Will smart watches change the face of the industry?

Will smart watches change the face of the industry?

Author
Discussion

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,537 posts

233 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
quotequote all
I'm not a big watch fan like lots of you on here but do appreciate a nice watch.

Late last year I received a Moto 360 watch with my new phone. I now wear it all the time and miss it almost a much as I would miss my phone (to which it is connected). I can't imagine not having one now and wonder if this is a reflection of the greater market trend over the next few years. I still have 2 nice 'normal' watches but when I wear them I constantly look at them and realise they simply look nice and tell the time.

What are your thoughts on this? Flash in the pan or game changer?

RobinBanks

17,540 posts

178 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
quotequote all
I expect (as has been discussed before) smart watches to be a popular product alongside traditional watches.

Can you imagine the typical Rolex Day-Date wearer swapping his watch for a smart watch?
He may well have both, but he won't get rid of his Rolex for it.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Tuesday 19th May 2015
quotequote all
Done already when the iWatch was about to come out. Smart watches have already been around for a couple of years. Apple's offering doesn't do much better in the functionality sense. They don't look that nice. And the internals will be old and bricked in 2 years thanks to Apple's PLC plan. wink

There is a place for them. Just like there's a place for £50 digital watches. If you want functionality then you'll get a digital watch or a smart watch. In fact, the likes of Suunto need to worry more than Rolex.

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,537 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
Fair points but I think, just my opinion, that this could have a big impact on the general marketplace even though, as said, the top end watches will remain 'safe'.

LotusMartin

1,112 posts

151 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
Done already when the iWatch was about to come out. Smart watches have already been around for a couple of years. Apple's offering doesn't do much better in the functionality sense. They don't look that nice. And the internals will be old and bricked in 2 years thanks to Apple's PLC plan. wink

There is a place for them. Just like there's a place for £50 digital watches. If you want functionality then you'll get a digital watch or a smart watch. In fact, the likes of Suunto need to worry more than Rolex.
Your opinion - far from fact. You clearly don't own an Apple Watch so don't appreciate the unique interface or clever design. Yes its flawed - its 1.0 but its a leap in the right direction.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
LotusMartin said:
Hoofy said:
Done already when the iWatch was about to come out. Smart watches have already been around for a couple of years. Apple's offering doesn't do much better in the functionality sense. They don't look that nice. And the internals will be old and bricked in 2 years thanks to Apple's PLC plan. wink

There is a place for them. Just like there's a place for £50 digital watches. If you want functionality then you'll get a digital watch or a smart watch. In fact, the likes of Suunto need to worry more than Rolex.
Your opinion - far from fact. You clearly don't own an Apple Watch so don't appreciate the unique interface or clever design. Yes its flawed - its 1.0 but its a leap in the right direction.
Not sure what you mean - it's a smart watch. It doesn't matter how clever it is. It will never replace someone's desire for a Rolex or Breitling.

I still want an LG one, mind. But for certain days where the functionality is useful.

freshkid

199 posts

191 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
All digital watches will become smart watches given time I would imagine. Why own an electronic watch of any other type?

Don't think it is a relevant 'threat' to mechanical watches though.

bobbybee

872 posts

153 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
freshkid said:
All digital watches will become smart watches given time I would imagine. Why own an electronic watch of any other type?

Don't think it is a relevant 'threat' to mechanical watches though.
That's probably the most accurate thought on the subject I've heard. And we've seen it happen in the telephone market already for the majority, landline to mobile then mobile to smart phone.

Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
I think smart watches will meant that more people are wearing watches. I don't think smart watches will effect the high end watch market, but the fashion watch market could shrink.

marcosgt

11,011 posts

175 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
I think Apple's model is going to prevent them 'changing' the face of the industry.

Who wants to have to buy a new watch every couple of years because it's been rendered obsolete by the latest model? I've got watches older than me (and believe me, nothing Apple have ever made is! biggrin ) that are going strong and still excellent at what they do (look good and tell the time!).

A classic watch is something tactile, attractive, special - Not just a phone with a tiny screen on your wrist.

