Apple's 'iWatch' to Feature Flexible Display, Wireless Charging

[Iconoclysm]

Yes, I want to wear a watch like this on my wrist. Not. No chance someone with any taste of style would want an iWatch on their wrist.

"taste of style"? What in the world is that?

Not that you have any clue what this thing looks like anyway...

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I better start selling off the Rolexes

I'm expecting this device to be something that you could wear in addition to a watch, really.

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Here it comes

HEADLINE: IWATCH KILLED MY DAD!


While wireless charging would be nice but I can see the lawsuits now from people wearing pacemakers and the like. If it has wireless charging you can count on it.

Then these same people would be suing everything from cell phones to am/fm radios.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I think people need to get it out of their heads that this is primarily a watch. It most certainly will not be. It is not a replacement for your Rolex, Omega, etc., nor is it intended to be.

 

[Nismo73]

 

[rtdunham]

After seeing everyone and their dog release a smartwatch in the past year, preempting Apple, this bit of news has peaked my interest.

"peaked" if you think it's reached a level that won't be exceeded.

otherwise, "piqued"

A spellcheck/autocomplete glitch, in all probability.

 

[Reds622]

I think people need to get it out of their heads that is primarily a watch. It most certainly will not be. It is not a replacement for your Rolex, Omega, etc., nor is it intended to be.

So you think Apple is betting on those with watches already will now wear multiple things on their wrist? Because that seems unlikely. Any wearable made by Apple that is supposed to be worn on the wrist must replace that device someone is already wearing, and get those who don't wear such a device to start wearing one.

In essence Apple must make a product that disrupts the entire market. There is no middle ground, society (men especially) will not be wearing multiple devices on their wrists, ever.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Same thing was said about the iPod AFTER it's unveiling... You want some good comedy reading? Go find the original iPod announcement thread here on MR. There is some good funny stuff in there....

Edit: here you go. You're welcome https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/

Oh man, some great ones there that are so similar to what you see here today it's astounding:

"I'd call it the Cube 2.0 as it wont sell, and be killed off in a short time...and it's not really functional.

Uuhh Steve, can I have a PDA now?"

"All that hype for an MP3 player? Break-thru digital device? The Reality Distiortion Field™ is starting to warp Steve's mind if he thinks for one second that this thing is gonna take off. "

And especially this one:

"Any way you spin this it is:
1. Not revolutionary. Big capacity mp3 players already exist. With Creative Labs' entrance into the firewire arena, future nomads will have similar specs and better prices.
2. A bad fit. This product is outside Apple's core competancy - computing devices. When many are calling for a pda, they release an MP3 player.
3. Without a future. This Christmas you will see mp3 players be commoditized. Meaning that the players from Korea will be way less expensive tha iPod. The real money is in DRM and distribution (ala Real Musicnet). If Apple were smart they would be focusing on high gross revenue from services rather than a playback device. "

 

[Moto G]

I wonder if anyone online is intelligent enough to break a trend, and think up a more considered, intelligent and clever name than "iWatch" - it's SO simplistic and ridiculous, really.

PS: Forget wearables, isn't it time we had some iPhone 6 rumours? It's positively a wasteland these days, around here... you'd think there wasn't an iPhone around the corner, wouldn't you!

 

[Iconoclysm]

So you think Apple is betting on those with watches already will now wear multiple things on their wrist? Because that seems unlikely. Any wearable made by Apple that is supposed to be worn on the wrist must replace that device someone is already wearing, and get those who don't wear such a device to start wearing one.

In essence Apple must make a product that disrupts the entire market. There is no middle ground, society (men especially) will not be wearing multiple devices on their wrists, ever.

It's funny because some of us can see a device that could go on a wrist with or without a watch already there...and you seem to think that you know what all of society will or won't wear, even when you're already outnumbered...interesting.

 

[AppleScruff1]

So you think Apple is betting on those with watches already will now wear multiple things on their wrist? Because that seems unlikely. Any wearable made by Apple that is supposed to be worn on the wrist must replace that device someone is already wearing, and get those who don't wear such a device to start wearing one.

In essence Apple must make a product that disrupts the entire market. There is no middle ground, society (men especially) will not be wearing multiple devices on their wrists, ever.

It's not going to replace a high end watch. That is not what they are targeting. This is a mass market device. They will be planning to sell tens of millions of these a year. It will not be a limited production piece of jewelry and it will probable be outdated every couple of years. Pardon the un intended pun, it will not be timeless like a high quality watch design.


