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CES 2014: Apple's Competition in the Smart Watch Arena
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Wearable tech is all about the wrong thing so far, and you nailed it.
Besides the fact, a watch is too much a fashion statement. Health Trackers so far make sense for wearable tech, but we aren't there yet for a true smart watch that has notable utility.
Time will tell though... Right now, a watch is needed. And, maybe a wearable tech health tracker is a true want.
To date, smart watches are silly.
How have we come to the stage where we must have information fed to us constantly on every device imaginable?
Most of that information being totally unnecessary
What happened to actually living your life,finding things out for yourself and a little bit of mystery?!
I'm all for clever innovation that actually enhance lifestyles but the smartwatch is not one of them
Most of that information being totally unnecessary
What happened to actually living your life,finding things out for yourself and a little bit of mystery?!
I'm all for clever innovation that actually enhance lifestyles but the smartwatch is not one of them
Apple has no competition in the smart watch arena because Apple isn't making a smart watch. What world do these people live in? Apple has some pretty stiff competition in the coffee machine and toaster market too I guess (I'm eating breakfast at the moment).
ok... so I'm a newbie to the forum, but have followed it for a while and own many apple products. My question is this.... does anyone else think this smart watch thing is bogus? A.... why would I want yet another computer, strapped to my wrist? especially one disguised as a watch?
I already have a clock on my phone, a clock on my computer, a clock in my car, there are clocks on the outside of buildings and in public spaces.. clearly no need for a watch...unless it is classy like an old omega or rolex or something like that
but what makes a rolex or omega classy? the fact that they are beatifully engineered and will last for 100 years with proper maintenance.
disposable technology doesn't exactly scream classy to me.
so its not a watch.... its a computer on your wrist that what? tells you that the phone in your pocket is ringing?
ok... so I'm a newbie to the forum, but have followed it for a while and own many apple products. My question is this.... does anyone else think this smart watch thing is bogus? A.... why would I want yet another computer, strapped to my wrist? especially one disguised as a watch?
I already have a clock on my phone, a clock on my computer, a clock in my car, there are clocks on the outside of buildings and in public spaces.. clearly no need for a watch...unless it is classy like an old omega or rolex or something like that
but what makes a rolex or omega classy? the fact that they are beatifully engineered and will last for 100 years with proper maintenance.
disposable technology doesn't exactly scream classy to me.
so its not a watch.... its a computer on your wrist that what? tells you that the phone in your pocket is ringing?
I already have a clock on my phone, a clock on my computer, a clock in my car, there are clocks on the outside of buildings and in public spaces.. clearly no need for a watch...unless it is classy like an old omega or rolex or something like that
but what makes a rolex or omega classy? the fact that they are beatifully engineered and will last for 100 years with proper maintenance.
disposable technology doesn't exactly scream classy to me.
so its not a watch.... its a computer on your wrist that what? tells you that the phone in your pocket is ringing?
ok... so I'm a newbie to the forum, but have followed it for a while and own many apple products. My question is this.... does anyone else think this smart watch thing is bogus? A.... why would I want yet another computer, strapped to my wrist? especially one disguised as a watch?
I already have a clock on my phone, a clock on my computer, a clock in my car, there are clocks on the outside of buildings and in public spaces.. clearly no need for a watch...unless it is classy like an old omega or rolex or something like that
but what makes a rolex or omega classy? the fact that they are beatifully engineered and will last for 100 years with proper maintenance.
disposable technology doesn't exactly scream classy to me.
so its not a watch.... its a computer on your wrist that what? tells you that the phone in your pocket is ringing?
1 rumours of iThing
2 multiple releases of Things by companies trying to gain traction in a new sector before Apple monopolises it
3 iThing released - innovative but compromised
4 multiple iThing clones
5 iThing 2 first fully realised product in sector
6 clones approach parity with iThing
7 rumours of iBox
2 multiple releases of Things by companies trying to gain traction in a new sector before Apple monopolises it
3 iThing released - innovative but compromised
4 multiple iThing clones
5 iThing 2 first fully realised product in sector
6 clones approach parity with iThing
7 rumours of iBox
Fitness/health and general well-being are going to be the main focus points. However it won't just be marketed at fitness freaks, it's cool and sexy to be fit and healthy, it won't be hard for Apple to convince non fitness freaks that they need one.
About the only thing they could do that would make me interested if a fashionable watch had some health monitoring Bluetooth 4.0 in it it could take it's place of those health bands.
Agreed. It is redundant in my opinion.
Most people carry their smartphones all the time anyway.
I would never replace my watch with another digital device.
Why does the watch have to compliment the phone? Why not move the phone components (Cell, GPS, Sensors, etc) to the watch, provide a screen and easy to use UI that does phone stuff, like messages, phone calls, contacts and maybe emails.
