Mobile Forward

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Sign Up
  • Support MF
    • RSS
    • Twitter

How Smartphones and Smartwatches Changed Search

July 9, 2015

Connor Dougherty, for the New York Times:

“On a phone, the biggest intellectual difference is you don’t go to your search box as your first resort,” said Keith Rabois, a partner at the venture capital firm Khosla Ventures, who has invested in a search start-up called Relcy. “On a watch, it’s inconceivable that you would go to a search box perhaps at all.”

This is why Google and Apple are investing so intensely in advancing Google Now and Siri.

As I wrote back in June:

Machine learning is to 21st century devices as the graphical user interface was to 20th century computers [in terms of how] critical it will be to a high-performance product.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Intelligent Assistance, Machine Learning, Mobile Search, Smartphones, Smartwatches

Smartwatches: Awareness & Time Savings

July 8, 2015

Two brilliant insights and illustrations by Luke Wroblewski on Twitter. His Tweets are here and here. Below are screenshots, to make sure readers can also see them in RSS or email.

I agree: readily accessible situation awareness (as you want to define it) is a very core and unique benefit of a smartwatch. Add the ability to provide that awareness distraction-free, without the lure of other details or apps, and it’s outstanding. Overlay that with proactive intelligent assistance, and it’ll be priceless.

Mobile Forward 00335 2015-07-08

 



Mobile Forward 00336 2015-07-08

You can read more of Luke’s thoughts at www.lukew.com.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Smartwatches

Casio Bets on a Watch That Is Smart

July 3, 2015

Megumi Fujikawa, for WSJ (below). Bold emphasis is mine.

The maker of the G-Shock series is betting its expertise as a watchmaker will help it outmaneuver the technological wizardry of the Apple Watch with a smartwatch that keeps an eye on the mass market’s need for comfort and durability. Casio says its product will be a watch that tries to be smart, rather than a smart device that is also a watch. […]

Now, [said Casio founder, Kazuhiro Kashio,] “we are trying to bring our smartwatch to a level of watch perfection: a device that won’t break easily, is simple to put on and feels good to wear.”

It seems Casio will essentially add very basic connectivity and information features to a watch. I honestly don’t know if that’s the right approach for Casio. Maybe it’s a good fit with their technology capability; I don’t profess to know.

But what I would say is this: If you don’t think of a smartwatch as a general computing device, you risk making the equivalent of a “feature watch”. Your product will definitely appeal to some users, but you’ll miss the transition to a new class of device, a new way of helping people every day.

I do, at one level, agree with Mr. Kashio’s remark about “feels good to wear”. I like my Apple Watch, for example, but the thing I miss most about my old “diving” watch is its rugged-but-classy face. Over time, however – with custom watch faces and new industrial designs – I expect the concern will fade. And it’s almost a moot point, since the issue won’t keep me (and many watch wearers, I think) from leaving their old watches behind.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Smartwatches

Google Announces 17 New Android Wear Watch Faces

June 24, 2015

Stephen Hall, for 9to5Google:

Google has today announced the introduction of 17 brand new watch faces for Android Wear, spanning brands such as Rubiks, Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, and more. Google says that there are already more than 1,500 watch faces available to customize your device, and now — lucky you! — there are 17 more options to choose from…

Why not? This isn’t nerdy complexity. It’s user choice for the watch face they look at 5x – 30x per day. It may take a while, but I believe Apple Watch will get custom faces too.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Android Wear, Google, Interface, Smartwatches

Thoughts on Mark Gurman’s 9to5Mac Article About Apple Watch Rumors

June 22, 2015

Last Thursday, Mark Gurman reported on potential features for the next Apple Watch. Here’s the story at 9to5Mac. He has excellent sources and an excellent record in reporting upcoming Apple devices or features.

For this particular rumor, however, I suspect the source likely isn’t from Apple, and that the information may mostly reflect development exploration. For these reasons, I don’t think this specific story is that meaningful. (That’s not a knock against Mark.)

On the Source

1. It’s probably not an Apple employee. From my eight years at Motorola, I can tell you that the product managers, engineers, and supply chain staff working on new products are some of the hardest working people you’ll ever meet. Products are the lifeblood of the company, and they’re the livelihood of its people. Everyone with a stake in the company’s success knows this. So, the odds that someone at Apple leaked this information, right when Apple Watch is reaching Apple Stores (i.e., the “big launch”), are low.

