So they should bin every article that shows some nice tech that interfaces with the iPhone? Like gaming keyboards etc?
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Pebble Announces Next-Generation $249 'Pebble Steel' Smart Watch
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So they should bin every article that shows some nice tech that interfaces with the iPhone? Like gaming keyboards etc?
(better than Samsung)
All I can think of is appearance and battery life. The appearance bit is subjective though. For me, I like my Casio G Shock. My line of work occasionally requires dirty physical exertion and all of these watches look like sissy boy 6 figure fashion victim accessories. On top of that, they don't look elegantly feminine either, so I have trouble figuring out what their market really is.
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Tell this to Fossil - https://www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:FOSL - who own and make Fossil, Michael Kors, Skagen, DKNY, and various other fashion brands.
Watches are always going to be around as jewelry and accessories.
Arg! Wish I had been that perceptive...ordered in November and finally received mine last Thursday. I'd love to have the heavy, but smaller size of the metal watch over this light, but chunky plastic version. If you have a small wrist, the original Pebble can feel pretty awkward when wearing anything with long sleeves.
I think the plastic v1 Pebble can hold me over until Apple releases their watch. I hope Apple does release a watch...
The display and software needs to be better to increase the price. The display on my plastic pebble is acceptable. Not on a "premium" version.
People are slating this watch within an inch of it's life. Be it design, features, the need for a smart watch in the first place. But as SOON as the iWatch comes out I can guarantee you that at least half of these people will be instantly won over.
At the end of the day a smart watch without some sort of curved glass display isn't going to look pretty. I think they've done a pretty good job considering the obvious hurdles they had to overcome.
Feature wise I think it's pretty damn spot on considering it's a third party device that is being shunted aside by companies like Samsung & Apple, because they're clearly protecting their own work.
People should give it a chance. The first revision did pretty damn well. Personally, I'm holding back all judgement until every big player introduces some sort of wearable companion. Then we'll begin to get competition in both of the above categories. I think in 5 years time a smart watch will as common place as a smartphone.
/2c
At the end of the day a smart watch without some sort of curved glass display isn't going to look pretty. I think they've done a pretty good job considering the obvious hurdles they had to overcome.
Feature wise I think it's pretty damn spot on considering it's a third party device that is being shunted aside by companies like Samsung & Apple, because they're clearly protecting their own work.
People should give it a chance. The first revision did pretty damn well. Personally, I'm holding back all judgement until every big player introduces some sort of wearable companion. Then we'll begin to get competition in both of the above categories. I think in 5 years time a smart watch will as common place as a smartphone.
/2c
Samsung didn't copy anything (can't believe I'm defending Samsung here). Samsung tried to be on the market before Apple and succeeded, but that plan backfired with the lacklustre implementation.
Convenience. Sames as all other smart devices.
I can check my wrist instead of digging in my pockets. If it is something important, I can respond - if not, it can wait.
Also, I can control my Spotify and Pandora playing on my BT speaker while in the shower or pool from my wrist.
Not for everyone..sure - but I like mine.
Those watches are hideous. They remind me of those old Casio calculator watches.
I don't think the wrist watch as a smart phone interface market will ever be more than a niche. They are so fundamentally limited in usefullness (due to size contraints) that if their primary selling point is that they spare you from having to remove your phone from your pocket I don't think they will ever gain a large market.
People certainly don't need watches to tell time anymore, people wear watches basically as jewelry, and I think the market for high-end metal mechanical watches and the market for fashion watches will be going strong for years to come.
I don't think the wrist watch as a smart phone interface market will ever be more than a niche. They are so fundamentally limited in usefullness (due to size contraints) that if their primary selling point is that they spare you from having to remove your phone from your pocket I don't think they will ever gain a large market.
People certainly don't need watches to tell time anymore, people wear watches basically as jewelry, and I think the market for high-end metal mechanical watches and the market for fashion watches will be going strong for years to come.
The only situations that come to mind where this is the case is either in the shower or sleeping. Where would you be that a phone is not around but you have a watch strapped to your wrist? Or where would you be that tinkering on your watch is more acceptable than just pulling your phone out?
Subjectively, I think, you seem to be supporting this to the teeth either blindly because you told a lot of people at work/friends that this will be "the new thing" or you haven't looked at wearable tech realistically enough to assess its usefulness or practicality.
I see the visionaries, truly open-minded and positive individuals are out in force once again.[rolls eyes]
The styling of this one is getting there, but I think the size needs to be more discrete on the wrist (so as not to look like a wall clock strapped to your wrist). The concept is very interesting, even exciting. People who don't understand just need to "sftu" and watch what happens.
In the future, this may be the cellular connection and you may tether other devices to this, it doesn't always have to be simply displaying something from your smartphone, or relying on other devices. Changes happens in steps, the first step is moving technology to your wrist. Next, who knows? I'm anxious to see how the true creative visionaries will take advantage of having technology on your wrist, and most immediately I'm anxious to see what Apple does in this space - could be very interesting indeed.
The styling of this one is getting there, but I think the size needs to be more discrete on the wrist (so as not to look like a wall clock strapped to your wrist). The concept is very interesting, even exciting. People who don't understand just need to "sftu" and watch what happens.
