CES 2014: Apple's Competition in the Smart Watch Arena

[Daalseth]

Neptune Pine

The Neptune Pine is the only one I might be even a little bit interested in. It's a standalone device that does not act as a expensive extension to an existing phone. I could wear that and not carry a phone which would be good. IMO SmartWatches that are nothing more than DumbTerminals for a phone you have to carry too are a non starter, for me at least, and I suspect for a lot of the market. It really isn't that hard to pull out my phone when needed, so unless a SmartWatch functions as a standalone device I really see little point in it.

 

[NightCastle]

They are all - FAT!

What Johnny gonna come up:
1. Something real thin - - like watches

Have you gone out and even looked at what is offered as watches for men lately? I have and they are all huge chunks of metal, or better yet, wrist mounted clocks. It is hard to find a decent mens watch that is less than 1/4 inch thick.

 

[riggles]

Hire a title editor

That's the best title you can up with, really? You're so desperate to add an additional news blip to your front page that you have to invent competition to a product Apple has neither released or even acknowledges is planned? It's one thing to sell rumors, but it's another to sell "competition" to a rumor. That's just ... lazy.

 

[ronjon10]

These things reinforce my lack of desire for any of these things other than as a potential exercise accessory.

If someone comes out with a watch that has a multiple week battery life and nominally looks like a Rolex (nice metal band, actual hands) then I might be interested.

 

[RenoG]

I'll be tempted to actually buy such watch only if they were along the lines of this:

 

[iSee]

I don't think any of those will take off unless one ships with Natalie Portman's phone number.

But I can't believe very many people will want to wear any of those. The only one that isn't outright objectionable is the sports band and only because you can do almost anything when exercising.

Intel's watch makes sense... they really just want to sell the chips to another company so an ugly watch is good. It can only help give those other companies the impression they can do much better.

 

[osofast240sx]

Unusual to see Apple behind on things.

They're not behind because the only thing Apple needs to do is make the iWatch work well with iOS. Competition for this type of wearable is irrelevant.

 

[coolfactor]

Unusual to see Apple behind on things.

Apple is not behind. Did they invent the computer? No, but they reinvented it. Did they invent the MP3 player? No, but they reinvented it. Did they invent the smartphone? No, but they reinvented it. The entire tech industry's ability to create beautiful industrial designs has matured, so we see these high-tech looking devices coming out of these companies, but is that where the true innovation has stopped? How useful are these? How reliable? 10 days of battery life? That's unacceptable for a watch. There are plenty of challenges that Apple will address with their own smart watch. That, I'm sure of. They're just letting these other companies rush out with products, and they are taking their time doing the engineering needed to create an *insanely great* smart watch.

 

[proline]

You mean, nobody has given YOU a satisfactory answer

For those of us who appreciate being able to instantly see the time, or who called, or notifications -- without having to yank out a phone -- they have been quite handy.

Perhaps you have a point about the price. If they were $20, would you use one? $50? What is the tipping point? Or are you adamantly against the idea of convenience altogether? Truly curious. Thanks!

Nobody has given a satisfactory answer, period, as shown by the lack of market traction. It is of course possible to appeal to a few hobbyists without the product being properly thought out. To some the dream of the smart watch is compelling even if the products are not. As for their value:

- The time is already available on any cheap watch, including those I already own. Added value: $0
- Seeing who called- I don't pay my carrier extra for caller ID. Added value: $0
- Seeing notifications- I don't bother with email notifications, sports notifications aren't exactly critical, and most of my texts are from my wife or coworkers and require an immediate response, so it is actually faster to go straight to the phone when I feel it vibrate. Added value $0
- Having to charge the device every few days instead of every 5-10 years- Added value: -$200
- Having to buy a new battery every 2-3 years instead of every 5-10 years- Added value: -$50
- Having hardly any selection of styles or watch bands- Added value: -$100

Summing up the 'benefits' of current smart watches leads me to the conclusion that I would wear one if they paid me $350. Somehow I doubt that is the business model Apple is going for!

 

[LagunaSol]

Unusual to see Apple behind on things.

No kidding. Why can't they always be on the cutting edge - like this guy?

 

[MacAddict1978]

Unusual to see Apple behind on things.

seriously?

With some exceptions, they usually take things that flopped and turn them into successes, but seldom are first.

They were not the first smart phone or touch screen device, or the first tablet, or lap top, or pro computer, or gaming device....

They may have been the first "palm pilot" (not sure on that)

Where we often think of apple as first, they were the first to innovate the concept to a state that people cared and wanted it, not the first to make or even invent it.

And here's an area where i hope they unveil something ala the iphone that makes people finally care and it be useful

 

[roadbloc]

Am I the only one who finds this whole 'wearable tech' thing very gimmicky and in all, useless?

 

[cdmoore74]

Unusual to see Apple behind on things.

You’re kidding right? Apple’s flagship phone is 4 inches and the competition is calling their 4” models mini. Don’t get me started on the 1gig of ram across the board. Even Nokia passed Apple when it comes to hardware.

 

[KdParker]

Oh, I want them to release one.... @ $99 or less. If they are going to pair with your phone, then all it need do is use the brains in the phone. have a mic, display, speaker and phone. let the phone do all the work.

For me, I am not looking for a accessory to my phone. I would love for this product to stand on it's own or dare I say be a replacement for my phone.

