Apple's Rumored iWatch as an 'Even More Personal Personal Computer'

[Macs4newbies]

What's the value hook?

I can't possibly see this as a viable market to entire unless Apple does so by marrying something extraordinary with this device. And the only thing I can identify as a game changer would be a wireless spectacle viewer one would watch video via.

Other than that I just do see the "Wow" factor.

Joe Benevides
Macs4newbies.com

 

[godzill]

Congratulations. You'll be one of the 68k that pre-orders this, has to recharge it every other day, and keeps telling yourself (and everyone else) that you're a man. My wife tells me that she's keeping her Rolex, as tempting as this "wrist computer" sounds.

I suppose there will be some market for this among the prepubescent, college crowd, those who don't work in professional environments, and computer programmers and software engineers (of course). So maybe Apple will get up to about 78,000.

I love the people on this forum that use every thread as an excuse to show how much money they supposedly have by dropping luxury names, amounts of devices, etc.

I collect watches. I cant afford a rolex, but I have a taste for automatic watches of many varieties. This could be another one that I might look at but I could never consider it daily as a replacement for a normal wrist watch. My watch is more than a timepiece to me. Its an article of clothing, just like the shirt on my back or the shoes on my feet.

A smart watch (at least one that looks like this) just doesnt make sense from that aspect. I would never be able to justify giving it any wrist time and leaving all my other watches at home.

I believe I am a minority, and something like this can/will sell very well and be popular. but I wouldnt buy one.

 

[Rocketman]

Hmmm. Differentiated by circumference and color, not specs . . . . Fashion!

 

[Rogifan]

Wearables are a difficult sell.

Unless Apple licences this technology out to fashion designers (which I doubt they will), this is not going to take off in any way similar to the iPhone.
Jony Ive is great at designing consumer technology, but not fashion.

Silicon Valley should not be in charge of what my outfit looks like.

And you know this how? Who's to say there's no one at Apple that can design wearable stuff. Or that they haven't hired anyone to work on that stuff? It seems every time Apple gets into a market or is rumored to get into one every one says they're going to fail because they have no experience in said market. But then at the same time people complain because they don't think Apple is being innovative enough or doing enough mind blowing stuff. It's like heads I win tails you lose.

 

[SingularityG]

Who needs an iPhone when you can just carry your iPod with your moto razor (a la 2006 thinking)

iPod + Moto Razor = iPhone > simplifying

Who needs an iPod when you can carry your discman or minidisc (a la 2001 thinking)

discman + minidisc + walkman + much larger capacity = iPod > simplifying

Who needs an iPad when you can just look at your laptop (a la 2007 thinking)

laptop + much better portability = iPad > simplifying

[iPad + iPhone + laptop] changes to [iWatch + iPad + iPhone + laptop] > not simplifying

And that's why I think iWatch to be totally unnecessary.

But yeah, after the first wave of ads this won't matter anymore, of course.

 

[tech4all]

You people have an embarrassing lack of vision.

There are so many reasons why this could be brilliant:

- Wearable fitness
- Connectivity
- Fashion
- Health benefits
- Security
- Social networking

...to name but a few.

Yea it just screams "I'm expensive!"

Social Networking? Don't need a watch for that. It's called Real Life. Sadly many here and other forums don't have it.

 

[baryon]

No, that design is horrible. If Apple really does make this, it simply has to look a million times better than this!

 

[Skika]

Yea it just screams "I'm expensive!"

Social Networking? Don't need a watch for that. It's called Real Life. Sadly many here and other forums don't have it.

So edgy, i almost cut myself reading this post.

 

[carl0sian]

will NOT buy!

who wears watches?

 

[TheHateMachine]

So edgy, i almost cut myself reading this post.

He doesn't sound nervous, nor is he making a post with content that wouldn't be considered socially normal.

Did you just find the underbelly of the internet and decide to start using their buzzwords?

2edgy4u

Back on topic... these mock ups are laughable. As someone pointed out... headphones on a watch?!? Do they honestly believe Apple will make a watch with that?

