That's what they said about Blackberry, about Palm, about NOKIA!
All bets are off for a competitors future when Apple decides to enter a market.
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Swatch CEO Says iWatch Isn't the Next Revolution
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That's what they said about Blackberry, about Palm, about NOKIA!
All bets are off for a competitors future when Apple decides to enter a market.
Complain much? Why did you have to add the part of about "just telling time"? To justify your complaint?
Strange reaction. I've always thought Swatch was more about making a fashion statement than about technology. I'm pretty sure Apple wouldn't be in direct competition with them even if they were making a "smart watch" (which I doubt.) I'm thinking, if anything, Apple is probably producing a watch-like accessory that pairs with your iPhone and maybe displays info (date, time, text messages, new email alerts, etc.) and allows some form of limited control (pause/play music, respond to messages, etc.)
some of the responses in here
are hilarious. I work in the watch industry- watch sales are up 25% over the last few years, they are far from dying. Swatch is a 10 billion dollar a year company- they aren't some small business. Will the iWatch impact? If I had to guess, it will sell pretty well, but a watch is almost entirely a fashion accessory, a status symbol. Functionality is a distant 2nd. There is almost nothing that the iWatch can offer to think it would even come close to 50% of adoption. Its ludicrous to believe otherwise.
are hilarious. I work in the watch industry- watch sales are up 25% over the last few years, they are far from dying. Swatch is a 10 billion dollar a year company- they aren't some small business. Will the iWatch impact? If I had to guess, it will sell pretty well, but a watch is almost entirely a fashion accessory, a status symbol. Functionality is a distant 2nd. There is almost nothing that the iWatch can offer to think it would even come close to 50% of adoption. Its ludicrous to believe otherwise.
This is like Google saying Apple wouldn't be successfull making a search engine (if apple was rumored too)
50% plus users of iphone will adopt the iwatch imho. To expand the utility of their phones.
Now there are a few hundred million iphone owners out there.
That will result in huge numbers in sales at 50% adoption.. But i believe it will be more!
Swatch is the worlds biggest watchmaker company. They own something close to 20 brands. Heard of Omega, Hamilton, Breguet, Tissot, Longines to name a few?
Don't think Swatch is going anywhere soon.
That said, I think their CEO missed the point if he thinks Apple is trying to replace the iPhone with a watch
I really hope this is an awesome red herring created by Apple to distract people from what they're really working on (TV?) and make the copycatbrands look in the other direction. 'All warfare is based on deception' right?
Anyhow, the statement about a watch being a fashion item is to me the most critical point here. Apple is not a fashion brand, they should stay out of anything 'wearable' for that reason alone. Tech brands don't do fashion, they don't get it..., and they never will. Hell they don't even understand fashion, is there anyone in SV admired for their great style and fashion sense? Tech and fashion don't mix. Its BS.
Leave it to the fashionbrands... please. An iPhone works because you put it away, so does a laptop and an iPad. Something thats on you all the time has to be really really good... or really really invisible.
Anyhow, the statement about a watch being a fashion item is to me the most critical point here. Apple is not a fashion brand, they should stay out of anything 'wearable' for that reason alone. Tech brands don't do fashion, they don't get it..., and they never will. Hell they don't even understand fashion, is there anyone in SV admired for their great style and fashion sense? Tech and fashion don't mix. Its BS.
Leave it to the fashionbrands... please. An iPhone works because you put it away, so does a laptop and an iPad. Something thats on you all the time has to be really really good... or really really invisible.
And the first 5 words everyone will say:
"KITT, I need you, pal!"
Oh.. obligatory Jeff Dunham joke:
BL.
Then you are out of your mind. If the iWatch is an accessory to the iPhone, to believe that 50% of all people will think that its needed is beyond insane. Think about all the moms, grandmoms, young kids, business people who wear rolexes, etc etc etc- the chances of the adoption rate of an accessory being 50% is laughable at best.
People like the idea of wearable computing but these watches aren't "it".
Check the Verge review of the Pebble. Something along the lines of "It's not as good as I dreamed it could have been."
I think some form of headset is the true wearable computing form but they can do a watch now with current tech so a few companies are trying because there is "some" money in it.
Check the Verge review of the Pebble. Something along the lines of "It's not as good as I dreamed it could have been."
I think some form of headset is the true wearable computing form but they can do a watch now with current tech so a few companies are trying because there is "some" money in it.
I agree with this CEO... for many simple reasons.
Watches are too much of a fashion statement nonetheless for the simplest reason of all, but this isn't just it. I do not see the market opportunity unless Apple comes at us with some crazy feature(via Software NOT HARDWARE) that pushes consumers to open their wallets for a needed feature/benefit. No matter what, I'm sure the feature can be done some other way, with some other device(But, that's not the point... it's the APPLE ECOSYSTEM that is the key).
The hardware utility of a watch is pretty simple... it's a clock. And, let me add one last reason why I think Apple should put an end to these rumors... people wearing them are now at risk for more theft/robbery in due time as they are always open to the eye(NOT in your pocket/purse).
Can it be more than a clock? Yes, of course, but more than anything, and especially these days, a watch is a fashion statement first, clock 2nd, and other items like displaying tide, compass, etc, etc as a 3rd, 4th, or 5th function.
Sooooo, the only way Apple wins is - if the iWatch can outweigh a fashion statement. I personally think the answer is no, and Apple should concentrate on getting into your home with a TV and other peripherals.
I truly see the potential iWatch as just a gimmick device/hardware(just like Siri is gimmick Software), and will only be put into fruition if Apple comes up with some other OS just for it, with a whole new utility in mind. For instance, the chips from Qualcomm & Broadcom will NOT need A-GPS, and can use just GPS functionality without the need for Data. So, the iWatch may have utility now due to chip manufactures' technological progressions.
