NEW YORK: The watch launch in California was accompanied, in true Apple fashion, by dancing girls, white tigers and zeppelins flying in formation. Okay, perhaps not, but there were thousands of salivating tech bloggers, a supermodel (Christy Turlington) and one very appreciative audience.
That’s worth remembering: Most smartwatches, including Apple’s, still require a phone to operate. Instead of replacing one phone with another, the Don Draper-level geniuses of the tech world have ensured that you will need to own two devices, where one would previously suffice.
As many as 28 million smartwatches will be sold this year, according to the research firm Strategic Analytics. The crowd funded favourite Pebble sold its millionth watch in December. Apple will sell millions more. With its watch retailing in Canada between $450 and $15,500, that’s …, well.
No one uses a SmartWatch for calculations, unless you’re calculating how many steps you’ve taken that day. It is the perfect tool for quantifying in a society that’s measurement-mad. Your SmartWatch will track your heart beat, caloric intake, blood pressure, running speed and infrequency of calls to your mother.
“Time to stand!” The Apple Watch will remind you periodically. “Time to stand up and move for one minute.” This is odd, because in all other ways the device seems designed to ensure that your limbs atrophy and fall off. You can pay for a can of pop without reaching for your wallet, change the thermostat without crossing the room, check the weather without actually having to go outside and experience it.