I suspect something will be along in the not too distant future to render 'smart-watches' a laughable cul-de-sac in terms of technology and people will still want mechanical watches because they're little machines, not circuitry.

M.

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,537 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
Apple aren't going to change the face of it. They are late to market with this one but their profile will improve sales of other smart watches. I don't see them being redundant after a couple of years, they can probably carry on quite a long time but fashion, as with phones, will dictate replacement cycles.

Debaser

5,665 posts

260 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
The last time this topic came up I suggested smart watches would end up as popular as digital watches are today.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
Debaser said:
The last time this topic came up I suggested smart watches would end up as popular as digital watches are today.
I can believe it. As the tech gets easier to produce, they'll get cheaper. People will be buying basic smartwatches for £20 from Argos.

This time round, though, Omega won't panic and produce a smartwatch. biggrin

RobinBanks

17,540 posts

178 months

Wednesday 20th May 2015
quotequote all
The digital watch didn't replace the traditional way of telling time - they lived side by side.
The same will happen with the smart watch.

Frimley111R

Original Poster:

15,537 posts

233 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
But this is not the same thing. Digital and analogue watches both only tell the time essentially. Smart watches are part of smart phones and will do far more. People will use them for a whole range of things, one of the least important being to tell the time (shown on phones/computers anyway). I think kids one day will look at watches and be bewildered that they only tell the time. A bit like how kids expect to see every photo they have taken instantly when, in the past, you had to wait to develop film first.

Of course this is just my opinion based on my own usage of a smart watch and I am not a particularly tech - savvy person. I like tech but am not into it any more than the majority of people but if this Moto 360 can change they way I use the device on my wrist to the point that I really miss it if I don't have it, I am sure it will for others, many others.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
But this is not the same thing. Digital and analogue watches both only tell the time essentially.
Did you just teleport from 1980 straight to 2015? Have you seen what many digital watches can do? I use mine to predict the weather.

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Frimley111R said:
But this is not the same thing. Digital and analogue watches both only tell the time essentially. Smart watches are part of smart phones and will do far more. People will use them for a whole range of things, one of the least important being to tell the time (shown on phones/computers anyway). I think kids one day will look at watches and be bewildered that they only tell the time. A bit like how kids expect to see every photo they have taken instantly when, in the past, you had to wait to develop film first.

Of course this is just my opinion based on my own usage of a smart watch and I am not a particularly tech - savvy person. I like tech but am not into it any more than the majority of people but if this Moto 360 can change they way I use the device on my wrist to the point that I really miss it if I don't have it, I am sure it will for others, many others.
I wouldn't wear a smartwatch at the moment because the battery is usually rubbish and they tend to need a smartphone to do anything. I therefore have some nice watches and carry a smartphone when I go most places.

I wonder if at some point, as the smartwatch improves, the smart watch will replace the need for the smart phone. Will people then wear a smartwatch and a Rolex/whatever or will they stick to having a watch and an old school smartphone?

AndrewEH1

4,917 posts

152 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
If you're spending £500+ on a premium watch you can expect it to last 10+ years.

How many people are still rocking 10 year old iPhones? Nobody because with hardware (and software) limitations new phones are released every six months with improved specs.

How long will it take for the current gen of smart watches to become unusable due to this? A lot less than 10 years I can guarantee.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
el stovey said:
I wouldn't wear a smartwatch at the moment because the battery is usually rubbish and they tend to need a smartphone to do anything. I therefore have some nice watches and carry a smartphone when I go most places.

I wonder if at some point, as the smartwatch improves, the smart watch will replace the need for the smart phone. Will people then wear a smartwatch and a Rolex/whatever or will they stick to having a watch and an old school smartphone?
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.

I suppose they could sell an iScreen which links to your iWatch and the brains is all in the watch. Keep the screen in your pocket for when you want to see things at a reasonable size?

bobbybee

872 posts

153 months

Thursday 21st May 2015
quotequote all
Hoofy said:
I suppose they could sell an iScreen which links to your iWatch and the brains is all in the watch. Keep the screen in your pocket for when you want to see things at a reasonable size?
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