Apple Has Team of 100 Product Designers Working on a Smart Watch

[TallManNY]

If you are like me, you kind of went Whoa for a second hearing that 100 Apple folks are working on a watch. That seems like a lot of folks to me. Perhaps this is innovation. It certainly is a space where there is no clear market leader and nothing really new has taken off with large amounts of the general populace. There seems like opportunity there, even though personally I think I'm unlikely to replace my stylish mechanical watch for a digital one.

But for folks that say Apple needs to innovate more and use its cash pile to innovate, I'd like to point out that even if you assume that each of those 100 Apple employees costs $500,000 a year in salary, overhead and equipment costs, then this innovation is costing Apple "only" $50 million a year. And that is for what seems to me to be a big team. That works out to far less than half of what Apple makes EVERY DAY in profit. Get it folks? Even crazy R&D expenses can't add up to anything that really is a significant cost compared to Apple's projected profits.

 

[gagaliya]

The same thing is said about ipad, you people all lack vision.

Watch is one of the oldest technologies, and it's right there on your wrist constantly in view at all times.

What apple can do with this has tremendous potential and could create a whole new market depends on what they come up with.

 

[elistan]

Some thoughts on functionality that I would find useful in an iWatch.

• GPS, accelerometer and heart-rate sensors. Track my physical activity for health purposes. Have modes for walking, running, cycling, rowing, climbing, etc. Typical software features like alerts, reminders, geofencing.
  
• NFC (with proper security of course.) Pay for things without having to pull out my wallet or phone. Unlock my car when I walk up to it, lock it when I walk away. Same for my house. (Never to be unlocked automatically when the watch is inside, of course.)
  
• Integrated encryption chip with token generation. Store passwords. Use for two-factor authentication to log on to Macs, bank websites, etc. Hmm, how about authentication via one-time-use tokens can go over BT, NFC, 2D barcode display, or even audio tones.
  
• WiFi and cellular. Bluetooth. Use it as a phone with car and headset interoperability. Use it as a hotspot for use with an iPod Touch or iPad when a larger screen is needed.
  
• Microphone. Envision an evidence mode where the watch records audio and sends it to iCloud. Void where prohibited by law. Also for Siri.
  
• Retina display, with both active and ambient backlight modes. It has to look good.
  
• Siri. For those input and query needs that a small screen isn't good for. (Eg, "Siri, make reservations at Abacus for tomorrow at 7pm." "Siri, what was last night's final score?" "Siri, add milk to my grocery list.")
  
• iSight camera for Facetime. Maybe. I'm not sure how useful that would actually be. Hardware packaging would be an issue, too.
  
• Fingerprint reader, voice recognition, or facial recognition. Assuming these methods are more secure than a four-digit PIN, and easier to use than a 12-character alphanumeric+symbol passphrase.
  
• Inductive charging would be nice for when you take the watch off at night,
  but only if the hardware is small enough. Lightning port otherwise, I guess.
  
• 64GB of storage. Play movies and music via AirPlay. Use as a secure encrypted filestore.
  
• Must have at least 24 hour battery life when used just as a watch. Must have 10 hour battery life when used as a hotspot for typical browsing.

 

[Razorhog]

This absolutely could be Apple's next revolutionary product. The idea is very exciting to me. Whether the iWatch replaces an iPhone, or more likely accompanies it, I'd be highly likely to buy one.

http://macdailynews.com/2013/02/13/what-if-an-apple-iwatch-replaced-most-of-the-iphones-functions/

 

[Stella]

deleted.. battery life!

 

[Razorhog]

Some thoughts on functionality that I would find useful in an iWatch.

• GPS, accelerometer and heart-rate sensors. Track my physical activity for health purposes. Have modes for walking, running, cycling, rowing, climbing, etc. Typical software features like alerts, reminders, geofencing.
  
• NFC (with proper security of course.) Pay for things without having to pull out my wallet or phone. Unlock my car when I walk up to it, lock it when I walk away. Same for my house. (Never to be unlocked automatically when the watch is inside, of course.)
  
• Integrated encryption chip with token generation. Store passwords. Use for two-factor authentication to log on to Macs, bank websites, etc. Hmm, how about authentication via one-time-use tokens can go over BT, NFC, 2D barcode display, or even audio tones.
  
