A short while ago, the tech world waited with baited breath for Apple’s unveiling of this year’s iPhone. Along with that announcement, Apple also gifted the world with Apple Pay and the Apple Watch (among other things).
Cue the breathless proclamations that Apple has turned the wearable devices category on its head. Hyperbole aside, the Apple Watch hasn’t even been released yet, nor is it available for pre-order, so making such pronouncements is premature at best.
Apple has met tremendous success with the release of the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. That situation is not up for debate. What is up for debate is the Apple Watch’s chances for joining its larger, older brethren. It is my opinion that the Apple Watch, like other wearables before it, will not put a watch on everyone’s wrist like the iPhone put a smartphone in everyone’s pocket. (I couldn’t resist that hyperbole)
When it finally releases, the Apple Watch will retail for $349. However, there’s no indication of what that dollar amount will include. Will it include just the (smaller) watch and a basic band? Or will it include either size watch and a band of your choice? Or just the watch but no band whatsoever? Keep in mind that there are two different size watches, 3 different types of watch, and a large assortment of bands for the offing.
Thus, while the Apple Watch no doubt has the same build quality as previous Apple products, that means it’s also a premium product. I imagine that it will bring the thought of owning a watch into the minds of many people who normally don’t wear a watch, but they have to choke down the $349 (minimum) price tag to do it.
Couple that price with the fact that watches in that price range are designed to last a considerable amount of time. Personally, I have owned my titanium Citizen watch for 4 years and it still works flawlessly, has nary a scratch on it, and I paid $350 for it. Plus it never needs a battery.
In contrast, a smart watch, like a smart phone, becomes obsolete because its hardware cannot support the increasing demands of its software (an unfortunate corollary to Moore’s law). Most people replace their phones after 16 months, does Apple expect them to do the same with their watch? Keep in mind that the Apple Watch won’t be subsidized like the iPhone.
The biggest hurdle that the Apple Watch can’t get over (like all smart watches), is it’s designed to work with a companion smart phone. The phone is what is really doing the heavy lifting as far as processing and sensor calculations go. This enables the watch to be lighter and cheaper, but that also means it requires a smart phone to function! If you don’t own a compatible iPhone, you can’t use an Apple Watch because it won’t work without a compatible iPhone.
This is the area that the Apple Watch is most different from its sister Apple i-devices. You can use an iPhone without an iPod or an iPad. This fact alone limits its sales potential because it’s only a companion device. This isn’t just an issue with the Apple Watch, although it’s the most high profile device to have this issue; it’s an issue with all wearables.
As I wrote earlier, the masses would be better served through companion devices (watches, glasses, in-car infotainment systems) that are device agnostic. While that hurts the short-term profits of companies that enter this space with companion products, it also would be the revolution that was the iPhone, iPad, and iPod.
, permalink
Source:
http://ift.tt/Y9jZ2p