The latest release from Apple, the giant in electronics retail and a master of marketing technology products, is the Apple Watch. The device promised to be a must-have wearable for millennials and all Apple enthusiasts, but is it an extraordinary technological innovation that brings consumer experience with Internet-enabled wearables to a new level, or just a fad?So far so good, or, at least, that’s what you might think thanks to Apple’s marketing and PR.So far so good, or, at least, that’s what you might think thanks to Apple’s marketing and PR.You might be surprised to hear, then, that not all is as it seems.
So far so good, or, at least, that’s what you might think thanks to Apple’s marketing and PR.You might be surprised to hear, then, that not all is as it seems.
You might be surprised to hear, then, that not all is as it seems.
I know, there are many Apple fans and Apple Watch users, and they will all testify that the device is a “must have” product, but when you have a good think about the practical uses of the watch, it may make you reconsider…
First, it’s not a watch replacement.
Many people presume that the Apple Watch is automatically a straight replacement for classic watches with added functions. However due to practicalities such as reliability, can it ever replace the classic watch?
In an article be Robert-Jan Broer he said the below which I feel perfectly sums up the Apple Watches core functionality.
The Apple Watch is – despite the name – a notifier, client, or satellite device for your iPhone. The Apple Watch connects to your phone to notify you about new e-mails, new messages on your social media channels, submitting information from its sensors to a health app on the iPhone, and so on. – Robert-Jan Broer, chrono24.com
The Apple Watch’s functions are also extremely limited when compared with the iPhone. The iPhone currently has around 1.5 million apps for download compared to just 15,000 Apple Watch apps, which means the app you want might not even be available yet on the Apple Watch.
It’s not a standalone device.
One of the common presumptions people make about the Apple Watch is that you can make calls from it without your iPhone when in fact whenever you want to make a call you must have your iPhone with you, connected to the watch. You may be thinking, what’s that point then? Well, you might be right, but in certain circumstances, such as while riding a bike or for quick access and notifications on the go, it could still be a good option for you.
An innovation? Perhaps not.
Back in 2007, I had the chance to test Chinese watch phones when the technology was in its infancy. Although they didn’t look as sleek as the Apple Watch, I felt the devices I tested had a lot more to offer. They were capable of doing all that a regular cell phone could do: making calls without having to be connected to another device, send text messages, browse the internet and even a 2MP camera. What stopped Apple to add those capabilities to the Apple Watch? I believe it was all down to style over substance in order to appeal to their target audience, unfortunately for those of us that care more about the actual functionality of a device.
In reality, the Apple Watch as it currently stands is an up-sell product for your other Apple Devices. Nothing more, nothing less. The idea of wearable technology is not new anymore, and Apple had to follow it. Pure economy: if Apple hadn’t of taken this step they would have been missing out on a massive slice of the wearable technology market.
Data, Data, and, even more, Data.
In today’s world, we are surrounded by devices that are all collecting data about us on a very personal level. An example of this is the Apple Watch with their healthcare app that is collecting data about your lifestyle: when you eat, when you sleep when you run and even when you have to go the toilet.
Consumers don’t give this data a second thought, but Apple, on the other hand, can learn from this data, which greatly aids the development of their business and influence in the tech industry. In particular, the information they glean about their user base helps develop advertising campaigns that are highly targeted towards you as an individual, leading to stronger brand reputation and more sales.
Fashion accessory.
Could this be all the Apple Watch is? An accessory that has little purpose other than to make you look the part? The power of Apple’s marketing campaigns combined with the sheer amount of fans they have queued up for every new device regardless of the product can have a significant effect on the general public’s perceptions of their quality. Therefore is it a must have technology gadget or a must-have fashion accessory?
So why do people buy it?
Apple is simply at the top of their game when it comes to marketing a product and knows how to design aesthetically a product to sell. In their way, Apple is not innovative, they often look at what is already out there and see how they can add their own touch to it. As an example, we can take an eye on the iPad. When first released Apple was proud to announce a world first tablet, but was it the first? Microsoft had announced a tablet PC a long time before Apple even started to think about the iPad. The only difference is Microsoft didn’t have Apple’s designers or marketing team to create such a buzz around the product.
Ultimately it’s up to you if you decide to get the Apple Watch or not, it is an individual choice and should be based on your own needs and purposes, I just hope this article has given you a different insight into the world of the Apple Watch.