Otherwise, I don't have much of a use for this status symbol.

 

[Thunderhawks]

I'll be tempted to actually buy such watch only if they were along the lines of this:

[url=http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/RENOG/B6EA491B-2581-42E2-B26D-57BEDAA6D76A_zpsczbiohjf.jpg]Image[/URL]
[url=http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l313/RENOG/67BC615F-AFFE-492D-96F7-4348C63FF431_zpsr0vseraj.jpg]Image[/URL]

You forgot to show the protective case.

Curved GLASS will not survive many knocks and drops, especially when they are meant to be for fitness etc.

 

[Stella]

You could equally give similar answers to smart phones:

- i can make calls on my 'dumb' phone - added value $0
- seeing who called - already can - added value $0
- i can run apps on my pda - added value $0
- seeing notifications - i can tether my pda, since my dumb phone does 3G, and thats enough - added value $0
- having to charge my smartphone up every night, or two nights - my dumb phone lasts 5 days. Added value $0
- my phone is stylish enough ( but really, I don't give a damn )- added value $0
etc etc etc.

But yet, Smartphones are extremely convenient and useful device to have...



No one has to give you a satisfactory answer. You can answer your own questions by investigating the capabilities of smart watches and determining if they are for you or not. Your not obviously the target market.

Nobody has given a satisfactory answer, period, as shown by the lack of market traction. It is of course possible to appeal to a few hobbyists without the product being properly thought out. To some the dream of the smart watch is compelling even if the products are not. As for their value:

- The time is already available on any cheap watch, including those I already own. Added value: $0
- Seeing who called- I don't pay my carrier extra for caller ID. Added value: $0
- Seeing notifications- I don't bother with email notifications, sports notifications aren't exactly critical, and most of my texts are from my wife or coworkers and require an immediate response, so it is actually faster to go straight to the phone when I feel it vibrate. Added value $0
- Having to charge the device every few days instead of every 5-10 years- Added value: -$200
- Having to buy a new battery every 2-3 years instead of every 5-10 years- Added value: -$50
- Having hardly any selection of styles or watch bands- Added value: -$100

Summing up the 'benefits' of current smart watches leads me to the conclusion that I would wear one if they paid me $350. Somehow I doubt that is the business model Apple is going for!

 

[MacAddict1978]

I'm really bummed that Apple decided to not continue with this form factor for the nano. I loved my nano watch, and would still be using it had not the home button broken… and I would have bought a new one if they were still available. (I've seen used ones for ridiculous prices, so I guess they're still hot commodities.)

Once the dust settles, I might end up with a smart watch to replace it. I don't want to be an early adopter and end up with something mediocre, though.

That form factor nano + blue tooth is all I'd really need. Add some better fitness elements vs pedometer (which even some of these smart watches barely do) like a sensor for pulse, and it's already better than most of the smart watches out there.

I dont get the concept of the smart watch. We seem to want larger screens to interact with, not smaller.

Who needs an extension to their phone?

The stand alone watches make the most sense to me, but they are not very compelling either. Making a phone call with my watch? Maybe with the bt in my car, but otherwise.... dont get it. Not to say for someone out there it might not be the best thing since sliced bread.... but none have really succeeded thus far into making this a really viable product category.

I think something like Google Glass is more along the lines of where a hit will come from... even if it reminds of something from Caprica

 

[osx11]

The time is ticking Apple

(No pun intended).

 

[msheredy]

Watch... (pun intended)

...Apple isn't even working on a watch. They just "leaked" the rumor to see other companies panic, develop & release crappy watches by the droves

 

[nathan43082]

Apple has no competition in the smart watch arena for the simple reason that they do not have a smart watch to offer. Once you can go buy one in the store, then it's reasonable to speak of competition.

 

[MMANN113]

But how well do they function? Are they really useful?

And how often do you need to charge it?

 

[samcraig]

Until there IS an iWatch, Apple doesn't have competition. They aren't on the field.

Much like all of these devices aren't in competition with the smart watch I'm not selling...

 

[osx11]

I think Apple's wearable device will be a thin band with a curved saphire IGZO LED display. I think it will feature vibration signals for email, calls, messages, and notifications. It will include NFC, Bluetooth, and a gyroscope, accelerometer, and will help with authentication/password purposes.

what do you guys think?

 

[chimpboy74]

I have a need (scrub that. A want) for a smartwatch. I cycle and use strava. I often put my phone in a ziplock bag and put it in my back pocket of my cycle shirt with my jacket over the top. If my phone rings it's a pain to stop, unclip, remove a glove, reach under jacket, fish out phone, open ziplock only to find I've missed a call from a marketing company. It interrupts my rhythm on my cycle. (First world problem....I know I know. ). However I need to be contactable when out for emergencies.

Now if a smart watch could show who's calling or texting (don't need to answer or reply on phone just know wether I need to stop or can ignore) AND show some basic strava info (speed, distance, time, segments possibly) then I would seriously consider it. That said I wouldn't go more than about £120 for it though.

There you are apple. There's your brief. Go!

 

[KazKam]

As part of the presentation, the company showed off a prototype smart watch incorporating geofencing and location-based notifications designed to alert users when a child or family member has left a specific location. The watch was not an actual product, but the company has plans to release a similar device in 2014.

Soooooo... This?

http://www.myfilip.com/

An already shipping product.