IMO the 'iWatch' will not be real until Tim presents it on stage, until then it's just a rumor, which is a problem for Apple. Look at all the disappointed fans when the 4s came out and it wasn't the iPhone 5. And a number of other releases in recent history hijacked by rumors!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Swatch CEO Says iWatch Isn't the Next Revolution
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My current watch is an Invicta watch with Swiss movement. My previous watch was a Casio chronograph with Japanese movement that was gift from my uncle. And the one before that was a Humvee (not the vehicle) watch with Japanese movement that was a hand me down. I bought my current watch because it was on sale on Amazon, accurate timekeeping (the Swiss make really accurate watches) and was cheap enough for a college student to afford. The other two were given to me in one way or another. I broke the Humvee in high school and misplaced the Casio.
I agree. That's why streaming hasn't completely replaced physical media. If everyone in the world had internet speeds like South Korea, physical media would be gone. And if we had easy access to content like iTunes, Netflix, etc. methods of content delivery, cable would be gone. No one likes the current content ecosystem for TVs. It's just confusing, expensive and limited.
Lastly, define "new" technology. Is it battery technology? RF technology? Display technology? Material technology?
Except Swatch wouldn't even be competing with Apple if the latter sold 20 million iWatches next year. Complete different markets and different products.
Wow just wow ! An iSlave ? What is wrong with the world
Sorry, I meant no disrespect. iServant would probably been a better choice of words. I do believe that the definition of slave isn't specific to people, kind of like how most people think jihad is bad, but there is good jihad too.
Wow, some people in this thread really don't get it. Swatch are the biggest wristwatch manufacturer in the world (apart from Seiko probably). They make their money with their luxury brands, i. e. Omega, Blancpain, Breguet and Glashütte Original. I've got to laugh at some of the posts here implying that Hayek should be worried about the iWatch. Does anyone here seriously believe that a person who's willing to drop between five and fifty thousand dollars on a watch, a piece of fine jewelry and craftsmanship, will have their head turned by a gadget that will probably cost a few hundred bucks? I'm not even badmouthing the iWatch here, just trying to point out that there is not even a hint if competition at play here. Hayek was just giving his honest opinion, which may well be wrong, of course. It's absolutely ridiculous to compare Swatch to RIM or Palm or whoever on the eve of the first iPhone's launch.
I don't understand the outright negative on the iWatch. I'd personally love to carry around a smaller iPhone or communication bridge (that can communicate with a variety of devices such as watches, glasses etc). I can see that being future and returning to smaller devices. The 4"+ smartphones are now getting ridiculous and we're going backwards in that regard to fuel the need of nerds who want everything on what was originally a communications device.
I'd be happy to wear a slim, curvy LCD based watch that can display short but instant information about a variety of different things. Even so, it would be cool to program updates from work systems (like IT systems administration) where it could alert you on stuff and vibrate if systems went down for example.
I'd be happy to wear a slim, curvy LCD based watch that can display short but instant information about a variety of different things. Even so, it would be cool to program updates from work systems (like IT systems administration) where it could alert you on stuff and vibrate if systems went down for example.
swatch has gobbled up a lot of high-end watch brands over the years, making them the largest watchmaker in the world. so when the CEO of swatch makes comments, he's not just speaking as the head of the company that made watches for teenagers in the 80's, but as the head of a pretty serious gloabl company. unfortunately, it doesn't make his statements any more sensical.
from wikipedia:
The Swatch Group is the world's largest watch company, and the group has accelerated its acquisition of Swiss luxury brands in recent years. The Swatch Group owns the following brands: Breguet, Blancpain, Jaquet Droz, Glashütte Original, Léon Hatot, Omega, Tiffany Watch Co., Rado, Longines, Union Glashütte, Tissot, ck watch & jewelry, Certina, Mido, Pierre Balmain, Hamilton, Flik Flak and Endura.[1]
And 10-1 says it will end up in a dresser drawer along with your bell-bottoms and leisure suits within 60 days.I'm 53 and I'll gobble one up, and I haven't worn a watch in years!
Note to Apple: if you make a smart watch that only displays news headlines, sports, weather, horoscopes, and stock quotes, it will fail.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
hate to break it to you, but apple IS a fashion brand. period.
they are also an amazing tech company, but to deny that they are a fashion brand, even if inadvertently, is to have your head firmly planted in the sand. it could even be argued that apple has had as big an impact on design & fashion as almost any company over the past 30 years.
Well, their is PLENTY of hatred towards Apple users just like your implying towards people who like nice watches, and you have stereotyped those users the same as Apple users are stereotyped.
