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Microsoft Shifts Smart Watch Prototype Testing to Surface Hardware Team

I'd wear it as a sports watch for activities' sake

If I can use an iWatch from Apple, which the Apple products is what I support and LOVE using because they are actually productive for me, but that's besides the point, I'd use iWatch mostly when I go mountain biking and/or weight training. That way I'm not having to deal with my iPhone 4S to track whatever I need to track like reps or distance and speed. It's all on my iWatch. Other than that, I may wear it casually, but I've got myself a nice belt iPhone/Wallet that works sooo well. Speaking of wearing things, have you noticed that there are MORE Apple users who have an Apple logo sticker plastered on their car than window fan users? I have NOT seen ONE window's sticker but more Apple stickers. Mmmm.
 
Shaun said:
Had to wear one of those for 24 hours recently. So uncomfortable. Hope Apple doesn't go down that route with the iWatch.
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It wouldn't be medical grade, and probably even less bulky than the HR monitor sport watches.
 
bjsterilite said:
No one really imagined the iPhone and iPad to take off. I think a lot of people will be surprised.
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Agreed. The Pebble smart watch has already gotten people's interests and it's already gotten over 200,000+ pre-orders before it hit Best Buy. The makers of the Pebble smart watch isn't even a large company like Samsung, Microsoft, Google, or Apple and they've been able to sell a decent amount of smart watches.
 
Jack97 said:
Honestly, if apple announced they were working on a magical iBrick these other companies would start developing one as well. :rolleyes:
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I find this comment amusing: Apple haven't announced that they are developing anything; the release date is apparently still a year away, if it ever materialises.

You know who has announced that they are working on this? Samsung. Now whether they risk releasing first then magically radically changing design direction after Apple release theirs is another question but at the moment the iWatch is just a rumour.

Personally I like these rumours: remember two years ago when the iTV was imminent for release? That was fun. But since then other TV manufacturers have actually thought about improving their products to compete with that rumour and have been reasonably successful. Sony's new AV receiver has an excellent and elegant UI. I like it when the market steps up its game. I couldn't care less whether Apple releases an i"anything" if a competitor preempts them with a really clever solution.
 
I don't get the watch hype

Ok I might eat my words after I see what Apple would do with it, but I am not impressed with the 'features' of the current smart watches. I just don't get it, what good is to know that you have a text message or email on your watch?

And for the record, I love watches, I have 9 of them
 
thepowerofnone said:
I find this comment amusing: Apple haven't announced that they are developing anything; the release date is apparently still a year away, if it ever materialises.

You know who has announced that they are working on this? Samsung. Now whether they risk releasing first then magically radically changing design direction after Apple release theirs is another question but at the moment the iWatch is just a rumour.
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I think it may be more than a rumour. Apple's recent requests for trademark registration in several countries is a very clear indicator that something is happening soon. It would not be possible for Apple to register those if there is no intent to make use of it within a reasonable period of time or to preemptively prevent competitors from acquiring the trademark.

I also doubt that Apple would want to give its competitors too many edges by allowing them to bring competing products before or immediately after. If Apple is only now starting to make serious work of this iWatch, then it may already be too late.
 
The tiles are very watch friendly. Maybe the ideal interface.

Swipe and get a new tile, new info, new apps etc
 
Wrist-strapping doodads

Seems necessary to point out that Nike is also a pioneer in this space (FuelBand, GPS SportWatch), along with Pebble.

Kind of interesting to think about what Nike might be innovating over there and if fitness tech accessories will prove to be as useful or even more useful than a 1-2" screen jammed with the content of a smartphone. To be honest, I might be happier to see a Nike-Apple collab on a wearable device.
 
I don't think an Apple wrist watch will ever come to fruition. The trend these days is to use your phone for everything. Fewer young people even wear a watch.

But if I were Apple, and I realized that even a really cool smart watch would never catch on... I'd make a big deal about it and pretend to be working on it so all the other big tech players would invest r&d and time and money into something that the public simply will not embrace.

Apple scored so well in predicting and snowballing the digital music revolution, and then again with smart phones. As cool as it might be, my guess is Apple sees a watch as something extreme like Google Glass; catering to too small an audience (albeit a very passionate one).

Wearable electronics may well take off in the next couple of years, but I doubt very much that it will be in a wrist watch form.
 
msftsmartwatch_zps61637c0e.png


Need I say more?
 
blackhand1001 said:
The live tiles of windows 8 actually are perfect for a watch. This should be interesting.
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They might be perfect for the watch, but if all holds true, Microsoft doesn't care what the customer wants or thinks is perfect (Exhibit A: Windows 8.1 update).

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KdParker said:
I agree. I wonder where this will lead too....

bigger screens so next will be the i-sleave?
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Pip-boy 3000...errmmm... iPip-boy 3000.
 
bbaumgardner22 said:
They might be perfect for the watch, but if all holds true, Microsoft doesn't care what the customer wants or thinks is perfect (Exhibit A: Windows 8.1 update).
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Nonsense. The 8.1 update brings many needed improvements to 8. I suppose Microsoft reversed their stance on the Xbox DRM situation for the sake of it, not because of the backlash from their customers?
 
I do not usually wear one. But if it was stylish enough and functional and it meant I could NOT carry around some other device from time to time... I might.
 
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