#TechThroughTheYears

[tmarshconnors]

10 Years of Apple Watch

By Thomas Marsh-Connors The Angry British Conservative

I remember not long ago when I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a wristwatch. No, thank you. Give me a proper gentleman’s pocket watch, nestled neatly in the waistcoat, chain glinting with pride and class. A real statement. That was my style. Still is, to some extent. There’s a charm to the past that you don’t just toss aside.

But then ten years ago Apple went and did what Apple always does: turned the ordinary into the desirable. The Apple Watch was born. At first, I scoffed. A wrist computer? For steps? For silly notifications and closing “rings”? Please. I had my iPhone. I had my routine. I had my values.

Yet somehow… curiosity won.

Series 1 – The Gateway Watch (2015)

I picked up the first one out of pure intrigue. It was a bit sluggish, a bit basic, and truth be told, it didn’t revolutionise my life but it got me thinking. Maybe this wasn’t just a gimmick. Maybe there was something to the idea of smart timekeeping.

It was the first time a wristwatch felt like an extension of my personality rather than a relic or ornament. Apple had made the wristwatch relevant again, and for someone like me rooted in tradition yet fascinated by progress that meant something.

Series 3 – The Wake-Up Call (2017)

This one hit differently. Faster, sleeker, better battery life. I started checking texts from my wrist. Using it for workouts. Timing interviews for the podcast. Getting those cheeky reminders to breathe whether I wanted them or not.

It stopped being just a watch. It became a tool. A digital assistant that strapped itself to me and never complained. My lovely old pocket watch didn’t stand a chance it stayed tucked away, gathering dust, a romantic memory more than a modern necessity.

Series 6 – Peak Refinement (2020)

Blood oxygen. ECG. Bright always-on display. Suddenly I wasn’t just glancing at the time I was checking my heart. It was part of my health routine, part of my awareness of self.

Apple had transformed the humble wristwatch into a health guardian. And I’ll admit during those weird lockdown days it helped. It gave a sense of rhythm when everything else felt off. You can’t quite put a price on that.

Series 8 – Subtle Evolution (2022)

By now, the Watch felt second nature, like wearing socks or brushing your teeth. You don’t think about it; you just do it. Series 8 was about polishing the experience. There were no grand fireworks, just small refinements that made the thing even more seamless.

And then came the showstopper…

Apple Watch Ultra 2 – The Titan on My Wrist (2024)

This is it—the pinnacle. Big, bold, unashamedly masculine. Designed for divers, climbers, and explorers, it is worn daily by a podcaster, writer, and cultural commentator. Go figure.

It’s not just a watch—it’s a statement. It says I value functionality, durability, and design. It’s rugged but refined, just like the people who wear it.

Everything about the Ultra 2 is peak Apple: beautiful industrial design with raw power under the hood. The sort of thing that makes you remember why you joined the ecosystem in the first place.

A Decade Later: Pocket Watch to Powerhouse

So here we are, ten years on. I still adore my pocket watches, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t use them anymore. They’re antiques now, symbols of a bygone era. Apple Watch? That’s my now. It’s my travel companion, fitness tracker, personal assistant, and piece of art all in one.

Ironically, time has flown by. Ten years of software updates, new materials, tighter integration, and growing dependence. The Apple Watch didn’t just change the tech industry. It changed me.

Funny how that happens.

[tmarshconnors]

My New iPhone 16 Pro

Recently, I made a trip to the Apple Store and treated myself to the new iPhone 16 Pro in white titanium with 1 TB of storage. It’s sleek, modern, and jam-packed with tech I could only have dreamed about when I first started using iPhones. It's funny how much can change over the years.

I still remember when I got my very first iPhone—an iPhone 3GS. It feels like a lifetime ago. Back then, I was 16, and everything felt like it was just starting out for me. The iPhone 3GS was my gateway into a world of digital convenience, and at the time, it was revolutionary. Fast forward to now, and holding this 

iPhone 16 Pro in my hands, I can’t help but reflect on how much has changed not just with technology, but with me as well.

I’ll be 32 next year, and looking back, it’s crazy how much life has evolved. The phone that was once primarily a way to stay connected has now become a powerful tool for everything from photography to managing my blogs, podcasts, and so much more. I’ve gone from using my phone to text and play simple games to creating content, capturing high-resolution images, and editing projects on the go. It's surreal.

Life has moved on, and so have I. I’m not that 16-year-old kid anymore, but it’s amazing how something like a new phone can make you pause and appreciate just how far you've come. Sure, the iPhone has improved drastically since the 3GS camera, the speed, the design but I’ve also grown in ways I couldn’t have imagined back then.

Now, with this iPhone 16 Pro, I’m looking forward to creating even more, capturing moments, and seeing where the next few years take me because if the last 16 years are anything to go by, the future is going to be one wild ride.

Also, I have another blog called "My Apple Story" if anyone is interested in my WHOLE story with Apple.