The iWatch
Okay dear readers, i know we are all eagerly waiting for the iWatch. It is the Holy Grail of wearables, although it still resides in rumour land. But there is heck of a lot of rumours out there, though. Only thing that maybe can be compared with that in terms of "i want it so badly i am more than willing to trade in redundant body parts if i am to get this" (just a joke people, chill out) is Google Glass but this is a much more obtrusive piece of hi tech gadgetry and maybe, just maybe, the average Joe does not actually want to put it on, because:
- He does not like the way it looks.
- He does not like the way it looks on his mug.
- He does not like the way people look at him when he has it on.
- He does not like the fact that he has a wireless transmitter mere millimetres from his brain and he is supposed to keep it there all day long.
- He does not like the idea of being always connected. After all, taking a piss will always be something your Facebook followers as well as your Hangout contacts (as well as the World if i am to be asked) do not really want to participate in.
Still, i (beware though - i am not an average specimen, something went wrong at some point in my life) would give it try of course. After the price drops at reasonable levels and availability is guaranteed for everyone interested. Still, if Google ever reads this and wants to make an explorer out of me, feel free guys. You know where to find me.
Anyway, back to the iWatch. I may get back to you about the Glass in another post.
What we are waiting for
Pretty simple, this one. We want Apple to present a smartwatch like device that just works. It is not easy. I know. Trust me on this one.
I will not get technical here, but what we want is a device that one can wear on the wrist that will actually provide some added value. In order to achieve this, it will have to:
- Provide some real added value.
- Biometrics comes to mind, as well as:
- GPS.
- Handsfree functionality.
- Facetime.
- Sleep/activity tracking.
- Be unobtrusive:
- Water resistance is of uttermost importance.
- Battery life should equal one week even in heavy usage / worst case scenario.
- Durability and comfort are essential.
- Look good.
- I trust Apple on this one. They are gonna make it.
Thing is we do not know anything about it, so we can only hope for the best. Thank God there are some creative souls among us that do not only hope but also have ideas and the talent/capability to present them to the world.
The iWatch mockup
Thomas Bogner created a mock up that actually looked good and seemed to be consistent with the rumours of Nike being a key force in the development of the iWatch, as well as with what we have come to expect from Apple in terms of design. You may admire it here:
There was however on major flaw that renders this concept kind of futile: The orientation of the interface makes it impossible to use, always assuming it adorns someone's wrist.
The iWatch i want
Todd (for obvious reasons his first name brings to my twisted mind the infamous "She's not my mother, Todd!" scene from Terminator 2: Judegment day - aka the best movie of all times) Hamilton (Linda Hamilton played Sarah Connor, let me remind you), who maintains an excellent blog has identified the problem and proposed (actually improved Mr Bogner's design) his version of the iWatch concept that you do not want to miss. I invite you to visit the guy's blog and see for yourself the fantastic concept of an i Watch that he proposed. This is how he started:
And this is kind of what the interface is supposed to be like:
Anyone listening?
Has anyone from Apple seen that? I bet so. Please make this real, people. It looks good and it looks like it would also feel good to wear and use. Yeah, yeah, yeah I know that Todd was not bound by manufacturing limitations, however i also know that if there is one manufacturer out there who can do the impossible it has to be Apple. After all you have all the money in the world (currently worth 504,770.8 million USD for Christ's sake) and maybe some more, so there are no excuses. You have also taken your sweet time with your smartwatch attempt, you have analysed other manufacturers' failures, you have had the chance to hear what people want (you are reading this fine blog, aren't you?) which basically means that you CAN DO IT. Do not screw this one up Apple. Do you hear me?
Dream watch!
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήI would pay someone to stand on the line for me! (just kidding)
In my opinion:
The most important factors for a watch as wearable is comfort, beauty and wireless charging solution.
The most important factors for a watch as problem-solver is to be connected and audio-mic capable in a great way.
Notifications are also a very important aspect, if i am to be asked. I see the smartwatch as a way to avoid using the phone itself, as far as the end result is the same. Think of this scenario: An SMS comes from one of your contacts. The iWatch vibrates and you see the message while let's say doing the dishes (which implies that is waterproof, of course). You then do a certain gesture that activates Siri and reply to the SMS. All this while doing the dishes. This is some real added value. Of course this is already happening with the S-voice on the Galaxy Gear, as long as you pair it with a compatible Galaxy device. But how about a smartwatch that you can can track your heart rate and in case of emergency send out a distress signal including your location? The possibilities are endless. However, the smartwatch must remain a (kind of) regular watch in the same time. It is actually the balance between smart and watch that is not yet optimal and this is what i am expecting Apple to achieve,
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