I don't think that men who wear a $10K + watch will give them up to wear a watch that pre teens will soon be wearing. This is going to be a mass market product.

 

[Windlasher]

It's not just a watch. That's every automatic watch ever, from sub-$100 Seiko 5s and Chinese generics to Oyster Perpetuals and Grand Seikos running into the thousands.

An automatic movement that charges a battery is nothing new either. They go back to the 80s and I'm wearing one at the moment actually. On a simple watch like this, two weeks of wear is enough to charge up the battery for six months. The more mechanical complications, the shorter the power reserve and I imagine a screen would draw far too much power for that to feasible, but I've been surprised before.

I wouldn't expect it to keep the watch completely charged, but rather work like the brakes on electric hybrids where tiny amounts are generated by braking to extend battery life a bit. You never know. 5 days.

 

[Iconoclysm]

I wonder if anyone online is intelligent enough to break a trend, and think up a more considered, intelligent and clever name than "iWatch" - it's SO simplistic and ridiculous, really.

PS: Forget wearables, isn't it time we had some iPhone 6 rumours? It's positively a wasteland these days, around here... you'd think there wasn't an iPhone around the corner, wouldn't you!

I don't know, the iBrand is very strong but I could see this device going in a direction similar to software names like Handoff, Garage Band, Logic, etc. Or maybe similar to their accessory names like MagSafe or Lightning...

Could go many ways, but I haven't been thinking about it for five years or more like Apple's branding team...hell, Steve Jobs could have come up with the name for this one a long, long time ago. And the idea to monitor all of these health points beyond standard fitness may have come from the "notes" he was taking in the hospital surrounding their equipment just before he died.

 

[Reds622]

It's funny because some of us can see a device that could go on a wrist with or without a watch already there...and you seem to think that you know what all of society will or won't wear, even when you're already outnumbered...interesting.

Outnumbered by whom? I'm in my late twenties/early thirties, you know, the core market of Apple products. I rarely, if ever, see someone with multiple devices on their wrist. Obviously you are attempting to say, I think, that whatever device Apple delivers will be such a breakthrough that public perception and optics will not matter anymore. All I'm saying is that I find it hard to believe that a society where very few people currently wear a watch + another device will overnight transform into not caring how many things we have on our body (men especially). That is a rather large leap to make IMO., hence why I think it might have to replace all watches currently on the wrists of those who wear one + get those who use their phones to check the time to actually start wearing a piece of jewelry..

 

[Iconoclysm]

It's not going to replace a high end watch. That is not what they are targeting. This is a mass market device. They will be planning to sell tens of millions of these a year. It will not be a limited production piece of jewelry and it will probable be outdated every couple of years. Pardon the un intended pun, it will not be timeless like a high quality watch design.


I don't think that men who wear a $10K + watch will give them up to wear a watch that pre teens will soon be wearing. This is going to be a mass market product.

That's exactly what I see as well. It's one thing to want to capture the market that doesn't wear watches - but you can't ignore the one that does at the same time. There may be options available for both.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Outnumbered by whom? I'm in my late twenties/early thirties, you know, the core market of Apple products. I rarely, if ever, see someone with multiple devices on their wrist. Obviously you are attempting to say, I think, that whatever device Apple delivers will be such a breakthrough that public perception and optics will not matter anymore. All I'm saying is that I find it hard to believe that a society where very few people currently wear a watch + another device will overnight transform into not caring how many things we have on our body (men especially). That is a rather large leap to make IMO., hence why I think it might have to replace all watches currently on the wrists of those who wear one + get those who use their phones to check the time to actually start wearing a piece of jewelry..

It's never going to replace all watches. It's primary function is not to tell time or be a finely crafted piece of jewelry like a high end watch is.

 

[Boatboy24]

This just in. The WSJ, NYT and Washington Post have just reported that the new iWatch will poop golden coins.

 

[AppleScruff1]

That's exactly what I see as well. It's one thing to want to capture the market that doesn't wear watches - but you can't ignore the one that does at the same time. There may be options available for both.

I doubt many wear their Rolex swimming, jogging, doing yard work etc. They wear them for dress. The Apple watch is a different animal. For many it may be the only device worn, for others, it will be a supplement, maybe for casual wear for those times when it's not practical to wear a high end watch.

 

[Reds622]

It's never going to replace all watches. It's primary function is not to tell time or be a finely crafted piece of jewelry like a high end watch is.

I agree with this. So those people who choose to continue to wear a watch will not buy this product then, correct?

