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I worry this will be a massive target for theft. If someone sees you wearing an Apple Watch they know you have at least a $350 watch and $400+ phone on your pe

by tdicola 12y ago

I worry this will be a massive target for theft. If someone sees you wearing an Apple Watch they know you have at least a $350 watch and $400+ phone on your person.

Cthulhu_ 12y ago
Not really a valid argument; a lot of people have their phone out at all times (or even just to check the time), which isn't even attached to their wrists like this one is. Second, at $350, the resale value on the black market is what, $50? $100 if you're lucky? Not sure if a robbery is worth that. Besides, how do people with expensive watches (Rolexes and whatnot) manage?
- gone35 12y ago
  I think tdicola's point is that, unlike any other watch, having an iWatch in your wrist immediately signals you also have an iPhone 5 or higher tucked somewhere in that moment --since the watch, stupidly, only works tethered to an iPhone apparently. As it happens, this kind of wealth signaling is a legitimate personal safety risk in many countries today, esp lower- to middle-income ones. In those countries, very few people can afford to wear expensive watches; and when they do, they just don't wear them around everyday in every public setting --more like for special occasions, private parties, meetings, etc. Note the risk is not just 'merely' mugging: it can also be kidnapping (you or your loved ones), 'doxxing' you and your family and emptying your bank accounts and so forth, or even extreme forms of assault --beatings, rape or death. So it's kind of a big deal. iPhones, on the other hand, can be carried and used discreetly at all times, in non-conspicuous cases and using hands-free earphones --that is, until now, if you happen to be wearing a beaming iWatch right on your wrist, thus defeating the whole point.
yaeger 12y ago
To be honest, I thought the same thing about the earbuds of the iPod or the iPhone. You know, the signature, white earbuds. I thought to myself, "if I have these on, everybody will know I have an iPhone"... this was back when iPhones still were a kind of status symbol because of carrier lock-in and still costing a lot etc. At least with the watches, if you wear long sleeved shirts, nobody will see it. Only while wearing tshirts it would be visible. As far as mugging potential goes, I think nowadays you could attempt to mug any person on the street and chances are pretty high that they carry a smartphone which has at least a value of 350 dollars. Android or iOS. So, I don't really think that theft would be a bigger problem than it already is with smartphones.
LeicaLatte 12y ago
You should start using a watch. I have had a watch stolen in public transport, was very young though :). Watches have always had this "problem" and watch users are tuned to managing that attention.
- tdicola 12y ago
  I wear a $5 watch from Target so theft is never a problem.
serve_yay 12y ago
Fancy watches are theft targets, true. (At this point anyone with a fancy watch, digital or analog, has an expensive smartphone in their pocket.)

by tdicola 12y ago

I worry this will be a massive target for theft. If someone sees you wearing an Apple Watch they know you have at least a $350 watch and $400+ phone on your person.

Cthulhu_ 12y ago

Not really a valid argument; a lot of people have their phone out at all times (or even just to check the time), which isn't even attached to their wrists like this one is. Second, at $350, the resale value on the black market is what, $50? $100 if you're lucky? Not sure if a robbery is worth that. Besides, how do people with expensive watches (Rolexes and whatnot) manage?

gone35 12y ago
I think tdicola's point is that, unlike any other watch, having an iWatch in your wrist immediately signals you also have an iPhone 5 or higher tucked somewhere in that moment --since the watch, stupidly, only works tethered to an iPhone apparently. As it happens, this kind of wealth signaling is a legitimate personal safety risk in many countries today, esp lower- to middle-income ones. In those countries, very few people can afford to wear expensive watches; and when they do, they just don't wear them around everyday in every public setting --more like for special occasions, private parties, meetings, etc. Note the risk is not just 'merely' mugging: it can also be kidnapping (you or your loved ones), 'doxxing' you and your family and emptying your bank accounts and so forth, or even extreme forms of assault --beatings, rape or death. So it's kind of a big deal. iPhones, on the other hand, can be carried and used discreetly at all times, in non-conspicuous cases and using hands-free earphones --that is, until now, if you happen to be wearing a beaming iWatch right on your wrist, thus defeating the whole point.

yaeger 12y ago

To be honest, I thought the same thing about the earbuds of the iPod or the iPhone. You know, the signature, white earbuds. I thought to myself, "if I have these on, everybody will know I have an iPhone"... this was back when iPhones still were a kind of status symbol because of carrier lock-in and still costing a lot etc. At least with the watches, if you wear long sleeved shirts, nobody will see it. Only while wearing tshirts it would be visible. As far as mugging potential goes, I think nowadays you could attempt to mug any person on the street and chances are pretty high that they carry a smartphone which has at least a value of 350 dollars. Android or iOS. So, I don't really think that theft would be a bigger problem than it already is with smartphones.

LeicaLatte 12y ago

You should start using a watch. I have had a watch stolen in public transport, was very young though :). Watches have always had this "problem" and watch users are tuned to managing that attention.

tdicola 12y ago
I wear a $5 watch from Target so theft is never a problem.

serve_yay 12y ago

Fancy watches are theft targets, true. (At this point anyone with a fancy watch, digital or analog, has an expensive smartphone in their pocket.)