2. It’s probably someone helping Apple with consumer research. I’m saying that because the leaked information concerns:

  • “Considerations” (as far from a shipping product as a PowerPoint slide)
  • Visible features, but no granular attributes (spec-level knowledge or software features)
  • Price point variants
  • Granular information from consumer research

Let’s combine these: a likely-external person, discussing feature “considerations”, without spec or software detail, about price point variants, and quoting granular information from consumer research. Based on that, I think it’s probably a low level employee (or attention-seeker) from a research firm that Apple trusted. The “considerations” may be features that appeared in a research aid.

And yes, I do realize that, generally, Apple does less product-design-related consumer research than most companies.

On the Content

  • FaceTime Video Camera: I’m surprised it was mentioned. I don’t mean in terms of any sort of personal preference, but in terms of the odds that Apple Watch consumers would value its utility. But, that’s one reason companies do consumer research – because one’s own sense of something may be completely incorrect. It’s almost like this feature was part of the “considerations” appearing on a survey or simulation. It might have even scored high. That can happen to both good and bad features.
  • iPhone Independence: Sure. Okay. This is something someone could just guess at. What’s confusing is:

Any other features that could normally function solely under a Wi-Fi connection do not function completely, including text messaging, emailing, and receiving updated weather data.

Isn’t this on watchOS 2, due in the fall? Confusing.

  • Battery Life: Sounds right. Battery life appears to be okay for most people. Including me. Note: If you look at the smartphone market as (only one) source of input, you’ll see that battery life has roughly stayed at around one day (some exceptions, Droid Maxx, Nexus 6, iPhone 6 Plus). Basically, that’s because the more capacity we get, the more we tune our use to i) take advantage of that extra power and ii) still have a little left at the end of the day.
  • Interesting that this source didn’t discuss less visible components or software in any sort of detail. Things like GPS, processors, or software features at a specific level… I think that supports my guess about the source.
Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Apple, Smartwatches

Especially on a Watch

May 28, 2015

There’s lots to take in from the past few days, so I’m heads-down. In the meantime, this might be part of an upcoming post:

Mobile Forward 00268 2015-05-28

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Apple, Interface, Smartwatches

Apple Watch Thoughts: Today and (A Little Bit About) the Future

May 27, 2015

After wearing the Apple Watch for three weeks, here are my thoughts.

SUMMARY

It’s a nice digital watch that does many things, quickly. I call this “fast utility”. I value the watch’s fast utility. When it gains phone call and map independence from the iPhone, I’ll value it more. When Siri is able to provide intelligent prompts or surface key information from apps, I might consider it an essential tool. And if the industrial design evolves from functional-but-bland to functional-and-beautiful, I’ll probably love it. But today, it’s just “nice” and a perhaps a few years from “love”. That’s fine. I know it’s Version 1. I’m adopting a wait-and-see attitude. Would I buy one again? For professional use, yes. For personal use, it’s too early to tell. Probably, if it advances the way I outlined above (and at the end of this post).

Where do I think, in more detail, Apple Watch is going next? Click here to zoom to the end of this post, or scroll down.


DETAILED NOTES

Context:

  • Model: Sport 42mm, space grey, black flouroelastomer band; $399.
  • This isn’t a review or a “product manager” perspective. Judgments are relative to my specific values, needs, or expectations.
  • I’ve worn a watch for >30 years.
Industrial Design

The right industrial design for a smartwatch, but not a design to “enjoy”.

  • I always agreed: One button for the watch face, and one for connecting with people, makes perfect sense. People/communication deserves a dedicated button.
  • And I continue to agree with the placement: putting it on the opposite side of the device would be less comfortable. And more visually cluttered.
  • I will spend ~1.5 hours this year putting on the watch. That’s because it takes me ~15 seconds to put it on, as the band slides around. Two key drivers:
    • The need to charge it every day.
    • The design of the Sport band. The Milanese Loop or Link band would reduce the time greatly, but they’re priced much higher.
  • For comparison, my link-band Victorinox takes 2 – 5 seconds to put on.
  • Without always-on watch faces (discussed below), it’s not the same kind of fashion accessory that a mechanical watch is. It lacks the combined rugged / classy / mechanically sophisticated appeal of my old watch.
IMG_1148

Delight (left) vs. utility (right)

Watch Face

Like the industrial design, it’s high on utility and low on enjoyment.