 

[Itskorbitch!]

I wonder if anyone online is intelligent enough to break a trend, and think up a more considered, intelligent and clever name than "iWatch" - it's SO simplistic and ridiculous, really.

PS: Forget wearables, isn't it time we had some iPhone 6 rumours? It's positively a wasteland these days, around here... you'd think there wasn't an iPhone around the corner, wouldn't you!

It's funny how I was thinking the same thing about the name. I was also thinking ahead to other wearables like glasses, instead of iGlasses, iWear would be better. I think for the watch, iWatch actually has a good ring to it.

 

[Duane Martin]

And iPad sales are also declining.

Declining (for now) after Apple made BILLIONS off them. Just as they did with the iPod, which is pretty much a dead product line, if you call 2.8 million in the last quarter "dead". I am a horrible prognosticator but I think a lot of people, like myself, who are still holding onto iPad 2s will replace them in the next year and that should result in improved sales. It's Apple's fault for making a product so good there have been no compelling reasons to replace it.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Outnumbered by whom? I'm in my late twenties/early thirties, you know, the core market of Apple products. I rarely, if ever, see someone with multiple devices on their wrist. Obviously you are attempting to say, I think, that whatever device Apple delivers will be such a breakthrough that public perception and optics will not matter anymore. All I'm saying is that I find it hard to believe that a society where very few people currently wear a watch + another device will overnight transform into not caring how many things we have on our body (men especially). That is a rather large leap to make IMO., hence why I think it might have to replace all watches currently on the wrists of those who wear one + get those who use their phones to check the time to actually start wearing a piece of jewelry..

By two people who are already disagreeing with you.

Different Apple products have different markets. I have to say, that at your age you are no different than anyone else who goes to work every day, walks down a street, sees people at a gym, or goes to bars/restaurants. You know, everyone in the freaking world out of college...in fact, it's people older than you that are more likely to be wearing a watch, and they probably also wear a wedding ring.

Myself, I prefer to wear zero accessories, only a wedding ring...getting me to put any sort of watch on my arm, at all, is going to be tough. Two things will be outright impossible. And then there's the whole, "do I want to be seen with an Apple product attached to my body" problem. Regardless, Nike pulled it off for some so maybe Apple will do the same for me.

What I'm trying to say is that there could be multiple options for this device...and that since you don't know what it looks like, and neither do I, that it's certainly a possibility. It could be waterproof and virtually never have to come off of your arm for all we know. There could be options to replace a current watch band with something else somewhere down the line.

One thing I will never say is what society will or will not do - nobody knows that, nobody ever really has.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I agree with this. So those people who choose to continue to wear a watch will not buy this product then, correct?

Of course they may still buy it. They may use it for casual wear, weekend wear, working out, etc. most people don't live in their Omegas either. Some may even wear both if the are concerned with monitoring their health constantly. What's wrong with having both options?

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Declining (for now) after Apple made BILLIONS off them. Just as they did with the iPod, which is pretty much a dead product line, if you call 2.8 million in the last quarter "dead". I am a horrible prognosticator but I think a lot of people, like myself, who are still holding onto iPad 2s will replace them in the next year and that should result in improved sales. It's Apple's fault for making a product so good there have been no compelling reasons to replace it.

I didn't say the iPad was dead, I said sales have been declining. How much money Apple made has nothing to do with it. iPad sales may have peaked already, and if Apple really does release a 5.5" iPhone, I won't be surprised to see iPad sales to decrease further. It doesn't mean it's not a good product.

 

[Reds622]

By two people who are already disagreeing with you.

Different Apple products have different markets. I have to say, that at your age you are no different than anyone else who goes to work every day, walks down a street, sees people at a gym, or goes to bars/restaurants. You know, everyone in the freaking world out of college...in fact, it's people older than you that are more likely to be wearing a watch, and they probably also wear a wedding ring.

Myself, I prefer to wear zero accessories, only a wedding ring...getting me to put any sort of watch on my arm, at all, is going to be tough. Two things will be outright impossible. And then there's the whole, "do I want to be seen with an Apple product attached to my body" problem. Regardless, Nike pulled it off for some so maybe Apple will do the same for me.

What I'm trying to say is that there could be multiple options for this device...and that since you don't know what it looks like, and neither do I, that it's certainly a possibility. It could be waterproof and virtually never have to come off of your arm for all we know. There could be options to replace a current watch band with something else somewhere down the line.

One thing I will never say is what society will or will not do - nobody knows that, nobody ever really has.

