guys [appleinsider.com].
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If there was a patent on the diagnostic port we could just look up what it does.
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Wait for Apple to sue them like they sued these guys [appleinsider.com].
Very possible, given that Apple has already patented a flexible battery that looks like a watch strap. [macrumors.com]
What? (Score:2)
but with an Apple Watch in hand
Might I be the first to point out that if you have your Apple Watch in your hand you are probably doing it wrong...
Apple may not keep that port forever (Score:5, Insightful)
I remember the first model of iMac had an undocumented card slot. People speculated that Apple used the card slot for factory diagnostics on the iMacs; third-party companies took advantage of the slot to add 3D accelerators; and then Apple revised the iMac design and left that port out.
http://www.macworld.com/article/1014902/imacboards.html [macworld.com]
If Apple hasn't announced the port, the port may be gone from the next iWatch release.
Likely the problem is that there aren't enough patents on the port. Perhaps Apple will add a documented expansion port once they find some patents to encumber it.
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Dude, are you seriously this worked-up about a throwaway joke?
In any event, as the other AC noted, I was suggesting that this shipped port would never be official as it is not patented, and that a future watch would have a different and patented port.
My little bit of snark is somewhat founded on fact: Apple really does like to patent their connectors. MagSafe power connector: patented. Lightning: patented. So it is possible that Apple is going to keep this connector unofficial and undocumented, and later
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Dude, are you seriously surprised by a crazed AC in a discussion about an Apple product on Slashdot? Really?
Battery strap not such a good idea. (Score:1)
I've had the misfortune of having a Li-Ion battery enter thermal runaway while I was holding it, luckily I managed to drop it with only minor burns and some lightly melted clothing (the floor wasn't so lucky) I know people already carry these things around in their pocket and such, but wrapping one round you wrist is another matter, especially when you consider all the extra opportunities for puncturing the cells. Someone, somewhere, is going to end up with their hand amputated and cauterized in very quick
Wrong target group (Score:1)
Why are you so surprised? (Score:4, Insightful)
Because it's a sealed diagnostic port for a non-end-user serviceable product, not a feature. They aren't wishing anything up, it's just not something they have a reason to publicise.
Actually, people's opinions on this are very mixed. Some people are reporting great battery life and improved battery life on their iPhone as well as they switch the screen on less. Some people report the opposite. Chances are, people who have just got a new gadget are playing with it all day, which obviously isn't representative of normal usage patterns or battery life.
Why are you describing lack of publicity about a sealed diagnostic port for non-end-user serviceable goods as a "lack of transparency"? That is bizarre. You wouldn't expect that for any other company, let alone Apple.
Can't wait for Apple to remove the port! (Score:2)
we'll call it (Score:5, Funny)
Apple is controlling and mercural (Score:2)
About their platforms, especially the iPhones. I would expect them to be as or more so with a watch. I wouldn't expect this port to remain usable, in the same configuration or even be there in the future. Because that's how they work.
Most of the time I sort of buy the benevolence in their designs (ie, the lighting port on phones) although generally speaking I think they're too controlling and they actually limit things you can use the devices for.
But if you discover something that hasn't been advertised
I have an idea (Score:2)
Perhaps Apple don't want to put their name on a flexible strap tied around your wrist containing a lithium battery.
It would be a PR nightmare if it caught fire. I don't think flexible battery technology is as mature as non-flexible batteries.
One day battery life for a watch!? (Score:1)
Criminy, the battery in my watch lasts a couple of years on a single charge.
Of course I only use my watch to tell time, or, in a pinch, to navigate.
I think it may be for development (Score:3)
One of the things I was thinking the port was there for, was probably when developers could build native apps for the phone - since it would be a little pokey to ship debug builds and running debug info over wireless to the watch, a development cable would be a great idea.
It's probably also for Apple Store employees to run diagnostics (not sure if they have equipment for that yet).
It's not really meant for that. (Score:1)
The diagnostics port offers a direct power input that bypasses the majority of the induction charging circuitry because all that stuff is software controlled. Under certain (and very rare) circumstances, it might be possible to damage the watch in such a way that it becomes impossible to charge using the included accessories. For that reason and that reason only, the diagnostics port offers a guaranteed ability to charge and power the watch so any software related repairs can be made.
Just to be clear, the d
Apple suing in ... (Score:2)
... 3 ... 2 ... 1 ...
Once a week (Score:2)
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