Michal Ždanský Smart watches will slowly have their two-year anniversary, that is, if we count the Sony Smartwatch presented in January of last year as the first specimen of this product category. Since then, there have been several attempts at a successful consumer product, among them, for example Pebble, the most successful device in the category so far, gaining over 250 customers. However, they are far from real global success, and not even the latest ones an attempt by Samsung called the Galaxy Gear or Qualcomm's upcoming watch Toq does not upset stagnant waters. We are still waiting for the iPod among music players, the iPad among tablets. Is Apple the only one who can really come up with such a device to appeal to the masses of users?
When we look at the Galaxy Gear, we find that we are still moving in a circle. Samsung watches can display notifications, messages, e-mails, even receive phone calls, support third-party applications and thus offer additional notifications or functions for athletes. But this is nothing new. These are functions that they have, for example Pebble, I'm Watching or they will be able to do it HOT Watch. And in some cases their implementation is even better.
The problem is that each of these devices only acts as an extended display for the phone. It saves us a few seconds when taking the phone out of our pocket and looking at received notifications and other information from the mobile. It may be enough for some. While testing the Pebble, I got quite used to this way of interacting while the phone remained tucked away in my pocket. However, the mentioned features will please only some geeks and technology enthusiasts. It's nothing that will force the general masses to leave their elegant "dumb" watches in the drawer or start wearing something on their wrists again, when they successfully got rid of this "burden" with the purchase of their first phone.
None of the devices to date have been able to fully exploit the potential of body wear. And by that I don't mean the fact that the watch is always close at hand and information is just a glance away. On the other hand, other products that do not have the ambition to become a smart watch were able to use this unique position to the fullest. We are talking about bracelets FitBit, Nike Fuelband or Jawbone Up. Thanks to the sensors, they can map biometric functions and bring unique information to the user, which the phone cannot tell them through a smart watch. This is why these devices have seen more success. It's not just biometric sensors that are the vanguard of success, but none of the smartwatches have been able to do that either.
Another issue facing body-worn devices is battery life. In order for the device to be as comfortable as possible, it should be as small as possible, but the size also limits the battery capacity. I've seen minor improvements over the years, but battery technology still hasn't advanced much and the outlook for the next few years isn't exactly rosy. Endurance is thus solved by optimizing the consumption, which, for example, Apple has brought to near perfection thanks to the integration of hardware and software. The latest Galaxy Gear product, which uses currently available technology, can last a single day. Pebble, on the other hand, can work for 5-7 days on a single charge, but had to sacrifice a color display and settle for a monochrome transreflective LCD display.
The upcoming watch from Qualcomm should last around five days and will also offer a color display, although it will be a display similar to E-ink. In other words, if you want endurance, you have to sacrifice a beautiful soft color display. The winner will be the one who can offer both – a great display and decent endurance for at least five days.
The last problematic aspect is the design itself. When we look at current smartwatches, they are either downright ugly (Pebble, Sony Smartwatch) or over-the-top (Galaxy Gear, I'm Watch). For decades, watches have been not only a measure of time, but also a fashion accessory, just like jewelry or handbags. After all Rolex and similar brands are examples in themselves. Why should people lower their demands on appearance just because a smart watch can do something more than what they currently have on their hands. If manufacturers want to appeal to regular users, not just tech geeks, they need to redouble their design efforts.
The ideal body-worn device is one that you can hardly feel but is there when you need it. For example, like glasses (not Google Glass). Today's glasses are so light and compact that you often don't even realize they're actually sitting on your nose. And fitness bracelets partially fit this description. And that's exactly what a successful smart watch should be - compact, light and with a pleasant appearance.
The smartwatch category presents many challenges, both in terms of design and technology. Until now, manufacturers, whether large or small independent, have dealt with these challenges in the form of a compromise. The eyes of many are now turning to Apple, which by all indications should introduce the watch this fall or sometime next year. Until then, however, we probably won't see the revolution on our wrist.
My opinion is that the Pebble watch would have been much more successful on the iPhone if not so limited by the accessibility of the iOS system. The Galaxy Gear is certainly an expensive toy filled with useless things that a normal person will not use. Apple has the advantage that even if it doesn't actually bring anything new in terms of smart watches, it will have great support for IOS (how else would they be from the same company) and certainly some Apple-like appearance (which everyone likes so much). to sum it up, this "hype" around smart watches is too big in my opinion, and these companies should be more interested in what the mass of customers need for a phone and not work for who knows how long on something like that. Feel free to lynch me now but I wanted to write my opinion :)
I think that a smart watch would simply be successful if it worked like a phone, both with mobile data (with a SIM card), so you could also make calls from it and it would become a necessity to have the watch with you, just then the phone could act just like an extended hand of a watch. If you need to make a call, there is an option like the Galaxy Gear or classic bluetooth in the ear. Of course, the main thing would be support from the programmer and third parties. Let's see what APPLE comes up with...
there are many such watches http://dx.com/s/gsm+watch
Everyone wants some "better" and "smarter" watch. But what should they actually be able to do? Except for the longer battery life and the amazing color display. I know, Apple liked to create devices that at first nobody really wanted, because people simply couldn't imagine what it could bring them. Then it mostly dawned on them. But somehow I can't think of anything world-shattering right now, what the watch should do for me and what the existing "smart" watches and bracelets can't do.
Well, that's exactly what apple should come up with,)
"People don't know what they want until you show them." :)
I expect it to be a fusion of the new Casio Protrek and some average Sunnto fitness watches... plus some Apple features like find my iWatch etc :)
mainly they will incorporate solar charging into it, I don't know how they will do it .. but they probably won't just leave the durability to chance.
Or they'll give up on it, because you'll find out that it won't be a blockbuster. I have to say that I would be really surprised if they managed to make something out of it, for which there will be queues. But feel free to surprise me! :O)