Apple Watch: The Review Edition

OK, this is not a new Apple Watch or anything like that but you might have noticed around 8 AM Eastern Time today that your social media feeds suddenly began to fill with information about Apple Watch.

So why at 8 AM?

Well, in this case Apple distributed their upcoming Apple Watch to reviewers with a caveat that it could be used, tested, recorded and written about but nothing could go live until today at – 8 AM Eastern Time.

Well the doors flew wide open at that time and the promotion of said reviews commenced.

Since it can be hard to keep track of all of them we are here to assist in that endeavor and provide you a handy reference linking to some of the ones we have tracked down.

By the way, some of the sites created very elaborate posts for these reviews which are very visual and engaging with the content. It is some pretty impressive work.

My two favorite reviews are actually videos and not written words. I am a big fan of experiencing new technology and these two videos do a good job of that.

- David Pogue from Yahoo! Tech
- Joanna Stern from The Wall Street Journal

Enjoy and be sure to let us know what you think of Apple’s latest consumer offering.

Apple Watch review: A beautiful, bold watch, with complications (cNet): The Apple Watch is the most ambitious, well-constructed smartwatch ever seen, but first-gen shortfalls make it feel more like a fashionable toy than a necessary tool.

Apple Watch Review: Bliss, but Only After a Steep Learning Curve (The New York Times): The first Apple Watch may not be for you — but someday soon, it will change your world.

Apple Watch Review: A Day in the Life (The Verge): The Apple Watch is one of the most ambitious products I’ve ever seen; it wants to do and change so much about how we interact with technology. But that ambition robs it of focus.

A Week on the Wrist: The Apple Watch Review (Recode): From a technology standpoint, it is an extension of the iPhone. And just like the smartphone, it starts to change your habits over time. Smartwatches are still unproven, but Apple has made a pretty strong case for them.

Apple Watch review: The best smartwatch on the market (Mashable): Apple Watch does as much, maybe more, than competing smartwatches, but it doesn’t demand that you pay attention to it. It also succeeded in its most important task: Getting me to keep my iPhone in my pocket. That’s a pretty impressive feat. Is my life better because of it? It’s too soon to tell. But what I do know is that I thoroughly enjoy wearing it.

Apple Watch Review: The Smartwatch Finally Makes Sense (The Wall Street Journal): The big reason many people—even many Apple fans—will skip the Apple Watch is that it’s too new. There isn’t yet a world of apps and services beyond Apple’s own, with independent developers’ sparks of genius showing us all the things a smartwatch can be.

What the Apple Watch Does Best: Make You Look Good (The Wall Street Journal): One stranger told me she liked my watch, not even knowing it was the Apple Watch. People who can identify it immediately ask if I like it, and if they should buy one. I’ve told most: No.

Apple Watch Review: You’ll Want One, but You Don’t Need One (Bloomberg Business): So Apple has succeeded in its first big task with its watch. It made something that lives up to the company’s reputation as an innovator and raised the bar for a whole new class of devices. Its second task—making me feel that I need this thing on my wrist every day—well, I’m not quite sure it’s there yet. It’s still another screen, another distraction, another way to disconnect, as much as it is the opposite. The Apple Watch is cool, it’s beautiful, it’s powerful, and it’s easy to use. But it’s not essential. Not yet.

The Apple Watch: Half Computer, Half Jewelry, Mostly Magical (Yahoo! Tech): In the end, therefore, the Apple Watch is, above all, a satisfying indulgence. It’s a luxury. You might buy it to bring you pleasure — and it will — much the way you might buy a really nice car, some really nice clothes, or a really nice entree. Or a really nice watch.

Apple Watch Meta Review: Not Perfect, But Full of Potential (Gizmodo): The verdict? It’s not a perfect product. It has some first generation flaws, and other quirks. There’s a bit of a learning curve. And you probably shouldn’t buy one. But. But! It’s the best smartwatch out there and just oozes potential.

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.