Swatch Prepares to Go Head-to-Head With Apple Watch

[samcraig]

Most of us in the US hold shares, whether directly or indirectly, in lots of companies.

Anyway, the point of the person to whom your were responding was that the naysayers of the Apple Watch said the same about when the iPhone came out. They claimed that Apple couldn't compete in a market where there were entrenched players. Apple showed that it didn't matter. They could build a successful product that would completely transform the mobile industry.

Well in the interest of playing devil's advocate - the past doesn't equal the present/future. We shall see. I wish Apple great luck with their watch. I think that smart watches in general are a natural progression of technology whether or not some/many people are ready to adopt it now - for whatever reason.

 

[Keirasplace]

Well... Swatch has been in the business innovating way before Apple and they came up with their own stores back in the 80's and they still around.

Then, Apple have had their failures in design many times like the rounded mouse, titanium powerbook (paint coming off), the G4 Cube (nice design but useless) and so on... No one is thrilled about the Apple Watch, if it doesn't come out people will just forget about it, the design is ugly to start with.

It is not like when Apple came out with the iPhone, back then I was working with Sony Ericsson and Motorola and I told them: you are doomed. But with the Apple Watch??? more attractive is to but a 4K TV that still has no content for it.

Come on, innovating!! Swatch is mainly a marketing outfit (the number of brands under the umbrella tells you this); they were excellent and even innovative at marketing and packaging no doubt, but certainly not a technically innovative company. Apple was building the first PC's in the 1970s remember. Swatch had its glory days in the 1980s to early 1990s.

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Oh yes, there are "some"

Fundamentally I don't see a mass interest in body/health monitoring, full stop.

There is, and always will be a group of people who do, but it's not the mass consumer.

Almost everyone at some point in their life buys some exercise equipment of various types, and I'd suggest probably 90%+ of all these items end up in the attic, or being sold onto others very shortly.

I can see there could be something in bring watches up to date with electronics.

We'll see

There is a mass market for passive health monitoring (especially with the population aging), but not fitness related monitoring. The health market in the US is MASSIVE and becoming more massive by the day. Tech companies ignoring this is just letting good money to other companies.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

Oh, I'm not for one moment saying it's a poor piece of technology.

Given the tech right now, it's very clever.
It will be the best of it's type.

None of that means that in general people actually want it beyond the initial hype over a new product by "Apple"

I think this will sell on the back of being Apple, but the sales will slow pretty quick, and nothing like the long term mass appeal of a phone or tablet.

I agree, it will be the best of what it is. Those who get one and use it a lot will likely really like it. I don't think it will be a huge thing after the first 6 months, it will just be a really nice but really expensive iPhone accesory.

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Come on, innovating!! Swatch is mainly a marketing outfit (the number of brands under the umbrella tells you this); they were excellent and even innovative at marketing and packaging no doubt, but certainly not a technically innovative company. Apple was building the first PC's in the 1970s remember. Swatch had its glory days in the 1980s to early 1990s.

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There is a mass market for passive health monitoring (especially with the population aging), but not fitness related monitoring. The health market in the US is MASSIVE and becoming more massive by the day. Tech companies ignoring this is just letting good money to other companies.

Right, but will this truly be a health device? Can a diabetic replace thier glucose meter with it? How accurate will the heart beat monitor be (most wrist ones aren't great)? Can it tell your blood pressure accurately? Accurately enough to be an actual health device? The answer is no. At least not yet. I won't say never.

 

[Piggie]

There is a mass market for passive health monitoring (especially with the population aging), but not fitness related monitoring. The health market in the US is MASSIVE and becoming more massive by the day. Tech companies ignoring this is just letting good money to other companies.

So, if the image of Fat America
Fast food joins.
Take away foods
Large oversize portions of food
Cheap food in shops
People getting fatter and fatter, the norm average look much larger than normal healthy human size.

Is all that now untrue?

Note: I'm not talking about California on the beach skating along the sea front. I mean the mass population across the USA.

Is the mass USA market now into healthy eating and giving the thumbs down to large portions of take out foods now?

 

[usarioclave]

Apple needs to find a way to put a battery in the watchband.

 

[Keirasplace]

After reading all of the comments in this thread, one thing seems painfully obvious: apparently, NONE of you read the actual article. You read the Cliff's Notes version (which itself was a poor synopsis and may have mislead some of you). Regarding the idea of the watch not needing to be charged, the article states:

"The device will communicate via a form of technology known as NFC and won’t have to be charged, Chief Executive Officer Nick Hayek said in an interview."

If I read this correctly, using NFC will be a low power form of communication between the watch and whichever phone it's paired to.

One thing I'm not clear on is whether the watch will be compatible with iPhones as well as Windows and Android as the remainder of the same paragraph states:

"The Swatch smartwatch will also let consumers make mobile payments and work with Windows and Android software, he said."

However, my guess is that it will be cross-platform as long as the phone is equipped with NFC.

