Adam's Blog – Musings and Adventures

Technology: Unboxing the Apple Watch Series 2 Space Black

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Adam Chandler

My last Apple Watch was a Series 0 (aka Gen-1) in Space Black Stainless Steel with the Stainless Steel Link Bracelet. Since the band works with this model, I didn’t spend $1099 and re-buy another watch w/ link bracelet. Instead, I picked up an Apple Watch Series 2 Space Black Stainless Steel with the Black Sport Band. Since I already own a black sport band, I’ll be selling my gen-1 Apple Watch in the box with charger and simply selling it with the sport band and keeping my gen-1 link bracelet. I think that’s an acceptable upgrade path especially after seeing on eBay that the Gen 1 Space Black watches + link bracelets are going for about the same price as just buying a new link bracelet MSRP from Apple. The resale value on used bands is non-existent so I’ll save myself some coin.

Anyway, that’s an explanation of why I bought the model that I did. Space Black looks great, the DLC coating is top-notch, the weight of steel over aluminum along with the advantages of scratch-proof sapphire glass have made sticking with Space Black an easy choice.

Here are some photos:

Photography: Bermuda, August 2016

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Adam Chandler

*Before we start this post, I have noticed I have the start of carpal tunnel so my ability to write long posts has been hugely impacted over the last few weeks. I have a few posts in the pipeline that I can’t finish because of wrist pain. I’m trying my best to work through them*

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It took 3 weeks but I finally edited 800 photos down to 185. The entire set is on Flickr but here are a few favorites for you all.

Technology: Unboxing the Apple iPhone 7

Posted on September 16, 2016 by Adam Chandler

I thought this might be the year I go “Plus” but like last year, I asked for one at Verizon Wireless this morning and they said they had none in stock so I am at 4.7” for yet another year. It’s not a huge deal but I leave it up to the gods above and I’m with a standard iPhone yet again. I don’t need a Plus. It would just be nice. I guess the good news is, by going Plus, it would be hard to go back to regular so it’s probably good that I stay in the smaller world.

Linked: “Protecting Your Privacy in Safari for iOS”

Posted on September 13, 2016 by Adam Chandler

via MacRumors:

It also covers some methods you can use to prevent traces of your browsing history from showing up on your iOS devices. While you may trust friends and family not to go searching through your web history, it’s possible for them to unintentionally discover what you’ve been looking at, just by using Safari or performing a simple Spotlight search on your iPhone or iPad. If you’re interested in a similar overview covering Safari on OS X, check out this guide.

Great guide. I have done most of these on my own but it’s nice to make Safari as secure as possible.

Not certain I’ll buy a Series 2 Apple Watch

Posted on September 7, 2016 by Adam Chandler

I’m not made of money and while I’d love to own a Series 2 Ceramic Apple Watch Edition or Space Black Stainless Steel Link Bracelet (I own the Series 1 SS Link in Space Black today), I’m looking on eBay and my feeling is mixed.

New, and sealed in box, the $1099 Apple Watch I bought in May of last year is selling for $700 on average. Used, they are selling for only $420-$550. This is technology. That’s how the world works, why complain?

Well, since my first iBook in 2001 that I bought outright, I’ve only faced at 25% depreciation on Apple hardware at the most. I usually buy a computer for 2 grand and lose $500 selling it after ownership for 3 years. My iPhones I usually will make back 80% of what I paid after a year and 75% after 2 years.

The Apple Watch however, despite being announced 2 years ago, didn’t go on sale until May of 2015. I received mine at the end of May so in 14 months, I’ve suffered a 50% depreciation on my device. To sell it for $500, pay another 10% in miscellaneous fees and shipping only to turn around and spend $1100 for the latest and greatest feels like a stretch for me.

This could be the first time I bow out of upgrading on a yearly basis for an Apple device. On the other hand, my depreciation will become even more severe if I wait until next Fall to upgrade. I’d pay less over 3 years skipping a generation but would be stuck with the Series 1 Apple Watch another year selling it possibly for only $200 then.

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On another note, the Ceramic edition in all white with an all white band would look great in contrast with my new jet-black iPhone 7.