“Apple and Samsung’s purported desire to create a ‘smart’ watch to pair with their smartphones seems to be an incredibly dumb idea. The two, usually wise, companies would be making a grave mistake entering the low-margin cellular accessory market, where the competition is fierce and the barriers to entry are incredibly low,” Cyrus Sanati writes for Fortune. “Furthermore, the utility of such a device seems questionable, likely appealing to a limited subset of consumers of unfashionable geeks and pudgy weekend warriors.”
“Knowing how Apple works, if it does launch an ‘iWatch,’ it will probably be just one watch that comes in a variety of colors. The unimaginative Samsung will most likely just copy whatever Apple does to the letter. That means that both products, which will probably have the same features as all those watches mentioned above, will appeal to a narrow subset of consumers who really dig its design and who believe it will fit their style,” Sanati writes. “Both are tall orders–something that even the mighty Apple, will have a hard time trying to deliver.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote when the last fool tried to pooh-pooh something they have not yet seen:
Apple doesn’t enter markets in order to perpetuate the status quo. Apple enters markets in order to disrupt them, because they’ve invented a better way. If Apple releases a smartwatch, it won’t be like “other companies.” [Articles like Sanati’s are] the musing[s] of someone who’s totally unfamiliar with, or ignoring, the way Apple has operated through history… As with everything else, if Apple doesn’t think they’re bringing something new to the table, a game-changer, then they won’t enter a market. (At least, they shouldn’t, if they’re still being run correctly, which we believe they are.) This goes for watches, TVs, streaming radio, and anything else the rumor sites can dream up.
Related articles:
Apple’s iWatch will measure far more than time – March 12, 2013
Apple’s rumored ‘iWatch’ is too late? – March 12, 2013
Disney ‘MagicBands’ showcases massive potential for Apple’s iWatch – March 6, 2013
Swatch CEO on Apple iWatch potential: ‘Personally, I don’t believe it’s the next revolution’ – March 6, 2013
Apple’s iOS-powered ‘iWatch’ facing battery life challenge, sources say – March 4, 2013
Apple seeks to introduce ‘iWatch’ as soon as this year, says source – March 4, 2013
Apple doesn’t need Corning for an iWatch, LG Display is ready to go with flexible OLED displays – March 3, 2013
Apple supplier Corning: It’ll be three years before companies start making ‘Willow’ flexible display products – February 28, 2013
Apple patent for flexible display slap bracelet ‘iWatch’ could fire up stock again – February 22, 2013
How to profit from Apple’s iWatch, Nike’s FuelBand and Google’s Glass – February 22, 2013
Apple’s iWatch concept is real – and here’s how it might work – February 22, 2013
ABI Research: Apple ‘iWatch’ could prove to be revelation in wearable tech – February 21, 2013
Apple patent application reveals slap bracelet ‘iWatch’ with flexible touchscreen display – February 21, 2013
Apple ‘iWatch’ leaks: Preemption or desperation? – February 19, 2013
Patents may point the way towards Apple iWatch – February 19, 2013
Samsung trying to beat Apple to market with ‘iWatch’ rival? – February 15, 2013
What if an Apple iWatch replaced most of the iPhone’s functions? – February 13, 2013
Apple ‘iWatch’ beyond ‘experimentation phase,’ sources say – February 13, 2013
Features that would make Apple’s iWatch a killer product – February 12, 2013
7 reasons why Apple’s unannounced ‘iWatch’ won’t fly – February 12, 2013
Patent application reveals Apple secretly developing wearable computing platform – February 12, 2013
Morgan Stanley: Apple iWatch, iTV could generate additional $80 billion annually – February 12, 2013
With ‘iWatch,’ Apple could turn wearable devices into next big thing – February 12, 2013
Why Apple is working on ‘iWatch,’ not ‘iGlasses’ – February 11, 2013
WSJ: Apple testing ‘iWatch’ device – February 11, 2013
iWatch: Apple developing curved-glass smart watch, sources say – February 11, 2013
Tog: The iWatch will fill a gaping hole in the Apple ecosystem – February 7, 2013
Why Apple should hang-up on the iPhone, iWear is next – January 6, 2013
Analyst sees wearable computers from Apple as future replacement for iPhone – January 2, 2013
Apple and Intel secretly building Bluetooth smartwatch that connects to your iOS devices, say sources – December 27, 2012
Apple patent application details display-integrated cellular antennas – May 6, 2012
Apple patent app details next-gen microstrip cellular antenna for future MacBooks, iWatch and beyond – October 25, 2011
Me no likey watches or rings on my arms and fingers and thought at last we didn’t need those things. It would have to be something so radically cool I and many others couldn’t resist.
I do
Fail
Didn’t they say the same thing about the iPod?
People who make these outrageous comments before a product has even been released are just not thinking rationally. I suggest to no one pay any attention to this article, just bump it and move on.
iaJim, they said it with much more conviction about the iPhone.
Exactly. People like Cyrus Sanati don’t know anything until a company like Apple creates something new and shows everyone something they had only hinted at in their imaginations. That is innovation…
I think iwatch functions may not be the same as we thought .
