"iWatch" - The Apple Watch Thread

dsio · Mar 9, 2015

I'll probably get a steel one, but I wholeheartedly agree with Ben's assessment of the Edition... buy a bloody Speedmaster instead

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

It seems like I'm going against the watch crowd on every forum I belong to when I say I think this is a game-changer that's going to seriously rock the world in ways that we can't even yet comprehend. You heard it here first. 😜

pitpro · Mar 9, 2015

Shem
It seems like I'm going against the watch crowd on every forum I belong to when I say I think this is a game-changer that's going to seriously rock the world in ways that we can't even yet comprehend. You heard it here first. 😜

which game is it changing Shem?

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

pitpro
which game is it changing Shem?

I suspect it's going to actually create a market for wearable tech in the same way that the iPad, which was also released as a device in search of a market, came to become ubiquitous even after everyone said "why? I already have a laptop and a phone" among all the other failed offerings. It's not going to compete with luxury watches on its merit as a watch because it's NOT a watch -- that's what everyone seems to be missing. It's a device that happens to occupy the same space on your person that a watch traditionally would, but its function as a timepiece is incidental to all of the ways it will change people's lives.

The problem is that fashion will never allow this device to be worn in addition to a luxury timepiece, which it obviates not for its timekeeping function, but for all the rest of what it does. Once people have a taste of it, people won't want to live without the extremely discreet (thanks to the Taptic Engine) notifications, calendars, a personal assistant on your wrist, access to all of the information you need from day to day, all of the health and fitness features, social networking, instant communication, payments without taking anything out of your pocket, and most importantly, access to anything you want unobtrusively. Even if this device didn't tell the time at all, it occupies the same space as a watch but provides functions that I believe will prove more valuable to most people (after all, the time is everywhere now).

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

So basically, I don't think anyone's going to want to wear this as a replacement watch for their fine Swiss timepieces...I think they're going to wear it because its features will become as indispensable as our smartphones' features are now, and since it occupies the same "accessory" space as watches, will unfortunately have to supplant them.

pitpro · Mar 9, 2015

so Shem, for this to work like you say, people will resign
to ditch fashion for function. Forget vintage for the moment.
So no more men desiring a first Rolex or Omega when you have "arrived"?
Wives will buy into not wearing(wanting) a Channel, Cartier, or a Rolex?
Lawyers, instead of sporting VC or Patek will wear apple watches
to get their appointment updates?

redpcar · Mar 9, 2015

Not a big fan but I think it will put something on the wrist for a lot of people who don't normally wear watches. It will bring awareness to the wristwatch. Consider it a gateway to a fine timepiece 😉

dsio · Mar 9, 2015

redpcar
Not a big fan but I think it will put something on the wrist for a lot of people who don't normally wear watches. It will bring awareness to the wristwatch. Consider it a gateway to a fine timepiece 😉

I think you're 100% on the money there

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

pitpro
so Shem, for this to work like you say, people will resign
to ditch fashion for function. Forget vintage for the moment.
So no more first men desiring a first Rolex or Omega when you have "arrived"?
Wives will buy into not wearing(wanting) a Channel, Cartier, or a Rolex?
Lawyers, instead of sporting VC or Patek will wear apple watches
to get their appointment updates?

It's not going to be so absolute. I'm not predicting doom and gloom for mechanical watches, and certainly not in the very near future. I do think the Apple Watch will be wildly successful in the long run, though, and that the ways in which it will compete for the wrist space won't be the ones many people seem to expect. Watches are one of few older technologies that have survived the relentless march of technology, and craftsmanship will always be admired. But if the features that the Apple Watch will introduce over time -- of which we've only seen the barest glimpse today -- are as revolutionary and pervasive as I think they will be, then it'll be very difficult for people to choose making a fashion statement over having the capabilities afforded by such a device. How many people who can otherwise afford a smartphone are still carrying around calling-only cell phones? There are a few holdouts, but not many.

Now, on the plus side, wearing a luxury mechanical timepiece may become an even bolder statement as wearable tech becomes ubiquitous. And those who make the choice to do so may be fewer in number, and held in different regard. Only time will tell, so to speak. 😜

cicindela · Mar 9, 2015

redpcar
Not a big fan but I think it will put something on the wrist for a lot of people who don't normally wear watches. It will bring awareness to the wristwatch. Consider it a gateway to a fine timepiece 😉