The iPod touch when connected to a iWatch via Bluetooth would then become an iPhone by accessing all the sensors and network on the watch. The same for the iPad (although less so as phone area as that would be ridiculous).
Techincally you could use the phone direct on the watch by holding it to your head but you'd look a bit stupid, so maybe apple could bundle a small button less handheld 'phone' (4cmx8cmx0.5cm block for example) which you could use with the watch when you don't have an iPod with you.
Doing this you could do away with all the 15 mobile contracts then and just have one, which is also phone that you carry with you everywhere and don't lose.
Another benefit here is in adoption of Apple devices, if you can buy an iWatch that lasts for say 3 years before being made obsolete but the user can buy a vastly cheaper iPod (which is where most of the advancements will be re CPU/GPU) then they are more likely to a) adopt Apple initially and b) buy new Apple devices every year.
In the future this device could get a more sophisticated larger curved screen, apps, etc.
I do agree with everybody else the current crop of watches are pretty well useless. Hopefully Apple has something interesting up their sleeves or at least don't enter this market until the technology is available.
The iPod touch when connected to a iWatch via Bluetooth would then become an iPhone by accessing all the sensors and network on the watch. The same for the iPad (although less so as phone area as that would be ridiculous).
Techincally you could use the phone direct on the watch by holding it to your head but you'd look a bit stupid, so maybe apple could bundle a small button less handheld 'phone' (4cmx8cmx0.5cm block for example) which you could use with the watch when you don't have an iPod with you.
Doing this you could do away with all the 15 mobile contracts then and just have one, which is also phone that you carry with you everywhere and don't lose.
Another benefit here is in adoption of Apple devices, if you can buy an iWatch that lasts for say 3 years before being made obsolete but the user can buy a vastly cheaper iPod (which is where most of the advancements will be re CPU/GPU) then they are more likely to a) adopt Apple initially and b) buy new Apple devices every year.
In the future this device could get a more sophisticated larger curved screen, apps, etc.
I do agree with everybody else the current crop of watches are pretty well useless. Hopefully Apple has something interesting up their sleeves or at least don't enter this market until the technology is available.
Battery life. Battery wouldn't last if you have other devices tethered to your wrist phone. This is assuming you would still want such a watch to be a reasonable size. GPS is a battery killer for starters. I doubt you'd get a days usage. You'd need your watch tethered to an external battery!
There are already Phone ( all the functionality of a smartphone ) smart watches, Android powered where batteries last a day. I don't think them particularly appealing, even if they were iOS devices. An existing iPhone can easily last three years before becoming obsolete.
There are already Phone ( all the functionality of a smartphone ) smart watches, Android powered where batteries last a day. I don't think them particularly appealing, even if they were iOS devices. An existing iPhone can easily last three years before becoming obsolete.
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I used to think the same thing about "touch to unlock" car doors and push start ignition until I bought a car that had those features. I thought how lazy can someone be they can't pull their keychain out of the door to push the remote or twist the ignition to start.
Now I positively, absolutely will never buy another car w/o those features. Things that seem ubsurd can easily become huge irreplaceable conveniences if you open your mind up & give them a chance. Hands full of groceries or bulky item it's so amazing to just have to touch the trunk and it opens -- no need to go pocket fishing for a key fob. And to be able to just walk up to your car open the door and push a button, again without having to hunt for keys. Winner!
Of course a smart watch is more than a time piece. It isn't even predominantly a time piece. And to be able to just look at your wrist to find out something simple like the weather or who is calling you. Yes, that's a huge convenience.
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As to the title of this post -- All I have to say is Apple's bank account + Jony Ive's brain = I don't think Apple is worried about existing competition any more than when they introduced the iPhone at the height of BB's popularity.
All these people here talking about why need a watch when you have a phone for the time.
I do wonder if they live in the real work of just think an office or coffee shop is all of humanity.
So many places, and jobs people do where it's totally impractical to pull out a multiple hundred dollar phone to check the time.
I do wonder if they live in the real work of just think an office or coffee shop is all of humanity.
So many places, and jobs people do where it's totally impractical to pull out a multiple hundred dollar phone to check the time.
I bought a pebble on a whim. And I was someone that hadn't worn a watch in years.
Love it now. Even based on one single feature. I usually have my phone on mute at work and at home. I am often stepping away from my desk and don't always bring my phone. I can get alerts (if I get a call) with who's calling so I can determine if I need to go pick up or not. At home - with a toddler who goes to bed early - it's also nice to have the ringer off but still have my wrist vibrate.
There are several other reasons I like the Pebble - but the reason above has already made the purchase "justified" and useful for me.
And in the winter - it's also nice to not have to always take out your phone to check the time. Or to see a text that someone just sent...
