Author: paolovalde

Five days with my Apple Watch

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Five random thoughts:

1. the fact that you can check the time on this thing is as important as the fact that you can make phone calls with the other thing. While it defines their names (Apple Watch, iPhone), the really interesting parts are completely elsewhere.

2. while making my first phone call holding my watch to my face I realised that it’s not really a novelty: we used to do this all the time when we were kids. It’s just that now it works. Which isn’t necessarily a good thing (in any case, I would not do it in public).

3. the wrist movement I make when stabbing a piece of food with my fork is the same I make when checking the time. I think that eating using cutlery significantly reduces battery life.

4. it creates a whole new level of awareness. Because I can glance at notifications all the time, I do feel like I’m more in the flow. The absence of notification sounds (I muted it, I love its gentle tapping) and the fact that once you glance there isn’t much more you can do, makes it less distracting.

5. I do keep track of my physical activity monitors all the time. When Apple introduced Garage Band I picked up playing an instrument again. I wonder if the Apple Watch will get me to move a bit more.

Transparency, transparency, transparency

Crossposted on MwrVld.com

Guess what? Lately I have become obsessed with transparency! The more I work on it, the more I realise that transparency is at the very core of any healthy business relationship.

It works inside an organisation, it works between organisations. It’s the essential ingredient to build trust and understanding. Continue reading “Transparency, transparency, transparency”

Good days

There are no bad days for great walks. I have enjoyed myself quite a lot under some very miserable weathers (as long as I had the right attire).

And then there are days like today: with better colours.

Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele
Monte San Michele

Winter tires

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Having enjoyed very much my 610v2 for 466Km this summer, I picked up a pair of 610v2 Goretex for my winter walks.

…and there was me, standing in a puddle to test my new water resistant shoes, with a big grin ;)

iPhone magic

I dropped by the Apple Store last week in London to see the new iPhones. I was hoping for the “instant lust” that usually goes with Apple’s new gadgets, but it didn’t happen.

Now, to be fair we should admit that smartphones are becoming a commodity and we can’t expect to be amazed with every new iteration. The iPhone 6 is a perfectly nice phone, most likely it’s going to be my next phone when my contract on the current 5 will expire (not the Plus, it’s just ridiculously huge imho), but I’ll just sit and wait for the upgrade without any exceptionally big expectation.

I’m just hoping that the Apple Watch will provide that little bit of extra excitement that keep all of us going ;)

PS: while I think that most of those “Steve would have not done this” posts are pure BS, I must admit that the bulging camera lenses are a bit odd.

3 things about Apple Watch

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One

I think that the heart rate sensor is the most relevant feature of this product. It’s not just about fitness: with the right software having a constant monitor of heart rate and other activities will soon start saving lives. In a few years this class of products will have an impact on the healthcare budgets. It’s big.

Two

Remember iPhone 1.0? iPod 1.0? iPad 1.0? Holding my first iphone today, it looks and feels like ancient technology. The current Apple Watch looks a bit chunky, but in no time it will become much sleeker. This is a 1.0.

Three

Is it “Apple WATCH”? ALL CAPITALS? REALLY?