  • Apart from its fashion role, the watch is a tool (as opposed to an entertainment or content-consumption device). In that context, the view that holds the most bits of useful information, and that’s on the longest, is most valuable. That’s the watch face. (See my related post, here.)
  • The ones I used the most:
    • Modular: My preferred watch face. The most information-dense: time + 5 complications. But bland. And it’s the only digital face… on this digital watch. (I owe that observation to Jason Snell, on Macbreak Weekly.)
    • Simple: Second preference. Classic face, plus 5 complications. Lots going on, around the round face.
  • I don’t find the included faces compelling. I get great and frequent delight in seeing a beautiful or classy watch face. It’s like admiring a good-looking car. None of the current watch faces reached that level. They’re “neat” or “cool”, but… that’s not the same. There are three reasons, with the first two likely driven by battery considerations:
    • Background: There isn’t anything that, for instance, resembles mother of pearl.
    • Brevity: The watch face doesn’t stay on for more than about six seconds.
    • Design: There isn’t, for example, a face that looks like my Victorinox watch.
  • In this last matter I am, in many ways, longing for skeuomorphism. This may not be a factor for people without a “watch habit”.
  • More generally – for reasons of utility and aesthetics — in my view, the odds that Apple would deny developers access to the watch face are low. John Gruber believes the odds are low that this will happen, but that if it *does* happen, Apple may use an approach similar to the one for apps on the Apple TV: allow faces only from select partners.
General User Interface Observations

Mostly fine, but laggy.

  • The “Home Screen”: No issues. Familiar, yet tailored for the display size.
  • In situations where I have the option to swipe or use the Digital Crown, I swipe 99% of the time.
  • When I do need the digital crown, it’s very helpful (e.g., set alarm time).
  • The predictive face-lighting-up is perfect… until it’s not. The times when I twist my wrist and *don’t* see the watch face are frustrating, especially if it flashed on a moment ago. Must-fix.
  • Similarly, sometimes the weather complication doesn’t display a number, for a moment or two. This drives me to pull out my smartphone, defeating the purpose of the watch. Must fix.
  • The activity ring user interface is horrible. Emulated and not much better, in my view. It allows for the indicators to have “length”, relative to a straight bar, but they’re hard to recall and hard to read.
    • Test: quick, tell me which ring means what. And is it the length of the ring that matters, or the number of degrees it spans? (It’s the latter… Which is still confusing, because it means rings of two different lengths indicate the same degree of progress.)
    • I realize this was probably an unpleasant trade-off Apple had to make. And, on the views that isolate each type: calories, exercise, standing, the circle fills the screen in a pleasing way. But on the watch face, or in a glance view, they’re not helpful. And on the iPhone “Activity” app they’re difficult to visually trend over time.
Glances & Notifications

Very handy when needed.

  • Glances: Staged, helpful information, available quickly. Widget-like. I really like them.
  • I live a low-notification diet, and that transfers to Apple Watch. No intrusions for me. But, I was using the watch on “Silent Mode”.
  • The most interruption I get is from the Stand reminder, and I sometimes welcome that…but, honestly, I’ve started to ignore it, and I might disable it.
Siri

Multiplies the utility of the watch. Does simple things fast. The epitome of “fast utility”.

  • Love the voice activation: bring the watch up near my face, say “Hey, Siri”, ask Siri.
  • My most used Siri requests: placing a call, alarm or timer, weather forecast, trivia.
  • I miss voice feedback from Siri.
Apple Pay

Nice to have. Convenient.

  • Nice. Definitely saves on fumbling for wallet or phone. I just stretch out my arm toward the terminal, and boom.
  • Have you experienced this: McDonalds was able to accept Apple pay, but not well prepared (at the drive thru). The attendant had to find the hand-held NFC terminal, reach out the window, and hold it there with both arms. Took longer to pay than with a credit card. If the line is long, I’d be more inclined to use my card. I’m assuming this will improve.
Activity Monitoring

I’m glad it’s there. I’m hoping it’ll help me be at least a little healthier.

