iWatch / Wearable tech

[Cloudane]

For me they resolve the problem I always had of missing loads of calls and texts due to not hearing the phone or feeling it vibrate in my pocket. You very rarely miss something vibrating on your wrist.

It's also marginally more discrete checking an incoming notification on your watch than taking your phone out, so it's handy in certain conditions where that may be preferable (though it does introduce the temptation to look at it with company, making it look like you're bored, so probably best with notification off or different watch in polite company).
Some say it's a bit easier to see incoming notifications when you're driving, which of course is very naughty.

I have an app on my Pebble that tracks sleep quality by sensing movement, and wakes you up by buzzing your wrist while playing sounds on the phone. I find that quite handy (and as of a few weeks ago it no longer has a noticable impact on the battery)

[Deckard]

They all seem like a solution trying to find a problem for me at the mo.

[Deckard]

How many leaks about the iWatch and not one substantial one

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1746659

[MattyP]

Quite like the idea of an iWatch TBH. If the apps that use the the health API work with it will be quite nice. Currently use Endomondo and fitbit to track activities - which means carrying around a couple of devices when I'm out and about. Also if it has a radio and music player built in I will be buying one. Not so fussed about phone notifications quite happy to check the phone now and again and l really like just leaving my phone away form me sometimes and not always being contactable.

Although don't currently have an iPhone so guessing this would be tied into the ecosystem. Hoping it's like a variation of the old iPod nano as I wear that as a watch and the extra sensors apps would be great.

[VNVObit]

Quite like the idea of an iWatch TBH. If the apps that use the the health API work with it will be quite nice. Currently use Endomondo and fitbit to track activities - which means carrying around a couple of devices when I'm out and about. Also if it has a radio and music player built in I will be buying one. Not so fussed about phone notifications quite happy to check the phone now and again and l really like just leaving my phone away form me sometimes and not always being contactable.

Although don't currently have an iPhone so guessing this would be tied into the ecosystem. Hoping it's like a variation of the old iPod nano as I wear that as a watch and the extra sensors apps would be great.

I would think it's a given that it'd tie you into the ecosystem though wonder what the lifecycle will be as can't see people upgrading watches regularly for some additional features. Suspect there may be more variation on styles rather than on spec. Though can't see me rushing for it given my investment in pebble

[pogo]

This is very interesting.



http://www.withings.com/activite/en-US

It's a 'smartwatch' but looks like a normal watch. No screen, just a dial with hands. But it can do most of what you want with a smartwatch. Tells the time, getting it from your iPhone so it's always accurate. Health/fitness features, which work with an associated iPhone app. A vibrating alarm. The only control interface is tapping but it sounds like that's programmable. The third hand is presumably for the fitness app, tracking progress.

No screen, so you won't be playing games, reading e-mail, checking the weather on it, but then you've got a phone for that. More importantly no screen so it doesn't look like shit. £320, available 'Fall 2014'.

And if whatever Apple is working on doesn't look as good they should abandon it and buy this company, much as they did with headphones. No point wasting effort on something that's second best.

[Deckard]

So no originality then as its a watch with one extra bit….. a watch hand…..I don't want a watch as I have one already and surely the point of wearable tech is its versatility ? 2nd best ? This doesn't even rate 10th best for a wearable - Total fail. I would be gutted if Apple knocked out something this one dimensional.

[pogo]

One thing Apple are known for though is simplifying: they don't ship devices stuffed to the gills with features, they pare back features where they don't fit or compromise design. The best example of this is the iPod: at the time it was derided by competitors are too limited – no expandable storage, no swappable battery, only one design, no WMA support, no radio – but it was spectacularly popular. The iPhone received similar criticism, especially over storage and battery replacement. Or compare the iPad and MS Surface. The latter has expandable storage, a keyboard, a kick stand, a stylus, USB ports. Far more flexible and expandable. But an utter flop compared to the iPad.

Apple have shipped consumer devices without screens, i.e. the iPod shuffle, which are about as big as a watch. The current models easily have space for a screen but instead dedicate one side to a clip. So it's easy to imagine an Apple watch which is a full iOS device but has no screen, or has one but also has hands and a dial so is also a proper watch.

Whatever they do Apple never ship anything that's second best, in terms of design or build quality. And right now design and build quality doesn't mean smartwatches, such as Android ones which are universally poor. It means Swiss watch design like from Withings. Also worth mentioning that Apple are known for drawing inspiration from German designer Dieter Rams, who has also had a hand in watch design:

[Deckard]

I don't think this will be a watch or look like a watch tbh - that's not disruptive enough. It's just the media calling it an iWatch.

[RiK]

I don't think this will be a watch or look like a watch tbh - that's not disruptive enough. It's just the media calling it an iWatch.

And Apple trademarking iWatch..

[Misfit]

The Withings watch looks OK. But nothing really suggests it a smart watch. It's just an activity tracker in a watch and doesn't seem to do more than things like a fitbit or a Misfit Shine. Even the vibrating notifications don't seem to be anything to do with messages or calls. It's also not the kind of watch I'd want to wear for sport/swimming. I don't want a leather strap on my sports watch.

Still finding this hard to tech to get my head around in general and hoping someone will show me the way. Current available offerings aren't there.

There must be people similar to me and I can't see how a smartwatch fits into my current watch approach...

1. I love watches. I have quite a few and like to wear different ones for different scenarios, or just on a whim that day. Can't see how a smartwatch is compatible with that.

2. I don't mind spending money on watches, but unlike other tech I'm not used to the idea of them becoming obsolete. Presumably smart watches are going to have new models every year.

3. I like my watch to be different to everybody else's. If the iWatch goes the way of the iPhone that's not going to happen!

4. A watch is the only accessory I wear. So whilst I like the idea of anything new not being a watch, I'm not sure I can currently see myself wearing any kind of bangle/wristband outside of sport.

[skip]

I just ordered one of these. Not the prettiest tech, but could be good if it functions as described. Stuff the gesture control of tunes though... http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kreyo ... re-control

I came close several times but couldn't quite pull the trigger. Couldn't quite believe all the claims.

Please report back once you have it.

Still waiting. FFS. Their 'management' of delay after delay and PR on Facebook is laughable. Still, it should turn up soon (I'll believe it when I see it).

[Misfit]

The impressive looking Moto 460 Android Wear watch has possibly been trumped by the LG GWatch R. Looks rather nice with it's P-OLED screen.

Some more details here, but offical announcements are next week:

http://www.wareable.com/lg/lg-g-watch-r ... eous-looks

[pogo]

Marc Newson to Join Apple’s Design Team

Fascinating, especially in its timing. He's one of a handful of people in the world in the same league as Ive as a designer. In particular he's made a few watches. And now Apple have him.

Apple now have two top designers, two more than most companies. Ive and his team have served them well for all the current product lines so this can only be for new products. And they're announcing something in three days. The timing strongly suggests he's had a hand in what's being announced. They had to announce it as perhaps it would be very obvious from the designs they were by him. They didn't want to wait until Tuesday so the news then is about the products, not the hire.

[MegaZoid.]

Iwatch battery is supposed to be terrible apparently.