iWatch anyone?

[Earl Gray]

I currently don't even have a smart phone(Gov’t provided flip) but I’m almost excited about the iWatch.

Apple - Apple Watch

I may very well be getting one next summer for my 50th

[jonathanb]

I'm tempted by the ability to use it to measure heart rate rather than using a chest strap-based HR monitor. Plus I have a soft spot for that old Dick Tracy wrist phone thing.

[dashDustin]

I'm intrigued. Looks a hell of a lot better than I was expecting.

[Saab2000]

Not first generation. Or probably even second.

I bought the 2nd iPhone (3G) when it came out. I wish I had waited. I'm now a very happy iPhone 5S customer and that's the 7th generation of iPhone and it's awesome. It's not clear what the Apple Watch really brings but I'm sure it could be cool.

Open minded, but not a first generation guy anymore. Or second. I wish I had waited until at least the 3GS had made it to market. I might still be using it. I still use my 3G for some things, just not calls or anything else having to do with the internet.

Here's the catch.... my Breitling (a wonderful gift from my ex almost 14 years ago) is on its 3rd battery and 3rd leather band. I sort of baby it and sort of don't baby it, and it has been one of the best things I've ever owned. It's super accurate and causes no issues. Basically as long as I service this device for a fee it will last forever. I bring it to Jewellery and Watches Boutique in Zurich - Les Ambassadeurs when I'm in town and they do what needs to be done. The last time I was actually a bit disappointed because they told me that they couldn't send it to the factory and have it returned to me in the US due to concerns about issues regarding money laundering and so-called luxury items being shipped to the US. They were also uncertain about getting a stainless arm band from Breitling. Anyway, try that with the folks at the local Apple store. Their eyes will cross.

So-called 'smart' products have a finite life span. Good watches don't. I don't want to charge my watch every day, nor do I want it on a 24 month replacement schedule. If Apple addresses these issues we can talk. In other words, no, not yet. But my mind is not closed to the idea. And Apple has a good track record of creating really cool things.

[acorn]

I currently don't even have a smart phone(Gov’t provided flip) but I’m almost excited about the iWatch.

Apple - Apple Watch

I may very well be getting one next summer for my 50th

It's kinda a waste to get the smart watch without the phone because almost all of the apps and built-in features requires the phone for operation.

[Honus]

I've always been a traditional mechanical watch guy and I'm also a Breitling fan (wore a Titanium Avenger Seawolf every day for six years and it's the best watch I've ever owned.) I also happen to work at a store that sells nice watches so I'm surrounded by them every day.

Several months ago a friend gave me his first version Pebble watch. My first thought was that these types of watches were gimmicks and that I would hate it but I was willing to try it out. And the funny thing is I love the thing. I don't mind charging it one bit ( I have to charge it around once a week.) I love that I can be away from my phone or I can have my phone silenced or in my pocket and my watch notifies me when my wife calls or I get a priority email. I never miss calls anymore. I can set the watch so it does exactly what I want it to do so it's not intrusive.

The Apple Watch looks to be significantly more advanced than the Pebble and if works as advertised then I'm interested. The one thing that is really important is that it's not an iPhone on my wrist- I don't want that. What I want is something that works with my phone and lets me set the features I want so it's not distracting. I don't want a device that requires my constant attention.

[MarkC]

Telling time is not the primary feature or purpose of this gizmo. Digital Health is going to be a big money maker for mobile device manufacturers and Apple needed to get off the sidelines. As with smart phones, making phone calls is not the primary use or profit generator.

These wearable devices and the ecosystems that develop will be very interesting. Perhaps even useful over time.

[Matthew Strongin]

I'm a tech guy and a watch guy, so I find this to be very interesting. I don't see it replacing the automatic watch I wear every day, but it could be a fun toy. My initial reaction is that it's too much device convergence and redundant with the device that everyone (or everyone that would be using the Apple Watch) already has at the ready, the smartphone/iPhone. I've been an iPhone user since day 1 and the thing I loved about it was that it eliminated the extra devices I was carrying. No more palm pilot, camera or iPod to go along with my phone. It was amazing to see how central my phone became to my daily life. I suspect the Apple Watch may add complexity by introducing a new device, with new distractions, with many of the most usable features being redundant with the phone in your pocket. The one exception being what MarkC said...the digital health functionality will be a big draw for people (but I'll reserve my thoughts on that for another day).

All that said, I may still end up with one because tech toys can be fun.

[Lionel]

Tech guy here too. This is certainly not going to replace my automatic watch. The gold case version is cheesy. But yeah as a sports gadget it can be cool.

[bgav]

I got a Pebble smartwatch for Christmas, my main reasoning was to explore wrist notifications and glanceable information ahead of the long rumored "iWatch". I'm watch guy (and techie), nothing too high end but have a Tag automatic, Seiko Black Monster, a Japanese market only Citizen Promaster Tough Ti, among others. Since getting the Pebble, my other watches have seen very little wrist time, mostly limited to more formal wear (weddings).

Having glanceable information on your wrist is a game changer. It allows you to triage when you have to take your phone out of your pocket so you aren't doing it constantly, and you can be discreet about it. You can read short messages and emails on your wrist, many of which don't need to be responded to by pulling out your phone. Apps on your wrist are also compelling as well - - traffic alerts, weather alerts using Dark Skies, calendar and location-based reminders, etc. I do not use it for social media notifications. I've already used my Pebble for turn by turn walking directions while traveling in an unfamiliar city, similar to the scenario highlighted yesterday. That's one way to avoid standing out as a tourist, walking around with zero situational awareness while looking at your phone. Merchant payments on your wrist are also super convenient as I've experienced using Pebble Bucks on my Pebble at Starbucks. I have all of my 2 factor authentication codes for websites like GMail and Dropbox on my Pebble so logging in is also super easy with no need to whip out my phone.

