From the CDC:<p>More than 750,000 hospitalizations occur each year because of AFib. The condition contributes to an estimated 130,000 deaths each year. The death rate from AFib as the primary or a contributing cause of death has been rising for more than two decades.3,4<p>AFib costs the United States about $6 billion each year. Medical costs for people who have AFib are about $8,705 higher per year than for people who do not have AFib.<p>AFib Facts
An estimated 2.7–6.1 million people in the United States have AFib. With the aging of the U.S. population, this number is expected to increase.
Approximately 2% of people younger than age 65 have AFib, while about 9% of people aged 65 years or older have AFib.
African Americans are less likely than those of European descent to have AFib.
Because AFib cases increase with age and women generally live longer than men, more women than men experience AFib.[1]<p>I think the inclusion of a ECG and afib detection is going to make a huge difference in many people's lives.<p>Also consider that they may have raised the price, but not hugely significantly. I've had two ECGs done in the past year, and I'm sure each one cost my insurance more than the price difference of the watch.<p>One of my friends is highly skeptical of Apple's privacy and who will have access to this data, but as far as I can tell Apple does not have access to, or share health data with anyone. Although, maybe we should be concerned about people giving insurance access to this data without realizing the implications to their coverage/premiums.<p>[1]: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_atrial_fibrillation.htm" rel="nofollow">https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/data_statistics/fact_sheets/fs_atr...</a>
Haptic feedback is huge. I think it is one of the most important ui innovations in the last few years, and the occasional ridicule apple receives for putting so much effort into it is extremely misguided.<p>Haptic feedback removes the most crippling weakness of the touchscreen, the inability to use it without looking.
> The most apparent size difference is actually the thickness – the 0.7mm shaved off the back (mostly from the sensor array) makes a huge difference in terms of comfort and you feel it the moment you put one of these new models on.<p>Does it really? I think this is an exaggeration. I went from a 10.5mm first-generation Apple Watch (which is <i>thinner</i> that this one!) to a 11.4mm Series 2, and I couldn't notice the difference. So I'm not optimistic on this being a perceivable difference–I guess I'll see on Friday.
Really wish someone would step up to the plate with an Android or open platform smartwatch that even approaches the level of quality of the Apple watches. Their watches are slick but I'm very much opposed to "buying in" to the system. Correct me if I'm wrong, but an Apple watch without an iPhone to talk to (and subsequent iCloud account, apple text messages, Apple music etc) is just a very pretty watch with swappable faces, yea?
This article has all the elements of a sponsored review but it was done extremely well and the author provided many detail information which I have to give him credit for that. The ECG feature is the only reason I would ever buy an iWatch, if it works as advertised. Apple is smart to focus in the health niche as there are no other valid reasons an average person would ever need a smart watch in their life.
A couple of years ago I really wanted to get a smart watch. After reading and reading and reading about them, I realised: buying a smart watch is actually pretty dumb. For the same amount of money, I could buy an automatic watch which will never need a battery replaced, never spy on me, never require patches, never fall out of software support — and will be with me for years to come.<p>So I went out and bought a few nice automatic watches, and I’ve been incredibly happy since. Each of my watches tells time, each looks good, and each will still be running years after every smart watch sold in 2016 is powered off.<p>This particular Apple watch is IMHO too big, and mesh bracelets look very 1980s to me.
Anyone have thoughts on if this is worthwhile?<p>Out of FAANG, I find Apple the closest to capitulation because they need to keep their luxury product audience buying their product instead of competitors who seem more willing to take risks.<p>Every Apple announcement seems more like an 'evolution than revolution' per the article, and this doesnt seem any different.<p>Is this the best watch on the market?<p>EDIT: whoops- PRAISE APPLE, thank you steve jobs for your sacrifice.