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Tim Cook: Apple Watch will be showerproof, Apple Pay goal for Europe is “end of the year”

Apple-Watch-lifestyle-001

French site iGen is reporting that Tim Cook told an employee in the Kurfürstendamm Apple Store in Berlin that he wears his Apple Watch all the time–”even in the shower.” While Apple has previously mentioned water-resistance, and stated that the S1 innards are “completely encapsulated in resin,” this is the first time we’ve had a specific indication on what that means in practice.

In line with expectations that the watch will only have one day of battery-life, Cook confirmed that he removes it every night to charge … 

Less happy news is that Apple doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to launch Apple Pay in Europe. Despite Visa stating that tokenization will be supported by April, and UK banks suggesting Apple Pay would reach the UK in the first half of the year, Cook said that the company’s goal is nothing more specific than “before the end of the year.” Apple is planning, however, to expand its mobile payments system into Canada as soon as March.

The Apple Watch of course isn’t the first shower-proof wearable …

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Comments

  1. before end of the year? like really??
    lately Apple reminds me of Google with so many features only available in the US – iTunes radio, TV shows, Apple Pay…

    • lagax - 9 years ago

      Yeah, you’re really treated like a second-class person! :(

    • varera (@real_varera) - 9 years ago

      Don’t be naive. Apple pay requires local legislations and agreements. Europe is not just one single country. And most of all, here and there are some localised competitive solutions, so one has to get banks and clearing companies onboard. That is a lot of work.

    • philboogie - 9 years ago

      In their defence, you do know you can simply create an Apple account in the USA iTunes Store, without a credit card, and listen to ITunes Radio, right?

  2. Dan Herbert - 9 years ago

    My phone is going to be obsolete by the time I can use the feature I bought it for

  3. Richard Anderson - 9 years ago

    I think it’s very poor that I have had to pay a premium price for a product that doesn’t have all the features sold to me. I am in the UK and have no iradio even though this has been on the market for quite sometime.

    On top of this, we then we have no Apple Pay until maybe the end of 2015. That’s nearly 18 months after product launch even though this was a major selling point for customers. I understand the difficultly in releasing things to such a wide audience however, I am a bit disgruntled when I paid the best part of £1k for a phone and don’t have key features advertised!

    • Jamie Gilder - 9 years ago

      Richard, I live in the UK too. Where did Apple state that it’d be available in the UK, and when? I’ve got an iPhone 6 Plus, but I’m not moaning about Apple Pay.

      Did you seriously buy the iPhone 6 purely to use Apple Pay? Re-evaluate your comment. It’s silly.

      • Why does he need to re-evaluate his comment when it’s a perfectly valid point. He has paid more for his phone than his American brethren, and is unable to use it to it’s full potential. That is silly how exactly?

        It must be nice knowing that the reason for you buying an iPhone is the benchmark we should all aspire to eh?

      • Answer this first: “Where did Apple state that it’d be available in the UK, and when?”

      • I wish i had a screenshot from the time, but i am 99.99999% sure they def said iTune Radio would be “Coming Soon” on the Apple UK website. Yea. And I’m paying iTunes Match like a lemming at the same rate the Americans are even though I dont beneift from that ad-free iTunes radio. At least they shoul dhave given us a discount! Apple sure likes to launch things and then saying “coming soon” to the rest of the world. Dont know what the legal definition of ‘soon’ is, but..

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      What Apple announces in a keynote doesn’t mean it’s sold to everyone. Apple clearly said they were “starting in the US” with Pay. I understand the frustration but Apple hasn’t misled anyone.

    • thethirstsecretattack - 9 years ago

      You’re not missing out on much iradio is latent with ads and apple pay works half the time if that.

      • Dave Huntley - 9 years ago

        Where do you get your info from works 100% of time for me. Maybe you have maxed your cards??? Not sure how that is Apple’s fault.

  4. crichton007 - 9 years ago

    Why did you show that picture of Scoble? Now I feel obligated to make the comment about how much I dislike him. He’s the Kardashian of the tech world: famous for being famous.

    That being said I don’t recall hearing about him last year at all which was very nice.

  5. jimgramze - 9 years ago

    Just because Tim Cook wears his Apple Watch in the shower, that does not mean it is a good idea or that it is recommended. Cook is testing the thing. If I get one I will not do the same.

    • thisisasticup - 9 years ago

      cool story bro.

    • Tim is mentioning shower resistance because it’s a frequent demand of many watch owners. Whenever a smartwatch is announced, and the lack of water resistance is mentioned or implied, it usually generates more than a few blog/forum comments about the product is a nonstarter for them.

      I’ve worn a watch every day for most of my life, but I’ve never understood people who sleep, shower, or swim with watches (dive watches excepted). Still, it’s good to know that rain won’t affect it.

      • o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

        Sleeping, showering, and swimming with a watch on hasn’t made since until now, where there is actually a usefulness in doing so. Tracking sleep, and waking you silently at the optimal time. While in the shower, you could change tracks on Bluetooth speakers, or always be able to receive notifications. While swimming you could track your workout, receive notifications, etc.

      • Bryan Hough - 9 years ago

        Why would anyone WANT to wear anything in the shower. It’s stupid. “I’m not buying another pair of jeans until I can wear them in the shower”.

      • o0smoothies0o - 9 years ago

        I ask why anyone wants to read a paper while they take a SH@T, I don’t know, some people like to.

      • sammeries - 9 years ago

        Some people like their dirty wrists. It’s a point of personal pride.

      • philboogie - 9 years ago

        @o0smoothies0o: there is no GPS in the Apple watch so you can’t track your workout

  6. James Alexander - 9 years ago

    Most watches are water resistant not water proof. I am sure this watch will work just fine after a shower.

    • Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

      I wouldn’t get in the habit of wearing a watch in the shower since that’s a perfect time to have your watch being charged up. I hope that the total charge time for this thing is less than an hour (small battery size), because the best time to charge it would be during your morning breakfast and the 3 S’s.

    • Me In LA - 9 years ago

      See, that’s wrong. Depth is but one measure of water-resistance. A hot shower has hot water, steam, etc. all of which are not recommended with even robust watches. Seals also take a hit.
      I used to collect watches and one thing most guys agreed upon was not doing that. Also, soaps are not good for the most part.

  7. EC (@swingingcycles) - 9 years ago

    Apple Pay being made available in Europe by the end of the year is fair. It doesn’t mean certain countries within Europe won’t get it sooner. Wait until the March event.

  8. chimpitout - 9 years ago

    I’m glad I didn’t buy a 6. My 5s is still enough for me. Although if I had access to Apple Pay where I live, I would consider purchasing it. Anything to thin out my wallet!

  9. lkernan - 9 years ago

    There needs to be a worldwide ban on that Scoble photo…

    • Me In LA - 9 years ago

      No, a ban on Scoble and GlassHoles™ in general. Seriously, could one be any more douchey?

  10. Steve M. Cess - 9 years ago

    Forget about the watch, ……. WHO is that model in the first pic?? WOW! ……………. omg.

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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