Also, for those of you pontificating about Swatch's lack of technological and software expertise, again, it is amazing how much more enlightened one can be if they read a bit further:

"Swatch has decades of experience developing technology that might go into a smartwatch, such as long-lasting batteries so thin they’re bendable. The company’s Tissot brand has made watches with touch-screens since 1999 that now offer an altimeter, a compass, and sensors to record a diver’s descent."

So, to say Swatch has no idea what they are doing or no chance to compete is a statement made out of pure ignorance. I'm looking forward to wearing my Apple Watch this spring, but when I see such uninformed commentary, I felt it was only fair to at least clear up some obvious misinformation.

Again, shame on you if you did not read the article. And I am extremely disappointed in Mitchel Broussard for such a poor summary. Many facts were left out.

Come on, they have a very limited software expertise. There is no going around this. They do have a ton of mechanical, material and electrical engineering expertise, no doubt about that. Large software engineering projects is one of the most hellish thing an organization can get into. The number of failed software projects is astronomical. What they did previously in no way compare to what they would need to do on a watch. So, they'll probably take Android and adapt it, becoming Google's slaves just like all phone OEM nowadays.

 

[SirCheese]

Come on, they have a very limited software expertise.

You have no clue what they have.

 

[Keirasplace]

So, if the image of Fat America
Fast food joins.
Take away foods
Large oversize portions of food
Cheap food in shops
People getting fatter and fatter, the norm average look much larger than normal healthy human size.

Is all that now untrue?

Note: I'm not talking about California on the beach skating along the sea front. I mean the mass population across the USA.

Is the mass USA market now into healthy eating and giving the thumbs down to large portions of take out foods now?

You didn't get what I was saying. The mass market wants to continue eating junk AND living longer.... Yes, it is contradictory. That's why there is so much money into health care... Because doing both is EXPENSIVE.

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You have no clue what they have.

I've seen the products they put out and myself have 30 years of software/systems and electrical engineering experience. That's enough for a good educated guess.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

So, if the image of Fat America
Fast food joins.
Take away foods
Large oversize portions of food
Cheap food in shops
People getting fatter and fatter, the norm average look much larger than normal healthy human size.

Is all that now untrue?

Note: I'm not talking about California on the beach skating along the sea front. I mean the mass population across the USA.

Is the mass USA market now into healthy eating and giving the thumbs down to large portions of take out foods now?

I don't believe that the average person gives a damn about that. They aren't going to try to change their habits by bying an Apple Watch. Lol.

 

[Ironduke]

Thats the style swatch thats the ****** style!

 

[Keirasplace]

Apple needs to find a way to put a battery in the watchband.

It can be done right now. The issue is durability and possibly safety.

 

[SirCheese]

You didn't get what I was saying. The mass market wants to continue eating junk AND living longer.... Yes, it is contradictory. That's why there is so much money into health care... Because doing both is EXPENSIVE.

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I've seen the products they put out and myself have 30 years of software/systems and electrical engineering experience. That's enough for a good educated guess.

I don't care what experience you claim to have, and I doubt those claims, but regardless, again, you have no clue. Period.

 

[Keirasplace]

I agree, it will be the best of what it is. Those who get one and use it a lot will likely really like it. I don't think it will be a huge thing after the first 6 months, it will just be a really nice but really expensive iPhone accesory.

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Right, but will this truly be a health device? Can a diabetic replace thier glucose meter with it? How accurate will the heart beat monitor be (most wrist ones aren't great)? Can it tell your blood pressure accurately? Accurately enough to be an actual health device? The answer is no. At least not yet. I won't say never.

So, why even this comment then. It is the start, not the end of the road is it? It is obvious that this is one of their goal from the fact they are much more heavily involved than other makers with the FDA and hospitals.

 

[Piggie]

I don't believe that the average person gives a damn about that.

What do you mean?

The average American, in reality does not give a dam about health and is still overweight?

Or the Average American now is not overweight, into junk food and is now prime for the whole fitness market ?

 

[Keirasplace]

I don't care what experience you claim to have, and I doubt those claims, but regardless, again, you have no clue. Period.

Point me to one of their so called large software projects reflected in a currently shipping product and we can discuss how wrong you actually are. Unlike you, I don't base my comment on some imaginary scenario of a large software and systems engineering team hidden somewhere working on this, and nothing else, for 1-2 years.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

What do you mean?

The average American, in reality does not give a dam about health and is still overweight?

Or the Average American now is not overweight, into junk food and is now prime for the whole fitness market ?

I might have misunderstood. I don't think that the obesity epidemic in the US is going to create huge demand for the Apple Watch. I think that most people with unhealthy life styles are pretty much either content with or maybe prisoner to their life style choices. There are tons of fitness app users, and the Apple Watch (and other smart watches) will be a great device for that use case; But the Apple Watch isn't going to inspire people by the millions to care about that stuff because most people don't give a damn about it. Or they might give a damn for the month after they make a new year resolution.

