wearables recap summer 2014: the 5 facts you need to know
TRANSCRIPT
Wearables Recap Summer 2014:
The 5 Facts You Need to Know@philiplikens
The wearable market is changing rapidly. Most of us are too busy to keep up with everything, so I’ve taken a few minutes to recap the most important advances in wearables for Summer 2014. I've included links for those who want to know more, as well as an executive summary of the most important points.
Executive Summary1. The first Android Wear (Google's smart watch OS)
devices are making their way into the market. 2. Apple has made their move by announcing their
version of the smart watch. 3. Fashion is beginning to heavily influence the
wearables market. 4. Samsung and Sony announced 3G enabled
watches, disrupting the mobile mainframe. 5. Athletic and health-oriented wearables are improving
and moving beyond wrist-bound fitness trackers.
Fact 1:The first Android Wear devices are making their way into the market
Android Wear, Google’s operating system for smart watches, was announced in the first quarter of 2014, but the initial Wear devices just hit the market this summer.
The Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch were released in June. Both watches are fairly plain, sport rectangular displays, and are not terribly fashionable.
LG G Watch - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pestoverde/15051421752
The coveted Motorola Moto 360 was released in early September and is generally seen as the most fashionable Wear device on the market. Other Android watches were released this summer, but none were as significant as the Moto 360.
Motorola Moto 360 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/eager/14360550007
Fact 2:Apple has made their move by announcing
their version of the smart watch
Apple’s announcement is the single most important move in the wearable space this year, and legitimizes the smart watch industry as a whole for consumers.
Apple Watch - http://images.apple.com/watch/home/images/hero_ygold_edition_large_2x.jpg
Their watch will be out early next year in two different sizes, a variety of bands, and number of finishes.
Apple will sell millions of watches in the next calendar year.
Fact 3:Fashion is beginning to heavily influence the wearables market
A year ago you would be hard pressed to find any fashionable wearables. Google Glass was still relatively unknown and fitness trackers (such as Fitbit) were the hot commodity.
Nearly any wearable on the market, or in the process of being Kickstarted, was available in some blend of silicone, rubber, and metal - basically in early adopter “nerd” attire.
This summer we’ve seen fashion come into the wearables market. Diane Von Furstenberg teamed up with Google Glass and Tory Burch teamed up with Fitbit to put their spin on wearable tech.
DVF for Glass - http://mashable.com/2014/06/23/google-glass-diane-von-furstenberg-frames/
Each designer took the existing wearable and designed fashionable accessories to augment the original technology.
However, we also have devices such as the Withings Activité, Ringly, and Cuff which have obviously been designed for fashion from the beginning.
The Activité gives you fitness tracking in a beautiful, elegant, analog watch design.
Ringly announced notifications in the form of a women’s fashion ring.
Ringly - https://ringly.com/images/slider/woman_bg2.jpg
And Cuff, which was announced in February, seems to be making progress toward their goal of making the world safer for women.
Of course, between the Moto 360 and the Apple Watch, screen-centric smart watches are making progress along the fashion front as well.
Fact 4:Samsung and Sony announced 3G enabled wristwatches, disrupting the
mobile mainframe
I’ve criticized the mobile / wearable market for being an “Internet of Thing” rather than the “Internet of Things.” However, I had speculated that we would have our first 3g enabled watches this year, and that has now come true thanks to both Samsung and Sony.
Samsung Gear S - http://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-gear-s/
The companies announced the Samsung Gear S and Sony Smartwatch 3 back-to-back, only a week before Apple’s big announcement.
Sony Smartwatch 3 - http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/smartwear/smartwatch-3-swr50/
In the least, this gives users GPS and the ability to safely leave their phone at home for a long jog.
More radically, this gives technologists like myself the ability to ditch their smartphone all-together in favor of a smart watch / tablet / Jawbone combination.
Fact 5:Athletic and health-oriented wearables are improving and moving beyond wrist-bound
fitness trackers
I’ve talked about the demise of the fitness trackers as a wrist-band as well. I believe smart watches will take the place of most fitness bands for consumers.
Samsung Gear 2 Fit - http://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/news/samsung-gear-fit-smart-band-price-slashed-to-rs-12100-551561
Devices like the Samsung Gear family include basic heart rate monitoring, step counting, and other heath measurements - which is enough for most of us.
Athletes will move to devices with more precision and better capabilities (like Hexoskin or Athos). There are a whole slew of wearable devices for athletes that are currently either Kickstarting or in production.
It’s been a massive summer for the wearables market and things are just heating up for the Fall and Winter. Many of the devices promised and promoted this Spring and Summer won’t launch for another six months, so keep your eyes open. I’m excited to experience the new technologies, and to have fashion play a larger part.
Thank you for viewing this presentation. Please share with your friends and colleagues. If you’re interested in hearing more, I’m open to speaking at conferences and other events. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or Twitter.
@PhilipLikens