• WiFi and cellular. Bluetooth. Use it as a phone with car and headset interoperability. Use it as a hotspot for use with an iPod Touch or iPad when a larger screen is needed.
  
• Microphone. Envision an evidence mode where the watch records audio and sends it to iCloud. Void where prohibited by law. Also for Siri.
  
• Retina display, with both active and ambient backlight modes. It has to look good.
  
• Siri. For those input and query needs that a small screen isn't good for. (Eg, "Siri, make reservations at Abacus for tomorrow at 7pm." "Siri, what was last night's final score?" "Siri, add milk to my grocery list.")
  
• iSight camera for Facetime. Maybe. I'm not sure how useful that would actually be. Hardware packaging would be an issue, too.
  
• Fingerprint reader, voice recognition, or facial recognition. Assuming these methods are more secure than a four-digit PIN, and easier to use than a 12-character alphanumeric+symbol passphrase.
  
• Inductive charging would be nice for when you take the watch off at night,
  but only if the hardware is small enough. Lightning port otherwise, I guess.
  
• 64GB of storage. Play movies and music via AirPlay. Use as a secure encrypted filestore.
  
• Must have at least 24 hour battery life when used just as a watch. Must have 10 hour battery life when used as a hotspot for typical browsing.

A nice wishlist! But they can't even cram all of that into the latest generation iPhone, let alone something small enough to go on your wrist. Maybe in 5 years or so all of that functionality will be achievable in a watch.

----------

deleted.. battery life!

Another good point. Until our battery technology makes radical improvements, a watch with lots of functionality will not be possible. Unless you only want to use it while it's plugged in

If anyone can do it, Apple can - they can be the driving force behind new battery and/or energy technology.

 

[vikingjunior]

Apple will make a 1.5" watch and Samsung will follow it up with a 4.5" screen watch.

Android already has a 4.5 watch just put a band on it. Apple has no such 4.5 anything.

 

[Jimmy James]

@Spink10, I won't, even if there were 1000 people working on this watch. Check the watch's statistics in the real world. Not very popular. I hate the idea anyways. Make something else if you're trying to be ambitious.

Check smartphone usage until 2007. Not very popular. Along came Apple...

 

[chasemac]

Personally, it doesn't matter what kind of cool watch that apple might make. I will never wear anything on my wrist.

 

[roow110]

My point was that at a certain size, usability becomes nill. Again, I always carry my phone with me. Why do I need an iPod nano-sized device (with almost no extra capabilities)? It's absurd. It won't even be good for media consumption due to the placement.

The reason why the iPad made sense was that it increased screen real estate and power over the phone while retaining the portability. This made it preferable to a laptop for light computing, though it naturally lost its phone capability. Scaling down the screen from an iPhone and removing many features beyond calling doesn't satisfy any niche.

An iWatch would have other capabilities. It isn't about screen real estate and definitely not about content consumption. The Jawbone Up is useful and it has no screen whatsoever. The iWatch would have much more functionality than that. The watch's purpose is for things the iPhone is too large for. It is too large to go on runs with you, too large to go swimming with, too awkward to carry with you at all times. The iWatch is not for texting or watching movies. It is for tracking your movements, for notifications, for instant login. It's purpose is to be a microchip strapped to your body.

 

[iSee]

It seems like some are confused about what this would me.

If this is for real, it won't be about telling time.

It's about information activities that can be accomplished with a glance, a few taps, or a gesture. For these, a device worn on your wrist has some nice advantages. No need to dig through your pockets for your phone. Nothing to drop. Hands remain free.

* incomming messages, notifications, alarms, shopping lists
* canned and voice-recognition message relpies
* siri interface (this is pretty big especially assuming siri continues to improve over time)
* directions
* music controls (not to mention controls for other media)
* monitoring for exercise
* ??? who knows what developers will think of (if Apple opens it up)
No doubt there is a bunch more that I'm not thinking of at the moment.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot:
* tells you the current time

If you can wear a watch where a phone isn't allowed, I think "teens" will eat it up. (I have no idea, but I assume you can't pull your phone out in most classrooms or dinner tables.) Not that Apple needs teens to have a hit product.

I'd guess it would have to pair with your phone, tablet or computer to communicate with the world.

Personally, I'd consider getting one if it did the things I mentioned well, looked good, and wasn't too expensive.

