Who's afraid of the Apple Watch?

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  • Reply 301 of 341
    davygeedavygee Posts: 65member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by RadarTheKat View Post

     

     

    I had a dream...



    About Apple incorporating smart watch bands into the Watch design. Here's my post from April 2014 on the topic:



    http://forums.appleinsider.com/t/178071/apple-to-sell-two-sizes-of-iwatch-with-flexible-amoled-displays-this-fall-prices-to-reach-thousands-of-dollars#post_2513582



    In full:



    I have this dream about the iWatch. The band could be where certain sensors are incorporated. So a diabetic would buy the iWatch body/face with the diabetic sensor band. That band might cost a pretty penny and be subsidized by insurance. A fitness junkie or athlete buys the sports band. Someone who merely wants an iWatch for its notifications capabilities and ability to run their iPhone Apps remotely would get the band with no special sensors. And some folks will get multiple bands, sports band for the daytime, dress band for evening, different colors, etc. and perhaps all the bands incorporate the battery, so when you switch bands you get a full charge (presumably your extra bands are stored atop your included inductive charger).


    Well done you.  Got the separate bands part right, maybe not about the separate batteries in each band....but hey you never know, as I don't see there being a problem fitting a small GPS in the band or extra battery.

  • Reply 302 of 341
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    mac_128 wrote: »

    But what are we talking about here? Smartphones and tablets? As so many defenders of the ?Watch keep espousing with respect to how Apple will handle the watch -- it's a whole new product category for them, so all bets are off with respect to Apple's previous behavior: 'Maybe they WILL build the watch so the internals can be easily upgraded'. 'Maybe they won't upgrade the case design for years'. So why can't the watch makers be able to maybe compete with Apple in the smart or "semi-smart" watch area unlike any previous device competitor has been able to with Apple ( a far more likely scenario than upgradable smart watches IMO).

    Apple seems to be gambling that fitness bands alone don't excite people, but add in the ability to pay with it, play mp3s, view photos, interact with your phone, and share your heartbeat, will. That or "if Apple builds it, they will come". And if either is true, and eventually a "swiss army" smart watch can unlock your door, and start your car, and be your gym access, work ID, drivers license, grocery club pass, tickets to the theater, and transportation, etc. And no one ever needs anything else to get through their day, then the watch makers are screwed if no one can at least keep up with Apple.

    So I disagree. Most people will opt for personal style over mass produced homogeny that is the current ?Watch. But they will also likely eventually give it up if it means wearing one device on their wrist can make their life so much easier. So the watch makers have to find ways to integrate smart technologies into their traditional designs, or get out of the market completely now, leaving traditional watchmaking to the elite craftsman who create $100,000+ functional art pieces for horologists.

    Sorry, but I'm not seeing it. Who's going to buy a watch that's equally, if not higher, priced than the Apple Watch with some smart watch capabilities?

    These companies don't have the chops to design, and build one like Apple does. Mark my words, any smart watch from these makers will get ridiculed, called ugly, and will be too little, too late.
  • Reply 303 of 341
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    davygee wrote: »
    Quote:
      As can be seen on the image above.  The Apple Watch has six pins slots under the bottom strap connector channel.  These ae supposedly a six-dot brass contact.
    I thought this had been ruled out in the production models as viewed after the announcement last week?

    Either way, the presence of these pins would make a greater water resistance rating more difficult, not to mention corrosion potential.
  • Reply 304 of 341
    jungmarkjungmark Posts: 6,927member
    gbaker wrote: »
    I see that the latest iOS8.2 automatically installs an un-removeable app for the iWatch. Apple has taken liberties that I did not want. I do not plan to buy the rather absurdly priced Apple watch. I do not know how much of my expensively scant 16GB of memory the iWatch app is taking, if it is turned on or off nor why Apple took the arcane idea that those who use an iPhone would even consider an iWatch.
    In the 8.2 upgrade note, Apple did not even bother to mention the iPhone app being installed. Apple is up to their ass in attitude with their "we know better than you idiots" schemes.
    Another sneaky Apple trick. I am getting somewhat tired of Apples new tricks. It is becoming a clown circus and we are all suckers for thinking they have some "user benefit in mind".
    Suggestion; Don't install iOS 8.2 unless you are OK with being an Apple suckupper.

    Nope, just complainers who have nothing better to do.

    I guess you can move to Android where there aren't any un-deletable apps. Oh wait, that doesn't exist.

    Btw, ios 8.2 does list the new Watch app in the details.
  • Reply 305 of 341
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    jungmark wrote: »
    Nope, just complainers who have nothing better to do.

    I guess you can move to Android where there aren't any un-deletable apps. Oh wait, that doesn't exist.

