In the Apple world, everyone owns their own devices. No sharing.

I'm still annoyed that a device like iPad doesn't support multiple user profiles, logons, etc. Yes, it does support this in a limited way for the education market, but that's not generally usable for others, and it relies a lot on iCloud to refresh one's own data instead of storing/caching as much as possible locally (I'm writing this based on what I remember when Apple introduced this feature a couple of years ago).

But if everything is powered by your watch, then all the external "devices" become essentially dumb monitors. If you could walk up to a monitor and your watch automatically paired with it through Bluetooth and all your stuff popped up ready to be browsed in full HD, desktop sized, wouldn't that be awesome? Of course the watch internals need to be capable of driving full-screen HD, but we're not too far from that.

My watch is more powerful than my smartphone was a few years ago. But my phone is also now more powerful than my desktop was just a few years ago. And my current desktop is just ridiculous.

Of course, my watch is good for mostly telling the time. My phone is good for browsing the web and playing games. And my desktop is good for software development.

I can't help but have the feeling that this was already being said when the iPhone went out and for several years. Yet today, iPhone and iPad are personal devices that is not really shared between users (still no multi user iPad for example). There were some initiatives by Microsoft trying to recreate a desktop experience by plugging your phone to a display and keyboard/mouse but it never really took off.

So IMHO, I don't think this is the future Apple wants to embrace yet even though it appears to be the next logical step in computing for a lot of us.

Edit : fixing typos

What about Mac, which supports multiple accounts probably better than Windows ever did (due to Unix underpinnings)?

Windows NT has been multi-user from the start. In fact, due to microsoft's heavy business focus, it's arguable that it even has better multiple account support (a concept separate from multiuser)

Both Mac OS X and Windows NT have pretty weak security protecting local users against each other.

Privilege escalation attacks that require access to the console are usually discounted as unlikely.

This is an unsubstantiated claim.

Certainly, there have been a fair amount, but not for lack of effort on the OS developers' parts.

It can always be better, and cutting edge, modern OS designs are superior, but it's not like the foundations of NT/Darwin are completely rotten.

Um, what?

Lolz, no it doesn't. The securetoken stuff means that directory service stuff is broken without doing stuff like storing plaintext passwords on the device. Windows has had much better multi user support for years.

Apple seems to fundamentally believe that Macs are single user systems, and it's shown in their past few major releases.

That is annoying. I really believe in a future tech world where you just use whatever device is near you (wall screen, screen on a table in a restaurant, devices in friends' and family's homes, etc. It gets old carrying around devices and chargers.

Maybe Apple won't be the vendor for this.

Every family I know has a "family iPad".

"I can imagine a future when many people only have a watch as their personal device but use other larger devices that are shared, instantly personalized by a watch."

This is a good idea succinctly put. Thank you. The building blocks are already there (e.g. Apple watch based unlocking for the Mac), and can be extended to spaces like the automobile (CarPlay, extending your definition of a "device" to cars).

Is there an open-standard way for an Apple Watch to unlock a Linux workstation or IoT device?

It's a generally bad idea (due to auth options for the watch itself). However it's a great 2nd factor.

As far as I know, there are no open APIs from Apple that’ll help. However, I think it might be possible to use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) ranging as a proxy for distance. Whether the Watch acts as a BLE beacon or the linux laptop or IoT does the same (or vice-versa) is something to tinker with.

> leave my phone at home.

Why is this important to you? Aside from going for a run I can't think of any situation where it bothers me to take my phone with.

Not OP, but I dislike having things in my pockets so much I keep my wallet and keys in my desk at work. Not having to carry anything around would be really nice.

I dislike having anything on my wrist (or fingers, to the chagrin of my wife...). I don't mind having a wallet and phone in my pocket, however.

Luckily Apple makes products for both use cases.

I personally would like to have left temptation to spend time browsing the news, reddit, or other social media. If I could replace my iPhone with an Apple Watch, that'd be great (at least for me)

I use the time I'm out alone to listen to audio books or music instead. If I'm with someone I'm present. It's a conscious effort and if you ask my wife she will tell you I've gotten better at it over the years. Overall I find it's a worthwhile investment. As with all my vices I have found that moderation makes them far more rewarding.

I listen to audio books and pod casts using my Apple Watch and Airpods - I am happy to report that this works great.

Consider using ScreenTime to block the most trafficked sites.

I hate carrying things in my pocket. I hate the distraction. I hate the lifestyle.

>I hate carrying things in my pocket.

Fair enough.

>I hate the distraction. I hate the lifestyle.

How does the watch change either of these? My phone is always on mute and I practice a pull behaviour pattern with it (I choose when to look, answer texts, calls etc) rather than a push (distracting) pattern.

You have greater self discipline than i!

With the watch, It is comfortable to check a notification and quickly respond to it but not much else.

Not self discipline. I just turned off all notifications apart from whatsapp. Notifications are a terrible dark pattern in most apps.

Not just screens, but augmented reality goggles. Coupled with AirPods, you are set for a completely new type of experience.