Wearables are now a two-horse race and Google lost very badly Did you notice anything else missing from Mobile World Congress this year? Apart from any interesting phones? Previous MWCs have been flooded by hopeful tech companies touting new wearables. The flood became a trickle, and last year Huawei and LG were the only two tech vendors left flying the flag for Android Wear smartwatches …
I'd more interested in mechanical watches if they can achieve ten years plus without a service.
The need for a service undermines their potential 'just forget about them' appeal, especially since some Casios can go for over a decade on a single battery (plus solar and kinetic models, but I don't know the longevity if their energy storage components, battery or capacitor).
Still, come the EMP blast I'll use one of mechanicals.
There's a beauty and provenance in a fine Swiss watch. You can appreciate the intricate craftsmanship and generations of ingenuity that went into producing such a tiny, elegant machine. I've spent quite a while staring in awe and fascination at the transparent casebacks that some mechanical watches sport.
They were on the technological bleeding edge of the 17th century and only usurped by the brutal efficiency of quartz within our lifetimes.
Perhaps we're too quick to dismiss things as 'Meh' or 'Dumb'.
As for the Apple Watch - tried it, couldn't get on with it, got rid of it.
Smartwatches have yet to find any niche worth talking about, tbh. There's vanishingly few things that a smartwatch can do that a phone can't, and a huge list of things a phone can do that a smartwatch can't. And even those few things that a smartwatch is better for than a phone, like heart rate monitoring etc, the watch tends to be fairly terrible at - I've yet to see any evidence of a smartwatch with a remotely accurate heart rate monitoring function, and my gf's fitbit is regularly wildly wrong.
And it doesn't seem like manufacturers try to improve these relatively few USPs, instead adding phone features which the smartwatch is genuinely horrible for instead. Even if I could get apps to work as quickly on a watch as they do on the phone, the tiny screen of a watch isn't a great input device for most of the apps I want to use on a day to day basis.
I disagree.
My good old Pebble just sits there telling me the time when I'm interested in any weather or in the water, with a watch face I can change to support my mood or needs.
It buzzes and shows me what's in the message that just arrived so I don't have to dig into a bag or pocket or take gloves off.
It lets me choose next tracks, pause music without having to fire up the phone or guess at the headphone buttons.
It shows me speed, time, distance etc when I'm using runkeeper
It tells me who's phoning me when I'm in a different room to the phone and it rings so I know whether I want to leg it to pick it up or not.
It adds simple convenience, which is what I want.
It's also much much cheaper than some of the old fashioned analogue watches I used to wear.
I've been trying to find the replacement for when it eventually dies, no-one has got close.
I've been trying to find the replacement for when it eventually dies, no-one has got close.
You've nailed the essential point of a smartwatch. It's more or less not very much without a smartphone, but functions extremely well as a "remote access" terminal for the phone.
And aside from the runkeeper part and the cheaper-than-analogue part, my Apple Watch does all the other things you mentioned. (No, an Apple Watch is not cheaper than the most expensive analogue watch I ever bought. The late Mrs Cynic didn't like me spending much on watches, and quite frankly I wouldn't have spent anything like an Apple Watch's price on something that can only tell the time even if she had said it was OK.)
So if runkeeper comes in an iOS version that understands the Apple Watch (the App Store says it does), you might (if you can bear to pay the AW's price(1)) consider that as a replacement.
(1) I'm well aware that the price *is* an obstacle.
A Chinese Bluetooth indicator type watch for alerts from phone and as handsfree handset is about 1/10th cost of an Apple Watch. Takes ordinary replacement straps. Optionally takes microSD card for voice dictation / camera. Optionally SIM and works as GSM phone! Runs about two days on a charge.
The Apple model looks well made, but otherwise is grossly overpriced. Does it work without an Apple phone unlike cheap ones that work iOS, Android and stand alone?
"You've nailed the essential point of a smartwatch. It's more or less not very much without a smartphone, but functions extremely well as a "remote access" terminal for the phone."
I once would have said that now I've heard everything but I'm sure there's plenty of craziness yet to come. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs...
I'll just keep repeating that as necessary. Give me the strength.
I once would have said that now I've heard everything but I'm sure there's plenty of craziness yet to come. If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs...
I didn't say it was in any way *necessary*, merely that the job it does, it does well. Perhaps some people would prefer that it did more, specifically that it does interesting things that don't require a phone, but I'm pleased by how it does what it does.
On the other hand, if it dies outside its warranty period, I'll probably buy an ordinary watch rather than a smartwatch.
A watch is quicker for checking things like the time, and quicker for some interactions - eg rotate a bezel to note time of event (parking meter, dinner in oven). These are demonstrably true if all watches, a smart watch is a cost/benefit analysis for the individual.
My Huawei Watch 2 4G does all those things but can do them without a phone. That's super convenient. Particularly for running. I have a Note 8, and being able to just leave that behind when I don't need a camera-computer but just a phone is pretty great.
Of course it's a niche, as long as they are expensive to buy and use, but long term - who wouldn't want this added convenience?
