After a month with the Apple Watch, Leo says that in many ways it is a step backwards in wearable computers and he's not very inspired by it. It's certainly expensive and not a must have gadget. Leo finds most smartwatches to be a disappointment.
Leo has worn just about every smart watch there is, dating all the way back to the first Pebble watch and he's finally figured out what's wrong with them -- they're too small! A watch is great for telling time, but there's just not enough screen real estate to be able to do anything useful, especially when exercising. Sure, it can be used to answer calls, but you look like an idiot talking into your watch.
Leo got his Apple Watch yesterday, and he says it's pretty. Still too early to tell about the battery life though, but the wireless battery charging feature is pretty cool. It takes about an hour, and the magnetic charger looks like a stethescope. He says it can charge other watches as well. Leo says it can get you through the day, even though it may not seem like it when you first get it because you'll be playing with it much more. But after a few weeks, you'll see that it will only take about 5% battery life per hour with regular use. The watch will work with iPhone 5 or higher.
After a million pre-orders, Apple has ordered 5 million Apple Watches. Leo thinks that the most sales will be early on, and since they are so hard to get, Apple may not sell more than 5 million all year.
Apple orders 5-6 million watches: WSJ… (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/17/us-apple-watch-orders-idUSKBN0LL18W20150217
Leo says that Apple sold out of 5 million Apple watches in less than a half hour, leaving everyone else waiting until June and maybe as late as August before they can get one. Leo says that Apple may have deliberately under estimated the number of watches they needed as a hedge against a potential surprise drop in sales, something that didn't happen in the least!
Although the announcement of the Apple Watch wasn't really breaking news since they showed it off last year, the fact that it can cost as high as $17,000 has prompted many to take to the internet and share their outrage over what they view as a waste of money. Leo says that since most of the models are over $1,000 (the entry level model starts at $349), it does seem pricey.
Apple's "Spring Forward" event is coming Monday at 10am, Pacific time, and we'll learn more about the pricing and availability of the Apple Watch. We already know that there will be six different varieties in two sizes -- 38mm for small wrists, 42mm for larger wrists. We don't know how much it'll end up costing, but the least expensive will be $349 and could cost up to $5,000 or more for the gold version.
Apple will no doubt officially debut the Apple Watch on Monday at its Spring event, but chances are you won't be able to get it right away. We will learn more about it though, namely how much it will cost. There will be six watches, in three different styles -- a sport model, stainless steel, and a gold watch. The gold watch has been estimated to cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. The least expensive, the sport model, will start at $349. There will be two sizes, 38mm and 42mm, and there will be several bands to choose from.
Leo has a glass paperweight in his office with a number on it. This is his reservation for Google Glasses, when they are released. Will this be the next big thing though? It could be, but Leo is skeptical. Apple is also rumored to be working on a wristwatch as well.
More Evidence Apple Is Working on a Smartwatch Emerges…
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/02/more-evidence-apple-watch/
With Google's Project Glass, Apple's iGlass and Microsoft's Project Durango, will wearable computing be the next big trend in 2013? Leo says maybe not. At this stage, glasses based computers look very dorky. Leo says that Google Now is getting everyone used to being connected all the time with what's around them. Google Now automatically calculates your commute with traffic and lets you know ahead of time how long it will take. That's a nice, little wedge into getting people used to not having any privacy at all. A little creepy, but also a little cool.