Or when seen on the wrist it may just be an instantaneous cue for a snicker. 🙄

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

I'll add one more comment. I want to buy an Apple Watch, but it's not the kind of thing you can wear in rotation. I have a feeling that going from having access to the sum of human knowledge and the best communication and notification technology in the world on your wrist one day to having just the time the next will be jarring. I'm really afraid to buy one because it might ruin mechanicals for me. I have some concern that other watch enthusiasts (who actually give it a chance) will come to that conclusion, too, once they experience it...especially those of us who are technologists.

cicindela · Mar 9, 2015

Shem
I'll add one more comment. I want to buy an Apple Watch, but it's not the kind of thing you can wear in rotation. I have a feeling that going from having access to the sum of human knowledge and the best communication and notification technology in the world on your wrist one day to having just the time the next will be jarring. I'm really afraid to buy one because it might ruin mechanicals for me. I have some concern that other watch enthusiasts (who actually give it a chance) will come to that conclusion, too, once they experience it...especially those of us who are technologists.

Perhaps. Or perhaps whatever new technology that is put into "i type" watches will create a demand for it to be put into phones. Thus negating demand.

Sapientia Cordis · Mar 9, 2015

i just hate it. its that simple.

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

cicindela
Perhaps. Or perhaps whatever new technology that is put into "i type" watches will create a demand for it to be put into phones. Thus negating demand.

The magic is in how the notifications are simultaneously more discreet and yet harder to miss, and how you don't need to take anything out of your pocket to service them (or perform most tasks that your phone can do). Phones have gotten quite large now, and they're awkward to take out of your pocket or purse and put back in...yet people want large screens for games, movies, and productivity. The watch puts everything you need at your fingertips.

pitpro · Mar 9, 2015

Shem
I'll add one more comment. I want to buy an Apple Watch, but it's not the kind of thing you can wear in rotation. I have a feeling that going from having access to the sum of human knowledge and the best communication and notification technology in the world on your wrist one day to having just the time the next will be jarring. I'm really afraid to buy one because it might ruin mechanicals for me. I have some concern that other watch enthusiasts (who actually give it a chance) will come to that conclusion, too, once they experience it...especially those of us who are technologists.

LOL the screens too small.
People are going for Bigger screens for their access
to " the sum of human knowledge and the best communication and notification technology in the world".

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

pitpro
LOL the screens too small.
People are going for Bigger screens for their access
to " the sum of human knowledge and the best communication and notification technology in the world".

Haha, I just addressed this in my post as you were posting this one. People going for bigger screens on their phones now is a big part of why the watch is a winning proposition. Giant phone screens are perfect for games and movies, but they're very excessive, bulky, and sometimes hard to use (especially with small hands) for simple tasks like addressing notifications, viewing alerts, and other simple, quick, common tasks.

cicindela · Mar 9, 2015

Shem
The magic is in how the notifications are simultaneously more discreet and yet harder to miss, and how you don't need to take anything out of your pocket to service them (or perform most tasks that your phone can do). Phones have gotten quite large now, and they're awkward to take out of your pocket or purse and put back in...yet people want large screens for games, movies, and productivity. The watch puts everything you need at your fingertips.

I appreciate that "benefit". But as many people seem to have hard time managing their phone as it is now, to me the magic will be seeing if they can handle it. 😜

Shem · Mar 9, 2015

cicindela
I appreciate that "benefit". But as many people seem to have hard time managing their phone as it is now, to me the magic will be seeing if they can handle it. 😜

Which is why Apple has a chance to make this space explode, and then everyone will copy it and it'll explode some more. 😜 Watching the keynote today, I get the impression that Apple has spent a LOT of time and energy on this product, even for them.

alam · Mar 9, 2015

Ah! Predictions! We'll see what the future holds for this gadget. Remember these great predictions?

http://www.techhive.com/article/155984/worst_tech_predictions.html

pitpro · Mar 9, 2015

Shem
Haha, I just addressed this in my post as you were posting this one. People going for bigger screens on their phones now is a big part of why the watch is a winning proposition. Giant phone screens are perfect for games and movies, but they're very excessive, bulky, and sometimes hard to use (especially with small hands) for simple tasks like addressing notifications, viewing alerts, and other simple, quick, common tasks.

I enjoy the Iphone6 not for games and movies, matter of fact, never used it
for either. I make use of the screen real estate to do things
I did on only my pc. Read articles, Bloomberg, my trading software
now has fully functional connectivity, vnc tunnel to office, etc.
I don't think Email, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, Reddit are movies and games.
And that's what the younger people are using it for(and tunes).

"iWatch" - The Apple Watch Thread

dsio

Shem

pitpro

Shem

Shem

pitpro

redpcar

dsio

Shem

cicindela

Shem

cicindela

Sapientia Cordis

Shem

pitpro

Shem

cicindela

Shem

alam

pitpro

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