    Btw, ios 8.2 does list the new Watch app in the details.

    The difference being is that Google doesn't force feed you all of their apps. The core ones are included in the OS, and yes cannot be deleted, but one has to download the others from the Play Store.
  • Reply 306 of 341
    davygeedavygee Posts: 65member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mac_128 View Post





    I thought this had been ruled out in the production models as viewed after the announcement last week?



    Either way, the presence of these pins would make a greater water resistance rating more difficult, not to mention corrosion potential.



    I haven't seen any official notes on that.  Just looking at the videos on show and they show the pins.

     

    I get your point about water resistance, although I'm sure the watch straps are pretty snug when in place.

  • Reply 307 of 341
    davygeedavygee Posts: 65member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by dasanman69 View Post





    The difference being is that Google doesn't force feed you all of their apps. The core ones are included in the OS, and yes cannot be deleted, but one has to download the others from the Play Store.



    Google just force feed their users malware instead LOL

  • Reply 308 of 341
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    dasanman69 wrote: »
    Sorry, but I'm not seeing it. Who's going to buy a watch that's equally, if not higher, priced than the Apple Watch with some smart watch capabilities?
    Let's speak plainly.

    I see your point to be that the existing watch market will not be impacted by the smart watch, I.e there will always be a significant demand for a traditional mechanical watch to keep the industry alive without addressing smart watches in any way. Further you seem to be saying that if they attempt to enter the smart watch market they will surely fail possibly bankrupting themselves in the process. Is that about right?

    What I'm saying is that if the ?Watch is the the leading edge of a change to move all manner of personal IDs, payment systems, and security access to a wrist worn device, how can traditions watch makers ignore at least that aspect of it? If the billionaire no longer needs to carry his car key because he can program his ?Watch to start it, as well as never having to carry his wallet, or drivers license, or house keys ... Doesn't that mean he's going to be far less inclined to wear his $250,000 Rolexes? And eventually stop buying them?

    The inclusion of some kind of embedded programmable chip to provide these kinds of things doesn't seem beyond the grasp of the watch makers to compete with Apple. Indeed if they can't offer some basics like this, then I don't see how they won't go straight our of business. The addition of fitness sensors or MP3 players are pretty basic things that merely need an app to control. Not everyone needs full integration with their smartphone from their wrist, nor all of the features ?Watch offers, nor do I think the watch makers should try.

    I've already ceded to you that the watch makers will not likely be able to compete with Apple head to head, but I don't see how they can survive at all if they can't effectively include some of the key technologies.

    As for how a traditional watch maker could compete with Apple, how about a smart display that is projected onto the otherwise clear crystal offering the best of both worlds? Perhaps put the CPU, radios and battery inside the bands leaving the mechanical housing untouched? Granted, I think it will be an uphill climb, but Appe needs competitors, and there's an infinite market for personal jewelry tech. And who is better motivated to redefine themselves than the people most threatened by it?

    The main difference I see between smartphones and computers and the watch, is that Apple created the Mac, and a cheap knockoff company copied it badly for Windows. Apple created the iPhone and a cheap knockoff company copied it, badly. For the first time, Apple is up against an industry that has design and build standard that's equal, if not higher than its own. Tech is cheap, and all it takes is a bright engineering team that can adopt the concepts, not copy the ?Watch, And be just as innovative with their own products as Apple has been. And few in the world are as innovative as the Swiss and Germans as a whole. All I'm saying is that this is a different ballgame, and not to discount the ability of one of the oldest manufacturing businesses in the world, with the highest of standards, to meet the challenge.
  • Reply 309 of 341
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    I suspect Apple won't get Keurig'd (reference to the many unlicensed cups that work in the company's coffee makers).
    Well even Kuerig's DRM has been easily defeated, and created a lot of ill will. Plus they are being sued over it, and considering their market dominance they will probably lose.

    There are manufacturers in China that have reverse engineered lightning technology and jumped this hurtle without a license from Apple. I suspect the same would be true of the ?Watch, which folks are going to try to jail-break from the day it goes on sale (then we'll see what the thing is truly capable of without being thethered to the iPhone).
  • Reply 310 of 341
    davygeedavygee Posts: 65member

    Quote:


    Originally Posted by Mac_128 View Post



    Let's speak plainly.



    I see your point to be that the existing watch market will not be impacted by the smart watch, I.e there will always be a significant demand for a traditional mechanical watch to keep the industry alive without addressing smart watches in any way. Further you seem to be saying that if they attempt to enter the smart watch market they will surely fail possibly bankrupting themselves in the process. Is that about right?



