Why I Won’t Buy an Apple Watch

Needless to say when we tuned into to Apple’s latest event we were rather disappointed, mainly due to the lack of innovation and foresight related to the Apple Watch. What was thought of as a new ground-breaking device that could shape Apple’s move further into the IoT industry and overall smart industry in reality turned out to be a bulky device that aside from telling time reminds you that you need to take a shower or go running.

We are a bit sad that such an approach was used for this new device. Apple products are supposed to be cutting-edge and promote a different kind of lifestyle and culture, not one that downplays the stupidity of humans and their inability to remember when they need to take a shower or the liking. Additionally, for a device that is supposed to make life easier and more connected it doesn’t provide anything outside of an iPhone and what’s worse it needs the iPhone to connect.

The Apple Watch connects via Wi-Fi to another Apple device such as an iPhone or iPad that already has a data plan or connects to Wi-Fi. Currently, there are no data plans or strategies laid out by Apple that would allow the device to replace many of the functions provided by the iPhone. Since that is the scenario, it seems Apple just assumes that people are a bit lazy to take their phones out of their pockets and instead need to perform them on a much smaller screen attached to their wrist.

The iPad initially was meant to provide essentially a much larger version of the iPhone, giving users extended reading and playing options so it worked. In the case of the Apple Watch, this device should provide either the same functions as other iOS devices but on a more convenient scale or offer new ones otherwise unable to be performed on a device such as iPhone. The Apple Watch achieves neither of these and is both reliant on other devices nor provides increased applications.

It is fine that Apple wants to brand a watch but it should be more affordable. Higher-end models reach pricing that of Rolex just because they have gold embedded inside and are meant to represent some kind of new high-tech, high-roller type that wants luxury and connectivity. Having a Rolex plus an iPhone 6 can fulfill these demands, however, and we highly doubt Apple will sell many of these devices.

The Future

We don’t think the Apple Watch’s future is entirely gloomy though. Trends show that connectivity through watches will grow but that they will need to act as a separate entity in order to have value. Apple will need to consider embedding 4G services or the like into the device and allowing users to connect in the same way as their iPhones. This doesn’t necessarily mean the iPhone or other devices will be challenged. Most Apple users have more than one device for convenience and would view this as an alternative to their connected setup, something Apple needs to take into consideration.

App developers meanwhile will undoubtedly start creating new applications to promote how the device or other smart watch devices can be used. Business opportunities for the Apple Watch are not necessarily limited to what Apple provides but rather what else can be built around it in the tech world.

Ideally, we would like to see the Apple Watch promote projected imagery in the future, such as in concepts mostly found in sci-fi movies. Thicker smartphones may be required to achieve this, something of which trends in the market do not favor as everyone wants lighter and thinner devices, but watches are still up for grabs in this regard. Until then, even if someone finds a way to crack the Apple Watch and have it connect to the web on its own do not expect us to be wearing one anytime soon.