I just cannot see these things going anywhere outside of techies or some Apple "baby's first smartphone" Die Hard. If they want to get a hold of the fashionistas with an attractive watch they will need to blow the existing offerings out of the water and price these accordingly. I mean part of some of the top tier brands is really the exclusivity of them. I do not think there is much of a market out there for your average joe as mobiles have cut a lot into the time keepers market share and this just adds some redundancy. I also think this is the next big thing rumour that has just exploded on the scene to replace the "iTV" one.

 

[ElTorro]

The problem with these mockups that they all have a curved screen. As far as I know, Samsung is the only one close to mass manufacture curved displays. And I'm sure even if they sell the technology to Apple, they will want to be releasing the first curved phones/watches themselves.

But this aside, unless the watch has a sim slot and I can talk with a bluetooth earpiece, I won't get it. I don't need a 1" display to check emails or or SMS. In driving mode, the Android announces the caller, so a quick check for caller ID does not require a wristwatch.

 

[apolloa]

And didn't Pebble come out? Doesn't that mean Apple is copying Pebble?

And they are copying I'm Watch and the In Pulse which is the Blackberry smartwatch the Pebble team made before, also copying the Sony smart watch and the Motoactv and the sWaP smart watch which has been on sale for a while:

http://www.s-w-a-p.co.uk/

But Apple will invent the smartwatch, it will be a revolution never before seen ever And Samsung the filthy scum will be the ONLY ones copying and they will ONLY be copying Apple......

haha, yeah if Apple launch a smart watch it will be a classic example of Apple stealing, sorry, taking everyones else's ideas and making a product that people will believe works much better. I bet it's interface would be a killer anyway.

 

[prowlmedia]

will NOT buy!

who wears watches?

Hmm, No one clearly. Oh hold on it's a 12 Billion Euro a year industry.

 

[Akarin]

Oh please Apple... make this iWatch thin and small. I have very thin arms and most watches are to big for me

...and considering the "cult of thin" Apple is currently following, that may very well be a watch I could wear!

 

[Nermal]

Hmmm. Differentiated by circumference and color, not specs . . . . Fashion!

I shudder to think of the threads that we'll see if it's not "one size fits all":

I bought a size too small and had to return it, but they didn't have any blue 175 mm in stock! Apple sucks!

 

[prowlmedia]

haha, yeah if Apple launch a smart watch it will be a classic example of Apple stealing, sorry, taking everyones else's ideas and making a product that people will believe works much better. I bet it's interface would be a killer anyway.

Why do all you people think that this is that case. Apple buy companies, and patents and roll them into their product. Samsung et al don't that's.

Google buy patents too. Apple's beef is more with Samsung's direct copying of design aspects - Note they did not go after sony, HTC etc - or google.

Anyways...

The point is all the Kickstarter and other startup are pretty hacky and hard to use. I have bought all the current crop and they have hit eBay equally as quickly. Still waiting on a few to be delivered.

I suspect an Apple watch it it arrive will be packed with sensors and with any luck will have a seamless link to the iPhone etc.

I love for it to have a front facing camera built in.

And as for this 3d Rendering from the Observer... shocking... Like they would just shrink the standard iOS onto a tiny watch screen.

 

[MacAddict1978]

The beginning of the end? Seriously think somethings wrong at Apple HQ.

Hmm... or not.

Smart watches for health tracking are very up and coming. I work for a Health Insurance company, and we're starting to cover these kinds of devices.


Uses....
1. iPod features with wireless head phones
2. Apple remote features
3. Pedomoter/Fitness watch that moinotrs heart rate, etc
4. It tells the time
5. It makes masterbation more fun by putting porn on your dominate wrist....oh wait, that violates the app store rules

 

[filmantopia]

Apple making a phone? Ridiculous and dumb.

I mean, a watch.

 

[apolloa]

Why do all you people think that this is that case. Apple buy companies, and patents and roll them into their product. Samsung et al don't that's.

Google buy patents too. Apple's beef is more with Samsung's direct copying of design aspects - Note they did not go after sony, HTC etc - or google.

Anyways...