In the future, this may be the cellular connection and you may tether other devices to this, it doesn't always have to be simply displaying something from your smartphone, or relying on other devices. Changes happens in steps, the first step is moving technology to your wrist. Next, who knows? I'm anxious to see how the true creative visionaries will take advantage of having technology on your wrist, and most immediately I'm anxious to see what Apple does in this space - could be very interesting indeed.
I was using a turn-by-turn map while driving yesterday and streaming music to my car radio via the USB cable (and charging the phone). When I wanted to skip or repeat or pause a song, I hit the appropriate button on my Pebble without touching the phone or looking at the Pebble.
How many steps would that take otherwise to switch out of the navigation app, over to music, then back to navigation? One of many many reasons I enjoy using my Pebble every day. Don't knock it if you have not tried it.
How many steps would that take otherwise to switch out of the navigation app, over to music, then back to navigation? One of many many reasons I enjoy using my Pebble every day. Don't knock it if you have not tried it.
Agreed. More to the point, in its present form this device is not able to more than maybe tell time without a smartphone anyway. Saying that "you might have the watch but not the smartphone" doesn't even make sense.
Smart Watches will make fantastic companion technology pieces to existing connected devices.
But, as long as the guys making them insist on watches being a whole second device to stand alone, they'll fail.
as someone who has worn a watch his whole adult life, and still wears one, I don't want a wristworn computer.
I want a remote and 2nd display for pertinent information on my wrist.
I want to look at my wrist and in under 5 seconds see the time, how many, and what types of notifications my phone has.
from there, throw in maybe a weather app i can quickly check. Maybe a quick listing of the notifications in a little more detail. Media control...
the point is, Wrist worn devices aren't there to replace your phone. don't throw in a mic, speakers and camera. I dont need to be able to read full emails on it. I dont need to be able to write anything at all on it.
just give me a sleek, and classy looking device on my wrist that doesn't look like I'm some 16 year old geek in math club.
The Pebble is the closest thing to this ideal i have seen. The Steel series makes it almost look decent... though, not quite good enough to even replace my current Citizen watch.
Watches are always going to be a primarily Form over function device. This is where Samsung and Sony have failed IMHO. they made their devices do too much. there's more function over form. Fine for smart phones, not so fine for watches.
my Hope is that Apple, if they do manage a watch, will focus on that Form over function.
But, as long as the guys making them insist on watches being a whole second device to stand alone, they'll fail.
as someone who has worn a watch his whole adult life, and still wears one, I don't want a wristworn computer.
I want a remote and 2nd display for pertinent information on my wrist.
I want to look at my wrist and in under 5 seconds see the time, how many, and what types of notifications my phone has.
from there, throw in maybe a weather app i can quickly check. Maybe a quick listing of the notifications in a little more detail. Media control...
the point is, Wrist worn devices aren't there to replace your phone. don't throw in a mic, speakers and camera. I dont need to be able to read full emails on it. I dont need to be able to write anything at all on it.
just give me a sleek, and classy looking device on my wrist that doesn't look like I'm some 16 year old geek in math club.
The Pebble is the closest thing to this ideal i have seen. The Steel series makes it almost look decent... though, not quite good enough to even replace my current Citizen watch.
Watches are always going to be a primarily Form over function device. This is where Samsung and Sony have failed IMHO. they made their devices do too much. there's more function over form. Fine for smart phones, not so fine for watches.
my Hope is that Apple, if they do manage a watch, will focus on that Form over function.
That's like saying you still prefer corded phones over the iPhone. The Pebble does more than just show the time.
Well - examples that I regularly encounter on a daily basis:
Phone is in a bag, out of reach.
Specific type of sports.
In a meeting.
Busy area so phone can't be heard in my pocket, but the Pebble vibration can be felt.
LOL. No. Basically. Don't jump to conclusions like that, its actually quite offensive thank you.
I have a Pebble, and its extremely convenient. So, first hand experience. I do not talk to anyone about, unless they do.
Wearable devices will become very popular in the future and that spark has been lit ( think health bands ). I think smart wearable devices is an interesting area and brings a lot of potential.
LordVic writes an excellent post above.
YMMV. As always.
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add to that,
Winter
its -20c out. Gloves are on. jacket is completely zipped up to my neck. pockets are seeled to avoid the wind blowing in. My phone goes into the pockets on the inside to avoid direct access to the weather.
how am I going to get to my phone, and interact with it? especially if i just want to see the time? or maybe a call i missed or any notification? or control my music that i'm listenin to while walking home.
A smartwatch should be able to do all that. And since it's not a touch screen device, using physical buttons, I would never have to take my gloves off to operate it's controls, making it actually MORE useful than digging the phone out of my pocket.
I also want to say that after looking at other sites, that have REAL photos of the new Steel look, these press shots that MacRumors has shown give it no justice. The new watch ALMOST looks good enough to get out of the "geek" world.
I actually want the all black one
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I wouldn't say smart watches are "needed." But they are convenient. I work in an industry where I can't just look at my phone any time I want, but I can look at my watch and see if it's something that can wait or if I need to excuse myself to return a phone call.
Also while traipsing around Manhattan last month, it was nice to get Google Maps walking direction prompts on my watch. I didn't have to carry my phone around worrying about dropping it.
I also am more inclined to leave my phone in my pocket when out to dinner or in other social situations. It helps me to be more present in the moment with the people I'm with, without always grabbing my phone.
After having mine for 3 months, it's hard to imagine not having it.