I watched the Apple Watch presentation during yesterday's event, and the health/fitness features are also appealing. The Fitbits, Misfit Shines, Jawbone Ups, and Nike Fuel Band type devices will fall by the wayside.

Needless to say, I'll be upgrading from my Pebble to the Apple Watch in '15.

[MarkC]

The healthcare piece is going to be fascinating and go well beyond the parlor trick of counting steps for healthy people who like numbers.

Apple is already quietly teaming with some of the best "big data" and patient reported outcomes people at university hospitals to generate apps that track movement quality, sleep quality, heart rate, respiration, etc.

Take a condition like Rheumatoid Arthritis (*) which several members of VS live with. Currently patients are watched for swollen and tender joints, some acute phase inflammatory markers and asked a series of questions about quality of life (Google for HAQ, SF36, DAS28 or ACR if interested). While these metrics are OK, they are not done frequently and are not as quantitative as we'd like to guide therapy.

Fast forward a few years and it's not crazy to think that patients will be wearing a small "sensor" or watch type device (there are many others BTW, not just wrist bound) which gathers a ton of data that helps manage their condition (disease) and which provides high quality quantitative information in real time.

For companies like Apple, Google, IBM, etc, an entree into health care is an area where they can make an actual contribution to health but also tap into a very large profit center for the business.

So, the consumer toys are interesting and get a lot of press and will undoubtedly be adopted by some. But the utility of these devices to provide high value in other settings is just starting to evolve. If you like tech, watch this space because it will be very interesting. Particularly when coupled to molecular sensors. But that is a different ecosystem discussion for another day!

Cheers,

Mark

(*) many other examples than RA, just connecting this to some of our colleagues on VS

[bgav]

Fast forward a few years and it's not crazy to think that patients will be wearing a small "sensor" or watch type device (there are many others BTW, not just wrist bound) which gathers a ton of data that helps manage their condition (disease) and which provides high quality quantitative information in real time.

Great points Mark. It's already happening, with sensors such as the Lumo Lift sensor for helping improve posture.

[Too Tall]

This is crowd sourcing right? Kidding only a little

The product and what it provokes is out of sight.

[TTX1]

I'm tempted by the ability to use it to measure heart rate rather than using a chest strap-based HR monitor.

I don't think the Apple Watch will provide continuous HRM like a chest strap based on thhe limited info provided so far. It appears to be a momentary HRM that must be manually activated, similar to Wiithings or Basis.

If continuous HRM is part of the deal, it's a potential game changer for runners, cyclists, etc.

Doesn't appear to be the case at this point.

[TTX1]

The healthcare piece is going to be fascinating and go well beyond the parlor trick of counting steps for healthy people who like numbers.

Apple is already quietly teaming with some of the best "big data" and patient reported outcomes people at university hospitals to generate apps that track movement quality, sleep quality, heart rate, respiration, etc.

Fast forward a few years and it's not crazy to think that patients will be wearing a small "sensor" or watch type device (there are many others BTW, not just wrist bound) which gathers a ton of data that helps manage their condition (disease) and which provides high quality quantitative information in real time.

For companies like Apple, Google, IBM, etc, an entree into health care is an area where they can make an actual contribution to health but also tap into a very large profit center for the business.

They didn't say anything about FDA approval... A not insignificant piece for some of the potential applications you allude to. Apple is likely to seek partners with the competency needed to navigate that process...

As for 'real time' - can you image the hit to battery life as well data storage capacity needed to provide true real time tracking. I don't think that's part of the deal at this stage.

Since you're from MA, take a look at MC10 and Quanttus... Both doing interesting work on the vectors you describe.

[Lionel]

I could not even find if this thing is waterproof. Kind of a must have for a "sport watch"

[quickag]

the least interesting apple reveal in...pretty much forever. Ugly ass watch, dumbass bigass phones. Just an apple rebranding of shit people have been doing for years. RIP best phone size in the industry.

[Brandon White]

As a fun toy and maybe a sports-related tool, I'd hit it. Is it waterproof? I haven't seen that part. I have a friend (a design/UX guy) who keeps bitching (seriously, it's been what, 19 hours since it's announced and I've heard and read umpteen posts from him) about "how's it work for lefties?".

It wouldn't replace my daily mechanical watch. I'm more interested in a Sunto w/ GPS or something, but the apple watch could be interesting. I will be jumping on an iPhone 6 though since my 4s needs replacing.

[rec head]

That's funny. When I saw the dial my first thought was that I'm a lefty. Apple has changed the way people do a lot of things and now they will even have people changing which arm they wear a watch. As an aside... Why are lefties told to wear watches on the right arm? I do because that is what I was told as a kid but it doesn't make sense.

I can't wait for a good android smartwatch. I use the phone to play music in my house and just having play/pause on my wrist will be awesome.

[theflashunc]

Maybe its the old man in me, but I don't get it.

Another device to charge. Another device with a finite life span. Another device that just seems to duplicate functionality we get elsewhere. I certainly understand the potential for medical applications, but 99% of people are going to use this thing to see if they got a text or if someone liked their latest Instagram.

I wouldn't want one of these over a nice traditional watch, though this must just be my inner curmudgeon.

And the giant phone looks hideous.