Will smart watches change the face of the industry?

[Hoofy]

bobbybee said:

What would be the point in that? You just go back to having to carry two gadgets both of which need very regular charging

Pretty much the same as now with the iWatch and IPhone just with the data flowing in the opposite direction

Because it'd be light and not require as much power. I dunno. Do I look like I'm Apple?

[don logan]

Can you imagine how many of these things will be in drawers that already contain iPhone 3s, Compaq Ipaqs, Sony P900s etc etc in about 18 months to 2yrs, Apple iWatches aren't going to feature much in people's Wills I don't think!

My Dad is wearing a 69 Sub that was left to him, if you can still buy a charger for a 2015 iWatch in 46 years time i'll eat Paddy Ashdown's hat for him!

[Frimley111R]

No-one expects a smartphone to last 10 years but that's not the point of them, people will buy them because they get used to being able to see messages more conveniently (you can reply using voice recognition on mine) and do lots of other things (manage fitness, see sat nav directions, check weather, etc).

They will not, I am sure, replace Rolex etc but that is not the general market but it could have an impact at some point on the distant future, just not now.

[Ikemi]

Hoofy said:

I am sure Apple will design an intuitive way of texting so it's possible that many will ditch their smartphone. Dunno what it'd be like to web surf on a 1 inch screen though.

Difficult! I work in IT and had a meeting with a supplier yesterday. I noticed his smart watch, didn't recognise it, and inquired. Apparently it's currently in beta testing, but essentially, the watch does not require a phone to be 'smart'.

It runs Android, has 4G/wireless connection and you can download a multitude of apps to it! You can also link it to a computer and do this, as the screen is pretty small ... It had voice recognition for surfing, built-in phone (has a nano SIM slot) and an onscreen keyboard, which was a bit tricky to use! However it wouldn't be particularly good for surfing forums; maybe just finding out some contact info quickly ... I can't remember the name of it though. It was a Chinese firm of some sort.

For me, I'm staying away from smart watches. I love my mechanical watches too much. I usually have my phone on my desk, so I can answer calls, texts and e-mail with ease.

If smart watches explode in popularity, I reckon social gatherings and work meetings will be littered with awkwardness, as everyone continually checks their watches for updates/new messages. To everyone else, it'll just look as though they're bored!

[don logan]

Frimley111R said:

No-one expects a smartphone to last 10 years but that's not the point of them, people will buy them because they get used to being able to see messages more conveniently (you can reply using voice recognition on mine) and do lots of other things (manage fitness, see sat nav directions, check weather, etc).

They will not, I am sure, replace Rolex etc but that is not the general market but it could have an impact at some point on the distant future, just not now.

I know what you mean and how it could be handy but my first thought is about how I could wear / use one as well as a regular watch but couldn't wear both, I wonder how ling before I see someone wearing both!

[Hoofy]

Ikemi said:

Hoofy said:

I am sure Apple will design an intuitive way of texting so it's possible that many will ditch their smartphone. Dunno what it'd be like to web surf on a 1 inch screen though.

Difficult! I work in IT and had a meeting with a supplier yesterday. I noticed his smart watch, didn't recognise it, and inquired. Apparently it's currently in beta testing, but essentially, the watch does not require a phone to be 'smart'.

It runs Android, has 4G/wireless connection and you can download a multitude of apps to it! You can also link it to a computer and do this, as the screen is pretty small ... It had voice recognition for surfing, built-in phone (has a nano SIM slot) and an onscreen keyboard, which was a bit tricky to use! However it wouldn't be particularly good for surfing forums; maybe just finding out some contact info quickly ... I can't remember the name of it though. It was a Chinese firm of some sort.

For me, I'm staying away from smart watches. I love my mechanical watches too much. I usually have my phone on my desk, so I can answer calls, texts and e-mail with ease.

If smart watches explode in popularity, I reckon social gatherings and work meetings will be littered with awkwardness, as everyone continually checks their watches for updates/new messages. To everyone else, it'll just look as though they're bored!

[Craikeybaby]

I was at a workshop with some senior car designers today, and was surprised at the number of smart watches I saw. I thought older guys, with good jobs in an industry where aesthetics are important would all be wearing nice mechanical watches, but they were outnumbered by smartwatches.

[Lorneg]

A watch so smart it tells you the the time just by looking at it.
With technology so advanced it never needs battery charging.
And software so perfect it never has to upgrade from version 1.0
All housed in something that witstands dust and water
And it has to look good!

When that comes along then I'll think about one :-)

[Lorneg]

Lorneg said:

A watch so smart it tells you the the time just by looking at it.
With technology so advanced it never needs battery charging.
And software so perfect it never has to upgrade from version 1.0
All housed in something that witstands dust and water
And it has to look good!

