Here's a sentence I didn't think I'd write: my favorite new Apple Watch feature is one that turns the wearable into a (slightly higher tech) walkie-talkie.
I'm talking, of course, about the new "Walkie-Talkie" feature for the Apple Watch, which Apple showed off Monday at its World Wide Developer Conference.
SEE ALSO:Everything Apple announced at WWDC 2018The feature, which won't launch until later this year, works pretty much the way it sounds: it lets two Apple Watch owners send real-time "watch-to-watch" audio messages with just one tap of the wrist. So, you know, kind of like Inspector Gadget, or those Boost Mobile phones from 10 years ago.
But Apple's Walkie-Talkie is actually a bit different than the walkie-talkie features that used to be popular on flip phones.
Apple Watch owners who want to chat via Walkie-Talkie must first accept an invitation to chat before the feature is enabled. Once the invite is accepted (you only have to accept once), you can pull up Walkie-Talkie, tap the Talk button, and say your message.
On the receiving end, you'll hear a quick beep and then the message. It all happens pretty much instantly, and it works whether you're on a Wi-Fi or cellular connection.
Behind the scenes, it's all powered by FaceTime Audio, which allows the messages to come through pretty much instantly. It also means that you're not limited on length -- the message can be as long or as short as you want (at least in the current prototype version of Walkie-Talkie).
Credit: appleIt's not hard to imagine all kinds of handy use cases for the feature, which feels much less awkward and cringey than trying to make an actual phone call from your wrist. But it's also not difficult to imagine scenarios where it goes hilariously wrong, too.
I mean, you're giving people the ability to essentially shout at you from your wrist at any moment -- that's way more intrusive than a regular phone call or text (and probably not a permission you should grant lightly).
Apple's thought of this too, which is why the feature requires people to accept invitations before chatting. You can also set Walkie-Talkie to "unavailable" or use Do Not Disturb settings to prevent the messages from coming through. And, even if you forget, you can quickly cover your watch face when you hear the beep and the message will be muted.
Potential issues and comparisons to flip phones aside, what I like most about the feature is that it actually kind of makes sense for the Apple Watch. I've never really understood the appeal of answering phone calls from your wrist, much less actually carrying on an extended conversation that way.
But seeing the Walkie-Talkie feature for Apple Watch reminded me why those gimmicky-seeming flip phones were so popular in the first place: it's actually kind of fun. And it might actually make sense to have on your watch.
TopicsAppleApple WatchWWDCGadgets
(责任编辑：時尚)
Donald Trump's tangled web of Russian influence
Tributes flow after death of former Singapore president S.R. NathanResearchers create temporary tattoos you can use to control your devicesTourist survives for month in frozen New Zealand wilderness after partner dies
Photos show the Blue Cut fire blazing a path of destruction in CaliforniaXiaomi accused of copying again, this time by Jawbone
Imitation is not always the best form of flattery. 。 SEE ALSO:Xiaomi's MacBook Air clone is called, w
...[详细]Pole vaulter claims his penis is not to blame
Following the cringeworthy moment in which pole vaulter Hiroki Ogita's penis grazed the bar and he f
...[详细]Xiaomi accused of copying again, this time by Jawbone
Imitation is not always the best form of flattery.。 SEE ALSO:Xiaomi's MacBook Air clone is called, w
...[详细]What brands need to know about virtual reality
Virtual reality (VR) is all the rage. Premium publishers like USA Today, the New York Times, and AOL
...[详细]Dog elected for third term as mayor of Minnesota town
Hopefully he has a human chief of staff. 。Duke the Great Pyrenees is the only dog that's ever been el
...[详细]We asked linguists if Donald Trump speaks like that on purpose
Donald Trump may do a good "drunk uncle at Thanksgiving" impersonation at his rallies, but amid all
...[详细]Samsung Galaxy Note7 teardown reveals the magic behind the phone's iris scanner
Samsung's Galaxy Note7 is touted by many reviewers as one of the best, if not the best, smartphones
...[详细]One thing's for sure: you're never too old to learn. 。Massachusetts woman Clare Picciuto turned 100 F
...[详细]Donald Trump's tangled web of Russian influence
Donald Trump has had ties to Russia for decades, but they've thickened as his campaign for the White
...[详细]Visualizing July's astounding global temperature records
July set a rare temperature record during a year that is featuring off the charts warmth. The month
...[详细]Tributes flow after death of former Singapore president S.R. Nathan
You can now play 'Solitaire' and 'Tic