  • The watch looks out for you. And the prompts aren’t intrusive. I appreciate both. I fully expect it to make me a healthier, more health-aware person.
  • Great perspective from Andy Ihnatko on Macbreak Weekly:
    • “The most valuable thing that fitness watches […] can do is simply expose data that is normally invisible to us.”
    • I think the watch does a decent job in Version 1. Can’t wait to see how this evolves.
  • That said, three weeks in, I ignore the stand reminders or progress reminders. No, they don’t motivate me to keep a streak going. There are more important things.
  • The activity rings…. Horrible. See my comment above.
Phone Calls

High-value feature. Convenient and sometimes essential. Again, “fast utility”.

  • Super convenient to be able to answer a call when it’s in your pocket or not near you.
  • Speaker works well. The people I’ve talked to believed I was simply on my iPhone.
Navigation

I’m not into navigation on the watch; it’s a last resort. I prefer the phone.

  • I do need more time with this feature. I like how Maps uses Force Touch, as the way to drill down and search.
  • Sometimes it’s a bit hard to distinguish between left and right vibration cues.
Digital Touch

I admire it, but I don’t think it’s relevant to me.

  • I value the thought that went into this, but I’ve not used it. My friends don’t have an Apple Watch.
  • I think iMore’s Serenity Caldwell mentioned this on the iMore show: Digital Touch would be more useful if you could use it to communicate with iPhones, too. I’m assuming that’s coming.
Third Party Apps

I haven’t needed any. I’d love to discover one that makes my life easier.

  • Marco Arment: “For most types of apps, the Apple Watch today is best thought of not as a platform to port your app to, but a simple remote control or viewport into your iPhone app.”
  • I haven’t needed 3rd party apps. That might be my low-touch preference for the watch, limited awareness (as in, recommendations from friends), or limited selection. But so I’ve used very few of them.
  • This reflects my preference to use the watch only for quick push / pull micro interactions. For apps like Twitter, Yelp, or Amazon (nice voice search), I’d rather use the phone or not use the app at all.
  • The apps that look most attractive to me are the activity-specific ones: for lists, exercise, remote control. Basically, to help a workflow or provide control.
What I Like the Most / Is there a Killer App?

Fast utility. There’s no killer app today.

  • Fast utility: I value the overall combination of Siri, Apple Pay, Notifications, Weather, Activity Reminders, Next Calendar Appointment, and Date and Time. It’s a Swiss Army knife on my wrist. Sorry, Old Watch.
  • Killer app. There may be one. There isn’t today. In any case, this is a general computing device.
  • I agree with Walt Mossberg’s view on a killer app: “Any new device like this becomes attractive when it looks good, works well, and does multiple useful things of different value to different users.”
Battery Life

Not an issue. But also the biggest issue.

  • Not an issue. As long as I recharge daily, I don’t run out of power. Sometimes 1.5 days.
  • I charge at my desk, during the day. That allows me to sleep with watch on, so that I can use the alarm (silently) and easily check the time.
  • But, to be clear, battery life drives the single biggest hassle and habit disruption: the need to charge the watch daily. That means a) at least one additional charger; b) one more distraction; c) one more “cognitive burden”; c) 1.5 hours per year dealing with plugging it in; d) 1.5 hours spent per year in putting on the watch.
  • I haven’t noticed any impact to my iPhone battery life, positive or negative.
New Habits, Resulting from Wearing the Watch

Surprisingly few new habits needed, but daily charging is a drag.

Habit = 1) things I now do because of the watch, even if I’m not using it that moment or that day; 2) things I do by being able to glance at the watch face.

Friction Habits

  • Tapping the watch face to avoid waiting a second or two
  • Ignoring the stand reminder
  • Daily taking off / putting on
  • New charger at my desk. Using another USB port
  • Monitor watch battery ~1x per day

Benefit Habits

  • Quickly check the weather. Using the phone, or Amazon Echo, less
  • Leaving my phone more often, knowing I can still take a call
  • Quickly check the time
  • Standing (once in a while)

Overall, I’m surprised how few new habits I’ve had to build into my day. And the time saved by having fast access to time, date, weather, and calendar outweighs (or comes close) to the time spent removing/donning the watch for charging.