The point is all the Kickstarter and other startup are pretty hacky and hard to use. I have bought all the current crop and they have hit eBay equally as quickly. Still waiting on a few to be delivered.

I suspect an Apple watch it it arrive will be packed with sensors and with any luck will have a seamless link to the iPhone etc.

I love for it to have a front facing camera built in.

And as for this 3d Rendering from the Observer... shocking... Like they would just shrink the standard iOS onto a tiny watch screen.

Apple abuses the utterly corrupt and brocken patent system, end off, plus abused it's position with mobile phones to enforce IT'S standard of SIM.
But to think Apple is some sort of golden child is laughable, it get's sued a lot because other companies own patents for things it uses and refuses to pay for. Apple is as much a thief as anyone else, only different is people refuse to accept that.
If Apple stopped at the first Galaxy phone, possibly even the second, I would have agreed, but as they have gone after almost every single Samsung phone and tablet launched then I have a problem with that ok? And hence my mockery which many will know to be as what will happen, people will proclaim Apple invented something that existed for years already. Just like the smart phone

But I can we can all rejoice for Apple suing that tiny little family owned coffee shop, threatening it with it's full force of lawyers, all because they had an Apple for a logo , after all, why make a new Mac Pro when you can do things like that with your cash?

Oh and you kinda saying Apple is a patent troll, which it is, and the worst possible feature for any smartwatch to have is a camera!

 

[bulldoze]

Good grief, people are getting too hung up on calling this a watch. I am betting that you will wear it on your wrist and that one of its myriad of functions will display the time. Apart from that there will be no other similarities.

 

[mrxak]

Absolutely, someday, we're all going to be wearing computers. And then, someday, they'll be imbedded in us. And then, someday, we'll be imbedded in them.

We may be seeing the first steps of that now, with things like Google Glasses and the iWatch. Naysayers will come around eventually, but don't be so harsh on them. These early steps are going to suck. Some people will love them, of course, but it will take a while to become mainstream. They'll be clunky, just as the first iPod was a very heavy, large device; just as the first computers were massive and very slow.

Not everyone wants these devices when they first come out, and for good reason! As they get better, people want them. I'm probably about one refresh away from finally owning an iPad. They aren't good enough yet for me, but I see the potential. Many people will feel the same way about the first iWatch or whatever. Apple will keep refining and redesigning, and then it will have wide market appeal.

 

[ghettochris]

if only I had something on me at all times that could tell me the time, offer maps, email, texts, browsing....


Image

... that you have to pull out and use like a pocket watch. the wrist watch killed the pocket watch for a reason, it doesn't take a genius to see that there is a market if this is done right. It's just history repeating itself. It is inevitable. I think it would be cooer if it was small like jawbone up, but beamed a holographic display onto your retina.

----------

Yea it just screams "I'm expensive!"

Social Networking? Don't need a watch for that. It's called Real Life. Sadly many here and other forums don't have it.

Real life is so limited by geography, such a tiny bubble, the internet gives you access to people around the world. I think most people use facebook poorly, but the power of the tool is amazing. Enhanced life > real life.

 

[jm001]

iWatch? Why not?

If done right (and those mock ups are far from being right... ugh-ly!) an iWatch would be quite useful. Think of it as an extension to your iPhone. Instead of taking out your phone to check mail and texts (as Android users always complain about iOS not having widgets) the watch would be the ultimate widget. A physical widget, but a very useful device that allows one NOT to have to physically take out their phone to check messages. Just look at the watch and see who's calling, who sent a text, a quick preview of the text, previews of e-mails, twitter feeds, etc. Why not integrate it with Siri so you can respond to texts and e-mails via speaking into the watch (although this feature may cause more headaches). Add a micro camera and you can have FaceTime. Lots of options.

 

[0007776]

I really see no point in this. It doesn't seem to add anything that would make up for the fact that I'd have to charge my watch every day. I'd rather keep my cheap wristwatch that lasts for a couple years without needing new batteries, and for anything else that this "watch" could do just use my iPhone.

 

[TyPod]

Very interesting. I'd be interested if this actually becomes a reality!