Beta test Rivian Watch App coming: WatchMyRivian

[eRacer]

Seeing these posts makes me thankful to have a LE Rivian. ?

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[Laserboy1054]

When some people go on an adventure (hiking, kayaking, surfing, rock climbing, etc.) they don’t necessarily want to take their phone with them. That’s where smart watches come in, like the Apple Watch Ultra. So combine that with a Rivian adventure vehicle and their new app and it just makes sense.

Agreed! I have a Garmin watch and an Android phone and love being able to do phone things with the watch: not carrying my phone in the gym while driving my earbuds with my watch is crazy convenient. (Talk about First World Issues!) And paying for things with the watch even with the phone in my pocket keeps me from getting grumbled at by folks behind me in line (particularly true on buses and trains). I'd love to have minimal control of my truck with my watch--just locking and unlocking would be very useful. But there's no real reason to stop at "minimal"--Garmin, Samsung, and Apple watches could offer as much functionality as the app. I have a small security concern--if someone steals my watch, I don't want them to get my truck as a bonus. But a PIN for actualy driving the vehicle (vs. merely opening the doors or adjusting the climate) takes care of that--the PAAK is no better, security-wise.

I don't understand why Rivian discontinued the wrist-band. That offered at least the lock/unlock functionality. But that's our reality.

 

[R1Yes]

y as the app. I have a small security concern--if someone steals my watch, I don't want them to get my truck as a bonus.

FWIW, with an Apple Watch, they wouldn’t be able to do anything without your watch password—everything is de-authenticated as soon as you remove the watch from your wrist.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I don't understand why Rivian discontinued the wrist-band. That offered at least the lock/unlock functionality. But that's our reality.

Cost for sourcing chips, manufacturing of the bands. The human resources to deal with all that as well as programming. It all adds up into something, during a time when the company is trying to reduce CAPEX, run lean and maximize revenue. Plus, the chip and the band could have been sourced from China. Imagine what current turmoil on tariffs could do to what Rivian might have to pay as importer. The bands are already being sold privately, used, for over $300. How many people are willing to pay for a $400+ keyband from the Gear Shop?

 

[JM.]

I will not join cult of AAPL. When android (Samsung)?

Maybe when those junk phones stop being so hard to support and develop for.

Source: Ran a phone dev team, 4x as many issues with Androids.

Having a backup key is pretty damn useful. I had my phone die, and because Tesla lets you remote start the vehicle, my wife was able to get me driving, remotely.

 

[godfodder0901]

This doesn't need a cellular connection as it uses bluetooth UWB.

UWB is not Bluetooth.

 

[Tlohrenz]

So you can do the same thing with the watch that you can with the phone. Where’s the advantage?

This is great news for us water sports people.

 

[Acoustic71]

I will not join cult of AAPL. When android (Samsung)?

It will be bundled with CarPlay

 

[Mellowyellow]

UWB is not Bluetooth.

woops yes you are right

 

[opnwide]

If only Ben Affleck had have this app for JayLo.

 

[Gandy14]

FWIW, I had a Rivian tech tell me that they've seen folks have issues with unofficial watch apps that try to integrate with the key system to the point that the owner had issues accessing their vehicle and couldn't remove the key causing the issues. Because an unofficial key was used the service department wouldn't help them. Use things like this at your own risk.

we did too, tried Waak and my wife's phone key stopped working. Hopefully Rivian is paying attention to all these Gen 1 applications that are possible even thought they said it won't be available. Watch & Driver+ Hands Free

 

[zefram47]

we did too, tried Waak and my wife's phone key stopped working. Hopefully Rivian is paying attention to all these Gen 1 applications that are possible even thought they said it won't be available. Watch & Driver+ Hands Free

Gen1 does not have UWB (ultra-wideband) and as such will likely never get watch as key. Similarly, they clearly determined at some point that the hardware in Gen1 was incapable of a ton of functionality they claimed it could do as far as ADAS is concerned and I wouldn't expect any significant updates beyond what we have today. The cameras are potatoes and the Mobileye hardware providing the current functionality was one of the lower-tier systems available at the time of development and is too limiting.

 

[Gandy14]

Gen1 does not have UWB (ultra-wideband) and as such will likely never get watch as key. Similarly, they clearly determined at some point that the hardware in Gen1 was incapable of a ton of functionality they claimed it could do as far as ADAS is concerned and I wouldn't expect any significant updates beyond what we have today. The cameras are potatoes and the Mobileye hardware providing the current functionality was one of the lower-tier systems available at the time of development and is too limiting.

So before proper release the Beta version of WAAK worked for me but then had an issue so I haven't tried again. I do hear about plenty of happy Rivian owners using it though. Also there's Open Pilot which does more than Connect + does currently so I wouldn't close the door on options for Gen1.
I would rather keep only official Rivian products with the vehicle but we'll see how the future shapes up

 

[mkhuffman]

... I have a Garmin watch and an Android phone...

I love my Garmin watch. It seems to fit very nicely with the active lifestyle Rivian targets.

So I vote for Rivian to prioritize Garmin over that stupid fruit watch that isn't round like a watch is supposed to be.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Garmin watch 4% market share as of 2022. Good luck.

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