iWatch - Standalone device or accessory?
It
has not been a week since Apple announced a slew of software updates, but
people are already speculating about iWatch. Most of the analysts are seeing
this as a new device category from Apple. But I would like to point out that
even though it might be a new device from Apple, it will most probably be a
complementary accessory to their existing iPhone, iPod, iPad or Mac.
The
data generated from people's ever growing list of wish list for iWatch has to
be stored somewhere. Considering the size & battery needs, the data is
probably stored in the cloud rather than the device. So, it either has to use
cellular, wireless or Bluetooth to transmit the data. How will the
watch transmit data in places with no cellular or wireless signal? Also,
of-course, a phone like data plan from a carrier for a cellular signal
makes no business sense.
Now,
let us look at the continuity feature of iOS 8. Apple can now
transfer an incoming call from your nearby iPhone to your MacBook. This is
probably done using Bluetooth technology like our hands-free headphones for
driving. They also showed that if you are using your Mac in a location with no
nearby Wi-Fi signal, it could use your iPhone to create a personal hotspot
& connect to Internet using the cellular network.
Based
on the above features you can create an accessory to monitor your body along
with a Bluetooth microphone, speaker & a time display - an iWatch. I
think such a device would be an accessory to an existing Apple product rather
than a standalone device.
As
usual, if the Apple marketing team makes the above-speculated device as a must
have cool device, then Apple might hit a jackpot by forcing people to buy an
iPhone, iPod or iPad to go with the watch. But it also has some challenges,
because the cost has to be very consumer friendly to make people buy a device
to go with a must have accessory. Also, if Apple is targeting the healthcare
industry with this device, will it be able to convince the industry to adopt a
standard set by apple? Android ecosystem is not going to be obsolete and they
would like to get their share of the pie.
If
there is an above-speculated device, then it will be interesting to see if Apple
could really come up with a product that could convince the people & the industry
for a mass adoption.
Labels: Apple, bluetooth, ecosystem, hotspot, Internet, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iWatch, Macbook, Wifi, Wireless
posted by Shanmuganathan Sivaraj at
8:30 PM
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