... wearable oyster and other payments card, remote arming the car alarm, GPS, controlling ZigBee lights, YubiKey style 2FA, voice memo recording ... but "fitness"?? No. I don't give a damn how many steps a 3km walk amounts to and I don't need to obsessively monitor my pulse any more than I do my blood sugar. Medical devices like that may be useful for people with specific health conditions, but otherwise, you're just targetting narcissists and hypochondriacs.
well the fitness part is for me: keeping your heart rate where you want to train (I'm bad in the middle physical effort for instance, but good on the high effort, so I have to train where the heart ist 140-150), telling you to move around on one of those lazy days (time to stand up) and counting my swimming laps (which I really can't count by myself, and I have a distance goal). Seeing how my split time is, swimming, tells me how to swim better next time - to be less physically stressed and cover more distance. And at some point you condition yourself to fill all the circles every day - and it will make you feel good physically and mentally. Seeing how your effort capacity goes down in time lets you better plan your sport sessions in general.
I use a GPS tracker for a number of reasons - in training I use it to monitor my effort level (say some days I want to train at a specific level, esp forcing myself to run slower than I normally would), and also to quantify improvements over time, when I run the same route. But more importantly the main reason I bought the device I did was for navigation when out trail running, much easier having a device tell you which direction to run than having to read a map.
Seen as I have a "smart" device (and I'm not sure a garmin sportswatch really compares in functionality to something like an iDevice, but thats another matter), I use it. I bought it for running a few specific events, but why not use it for the rest of the runs?
Sure, I can see how someone such as yourself or Mr @arthoss may have a need for special equipment for your specific sport (you probably have special shoes too), but I was really discussing mainstreaming these devices (or not). Personally, I would like a watch with a compass, altimeter and GPS because it would be useful for deploying LoraWAN sensors - but that's an even smaller niche than orienteering.
Call me paranoid if you like, but I specifically don't want a device monitoring "me" for generic use, particularly if there is a cloud slurping dimension. I'm interested (potentially) in sensing and controlling my environment, but voluntarily instrumenting myself 24/7 on behalf of slurp corps is not going to happen.
Still love my G Watch R running the latest Android Wear. The thing with wearables (like watches) is that unless you can make it desirable, it's not a compulsive purchase. Apple sell's most of their products (especially inc the Watch) as a fashion accessory - who else would launch one in 18c gold FFS! If Apple can get those watches onto the right wrists and be seen in the right places, their loyal followers will take the bait - as they always do. With Android Wear, there's none of that, so it doesn't get the column inches, or the exposure and thus doesn't have the appeal. Doesn't mean it's not a great product though, but as has been seen many times before, that doesn't mean it will be a great success.
Why has Wearable Tech become equated to Smart Watches ?
Smart watches are a boring unimaginative corner of wearables. They are, as Andrew indicates, just the tech sector trying to push a product. The fashion industry wrote them off a couple of years ago. That industry is notorious for cycles, so they might reappear - by then sufficiently powerful to be useful - in 10 years, but for now they're dead.
But wearable tech is older and more interesting than smart phones. It's included a lot of rubbish (like bio-monitoring bras) but active clothing and jewellery (note the emphasis change from tech that's wearable to artifacts that are smart) continue to attract interest away from the blinkered corporate view.
Please don't lump them all together.
Any "wearable" other than fitness/health monitor / watch, or a smart phone is a solution looking for a problem or dystopia.
What else is there (no not AR specs + camera, especially not disguised as contact lenses.)? Hearing aids? Camera / face recognition blockers? LED soles / laces / buttons / beanie lights?
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I too have the famous Chinese wearable (Xiaomi Mi Band 2) and think it's fantastic - for less than 20 quid. Doubt if I would be so enthusiastic if I'd paid 250 of course. It does all the heart rates and step-counting and all that but I find if you turn that stuff off the battery life improves dramatically and I can almost get two weeks out of it.
So why do I have it, I can hear you ask, well it is so useful in meetings or presentations where your phone is on silent. Can look rude pulling your phone out to look at an incoming message but much more acceptable discreetly looking at your wrist when it buzzes.
my apple watch selects music while I'm driving (play Moby), I use the timer a lot (through Siri), I'm checking sunset/sunrise times (photography) and weather as well as moon phase (photography). I think a lot of little apps should be created as widgets on the watch, because that's its strength. From the dumb watches the one thing I always wanted was the moon phase and the date. There is no smartwatch anymore. There is watch and dumb watch.
I stopped wearing a watch years ago (my phone was a more accurate and useful device) so I need something pretty useful to make me want anything on my wrist.
I had a pebble for a while, I liked the ease of glancing at notifications, but that also made them more intrusive (even when driving it was tempting to just twist the wrist a bit).
I have to look at them and consider them a solution without a problem for most cases (kind of neat HR monitor, but really???)
I still have my Android Wear Asus ZenWatch 1 ( ~ £160?) I would still rather have it than a normal watch. I bought it as a 'want' but I find it really useful and people often go 'oh that's useful' when i check my msgs or ignore calls via my watch in a restaurant or a pub, not having to dig out my phone.
I like that I can get bored with a watch face and change it. if i'm walking using google maps i don't have to walk around holding the phone up .. i can take cursory looks at my watch that shows my directions.