    What I'm saying is that if the ?Watch is the the leading edge of a change to move all manner of personal IDs, payment systems, and security access to a wrist worn device, how can traditions watch makers ignore at least that aspect of it? If the billionaire no longer needs to carry his car key because he can program his ?Watch to start it, as well as never having to carry his wallet, or drivers license, or house keys ... Doesn't that mean he's going to be far less inclined to wear his $250,000 Rolexes? And eventually stop buying them?



    The inclusion of some kind of embedded programmable chip to provide these kinds of things doesn't seem beyond the grasp of the watch makers to compete with Apple. Indeed if they can't offer some basics like this, then I don't see how they won't go straight our of business. The addition of fitness sensors or MP3 players are pretty basic things that merely need an app to control. Not everyone needs full integration with their smartphone from their wrist, nor all of the features ?Watch offers, nor do I think the watch makers should try.



    I've already ceded to you that the watch makers will not likely be able to compete with Apple head to head, but I don't see how they can survive at all if they can't effectively include some of the key technologies.



    As for how a traditional watch maker could compete with Apple, how about a smart display that is projected onto the otherwise clear crystal offering the best of both worlds? Perhaps put the CPU, radios and battery inside the bands leaving the mechanical housing untouched? Granted, I think it will be an uphill climb, but Appe needs competitors, and there's an infinite market for personal jewelry tech. And who is better motivated to redefine themselves than the people most threatened by it?



    The main difference I see between smartphones and computers and the watch, is that Apple created the Mac, and a cheap knockoff company copied it badly for Windows. Apple created the iPhone and a cheap knockoff company copied it, badly. For the first time, Apple is up against an industry that has design and build standard that's equal, if not higher than its own. Tech is cheap, and all it takes is a bright engineering team that can adopt the concepts, not copy the ?Watch, And be just as innovative with their own products as Apple has been. And few in the world are as innovative as the Swiss and Germans as a whole. All I'm saying is that this is a different ballgame, and not to discount the ability of one of the oldest manufacturing businesses in the world, with the highest of standards, to meet the challenge.

    I agree, that prestige Watch-makers will probably have to move in the same direction and provide at least one smartwatch option in their range.

     

    I agree that Apple is up against an industry (Watch-makers) that can design and build as good as or even better than Apple, but I do not agree with the "Tech is cheap".  The kind of "Tech" than Apple uses is not cheap.  It becomes cheaper because they can produce chips in the tens of millions, and generally everything they put into their devices from hardware to software to build materials becomes cheaper to them as a company because they have the ability to buy or make in huge quantities.  Other companies including Tech companies and traditional Watch-making companies do not have that strength.

     

    Apple has the ability to plough millions/billions into research of new hardware, software and materials along with design.  We know that existing "Tech" companies struggle to do the same and have Watch-making companies like Rolex, Cartier, Omega got the same spending power to put this kind of investment into research.  Well I can't answer that, but we will surely find out.

  • Reply 311 of 341
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    davygee wrote: »
    Quote:
    but I do not agree with the "Tech is cheap".  The kind of "Tech" than Apple uses is not cheap.
    Fair enough. That's a careless statement which does not accurately reflect the situation with which I am in full agreement. Apple's high profit margins aren't just going to build lavish buildings and super yachts for the late Steve jobs. They put that money right back into the company.

    Clearly the watch makers will have to partner with the tech industry, and if I were them I would do exactly what Apple did when they were rebuilding and turn to Intel. But whatever they do, it will be interesting to see how they approach this problem.
  • Reply 312 of 341
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mac_128 View Post





    Fair enough. That's a careless statement which does not accurately reflect the situation with which I am in full agreement. Apple's high profit margins aren't just going to build lavish buildings and super yachts for the late Steve jobs. They put that money right back into the company.



    Clearly the watch makers will have to partner with the tech industry, and if I were them I would do exactly what Apple did when they were rebuilding and turn to Intel. But whatever they do, it will be interesting to see how they approach this problem.



    Yes, this is an exciting time for wearable tech.  The next few years "could" shape the future as we know it.

  • Reply 313 of 341
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    mac_128 wrote: »
    Let's speak plainly.

    I see your point to be that the existing watch market will not be impacted by the smart watch, I.e there will always be a significant demand for a traditional mechanical watch to keep the industry alive without addressing smart watches in any way. Further you seem to be saying that if they attempt to enter the smart watch market they will surely fail possibly bankrupting themselves in the process. Is that about right?

    What I'm saying is that if the ?Watch is the the leading edge of a change to move all manner of personal IDs, payment systems, and security access to a wrist worn device, how can traditions watch makers ignore at least that aspect of it? If the billionaire no longer needs to carry his car key because he can program his ?Watch to start it, as well as never having to carry his wallet, or drivers license, or house keys ... Doesn't that mean he's going to be far less inclined to wear his $250,000 Rolexes? And eventually stop buying them?

