{"id":13610,"date":"2022-08-31T14:39:58","date_gmt":"2022-08-31T14:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/08\/31\/satellite-connectivity-on-the-apple-watch-pro-could-be-a-game-changer\/"},"modified":"2022-08-31T14:39:59","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T14:39:59","slug":"satellite-connectivity-on-the-apple-watch-pro-could-be-a-game-changer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceandnerds.com\/2022\/08\/31\/satellite-connectivity-on-the-apple-watch-pro-could-be-a-game-changer\/","title":{"rendered":"Satellite connectivity on the Apple Watch Pro could be a game-changer"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2022\/8\/30\/23328650\/apple-watch-pro-satellite-smartwatch-fitness<\/a>
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If you\u2019re the type to read into Apple Event taglines, next week\u2019s \u201cFar Out\u201d event<\/a> certainly feels… space-y. It\u2019s led Apple prognosticators to revive theories that Apple may be working on satellite features<\/a> for emergency communications \u2014 both for the iPhone and perhaps the rumored Apple Watch Pro<\/a>. Since the Apple Watch Pro is meant to be a Garmin competitor, satellite features could make it a real contender in the multisport GPS watch space.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a lot that Apple needs to do in order to truly compete in this space. Multiday battery life<\/a> and beefing up durability<\/a> are numbers 1 and 2 on the list. The competition \u2014 Garmin, Polar, Coros \u2014 can run laps around the Apple Watch in these two areas. But if there\u2019s one area where Apple already has the lead, it\u2019s emergency calling features and fall detection.<\/p>\n

Reliable emergency communication is important and potentially life-saving to intrepid adventurers. GPS and LTE connectivity have improved over the years, but there are still many remote areas where you can\u2019t get a signal. Even experienced hikers, campers, and endurance athletes can get lost under those circumstances or find themselves in a bind if they get injured in a cellular dead zone. That\u2019s why many carry satellite phones or Garmin\u2019s inReach devices<\/a>, which are handheld two-way satellite communicators that also have location-sharing features. These devices, however, can be bulky and add weight when athletes almost always prefer to remain light and nimble.<\/p>\n