Why Don't We Have a Good Smartwatch?

[MrSquished]

The wrist watch never did make a lot of sense even to tell time.

What I think we need is a tiny pocektable key fob remote control so we can interact with our phone without taking it out of our pocket, and get the info via a BT headset.

We could do all the interaction via voice commands, but when it's not possible to talk, a tiny remote with4 or 5 assignable buttons means we could check email, get our location, check the weather, etc., without speaking.

how does a wristwatch not make sense to you to tell time if that's the info you wanted to see as quickly and conveniently as possible.

 

[dagamer34]

Answer is pretty simple, you need to have the OS designed to explicitly treat a smart watch as a first class citizen, not a hack on notifications that requires you to fiddle with settings to make it usable. And then you need developers to buy into your smart watch so that whatever is displayed on the watch is actually helpful to your user, not just a bunch of mindless drivel.

Much like operating system quality (regardless of what you think of features), I only trust Apple, Google, and Microsoft to make one because they also make iOS, Android, and Windows Phone respectively.

 

[Eug]

I still haven't seen a compelling reason for a smart watch to exist.

They seem pointless to me.

 

[openwheel]

On my way to Munich I saw a Submariner 16610 LV next to me. I am in love now. Must get one someday because I can't simply put a green bezel on mine.

On the other side I saw a Pebble like watch, what a Fugly piece @% $#-&

 

[dawheat]

On my way to Munich I saw a Submariner 16610 LV next to me. I am in love now. Must get one someday because I can't simply put a green bezel on mine.

On the other side I saw a Pebble like watch, what a Fugly piece @% $#-&

Its all perspective - I know plenty of finance guys in NYC that laugh at Submariners as frat boy watches. There is a trend as well not to wear any watches to work - when everyone has a Patek, then is anyone special?

Still for me - a hunk of metal that tells time no better than a Casio never had much appeal to me. On the other hand, one of my friends probably has 20 Rolexs of all kinds. So to each their own.

 

[Shlong]

Its all perspective - I know plenty of finance guys in NYC that laugh at Submariners as frat boy watches. There is a trend as well not to wear any watches to work - when everyone has a Patek, then is anyone special?

Still for me - a hunk of metal that tells time no better than a Casio never had much appeal to me. On the other hand, one of my friends probably has 20 Rolexs of all kinds. So to each their own.

I've met a lot of finance guys on wall street and I haven't seen many that wear Patek's (I've only seen one guy wear a Nautilus and a few with Calatrava). Most are wearing submariner (most common), explorer, daytona (2nd most common), and yachtmaster 2 on a daily basis.

 

[MrSquished]

not a fan of that submariner. i mean it's nice, but nothing special. i think my $400 Citizen looks better than that:

 

[mikegg]

Apple hasn't made one yet so Samsung has nothing better to copy.

 

[QueBert]

There are still plenty of us who still wear watches every day, I have about 15 in my collection. I'd buy a smart watch in a minute if it worked well and more importantly didn't look like ass. I suspect only Apple or HTC will be able to get the form looking right. I don't need a big hi res screen, and I don't need a week long battery. If I can get 1 solid day of usage I'd be happy.

My perfect watch would have Nike+ & GPS built in so I could ditch my Nike GPS Sportswatch. Hopefully Apple's working on a watch, because I have a suspicion they'll release something that actually sells which will push other companies to follow suit.

 

[s44]

LG introducing "G Arch" (watch) and "G Health" (fitness) at MWC?

I saw another rumor linking these to an imminent G3, but that makes almost no sense.

 

[s44]

LG introducing "G Arch" (watch) and "G Health" (fitness) at MWC?

LOL, LG is apparently just keeping pace with Samsung:

Galaxy Gear 2 and Galaxy Band for MWC?

Two Korean flexible display smartwatches.... interesting.

edit:
Band?

Gear 2?

 

[alangrift]

It might not be the time for this electronic. It's like the tablet how it was first introduced around 2001 but didn't become big until a few years ago with Steve jobs sponsoring the iPad.

 

[dmw16]

I can't see the point of a smart watch. I prefer my nice mechanical wrist watch. It's tasteful and in my opinion proper attire for a professional and a gentleman. A half-assed cell phone on your wrist is a toy for boys, not something a man should wear in public.

 

[Eug]

I can't see the point of a mechanical wrist watch. It is an anachronism.

A heavy mechanical watch that keeps worse time than a $10 kids' digital watch and just gets in the way is an exercise in pure misguided vanity.

---

Seriously though, I don't view mechanical watches with that much disdain. I do like the look of some, but in reality they are no more "proper attire" than a smart watch is in modern times.

 

[dmw16]

I can't see the point of a mechanical wrist watch. It is an anachronism.

A heavy mechanical watch that keeps worse time than a $10 kids' digital watch and just gets in the way is an exercise in pure misguided vanity.

---

Seriously though, I don't view mechanical watches with that much disdain. I do like the look of some, but in reality they are no more "proper attire" than a smart watch is in modern times.

They are vanity, no disagreement there. Largely a piece of jewelry that provides some usefulness (telling time). The whole "$10 kids watch telling better time" thing is a bit silly - mechanical watches are just as accurate in a relative sense for what they are used for (getting to a meeting not putting things into orbit).

