Tech expert Cassie Slane weighs in on Apple Watch

What do critics make of the highly-anticipated Apple Watch? Cassie Slane, a tech consumer product expert from Philadelphia offers a few words of caution about Apple’s first smartwatch.

How will Apple Watch live up to its hype?

Apple Watch will have to hit two sweet spots for consumers in order for it to take off. First, it has to offer more than the iPhone offers in order for users to justify buying another technology device and second, it has to look appealing. I think Apple has accomplished the first step here – as I think the apps and the convenience of the watch will give consumers reason enough to pay a few hundred dollars for it. As far as looks go, the jury is still out. I am not sure that women, in particular, are going to want to wear an Apple Watch. It still looks a little too much like a computer with a band. “Time” will tell whether it is the next big thing.

Are the apps on offer useful?

Thousands of apps have already been developed for Apple Watch and many of their uses will be quite convenient. Aside from the obvious social networking apps like Instagram and Twitter, other apps let you unlock your hotel room and even control the lights in your home. The large U.S. retailer Target, for example, has an app for the Apple watch which will help you find products in their stores. The Starwood Hotels app will let you unlock your door to your hotel room and an app called Lutron Caséta will allow you to control the lights in your home no matter where you are.

Apple products, like the iPhone, tend to get hot. Is it possible the same will happen with Apple Watch?

It is likely that Apple will do the same thing with its watch as it does with its other products. If the interior temperature of the iPhone, for example, exceeds the normal operating range, the device attempts to regulate its temperature and will either stop charging or go black. The Apple Watch likely contains heat sensors because it is able to measure skin temperature and perspiration. I assume that Apple Watch should not be left in a hot car or in direct sunlight.

Apple boss Tim Cook said that Watch will go 18 hours of normal use before it needs charging. But many are concerned that the battery will be a lot worse than that…

The battery life is not great and that’s something that consumers may struggle with when they fork over all that cash. Depending on how you use the device, it could die after only three hours. That’s if you are using the watch for phone conversations. If you listen to music and workout with it, you could get up to 7 hours. If you are just checking it every one in a while for notifications and using it more casually, you could get closer to the 18 hours that Tim Cook discussed in the press conference. By comparison, users of the LG G Watch, which runs Google’s Android Wear system, get two days before it dies. Pebble’s smartwatch claims you can get 5-7 days of battery life from it.

Why has Apple made a product at $10,000?

Apple created a $10,000 version for those consumers that like technology as status symbols. I believe you will probably see the rich and famous touting the $10,000 watch on their wrist, but for practical folks like myself, the $350 version looks fine.

Could Watch pose as a distraction, say, for drivers on busy roads?

I don’t think it will add to the already serious issue of distracted driving. It could be argued that it may help drivers by enabling them to easily touch their wrist to answer a call instead of fishing through their purse or car. But technology is here to stay, and more and more gadgets are entering our lives on a daily basis. It is really up to drivers to be safe and take into consideration that driving while distracted can cause serious accidents.