Handy compass, don't need, but ultra handy when I need it .. cos what's the chance i'll have or want to carry around a real compass !!
Send quick texts via voice, usually in the car, so I only look stupid, not sound stupid as well.
I'd miss it if it wasn't there and products like that are what google are about, filling gaps you never knew you had.
It's just 'acceptability' that's causing people to not adopt.
I still feel a fool talking to a blue tooth headset because you look like you're talking to no one .. so again, look silly, but it's so useful being hands free not holding the damn phone to your head.
All this new technology, when it's habit changing naturally gets a lot of resistance until it's common place.
Shame Android Wear is not being adopted widely.
Expensive, not waterproof and crap. It didn't sell well and seemed doomed to disappear.
Did Apple pull it out of the bag then, I hadn't noticed much chat about it to know if sales took off. I thought back then the feeling was FitBit et al had stolen the wearable market - simpler, more targeted devices.
Mine is Series 2,(1) but yeah, I wear it every day, and I use at least some aspect that isn't just "what time is it?" every day as well, even if it's just "how fecking cold is it out there?" before I go out.
(1) So it is allegedly 50 metre waterproof. But the original and Series 1 are both rated IP67, so should be OK in the rain or e.g. while doing the washing up.
I Had the original Series 1 watch and used to swim in it just fine, even outdoor swimming in Salford Quays.... I now have the Series 3, it's strengths for me? Making me lose 5 stone in weight and getting fit. I wear it all day every day, Series 3 has about 2 - 3 days battery life (less if you exercise) is easy to use and I get streaming music whilst leaving my phone behind for an outdoor run. It's a marvel!
Outside of fitness can I still pin point the killer feature to say to people you should get one? No... not really.
No one will care about wearables. The exceptions are exercise bands and bands to monitor children, elderly, prisoners, but those are niche products.
You can do everything you want with a traditional wrist watch and a smartphone.
Also, some wrist watches are mementos, handed down from generation to generation. Try doing that with a smartwatch which becomes obsolete within months.
My experience is that an Apple Watch with WatchOS 1 would drain to 57% after one day, but with WatchOS 3+, it goes to mid-80s% or so. And it goes on charge at night when I'm not wearing it anyway.
Battery life issue with watches is much the same as with phones. Recharging them daily overnight is not a major issue so getting battery that will comfortably manage a day (and ideally cope for 2 days in case you forget to recharge one night) is the initial requirement - with a Moto Z Play I've hit that with my phone the Sony SW3 I used to have also met this requirement - my current Fossil smartwatch will last a day but wouldn't last 2 without doing things like switching idle display off etc. After the "lasts one day comfortably and manages for 2 if necessary" stage then, in my view, there's not much benefit in increasing battery life until it will last several weeks between charges - lasting 3 or 4 days is really little benefit over lasting 1 or 2 because its unlikely you'll tick off days until you need to recharge and end up charging every night.
£17 at tkmax around xmas, that was my toy this year. Right price (definitely not the £60 retail), claimed waterproof to 50m so don't worry about it too much. Kinda tells time (to within 5 minutes), counts steps, interesting sleep tracking data. Annoyed that I am sharing my data with misfit when they aren't sharing their aggregate data with me, no other complaints. Otherwise haven't worn a watch for 5 years now. Like the other brands, the rest of their line expanding into smart and bulky, apparently simple/small/useful/cheap doesn't make them enough money.
Between myself and my partner we had 3 Misfit devices, one failed within warranty and was replaced by them. This replacement and the other original one then failed just after the warranty period ended. Support is bad, quality abysmal.
Have been using a Samsung Gear Fit2 for over a year and despite some occasional glitches I love it.
Sometimes the best business is the one that realises this early enough. Such as Lou Gerstner's decision to get out of operating systems.
Of course, as long as Apple is still piling on the millions it might seem to be a good thing but it is also an example of Apple taking its eye off the ball. The market for car systems and home automation is so much bigger and Amazon, Google and Baidu are already well ahead of Apple there.
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Swiss manufacturers have managed to get smarts into watches for those that want them. But otherwise a fitness band and a headset would seem to be about all you need.
BTW. I like the Withings for a something between a band and full-blown thing with a tiny screen.
I like a small phone, and for various reasons I'm kinda stuck in the Apple eco-system. I like my gen 1 iPhone SE, but I'm not looking forward to upgrading to either iPhone Huge, iPhone Enormous or iPhone Massive when the time comes. So I'm seriously considering keeping the SE and just buying an Apple Watch Cellular. Once the watch is configured, it goes in the draw. I think with Siri and a couple of apps I probably have everything I need until I get home.
Three things I'm still concerned about:
- I'm often stuck needing to do a little internet banking cash management when I'm at the shop - the Watch app seems to not allow transfers, only balances. I suppose I could use phone banking at a stretch tho. Or just keep my Apple Pay account topped up more regularly...
- battery life
- camera (but I think I have this worked out - buying a Red Hydrogen One as purely a camera)
I'll probably hang out on my decision until April or May and see it it looks like there will be an Apple Watch Series 4 with better battery...
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