When that comes along then I'll think about one :-)

oh, and it has to glow in the dark so I can tell the time at night.

Gosh, what could ever meet all those requirements?

[Variomatic]

Lorneg said:

Lorneg said:

A watch so smart it tells you the the time just by looking at it.
With technology so advanced it never needs battery charging.
And software so perfect it never has to upgrade from version 1.0
All housed in something that witstands dust and water
And it has to look good!

When that comes along then I'll think about one :-)

oh, and it has to glow in the dark so I can tell the time at night.

Gosh, what could ever meet all those requirements?

Think you'll find Apple are planning all that just as soon as they invent the chips such advances would need.

[ecs]

I enjoy my Fitbit and use it day to day, but I still have a couple of 'real' watches for when I don't need to know my heartbeat or have text messages pop up on my wrist.

[Lorneg]

Variomatic said:

Lorneg said:

Lorneg said:

A watch so smart it tells you the the time just by looking at it.
With technology so advanced it never needs battery charging.
And software so perfect it never has to upgrade from version 1.0
All housed in something that witstands dust and water
And it has to look good!

When that comes along then I'll think about one :-)

oh, and it has to glow in the dark so I can tell the time at night.

Gosh, what could ever meet all those requirements?

Think you'll find Apple are planning all that just as soon as they invent the chips such advances would need.

You mean to say that in my little shed at the bottom of the garden I already build things that are more advanced than a massive American Multinational can?

Let me submit exhibit A: The 'smart' watch that tells the time just by looking at it - and glows in the dark!






snigger - you fell for that one!

[Frimley111R]

Ikemi said:

Hoofy said:

I am sure Apple will design an intuitive way of texting so it's possible that many will ditch their smartphone. Dunno what it'd be like to web surf on a 1 inch screen though.

Difficult! I work in IT and had a meeting with a supplier yesterday. I noticed his smart watch, didn't recognise it, and inquired. Apparently it's currently in beta testing, but essentially, the watch does not require a phone to be 'smart'.

It runs Android, has 4G/wireless connection and you can download a multitude of apps to it! You can also link it to a computer and do this, as the screen is pretty small ... It had voice recognition for surfing, built-in phone (has a nano SIM slot) and an onscreen keyboard, which was a bit tricky to use! However it wouldn't be particularly good for surfing forums; maybe just finding out some contact info quickly ... I can't remember the name of it though. It was a Chinese firm of some sort.

For me, I'm staying away from smart watches. I love my mechanical watches too much. I usually have my phone on my desk, so I can answer calls, texts and e-mail with ease.

If smart watches explode in popularity, I reckon social gatherings and work meetings will be littered with awkwardness, as everyone continually checks their watches for updates/new messages. To everyone else, it'll just look as though they're bored!

. Its true, my business partner commented on how he thought i was always looking at my watch to see how close just as to 'home time' until he cottoned on to the fact that I am just glancing at incoming messages. of course they aren't suitable for 'proper' surfing' but they can do a lot of other things. How long before responsive websites need a watch sized option?

[Variomatic]

Lorneg said:

Let me submit exhibit A: The 'smart' watch that tells the time just by looking at it - and glows in the dark!


snigger - you fell for that one!

• * Note to self *** Must remember to be not quite so dead-pan in my delivery

Btw, I hope you've got suitable patents to protect that now you're showing the world, otherwise they'll all be making them!

[cardigankid]

Craikeybaby said:

I was at a workshop with some senior car designers today, and was surprised at the number of smart watches I saw. I thought older guys, with good jobs in an industry where aesthetics are important would all be wearing nice mechanical watches, but they were outnumbered by smartwatches.

Maybe its the smart thing to be seen wearing for someone in car design and manufacturing - with the possible advent of the Apple Car, connectivity and technology is an extremely hot topic at present. Personally I would have thought Apple would struggle more with the technical requirements of car construction than the car guys will with the technology, but it would be foolish for them to be complacent. When Porsche can charge £2k for a shonky sat nav which is poorer than a Tom Tom, and doesn't do a tenth of the things an apple device can, maybe the industry needs shaking up. I see Apple as more of a style and branding operation than a tech company, but maybe they can do that.

I naively thought that automatic watches were history when quartz watches came along in the 1970's, but I was wrong, and now I know better, as well as owning a few.

[Craikeybaby]

I met the top designer today, my faith in designers was restored - he was wearing an AP Royal Oak, which looks even better in the metal.

Working in the automotive industry I think they could learn a lot from Apple (and they are), although the product lifecycles involved are seriously different.