 

[SirCheese]

Unlike you, I don't base my comment on some imaginary scenario of a large software and systems engineering team hidden somewhere working on this, and nothing else, for 1-2 years.

No, you just base it off your assumptions and think your "experience" somehow makes you know better than everyone else and not only that, but you claim it as fact. Expect, it doesn't work that way.

 

[Mascots]

No, you just base it off your assumptions and think your "experience" somehow makes you know better than everyone else and not only that, but you claim it as fact. Expect, it doesn't work that way.

Here: I agree 100% with what Keirasplace said and have a similar (albeit shorter timespan) set of experiences as them.

The moment you point me to even conceptual evidence, I will be willing believe otherwise. Until that point, no. While he may be basing his assumption based on experience, you are basing yours off nothing.

The least you could do is offer a few reasons as to why Keirasplace is potentially wrong (e.g., Swatch acquiring another company, making hires in the field earlier, etc).

 

[dav1dd]

I still can't see people wanting to wear watches en-masse. They already got a phone that tells the time. Or a computer, or a car dashboard, or vcr...

 

[AppleScruff1]

All of these non-tech watch companies are going to be in for a huge shock when they try to make smart watches. It took Apple billions of dollars and several years to build the Apple Watch, yet Swatch is going to build one equally as good in 3 months? Riiiiiiiight. Apple Watch will embarrass smart watch competitors for the next 2 years before they finally start to catch up.

What if the Apple Watch embarrasses Apple?

 

[Urban Joe]

All of these non-tech watch companies are going to be in for a huge shock when they try to make smart watches. It took Apple billions of dollars and several years to build the Apple Watch, yet Swatch is going to build one equally as good in 3 months? Riiiiiiiight. Apple Watch will embarrass smart watch competitors for the next 2 years before they finally start to catch up.

I definitely agree. Also, Apple will probably always restrict 3rd part access to API's so that the Apple Watch will always have an edge. It will take a while before watches become actually "smart" and powerful enough to provide a full featured experience unless tethered to a smart phone....and that includes the Apple Watch. So, there are def fundamental issues here that will make it an uphill battle for traditional watchmakers to compete in this space.

 

[rjlawrencejr]

Exactly. But a normal watch that had the capabilities of FitBit and that didn't need to be charged all of the time because it doesn't duplicates smart phone features might be pretty cool.

Honestly, I think that most smart watches are goofy looking to begin with. Apple has good design chops and I am anxious to see what the their watch looks like. In photos it looks like anther oversized fat smartwatch that does things that a niche audience will like, but it is differenctiated by a really nice choice of bands.

I think the key term is "in photos..." Frankly most of us here have not seen Watch in person therefore calling it oversized and fat is a bit uninformed. Ironically, I am intrigued by Swatch's entry. Though I highly doubt it will be a wearable computer like the Watch.

 

[rjlawrencejr]

Come on, they have a very limited software expertise. There is no going around this. They do have a ton of mechanical, material and electrical engineering expertise, no doubt about that. Large software engineering projects is one of the most hellish thing an organization can get into. The number of failed software projects is astronomical. What they did previously in no way compare to what they would need to do on a watch. So, they'll probably take Android and adapt it, becoming Google's slaves just like all phone OEM nowadays.

Again, it's apparent you didn't read the article (that's why primary sources are so important). No where does the article mention they'll be using a flavor of Google's software. The only reference to Android is the watch will be both Android and Windows Phone compatible and will communicate with phones via NFC. My conclusion is that they are taking a different approach to the idea of a smartwatch.

Is Swatch a software company in the same league as Apple, Google, or Microsoft (to name a few), of course not. However, that doesn't mean they don't have the chops to compete. As I said in the previous paragraph, they appear to be taking a different approach.

It's also obvious you didn't really read what I was complaining about either since I was reacting to comments that in no way reflected what was in the actual article but instead merely played off the poorly written story posted on MR.

 

[SirCheese]

Here: I agree 100% with what Keirasplace said and have a similar (albeit shorter timespan) set of experiences as them.

The moment you point me to even conceptual evidence, I will be willing believe otherwise. Until that point, no. While he may be basing his assumption based on experience, you are basing yours off nothing.

The least you could do is offer a few reasons as to why Keirasplace is potentially wrong (e.g., Swatch acquiring another company, making hires in the field earlier, etc).

I'm not basing off of anything, I'm not the one claiming this as fact and insisting it is. His experience has NOTHING to do with what Swatch isn't or is doing since he doesn't work for them. Nothing. Zero. Nada. Zilch.

Point is, to be claiming his information as fact when it's not....

 

[rjlawrencejr]

I still can't see people wanting to wear watches en-masse. They already got a phone that tells the time. Or a computer, or a car dashboard, or vcr...

I hear you. However, I was surprised when I polled my class of 19-21 year-olds yesterday. At least 1/3 of them had on watches. Obviously it's not scientific and they may not ever want or own an Watch (or any smartwatch), but given that 100% of them have a smartphone and they all came of age in the smartphone era it was surprising.