Will Apple Launch a Smartwatch Craze in 2015?

Wearable technology gathered momentum in 2014, thanks mainly to Google Glass and the burgeoning smartwatch industry. Whilst Google Glass proved divisive amongst users and critics, smartwatch developers quietly went about their business. To date the watches have primarily served as sports watches (collecting daily health-related data), but impending releases will see the watches merge with familiar smartphone features.

Smartwatches advanced so dramatically in 2014 they were a central feature at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this month. The big news, however, is tech behemoth Apple will release its addition to the impending craze in the next few months. Consumers will be spoilt for choice, but many may have concerns about what the technology has to offer. To assist with this, here is a lowdown of some of the impending smartwatch releases.

Smartwatches at CES 2015

Smartwatches were featured heavily at CES 2015. The event marked the moment when the devices became something more than a sports accessory — they are also now portable media players and radios with advanced functions including picture options and Bluetooth connectivity. This is the year when we can expect to see them on the wrists of more and more everyday people.

Many companies showed off their latest efforts at CES 2015, amongst them Sony, Lenovo, Mio, Mota, LG Audi, and U.S. company Martian. This clearly demonstrated how relentless the battle for consumers’ money will be in the 2015 smartwatch developer rush, but already there were a few standout devices. Swiss company Kronoz revealed theZeWatch2 (pictured above), which works with Android and iOS and provides notifications and the ability to answer incoming calls. It’s a relatively basic model compared to others, but was released in Europe for an affordable €79 ($89).

Other companies have tried an innovative approach to wearables. LookSee introduced a stylish Bluetooth-connected bracelet, which boasted an E Ink display for message notifications, photos, maps, QR code reader, and more. Impressively, the company claims a single charge will power the device for a solid year! Notifications drain the battery, but it should last for several months all the same.

How well these sell depends on the public’s enthusiasm, and this could hinge on whether Apple can make a success of its impending smartwatch.

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is set for a release in the United States sometime in the next few months, although the company remain secretive about exactly when. Unsurprisingly, Apple have been vocal about the device’s potential, and provide extensive details on their official website. They have stated it will be the “most personal product Apple has ever made, because it’s the first one designed to be worn.” As a result it will be highly customisable, with many available options for different watch designs and computer settings.

On a features front, Apple Watch is essentially a mini iPhone. It’s equipped with a calendar, maps, passbook (for storing tickets, loyalty cards, etc.), music options, Apple TV and iTunes, radio, stopwatch, timer, alarm, stocks, weather, world clock, and many of the most popular apps. All of this is merged through a user’s iPhone (which is mandatory), opening up other features such as a remote camera. Apple explain that the watch “doubles as a remote viewfinder for the iSight camera on your iPhone.” From there the user can “use Apple Watch to display a live preview of what your iPhone sees, snap the photo, or set the timer on the camera.”

The idea is for an accessible and immediate communication experience, with notifications arriving in a dramatic new way. “Apple Watch is right there on your wrist, so it makes all the ways you’re used to communicating more convenient. And because it touches your skin, we were able to add a physical dimension to alerts and notifications you’ll feel a gentle tap when you receive an incoming message.” Added into this is Siri; users can talk to their watch for information, and apply Apple Pay. This will allow users to easily pay for items in hundreds of thousands of stores across the country.

In amongst all these extravagances is the watch’s traditional service – to inform the user what time it is. Again, the merger with a user’s iPhone allows the time to be kept within 50 milliseconds of the global time standard. When you travel it will automatically adjust to the local time.

Costs and Conclusions

The Apple Watch is certainly a remarkable creative feat, but there are reservations surrounding it. Apple has repeatedly dismissed notions it’s merely a different device for a user’s favourite apps. They claim, “It’s an entirely different way to experience them. A time-saving feature called Glances condenses the most relevant information from each app into a form you can easily scan on the fly.”

Whilst the release date remains a mystery, the price and demands of the technology have been revealed. Somewhat controversially, the “iWatch” will need to be paired with a compatible iPhone. In other words, it will be pointless buying an Apple Watch if you don’t own one of Apple’s more recent phone models. If you do have one, prices will start at $349 (for some reason there will also be an 18-carat gold Apple Watch Edition for anyone eager to spend significantly more).

The price tag has alarmed some tech experts, such as Donald Bell of CNET. He suggests the product will likely have a poor battery life (involving daily charging), along with its potential to become rapidly obsolete (given Apple’s tendency to launch superior next generation devices within a short space of time). Despite these criticisms, many tech addicts will no doubt succumb to temptation and buy one. There’s no denying the Apple Watch will complement iPhones the world over, adding new features to apps and marginally improving accessibility. This could be enough to launch a new technology hit for years to come.

Watch a detailed video overview of the Apple Watch, as narrated by senior Apple designer Jony Ive.

Source : http://experts.allbusiness.com/will-apple-launch-smartwatch-craze-2015/20545/#.VM4JzdLz3qs