Since Apple released the square Nano that worked as a watch, I have been waiting for them to release a version that would pair with my iPhone to show me my emails and messages. I usually have to keep my ringer turned off and I don’t always feel the vibration in my pocket. Having my wrist watch vibrate will get my attention, and then I’d be able to see my messages without having to pull my phone out of my pocket.
#iWant
We haven’t even seen the complete product yet, and begin to judge that we need it or not? Let me show you what I mean:
”We don’t need a flying car because we already have cars and planes/helicopters….”
I’ve got a phone, who needs an iWatch? People are whining their phones are too small, and now they want what is usually portrayed as a big-ass metal-banded watch? It may happen, but I haven’t seen it yet.
About 5 billion people will prove this article wrong. People want specific instant gratification and feedback for email, texts, facebook, weather, stocks, etc., without digging in their pocket and staring at a device. The WRIST is the answer. Apple will redefine the watch. It is called “watch” for a reason, and people will watch it for indicators before they dig for their device.
I refuse to talk to people who are always head-down staring at their device. A manhole is waiting for them.
He is correct that no one needs an iWatch. All that anyone needs is food, water, shelter and/or clothing.
Putting Apple and Samsung in the same sentence is like putting an Aston Martin and a Hyundai in the same garage.
Additionally, this analysts’s article is lame. Cyrus Sanati sounds like everyone other self-proclaimed analysts thinking inside their own box.
“Apple and Samsung’s purported desire to create a ‘smart’ watch to pair with their smartphones seems to be an incredibly dumb idea.”
There is ONLY “Samsung’s purported desire”.
Apple has NOT said ANYTHING about making a watch.
It’s only BS smoke from hit whores…
This article is “an incredibly dumb idea.” Please do not click!
Any argument that is based on the idea that these sort of devices are pointless because an individual doesn’t like to wear a watch should be ignored completely.
An iWatch would be great – IF people don’t go overboard about what it should do. It’s never going to replace a phone. The screen size is just not practical and you’d need to wear an earpiece or make all your conversations be by speakerphone.
Personally I would like to briefly see who is ringing, so if I am on bluetooth or on headphones I don’t have to get my phone out. Yes Siri could speak it, but you’d only hear it if you had your headphones in or if it was spoke – which would get annoying.
An iWatch needs to be supplemental in a useful way. It needs to do a small amount really well, not everything badly. Plus, it also needs to be practically useful as a watch.
The wristwatch became more popular than the pocket watch for a reason. Just saying you can look at your phone and dismissing it is stupid.
Siri
Does this Genuis have 175 Billion in cash? Obvious this person must write articles for currency and not ranging on the ocean soaking up cash by the handful with his foresight into society’s purchasing habits.
I’ve been wearing a nano as my watch for 5 years ….to tell time and listen to music … with my phone in my pocket, the iwatch could let me answer the phone – listen with my earbuds – and not fish my phone out of my pocket…and with siri I could ask my watch to call a number….
If someone had told me that that my iPad mini would replace my iPad, I’d have laughed….but things happen…
This is the absurdity of your perspective: you want an iWatch so you can answer your phone, that is itself required to be in your pocket. You would speak through your headphones. Turns out, you don’t need yet another device in addition to your phone and headphones to answer the phone and speak. You just press the control button on your headphones. And you can talk to Siri through your headphones as well.
Come on people this is ridiculous. There is no iWatch simply because there is no need for it. It’s superfluous and flawed (tiny screen and awkward arm movement to use it)
There is one use that I think many people have overlooked, and could be a game changer, Apple could put a heart rate monitor, fingerprint reader and NFC technology into this thing that would mean good bye to all the credit cards and possibly keys you need.
So u would be required to wear a watch for payments? That’s ridiculous. Do you know how many people will get mugged and ripped off?
And a heart rate monitor and fingerprint reader? How big of a geek are you? You better go upstairs, your mother is calling.
I just got a prototype iPhone 5 Cuff Link that clips and rotates the light-weight iPhone 5 on my wrist. Use it when walking the dog and I need both hands. But it has to be unclipped when putting arm through a sleeve. Otherwise it is as light as my Casio Pathfinder.
It would be great to just be able to rest my hand on my Mac and to be instantly recognised, have my Mac unlocked for me and settings adjusted to how I use it, a family or group of people could share a Mac/iPad and not ever have to worry about passwords ever.
Being able to walk up to a door and soon as I touch the handle have the door unlocked would be quite handy as well.
Now that would be a life changer!
Any idiot who uses ‘wise’ and ‘Samsung’ in the same breath deserves not to take another one.
I don’t know if an iWatch item would be a must buy or not. Assuming Apple is still the same, I’m sure it will be a need none of us knew we needed! On the other hand, has anyone considered that maybe Apple has rolled this idea so that Samsung will waste time and effort stumbling over themselves to copy a myth?
If it runs for a year on a removable battery, and
it doesn’t drain the battery of the phone like crazy by using BlueTooth 24×7, and
it still has partial functionality when more than 8 feet away from the phone or tablet,
can get wet without violating its warranty (that red sensor iPhones have)
then it could interest me.
But watches have to be reliable, utilitarian, water-resistant and not tethered to a battery charger or a nearby phone. IMHO.