The Next Big Thing: The Apple Watch
Can we all agree that the iPod is a hit? Great. Now that we have that out of the way let’s talk about what Apple should do next. With members of the iPod family covering every price point from $99 to $499, Apple has now completed their apparent master plan for portable music domination. They will continue to make improvements (think smaller and more HD) and that’s great. But for Apple to evolve, the brain trust at One Infinite Loop need to discover the next big thing.
Ignore the constant pleas for AM/FM on your iPod. Don’t even think about video iPods, and please don’t talk about the Apple phone. All of these “advancements” are relying off an established market of dedicated and converted users. MP3 players were out there before the iPod but none were as cool as the iPod. But even though Apple could make a cool phone there are already a plethora of cool phones out there. You don’t want to arrive last at the dance. But you don’t want to be first either.
First Apple should find a technology that is already in market because that gives them less risk of viability. We don’t want another “ahead of their time” Newton situation. Then they need to create an Apple hipness element to exploit it the way the iPod exploited personal music. I’m talking about the Apple Watch.
As I sit at my desk writing this article, I look down at my Swatch Paparazzi watch. I received this watch from my best friend last Christmas and I’ve worn it every day since. For those unfamiliar with the Swatch Paparazzi, it is a watch that offers web-like content transmitted via FM signals. At any time, I can view headlines, stocks, weather, sports scores, movie listings, local events, horoscopes, check my calendar, receive instant messages, and oh yeah…it tells time. I get all this for a $60 a year service plan plus the price of the watch. And Swatch is not the only one on the scene. Other watch makers like Fossil and Tissot also offer models with similar capabilities.
Yes. I’m a geek.
Now did I mention the service is provided by Microsoft? My watch receives this dynamic content via Microsoft’s MSN Direct service. I must admit, it is really cool. But I also think Apple could do better.
I have mentioned numerous times my thoughts that a watch can tell a lot about a person. A Rolex for instance, says to me: Old money. A Tag Heuer: New Money. A watch with diamonds embedded around the face simply speaks differently than a Casio Calculator watch. My watch says geek. But it also says cutting edge. Ok, it says cutting edge geek. In fact this geek factor, I suspect, is the reason why these watches have not made it big in a mainstream audience. It’s a big watch (almost 2” in diameter), bright orange, and has a rubber strap. Not necessarily the generic looking timepiece worn by the masses. (Incidentally, it suits me fine but then again, we established I’m a geek)
Microsoft currently offers the service while leaving the watch design to the individual manufacturers. Apple could infuse their trendsetting industrial design to a watch utilizing a proprietary service directly from Apple. If these pieces fall into place, imagine the possibilities. I’m talking integration with iLife and .Mac. Maybe even a USB watch with Shuffle like functionality.
Whether Apple journeys into the world of watches or not, they need to think of the next big thing. The iPod will not stay hot forever. Some bet on video iPods. My bet is on watches.
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Comments
Actually, I like the online watch idea. I’m just not willing to part with an additional penny to Microsoft.
I’ve always been a technowatch person. I currently wear a Suunto watch, but I’m also a big Casio watch fan. Add Apple’s design flair, iSync, and some customizable Internet content, and I’d be next in line.
I like watches that are small. I hate how, for whatever bizarre reason, men’s watches have to bo enormous. “You call that a man’s watch? Make that wrist band twice as thick an twice as wide!”
I don’t want something that covers my whole wrist just to tell me the time. In fact, because I’ve never found a watch I liked, I don’t even wear one. I never have any clue what time it is when I’m outside. Yay! (The fact that slicker, slimmer watches tend to have leather wrist straps/bands doesn’t help either since I’m vegan.—Yes, I know computers are probably not vegan.)
I use my iPod to tell the time. Most people I know use their cell phones to tell the time. I believe the kind of content delivery you’re interested in will be integrated into the iPod. It won’t be a cell phone per se, but it will allow access to the iTMS and maybe it will even give your notebook internet access.
Thinking up totally new products for Apple to sell in an emerging market is pretty tough. I think Apple could make a decent wireless digital projector, and price it within range of the average consumer. That’s my fantasy, anyway.
Interesting article, but I dont bet on it.
I am a guy who believes in specialized products. There is *something* a product is meant to do and it should aim at achieving it better and better. To me, an iPod is a portable music player and an iPod Photo a portable music-and-photo slideshow player. The small bonuses they provide, like calenders and contacts and games are just that.
The purpose of a cell phone is to be able to communicate wherever you are, wireless. A digicam is expected to take still pictures. A handycam is expected to capture movies. There are lots of things that each of them provide beyond what they are meant for - camera phones for instance. But I bet that you will not go on a vacation carrying just your camera phone to take the pictures !!
An iPod is great because it just makes the music listening experience so much better. As you said, there were portable players before. But none had the ease of synchronization of an iPod. So a great product is one which creates new dimensions in its field.
I cant imagine to what extent can Apple innovate in the already heavy watch segment. But IMO, iPod is still in its early days - it carries a huge potential of further innovations and keep expanding Apple’s presence in the market.
According to an article published in channel news asia (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews
/view/140783/1/.html) and later reproduced on other sites, watch sales are actualy suffering from the proliferation of digital devices that replace their main function, telling time, so IMO it is unlikely for Apple to produce one. As for the idea of cellphones replacing watches I do think it shows in everyday life. I used to wear a watch and I thought I couldn’t really go to school without it for whatever reason, but after it broke recently I have been using my cellphone to tell the time and have realised I don’t need a new watch. I don’t think there is any need to keep stocks quotes and headlines on your wrist all the time and I believe such functions would be more useful on a cellphone wich can have a larger screen and a more functional keyboard.