 

[AppleDeviceUser]

That would be awesome! I'm 16 and I wear a watch everywhere, this would just make it so much better! I hope they do it!

 

[Fatalbert]

An automatic watch doesn't require winding unless it sits unworn for more than 2 days. Wearing it keeps in wound.

I assumed that, but having to wind the watch by wearing it is a problem unless you wear it at least every other day.

 

[slimbek]

It was actually the idea of a member of MacRumors. when the 6th. Gen. Nano came out in 2010 someone even posted a pic of one.

Found it. From 2010. Before pebbles.

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/11014399/

I'm pretty sure the watch idea was even mentioned in the very Keynote that announced it... something like "one of our board members even joked it could be a watch"... and that's the whole reason they threw clock face designs into it.

 

[kdarling]

If you are like me, you kind of went Whoa for a second hearing that 100 Apple folks are working on a watch. That seems like a lot of folks to me.

Apple used the same number when talking about the iPhone project. Ditto for one of the later Mac projects.

Of course, less than half of those 100 assigned people are probably engineers, designers and developers. The rest would be support people like managers, secretaries, assistants, packaging designers, tech writers, patent attorneys, model makers, prototype buiilders, and so forth.

 

[TallManNY]

Apple used the same number when talking about the iPhone project. Ditto for one of the later Mac projects.

Of course, less than half of those 100 assigned people are probably engineers, designers and developers. The rest would be support people like managers, secretaries, assistants, packaging designers, tech writers, patent attorneys, model makers, prototype buiilders, and so forth.

Thanks for the info. That is kind of what I expected. The innovation that everyone is calling for has not historically come from huge numbers of people. There is no easy way to buy innovation.

 

[theskivvys]

I watch is a great idea

I currently own a watch phone and 6th generation iPod nano watch with a b/t module. I was extremely disappointed with the 7th gen nano and can't wait for an Iwatch. I currently use my nano for running, cycling and at the beach. Here are my reasons why an Iwatch will be a success.

Teenagers are losing their smart phones as they are getting too big for pockets and are thus left lying around...this is costing a lot of money for parents..

The freedom of an Iwatch is invigorating, no need to carry a bulky phone, go for a swim at the beach with your waterproof Iwatch

Nfs would be great, GPS on the bike, even turn by turn directions via b/t in the car via Siri..

Use the watch phone with sunglasses that give a heads up display, comms via wifi and cellular

The main problem I have with my watch phone is poor reception as the radio is weak, I guess with the size it will be hard to implement...

 

[thelatinist]

I don't know about anyone else, but I was relieved when I ditched my watch a few years ago. I have no desire to go back to having a machine dangling from my arm.

 

[syl11]

New look for the watch?

People may be thinking in terms of an watch that we are accustomed to seeing-- a square face. If Apple is working on a bendable watch, it can use the area all around the wrist. Apple changed the look of the cell phones, as we knew it; now they may change the look of a wrist watch, as we know it. Just hope that their patents are flawless this time around.

It would seem that those who are in touch with the stock exchanges would love to have quotes readily available on their wrist.

 

[sigamy]

Nobody asked me but...

I call BS on the 100 people. From what we have learned, people working on the iPhone didn't even know they were working on the iPhone. No one saw the final device. AT&T didn't even get to see it. I believe it was a very small team.

I personally have never worn a watch and I'm 40... I guess my very small wrists have something to do with it. I'm either home, in car or office--all these places have many clocks. When I'm out and about in nature, I have my cellphone.

And I'm not part of the twitter/facebook crowd to care about status updates on my wrist. Seriously, it's now too hard to pull a phone out of your pocket?

 

[designaholic]

Video calling would be quite cool on a watch.

 

[Mac4Brains]

Reminder allert

A quote form Steve Jobs

“‘I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use, it would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.’ No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels. ‘It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it.’”

Play connect the dots and see what you come up with

 

[beauparc]

This will certainly have the iSheep flock out in force

 

[MacNut]

When do we see the class action lawsuits from all of Apple's wearable devices causing cancer. I can just see the iWatch giving your arm cancer. Brain Cancer from the iPhone and who knows how much the iPad is putting out. In 20 years we will all be dead.

 

[loon3y]

Same here. Who cares about a watch

lol it looks so lame, if im getting a watch im gettin a rolex, not some digital crap.


(then again i talked **** about the ipad mini, but i fell in love with it)