Wonderful news. That means less electronic junk to recycle, much less pollution.

I'm actually quiet happy to own a dumbphone and no smartwatch. Having a powerful Linux laptop is great, but I came to the conclusion humans need low-tech for their mental health. Not having tech around me helps me focus, go on nice walks, write what's on my mind and read books. I just feel happier.

If you aren't careful, the things you own can end up owning you.

As much as I dislike Windows and smartphones the current nature of the world is that that are all necessities for most people.

Windows just has so many programs built up with it over the years and it’s really hard to convince people to jump to Linux and deal with all the compatibility problems. Things are getting better, but right now it’s like real time raytracing with how it’s perpetually 4-5 years away from being realistic.

Smartphones are an absolute necessity for the vast majority of people. If you don’t have a laptop or some other computer your phone is likely the only way you are able to apply for jobs nowadays. It’s also the easiest way to access your banking services with plenty of banks offering online banking now. Let alone social media and how important that has become in everyday life. Sure dumb phones can handle calling, texting and voicemail but for most people that isn’t enough anymore.

Our mental health and the demands of the modern world are at odds. I doubt we can or will ever go back to simpler technology because of the way things are in the world.

As much as I dislike Windows and smartphones the current nature of the world is that that are all necessities for most people.

I was told Linux is incredibly difficult to use, Windows is so much safer/better.

I actually used to believe this, until I installed Linux. Well, I was lied to. I very easily installed everything that I need. My Linux distro works just fine. I can even play my favorite games. To this day, I haven't moved back to Windows. The Microsoft empire is based on aggressive lobbying and advertising, not on superior product quality.

Billionaire-owned multinational corporations spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on advertising. They have entire teams that study consumer psychology. The goal of advertising is to undermine human rationality.

If humans were purely rational, why would they waste billions on advertising ?

They would just say "here are our products. Here are our prices. Buy them if you want to".

Smartphones are also the easiest way to access your banking services with plenty of banks offering online banking now.

I don't need to access my banking services 24/7. I have cash and a debit card that does the job. If I need to see my bank account, I just use my computer.

What you need and what you think you need are not the same things.

It's also likely driven down by non stop paywalling of features. Consumers like myself are just exhausted. I am only looking for non paywalls devices going forward and if those go away, then I'm going to be done with smart devices. I can't keep paying hundreds to a thousand dollars for a device only to not be able to get the features of that device unless I keep throwing money at a company. I know they have costs to maintain software and add features but I can't have perpetual costs on everything I buy.

I’m trying to think of what Apple Watch features are paywalled and other than buying apps that aren’t necessary or a part of the core device, I’m not thinking of anything. Are there particular features you’re thinking of?

Comparing to Garmin where I get daily workout recommendations based on your sleep and recovery. From what I've seen the workouts are behind the paywall.

that's more like an added perk from garmin. I'd hardly consider workout plans a core feature of a watch.

That is absolutely a core feature of Garmin not just a perk. The fact that Apple didn't include it while doing explicit commercials for biking, running, and swimming was definitely to make it seem like it's direct competition.

i mean as a core feature of a watch/smartwatch in general. garmin is going above and beyond compared to the competition in that area, and that's great. But that doesn't mean every other smartwatch manufacturer arbitrarily locking traditional watch features behind paywalls.

and yeah apple does fitness themed commercials for apple watch because it does help with fitness a ton out of the box. just not specifically guided workouts.