I think in a lot of business settings a digital watch looks very immature. It obviously depends on where you are (geographically) and what field you work in.

But yes, I agree it's mostly status and vanity. But it looks (to me) much more professional than having a tiny cellphone on your wrist.

 

[dawheat]

They are vanity, no disagreement there. Largely a piece of jewelry that provides some usefulness (telling time). The whole "$10 kids watch telling better time" thing is a bit silly - mechanical watches are just as accurate in a relative sense for what they are used for (getting to a meeting not putting things into orbit).

I think in a lot of business settings a digital watch looks very immature. It obviously depends on where you are (geographically) and what field you work in.

But yes, I agree it's mostly status and vanity. But it looks (to me) much more professional than having a tiny cellphone on your wrist.

I don't think anyone remotely believes smartwatches will replace regular watches en masse. It comes down to preference and usage - there will be those who don't wear any watches, those who wear smartwatches and those who wear regular watches - and no one is right or wrong.

For me, there is daily utility I get from a smartwatch that I value, even as immature as the segment is. There are at least a dozen times a day when it would be inappropriate for me to pull out my phone, unlock it, and read a notification (generally when in meetings) and another dozen or so times it's just inconvenient. Being able to glance inobtrusively at my wrist to check if it's important has moderately changed how I interact with my phone - especially since I can control exactly which notifications actually go to the watch.

Secondary functions like controlling the music player, checking weather, setting a quick timer, and being able to answer specific type of calls are genuinely useful.

Just an hour ago, I was outside coming back from a performance with my phone in my jacket pocket, my jacket buttoned up, and gloves on. I got a call and normally I'd sigh, pull off a glove, unbutton my jacket, pull out my phone, open the S-view cover, and answer the call. For who it was, I was able to just answer it on my watch and while keeping it a good 18" from my face, have a 10 second conversation. The speaker/mic on it works surprisingly well.

 

[StrangerGuy]

I can't see the point of a mechanical wrist watch. It is an anachronism.

A heavy mechanical watch that keeps worse time than a $10 kids' digital watch and just gets in the way is an exercise in pure misguided vanity.

---

Seriously though, I don't view mechanical watches with that much disdain. I do like the look of some, but in reality they are no more "proper attire" than a smart watch is in modern times.

I don't see the point of spending $$$ for negative practical functionality (metal watches are heavy and hinder arm movement) and becoming a bigger target for crime.

 

[dmw16]

I don't see the point of spending $$$ for negative practical functionality (metal watches are heavy and hinder arm movement) and becoming a bigger target for crime.

A smart watch will make you make of a target. And hinder arm movement due to a watches weight? Really?

 

[MrSquished]

(metal watches are heavy and hinder arm movement

you cant possibly be serious

 

[Eug]

They are vanity, no disagreement there. Largely a piece of jewelry that provides some usefulness (telling time). The whole "$10 kids watch telling better time" thing is a bit silly - mechanical watches are just as accurate in a relative sense for what they are used for (getting to a meeting not putting things into orbit).

I think in a lot of business settings a digital watch looks very immature. It obviously depends on where you are (geographically) and what field you work in.

But yes, I agree it's mostly status and vanity. But it looks (to me) much more professional than having a tiny cellphone on your wrist.

Having no watch at all looks just as "professional" in modern times in most instances. In fact, with the professionals I deal with on a daily basis, IMO, wearing a big mechanical watch just screams "old school". That may or may not be a good in a lot of situations. On average it's a wash, but the point here is that you may as well not wear a watch of any kind regardless if it's a mechanical watch or a smart watch.

Basically, if you want to wear a mechanical watch that's fine, but don't try to sell it as "proper attire" for anything these days, unless you're going to a Rolex convention or something.

you cant possibly be serious

I'd agree with that other person's statement. It just gets in the way, and it can get really irritating depending on what you're doing.

 

[MrSquished]

I'd agree with that other person's statement. It just gets in the way, and it can get really irritating depending on what you're doing.

i think the two of you need to take an IQ test and pray it comes up over 100

 

[dmw16]

i think the two of you need to take an IQ test and pray it comes up over 100

And/or hit the gym a little.

 

[Commodus]

I just got a Pebble smartwatch, and for now it seems like that's a wiser strategy than what Samsung's following: make a watch that happens to have smart functionality, rather than a computing device that happens to sit on your wrist and tell time. It's relatively subtle and unintrusive, and it's much more focused than the Galaxy Gear on doing what a smartwatch should -- save you from reaching for your phone.

This isn't to rule out more advanced devices, but I don't think Samsung's current strategy is working; it's focused more on party tricks like the camera and voice calls than the core functionality. If Apple or others get into the space, they'll have to take a significantly different tack.

 

[Imp]

I'd agree with that other person's statement. It just gets in the way, and it can get really irritating depending on what you're doing.

i think the two of you need to take an IQ test and pray it comes up over 100

You've either never worn a watch or need to look in the mirror.

 

[openwheel]

LOL I feel bad for those who can't appreciate mechanical watches. Yes, a watch is still proper attire in 2013. Its different glancing at your wrist than turning on and swipe to unlock your phone.

These days, having Apple product is more vanity than a piece of jewelry on your wrist. I am currently in Paris right now and Parisians love their cheap luxury. I phones, cheap sushi, Longchamp...etc.