If rumors are to be believed, the Next Big Thing in the mobile computing world is going to be wearable technology. This, right now anyway, basically boils down to smartwatches — and Apple, Samsung and even Google are all apparently rushing to get into the game.
Look past all the hype, though, and the most important question hasn't even really been asked yet. Despite iWatch rumors and Samsung's confirmation that it is working on a smartwatch, do you actually want to purchase, wear and use one of these things?
According to CNN Money's Cyrus Sanati, the public has already spoken: It doesn't want smartwatches.
To make his point, Sanati lists nearly a dozen smartwatches that have failed to find mainstream success, and expects Apple, Samsung and Google to all have trouble making their own attempts successful. Nearly everything a smartwatch can do is easier to access/do on a smartphone, and in most cases they're worthless without the phone anyway.
"Today's smartwatches are mere dummies ... as they depend on smartphones to feed it data, as opposed to FM broadcasts or a third-party source," Sanati wrote. "So that means your supposed smartwatch would be pretty dumb without a smartphone in close proximity. There is little utility in wearing a clunky 'watch' whose main purpose is to deliver messages that you can see by reaching in your pocket and looking at your phone.
"Trying to do anything remotely useful on the watch, like, say, sending a text message, is pretty much impossible, or at the very least, really annoying if done through text-to-speech software ... Squinting and fumbling with a screen that is at its maximum two inches by two inches is both limiting and distracting," he added. "Imagine having to remember to juice up your watch in addition to your phone, tablet and laptop. It all seems so unnecessary."
Sanati also said that anything Apple and Samsung put out will not likely be any different from what's already on the market.
"Knowing how Apple works, if it does launch an 'iWatch,' it will probably be just one watch that comes in a variety of colors," he said. "The unimaginative Samsung will most likely just copy whatever Apple does to the letter. That means that both products, which will probably have the same features as all those watches mentioned above, will appeal to a narrow subset of consumers who really dig its design and who believe it will fit their style."
Still, it's worth pointing out that even though smartwatches haven't been successful yet, we haven't seen the likes of Samsung and Apple try to market the devices. Never underestimate the power of either company's fanboy collective. Both Samsung and Apple are reportedly trying to get smartwatches out this year, so it might not be too long before we see if Sanati's hypothesis is correct.
