Apple Watch Gets Another Competitor in the Android-Based LG Watch Urbane

[Trapezoid]

Yes, I would grant you that TODAY - most are talking about the Apple Watch. But I wouldn't extend that beyond the past few months. There is truth that the Pebble Watch is was made wearables a topic worth talking about. Prior to the Pebble, not so much.

Yep, It's all I'm saying. I already posted the Google search trends to prove it.

People started searching for smart watches because of pebble. Then people stopped searching as much. Then apple announced the watch and the searches skyrocketed and are still going up today.

There's no hidden agenda, it's just the facts.

 

[bobob]

Yep, It's all I'm saying. I already posted the Google search trends to prove it.

People started searching for smart watches because of pebble. Then people stopped searching as much. Then apple announced the watch and the searches skyrocketed and are still going up today.

There's no hidden agenda, it's just the facts.

The real genesis for interest in smartwatches were the original rumors posted right here on MacRumors in 2012...

Apple and Intel Working on Bluetooth Smart Watch for 2013 Launch?

...which was building on Apple's earlier watch initiative with their 6th generation iPod Nano in 2010...

 

[Trapezoid]

The real genesis for interest in smartwatches were the original rumors posted right here on MacRumors in 2012...

Apple and Intel Working on Bluetooth Smart Watch for 2013 Launch?

the Google search trends show a definite uptick after the pebble announcements. I'd still say that's where people really started getting interested

 

[bobob]

the Google search trends show a definite uptick after the pebble announcements. I'd still say that's where people really started getting interested

That "uptick" is going to look as tiny as a hydrogen atom by Xmas this year - - the launch and use of the Apple Watch will be the defining moment in the public consciousness of people getting interested in smartwatches.

 

[Trapezoid]

That "uptick" is going to look as tiny as a hydrogen atom by Xmas this year - - the launch and use of the Apple Watch will be the defining moment in the public consciousness of people getting interested in smartwatches.

Obviously yes. Not sure how any one can deny that apple is the reason smart watches will become ubiquitous.

Of course, people WILL deny that, but no one takes those people seriously.

 

[samcraig]

That "uptick" is going to look as tiny as a hydrogen atom by Xmas this year - - the launch and use of the Apple Watch will be the defining moment in the public consciousness of people getting interested in smartwatches.

Who cares how it is in relation. The fact remains that Pebble kickstarted (no pun intended) the attention towards smart watches as a viable category. You can argue until the cows come home what people are talking about NOW - but to deny Pebble their place in "history" is just ignorant.

 

[bobob]

Who cares how it is in relation. The fact remains that Pebble kickstarted (no pun intended) the attention towards smart watches as a viable category. You can argue until the cows come home what people are talking about NOW - but to deny Pebble their place in "history" is just ignorant.

Pebble will indeed be a curious little footnote in the history of smartwatches (even though they aren't particularly smart watches), but the one that got started it all was undeniably the 6th gen Apple iPod.

(It's the one that gave Pebble the idea in the first place. )

 

[samcraig]

Pebble will indeed be a curious little footnote in the history of smartwatches (even though they aren't particularly smart watches), but the one that got started it all was undeniably the 6th gen Apple iPod.

Image

(It's the one that gave Pebble the idea in the first place. )

We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[LordVic]

Pebble will indeed be a curious little footnote in the history of smartwatches (even though they aren't particularly smart watches), but the one that got started it all was undeniably the 6th gen Apple iPod.

(It's the one that gave Pebble the idea in the first place. )

if you want to go that way...

Microsoft/Timex "DataLink" watch - Circa 1994

Or perhaps a more modern "smart watch" - Microsoft Spo - Circa 2004

all it is, is that technology builds on technology till it's ready for mainstream. and in the smartwatch game, that started prior to the Apple Watch.

 

[Stella]

Monkey see, monkey do.

In will be interesting in 3 years to see if the smart watch really does catch on or if this was the most over-hyped product category ever.

I'm guessing yes. The market is new. Given a few years, things will settle down.

People thought this about smartphones too....

...And electricity

 

[kdarling]

Who cares how it is in relation. The fact remains that Pebble kickstarted (no pun intended) the attention towards smart watches as a viable category. You can argue until the cows come home what people are talking about NOW - but to deny Pebble their place in "history" is just ignorant.

Indeed, with or without Apple, the wearable boom was already coming. From a widely quoted 2013 forecast:



Smartwatch Market Forecast to Grow From 15 Million in 2014 to 373 Million by 2020

Same as with the smartphone boom, that's why Apple finally jumped into the market.

Pebble will indeed be a curious little footnote in the history of smartwatches (even though they aren't particularly smart watches), but the one that got started it all was undeniably the 6th gen Apple iPod.

(It's the one that gave Pebble the idea in the first place. )

No sir. Pebble arose from the same group of people who did the inPulse smartwatch for Blackberry, a year before the iPod nano came out with a watchface.



And they got their idea from all the smartwatches that came before them.

 

[bobob]

The discussion wasn't regarding the first "smartwatch", but rather when people really started talking about them and becoming interested in seeing one useful enough to purchase.

 

[Trapezoid]

The discussion wasn't regarding the first "smartwatch", but rather when people really started talking about them and becoming interested in seeing one useful enough to purchase.

It's already been stated. Pebble started the interest. The interest went up and fell off. Apple rekindled the interest. The interest took off, and continues to take off.

Pebble was the reason for the earlier interest. Apple is the reason for the interest today.

 

[samcraig]

The discussion wasn't regarding the first "smartwatch", but rather when people really started talking about them and becoming interested in seeing one useful enough to purchase.

Over 1M people have bought a pebble watch. Are you going to try and tell me that people don't see them as "useful enough" to purchase.

Further - their newest kickstarter campaign shot the roof. Will they sell "Apple" millions? Perhaps not - but there are certainly a lot of people who find value and use in a simpler smart watch.