    The inclusion of some kind of embedded programmable chip to provide these kinds of things doesn't seem beyond the grasp of the watch makers to compete with Apple. Indeed if they can't offer some basics like this, then I don't see how they won't go straight our of business. The addition of fitness sensors or MP3 players are pretty basic things that merely need an app to control. Not everyone needs full integration with their smartphone from their wrist, nor all of the features ?Watch offers, nor do I think the watch makers should try.

    I've already ceded to you that the watch makers will not likely be able to compete with Apple head to head, but I don't see how they can survive at all if they can't effectively include some of the key technologies.

    As for how a traditional watch maker could compete with Apple, how about a smart display that is projected onto the otherwise clear crystal offering the best of both worlds? Perhaps put the CPU, radios and battery inside the bands leaving the mechanical housing untouched? Granted, I think it will be an uphill climb, but Appe needs competitors, and there's an infinite market for personal jewelry tech. And who is better motivated to redefine themselves than the people most threatened by it?

    The main difference I see between smartphones and computers and the watch, is that Apple created the Mac, and a cheap knockoff company copied it badly for Windows. Apple created the iPhone and a cheap knockoff company copied it, badly. For the first time, Apple is up against an industry that has design and build standard that's equal, if not higher than its own. Tech is cheap, and all it takes is a bright engineering team that can adopt the concepts, not copy the ?Watch, And be just as innovative with their own products as Apple has been. And few in the world are as innovative as the Swiss and Germans as a whole. All I'm saying is that this is a different ballgame, and not to discount the ability of one of the oldest manufacturing businesses in the world, with the highest of standards, to meet the challenge.

    You make valid points, but how many R&D dollars did Apple spend developing the Watch? Can the watch makers spend the same amount with an uncertain ROI?

    An engineering team alone isn't enough. How about the components? Off the shelf or custom made? How about the OS? Can't use Apple's, and using Android would be suicidal. It's not a uphill battle, it's more like what Sisyphus was tasked to do.
  • Reply 314 of 341
    dasanman69dasanman69 Posts: 13,002member
    davygee wrote: »

    Google just force feed their users malware instead LOL

    Seeing as how Google makes more money off iOS users, it isn't force fed, it's gladly eaten. ;)
  • Reply 315 of 341
    pistispistis Posts: 247member
    crowley wrote: »

    I'm curious how you arrive at that figure and I mean a real fully functioning smart watch not a silly fit band trinket or similar. After all the comparison would have to compare like with like fair enough. The CEA projects that shipments of smart watches will increase from 600,000 units and $95 million in sales in 2013 to 960,000 units and $177 million of revenue in 2014. Long term, Gartner Research predicts that by 2018 smart watch sales will reach 214 million devices with revenue of $60 billion.
  • Reply 316 of 341
    paul94544paul94544 Posts: 1,027member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by davygee View Post

     



    Yes, this is an exciting time for wearable tech.  The next few years "could" shape the future as we know it.


     

     

    "The next few years could shape the future"

     

    - really Einstein!

     

    whoa what an intelligence LOL, you should be in mensa

  • Reply 317 of 341
    paul94544paul94544 Posts: 1,027member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by gbaker View Post

     


    the rather absurdly priced Apple watch.

     

    Yes I know its really cheap , only $350 , a real bargain I'd say.

  • Reply 318 of 341
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Paul94544 View Post

     

     

     

    "The next few years could shape the future"

     

    - really Einstein!

     

    whoa what an intelligence LOL, you should be in mensa




    No need to be sarcastic, and if you had taken the time to read what we were talking about you would have realised what I was talking about and it what context.  Hence the first line "Yes, this is an exciting time for wearable tech."....this gave the game away.

     

    Now off you toddle.

  • Reply 319 of 341
    radarthekatradarthekat Posts: 3,898moderator
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mac_128 View Post





    I thought this had been ruled out in the production models as viewed after the announcement last week?



    Either way, the presence of these pins would make a greater water resistance rating more difficult, not to mention corrosion potential.



    The holes for those pins are clearly shown in at least one of Apple's videos that show how the three metals are engineered.  I was looking for them and saw them in one of those videos; I think the video on the Stainless Steel watch, but I can't be sure.  Watch all three and you'll see them.

  • Reply 320 of 341
    pistispistis Posts: 247member
    davygee wrote: »

    No need to be sarcastic, and if you had taken the time to read what we were talking about you would have realised what I was talking about and it what context.  Hence the first line "Yes, this is an exciting time for wearable tech."....this gave the game away.

    Now off you toddle.

    Toddle toddle

    Sorry I couldn't resist it
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