How will the Apple Watch Connect?

While I was watching the Apple Watch being announced I had flashbacks to Dick Tracy. I remember him talking into his watch and it being his source for communication and so much more information. I know the Apple Watch isn’t exactly the device Dick Tracy had, yet I am still hooked with the concept and the similarities between the two devices. While Apple gave us a glimpse of the Apple Watch today, there are still many questions with unknown answers, and as a geek at heart I want to know more- specifically, how does the watch connect to the iPhone? Since the Apple Watch requires connecting or tethering to an Iphone, it is the biggest question that I have after today’s announcement. Secondly, I already have issues with my 5s battery, so is the Apple Watch going to drain the battery even more, especially if it is continually syncing with my iPhone?

So what is the technology used?

So what is the technology behind the tethering? Is it going to be WIFI? BlueTooth? iCloud? My first thought that Apple can not be thing thinking of using a technology that would further drain batteries. Is Apple working with mobile companies that will require us to buy additional data plans? I already have plans to cover my iPhone and iPad data plans, and I don’t want another data bill from AT&T.

iCloud connectivity

iCloud has been instrumental in many of Apple’s products such as syncing apps and providing seamless backups for all of my devices. I initially thought that the Apple Watch and the iPhone would use iCloud for syncing. It would be another way for Apple to push their iCloud service. This would require that both devices would always need to be linked to the Internet via WIFI or a data plan. This seem way too expensive to do even for Apple. Not to mention that the reliability would not be par with Apple quality.

WiFi only connectivity

The same issue applies here as with iCloud tethering. Connection between the two devices would be limited. Many can argue that WiFi is rapidly expanding to many places outside of the home, but to think that so much of the appeal and use of the happens away from WiFi is not unreasonable. Fitness tracking could take the Apple Watch down paths, up mountains, and in places where WiFi isn’t going to be available. While Apple does use WiFi connectivity between devices such as the AppleTV and the iPhone to talk to other devices on the same network. Again, for the Apple Watch this is not very practical and poorly reliability.

Bluetooth connectivity

In my experience I think the most best approach for the Apple Watch is the iPhone to maintain a reliable, efficient connection is with a version of Bluetooth called Bluetooth LE (Low Energy). This technology allows devices such as smart phones to become a personal hotspot (Personal Area Network) with minimal battery drain. In Apple’s world it’s compatible with iOS5 and later. Apple already use Bluetooth LE to share data between devices such as Apple computers, iPhones, and iPads. This does mean that the Apple Watch would have to stay in a communication range of about 330 feet.

Will the Apple Watch have hidden charges?

It is yet to been seen of course, but it is my speculation that, even though I think that its going to be a battery drain, Apple has decided to use the same technology they use for their current iOS devices for communication with the Bluetooth LE for a personal hotspot. Apple has a history of focusing on single technologies and using them across as many devices and applicaitons that they can. This would eliminate any WIFI or data needed and simply will connect to your iPhone as a “slave” device and push content to your wrist and visa versa.

What are your thoughts on how Apple is going connect your devices?

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