They are all - FAT!
What Johnny gonna come up:
1. Something real thin - - like watches
2. Something Round - like watches
3. Battery life - comparable to a real watch - they might include a solar panel.. who knows!
4. No touch - you don't touch your real watch a lot.. do you?
5. Gesture controlled - coz you shake your watch... sometimes!
6. Voice - chances are less coz of computational issues
The idea here is - Apply is planning to enter in new domain of watches so the product should compete with watches made by real watch-makers and not these guys!
7. A perfect automatic movement -> like watch.... ho wait, that's not possible, meaning. So it's a iNotWatch
It would be hilarious if Apple didn't release a "smart watch" after all.
And judging from how ugly and stupid these releases seem, they just might be wise to avoid this sector altogether.
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Yet it is ok to sport a $1000+ watch just to check the time? Not sure what your point is then...
Bit of a strawman there - who said these places are OK to sport a $1K watch either? Did he say that?
Not everybody has the same wants/needs as you.
I use a Pebble and it benefits me a lot.
I work in places where I can get fired for having a cell phone in certain areas. I keep it on me though just in case of an emergency or if say my boss wants to get ahold of me. Having the Pebble allows me to not worry about pulling out a cell phone and risk losing my job. I can read the text or see who is calling and determine if I need to leave the area or not.
More to the point, it's probably wrong. To even call it the iWatch would be a poor choice. I doubt very much that Apple will want to associate its wearable tech with the other products collected for this story. I notice that MR can't quite decide editorially whether "iWatch" is a good bet for the name or just a place-holder for a product that will likely be called something else. Some of the writers put the name in quotes and others don't. Since the name is complete speculation, it should always be in quotes.
Maybe Apple is going to wow us, but I have a hard time seeing how a watch is ever going to be more convenient than a phone for most people. The only use case for me that I can think of is that a smart watch would be better for running with. Other than that, you just leave your phone in your pocket and take it just about anywhere.
Still looking forward to a better TV solution from Apple. That's what I hope their iWatch is!
Still looking forward to a better TV solution from Apple. That's what I hope their iWatch is!
I figure the people who use their phones as watches are the ones who are late for appointments an awful lot of the time.
Sadly I don't have much faith in Apple's product naming these days. Macintosh? Awesome. Newton? Fantastic. PowerBook? Nice. iPod? Yeah, pretty good. But iPhone? Ugh. iWork? iCloud? iPad? Enough with the iEverything. Can't we move to something more iConic than another generic iWord?
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They all look terrible. But I'm not sure if Apple can solve the design problem either. Most products that Apple sold and designed were somehow invented or at least largely influenced by them. Here it will be a completely different story - entering the watch market with a big wow-effect will be very hard though.
I am coming at this from the standpoint of a Pebble user for about 60 days now. I was skeptical about the thing, but the early adopter in me won out. Somewhat to my surprise, I find it very useful.
I am an attorney and not able to pull my phone out during sometimes lengthy Court hearings, being able to glance at my wrist to see what all the buzzing in my pocket is about is probably the number one benefit. However, I do use it to check my calendar at a glance and for several other purposes.
It has an honest 3 day battery life, which really hasn't been limiting at all. I don't sleep in my watch so plugging it in at night is not a big deal. I honestly find myself charging it more often than really necessary and not feeling inconvenienced at all.
I had not worn a watch in probably 15 years, and this has convinced me to begin doing so again.
I have two little peeves, one I wish I'd known about the Pebble Steel in the wings as I definitely would have gone that way instead. However, my thought was to get the Pebble as it was not a big investment and get used to the idea of using a smart watch while waiting to see what Apple came out with. Second, it is a little large, mostly on the thick side of things. It catches when I try to put on a jacket, etc. If the Pebble Steel is significantly thinner at all, that may have been addressed.
I am an attorney and not able to pull my phone out during sometimes lengthy Court hearings, being able to glance at my wrist to see what all the buzzing in my pocket is about is probably the number one benefit. However, I do use it to check my calendar at a glance and for several other purposes.
It has an honest 3 day battery life, which really hasn't been limiting at all. I don't sleep in my watch so plugging it in at night is not a big deal. I honestly find myself charging it more often than really necessary and not feeling inconvenienced at all.
I had not worn a watch in probably 15 years, and this has convinced me to begin doing so again.
I have two little peeves, one I wish I'd known about the Pebble Steel in the wings as I definitely would have gone that way instead. However, my thought was to get the Pebble as it was not a big investment and get used to the idea of using a smart watch while waiting to see what Apple came out with. Second, it is a little large, mostly on the thick side of things. It catches when I try to put on a jacket, etc. If the Pebble Steel is significantly thinner at all, that may have been addressed.