Also, it IS the same, why get an iPhone or iPod or Mac when their are many many many many many many many cheaper devices that do the exact same thing and some do it better also.
Apple is a fashion brand, people even see an iPhone as a piece of jewellery, it is the same no matter how you spin it.
And please, tell us, how is using a watch not anywhere near as easy as using an iDevice or Mac computer? Unless you can't tell the time?
It's also pretty hilarious how you imply middle class people buy Apple products but only millionaires and the super rich buy nice luxury watches? Seriously you can't be any more wrong if you tried, stop stereotyping so much. You don't need to be mega rich to have a nice TAG for instance and I have seen plenty of expensive watches on middle class wrists. I am also pretty certain that many millionaires own Apple products, so are you also saying your a millionaire?
They've impacted industrial design no doubt, but how have they impacted fashion?
Which fashion companies are taking their design cues from Apple?
Is that where I'm supposed to get my opinions, from cool people in the world outside? Thanks, I'll make a note of that, Smartass.
What in my words led you to believe that I am in any way advocating ugly watches? Function *and* form (in equal amounts), but function is why I wear the thing in the first place, otherwise I could simply wear a beautiful watch on my wrist without a battery in it, and pull my iPhone out of my pocket when I wanted to know the time, because wearing a watch was fashionable and said to people, "look at my wealth and status."
"New" could be anything that you mention & more. I just think, at this time, you can't make speculations like in the past on certain devices in the rumor mill, I think this iWatch is all rumors rumors rumors with no legit speculation...
And lastly, about the watch being a fashion statement, you bought swiss, you bought japanese... and you bought(in my opinion as a Marketing Director) because you were marketed to believe that swiss is high quality or "accurate" as you say, and so on. And, even though you may not think you DID NOT buy it out of emotion & the marketing involved, you really did per se. And nonetheless, each watch is an attest to your own lifestyle(utility) and/or fashion. Right now, I would guess you take priority in value over functionality for your watches.
I'll make my case simple... If they can tell/pursuade me my nice watch for work isn't for work, my tide watch isn't for fishing or surfing, my Nixon watch is NOT for the ladies(chuckle), etc etc... then they have a Market Opportunity. Until then, which I believe is non-existent, they have just a rumor on a product that is not there yet. I'm being a lil flagrant, but I hope you get my gist...
I do think the iWatch will come... just not anytime soon. No one is speculating on how it can be a game changer... No one.
Creative Co actually was the first ones to develop an MP3 player... NOT Apple's iPod. You are just speculating something is coming great from Apple of a 'watch' because of the rumors("Apple rumors"). You can't actual speculate on what might be coming... can you?
An iPad in hardware is just a big iPhone... this was in plans well before Sharp or LG actually manufactured the screen for the iPad. So, one technology sometimes has to wait for the other... when you can speculate there's an iWatch coming, please let me know. Right now, it's just a rumor, and this is entirely different that any of the cases you mention about the market of an MP3 player, Phone &/or Tablet.
nvm, I misread the post you were replying to
Likewise you wouldn't wear an ugly watch, even if it was functional. So you wear for both fashion and function equally, not just function
Anyway...
Bigger than RIM at it's peak? Back then, RIM had millionaire financiers, major corporate execs, entertainment A-listers, even a few heads of state addicted to their product. Did that maintain RIMs status among big spenders today?
And Nokia was even bigger worldwide.
Yes...I'm sure Apple will kill off the worlds largest watch company that makes some of the best watches in the world...I'm sure people will trade in a swatch for an iWatch
Nokia who? Sony what?
Jealous!
The reason is simple, swatch joined up with microsoft which is the worst decision they have made because of either being jealous by apple or apple didnt venture with them,dont know. but they have no reason so the CEO says the iwatch is rubbish.
well Mr. CEO swatch, i bet my life and guarantee that no product will be a failure of apple until apple follows and guidelines set by Steve Jobs.
Apple doesnt logo **** with apple. they put in their life and produce quality. excellent value for money and futuristic practical products. which last.
----------
Absolutely correct
The reason is simple, swatch joined up with microsoft which is the worst decision they have made because of either being jealous by apple or apple didnt venture with them,dont know. but they have no reason so the CEO says the iwatch is rubbish.
well Mr. CEO swatch, i bet my life and guarantee that no product will be a failure of apple until apple follows and guidelines set by Steve Jobs.
Apple doesnt logo **** with apple. they put in their life and produce quality. excellent value for money and futuristic practical products. which last.
----------
Absolutely correct