I agree almost with this entire post. I guess I must have mis-interpreted what you were originally saying. How I read the original post that I responded to was that Apple could potentially come up with a product that would appeal to those who right now wear watches and don't plan on giving it up no matter what Apple comes out with.

I think it is safe to say that Apple will attempt to come out with something that appeals to everyone. Most importantly, probably, in their eyes is to get the younger generation who currently do not wear watches to strap something to their wrist. Most young people these days use their phone to tell time, men especially. Young women still wear watches, but its as a fashion accessory. I doubt many even use it tell time, which sounds crazy enough. Anyways, I think that is the market Apple is targeting, along with creating something as another poster said that is more casual. You tap into that market, and get that group, young people, to start wearing something, and I think you probably have a winner.

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Of course they may still buy it. They may use it for casual wear, weekend wear, working out, etc. most people don't live in their Omegas either. Some may even wear both if the are concerned with monitoring their health constantly. What's wrong with having both options?

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I didn't say the iPad was dead, I said sales have been declining. How much money Apple made has nothing to do with it. iPad sales may have peaked already, and if Apple really does release a 5.5" iPhone, I won't be surprised to see iPad sales to decrease further. It doesn't mean it's not a good product.

Well, then can it really be considered a breakthrough device if its just "another option." I mean, the Iphone, breakthrough device. It changed everything. I think I read recently that Apple may be starting to temper the expectations of the masses, which is also fine. BUT, I have to say, to view the next BIG Apple device as just an "accessory," and not an innovation is a tad disappointing.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I agree almost with this entire post. I guess I must have mis-interpreted what you were originally saying. How I read the original post that I responded to was that Apple could potentially come up with a product that would appeal to those who right now wear watches and don't plan on giving it up no matter what Apple comes out with.

I think it is safe to say that Apple will attempt to come out with something that appeals to everyone. Most importantly, probably, in their eyes is to get the younger generation who currently do not wear watches to strap something to their wrist. Most young people these days use their phone to tell time, men especially. Young women still wear watches, but its as a fashion accessory. I doubt many even use it tell time, which sounds crazy enough. Anyways, I think that is the market Apple is targeting, along with creating something as another poster said that is more casual. You tap into that market, and get that group, young people, to start wearing something, and I think you probably have a winner.

IMO, Apple is looking to sell a watch to every iPhone customer. The two will go hand in hand. There are millions of people out there with blood pressure problems, BP monitory would be great for them. If non invasive blood glucose monitoring goes mainstream , there are over 300 million diabetics that would love to have a device that could instantly monitor their blood sugar levels without pricking their fingers multiple times per day. The convenience factor would be huge. I know the first generation won't be able to do this, but hopefully in a few years it will.

 

[Duane Martin]

5) Motion control for iPhone and iPad games. Think about a tennis game where you swipe your arm to return a shot, or a bowling game where you move your arm to take the shot. Also can be used for things like pausing movies on Apple TV, scrolling on webpages, etc...

Now that's an intriguing idea I do not recall reading before. Maybe with the new Apple TV that allows Apps (games)? I guess we will know Tuesday, if the iWatch is even on the schedule.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I agree almost with this entire post. I guess I must have mis-interpreted what you were originally saying. How I read the original post that I responded to was that Apple could potentially come up with a product that would appeal to those who right now wear watches and don't plan on giving it up no matter what Apple comes out with.

I think it is safe to say that Apple will attempt to come out with something that appeals to everyone. Most importantly, probably, in their eyes is to get the younger generation who currently do not wear watches to strap something to their wrist. Most young people these days use their phone to tell time, men especially. Young women still wear watches, but its as a fashion accessory. I doubt many even use it tell time, which sounds crazy enough. Anyways, I think that is the market Apple is targeting, along with creating something as another poster said that is more casual. You tap into that market, and get that group, young people, to start wearing something, and I think you probably have a winner.

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Well, then can it really be considered a breakthrough device if its just "another option." I mean, the Iphone, breakthrough device. It changed everything. I think I read recently that Apple may be starting to temper the expectations of the masses, which is also fine. BUT, I have to say, to view the next BIG Apple device as just an "accessory," and not an innovation is a tad disappointing.

It will be innovating. People flocked to the iPhone, they will do the same with the watch, that's the power the Apple brand carries, more so today than when the iPhone came out. And remember, the iPhone wasn't an instant success.

Everything Apple makes doesn't have to be a breakthrough device. If it is the best or near e top of it's segment, it will sell well.