Can I see Apple debuting an iWatch? Kind of to a degree, but I still don't see the market opportunity for Apple. Mainly, because, I don't see the iWatch being a game changer for the "watch" market that sets its standards through mostly fashion, and NOT utility.
Apple needs to make a cheap & smaller (back to 3.5" screen) iPhone first, due to international demands as well as due to Android offering too many subsidy contracts with the Telecommunication companies. After that, get into the home with the iTV(as Data speeds increase), and in the mean time, start showcasing/marketing/advertising Apple as more of an educational company as Apple indirectly displays these days. If Apple starts showing how their Macs make you a better student in the classroom(NOT OUT of the classroom), their stock will go up. Apple is in so many Universities & Colleges these days, and the general public never sees the success story behind. They need to do this marketing right - because Apple's coolness is fading... to now a 'cool' scholar. Apple needs to market the "scholar" part more while showcasing new products that make them remain "cool".
Watches are too much of a fashion statement nonetheless for the simplest reason of all, but this isn't just it. I do not see the market opportunity unless Apple comes at us with some crazy feature(via Software NOT HARDWARE) that pushes consumers to open their wallets for a needed feature/benefit. No matter what, I'm sure the feature can be done some other way, with some other device(But, that's not the point... it's the APPLE ECOSYSTEM that is the key).
The hardware utility of a watch is pretty simple... it's a clock. And, let me add one last reason why I think Apple should put an end to these rumors... people wearing them are now at risk for more theft/robbery in due time as they are always open to the eye(NOT in your pocket/purse).
Can it be more than a clock? Yes, of course, but more than anything, and especially these days, a watch is a fashion statement first, clock 2nd, and other items like displaying tide, compass, etc, etc as a 3rd, 4th, or 5th function.
Sooooo, the only way Apple wins is - if the iWatch can outweigh a fashion statement. I personally think the answer is no, and Apple should concentrate on getting into your home with a TV and other peripherals.
I truly see the potential iWatch as just a gimmick device/hardware(just like Siri is gimmick Software), and will only be put into fruition if Apple comes up with some other OS just for it, with a whole new utility in mind. For instance, the chips from Qualcomm & Broadcom will NOT need A-GPS, and can use just GPS functionality without the need for Data. So, the iWatch may have utility now due to chip manufactures' technological progressions.
Can I see Apple debuting an iWatch? Kind of to a degree, but I still don't see the market opportunity for Apple. Mainly, because, I don't see the iWatch being a game changer for the "watch" market that sets its standards through mostly fashion, and NOT utility.
Apple needs to make a cheap & smaller (back to 3.5" screen) iPhone first, due to international demands as well as due to Android offering too many subsidy contracts with the Telecommunication companies. After that, get into the home with the iTV(as Data speeds increase), and in the mean time, start showcasing/marketing/advertising Apple as more of an educational company as Apple indirectly displays these days. If Apple starts showing how their Macs make you a better student in the classroom(NOT OUT of the classroom), their stock will go up. Apple is in so many Universities & Colleges these days, and the general public never sees the success story behind. They need to do this marketing right - because Apple's coolness is fading... to now a 'cool' scholar. Apple needs to market the "scholar" part more while showcasing new products that make them remain "cool".
I think wearable/transparent computing devices will take off. Let's not forget that people will bullish about the success of cellphones when Nokia (or Motorola?) first released those brick-sized ones. Then slowly everyone (i.e. kids, teenagers, etc.) was using them. People were also bullish about computers. And now there are more computers in the world than there are number of people. Same goes for touchscreens. And tablets. Etc.
It's not a question of technology. It's a question of how it is presented.
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I wear a watch. So do my parents. So do lots of other "older" generation folks. I highly doubt it is because they are into the latest fashions. I wear mine because I need to know the time and I can't always check my iPhone. Like when I'm driving.
It's not a question of technology. It's a question of how it is presented.
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I wear a watch. So do my parents. So do lots of other "older" generation folks. I highly doubt it is because they are into the latest fashions. I wear mine because I need to know the time and I can't always check my iPhone. Like when I'm driving.
A watch is not a productivity tool. It is a prestige item for real men. An electronic device to replace a shiny, mechanical Rolex?
hahahaha, I have to laugh at all these comments about the iWatch isn't meant to replace the iPhone haha really??? Because it that was the case, then just why are we reading rumours about it running the FULL iOS then??
Their are far too many holes in these supposed iPhone rumours, you aren't going to need fill iOS to receive an email alert, and you'll only go nuts trying to reply to one using a phone screen!
Their are far too many holes in these supposed iPhone rumours, you aren't going to need fill iOS to receive an email alert, and you'll only go nuts trying to reply to one using a phone screen!
You clarify my point even more... The watch they wear says so much about a person. I bet you/they get a new phone every couple years and maybe a computer 3,4, or 5, and a watch every blue moon. Market Research will tell you a watch is definitely a fashion statement as the target audience for each watch manufacturer is completely different... just like a clothing company.
And, I think you bring up some good points, but the one I think you are not wrong, but you certainly are not right is - about technology. I believe the only way this iWatch is a success is due to some huge leap in technology, and I believe it is not coming from the rumored "curved-glass", but more about the chips features inside the watch. I think their is a market opportunity, but I think the opportunity lies in technological upgrades more than anythings else. The way they market it is, of course, extremely important for the success of the product, but the opportunity will be due to technological advances, and the execution of how they market it is the actual success to be had.