 What I Miss Most about My “Old Watch”

Rugged looks, classy face. Always on.

  • Its design: Rugged looks, classy face. I’m not too embarrassed to say: it’s a fashion accessory. In terms of utility, the display is always on. And I don’t have to spend time taking it off and putting it on.
Would I Buy an Apple Watch Again?

Maybe. I need phone independence and/or Siri to integrate with more apps.

  • From a professional perspective, I’ll need to buy future models to stay current. Especially if/when they gain cellular connectivity.
  • From a personal perspective, maybe. It’s too early to tell.
  • I initially thought the title of this piece was going to be “Capability is Addictive”. That’s because – and I don’t claim to represent any consumer in this view – each major step forward in general computing has been a boon. Computer, cell phone, smartphone, tablet – once I had these devices, I couldn’t go back. Capability is addictive. And I really, really thought I would be saying that about Apple Watch: “Capability is addictive”… but I’m not. I like it, for the reasons I mentioned earlier. And when I first used the watch, the novelty of having those capabilities on my wrist led me to believe I’d find them addictive. But they haven’t been. I can’t go back to a feature phone, but I *can* go without the watch. Why? Because I have my iPhone. That makes sense; that’s why the Apple Watch is, at this point, an accessory.
  • Will it ever be “addictive”? I won’t pretend to predict this. My own view changed in a week or two; how would I dare predict it over a longer span? When many things get better — the laggy display, the dependence on the phone, the need to remove it daily, charge, and put it on again. And the cost of several hundred dollars every so often. And, more intangibly, the fact that there’s more pleasure in taking out my phone (whether that’s good or not) and certainly more pleasure from my analog watch face — when these get better, then I’ll see.
  • If I do decide to keep buying Apple Watch for personal use, I’ll probably settle into a two year upgrade cycle, eventually.
Where is Apple Watch Going Next?

The slides further down sum up my high level view. Basically, it’s likely Apple will advance along these primary directions:

  • Information display: Always-on / ambient mode. 3rd party watch faces
  • Voice interaction: Siri can surface key information from apps. Andy Ihnatko:

This is an opportunity for Siri […] imagine […] all this data is there […] “Hey Siri, How’s my health doing?” and it will simply say […] “Over the past 3 days, you achieved your walking goals, however you haven’t been getting up enough, and you should be getting more sleep.”

  • Cellular connectivity: Providing independence from the phone
  • Context awareness: GPS and indoor location, IOT connectivity
  • Intelligence: Simple prompts across a range of areas. Andy Ihnatko again:

Every time you do this, it is the watch’s job to figure out why you did that and display that one piece of information that you probably most intensely want so that you can put it down again. I love that this is valuable to me despite the fact that I rarely have to interact with it or tell it what I want.

Mobile Forward 00262 2015-05-27

Mobile Forward 00263 2015-05-27

Mobile Forward 00264 2015-05-27

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Apple, Smartwatches

Market Scan Highlights: 2015-05-24

May 24, 2015

Mobile Forward 00240 2015-05-24

Highlights from this week’s Market Scan. Read it here. Subscribe here.

  • Why China is hard to figure out (Marginal Revolution)
  • Rumor: Android M Will Come With An Update Guarantee For Nexus Devices (Android Police)
  • Google seeking new partners for next generation Nexus phones (DigiTimes)
  • Apple acquires high-accuracy GPS technology firm Coherent Navigation (AppleInsider)
  • Apple: Tim Cook: Apple Pay coming to China ‘soon’ (Mashable)
  • Apple: Key iPhone 6s specs seemingly detailed in new report (BGR)
  • Apple: Report: iOS 9 will be optimized for older devices, including iPhone 4S (Ars Technica)
  • Xiaomi Picks Leadcore to Go Vertical – In search of its own custom processor (EE Times)
  • BlackBerry: Microsoft, Xiaomi, Lenovo and Huawei ‘evince’ interest in BlackBerry (IB Times)
  • Apple: KGI lowers Apple Watch forecast significantly, says over 80% of sales are larger 42mm version (9to5Mac)
Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Acquisitions, Android, Apple, Assorted Links, BlackBerry, China, Google, iOS, Market Scan, Payment, Processors, Sensors, Smartphones, Smartwatches

Saturday Assorted Links

May 23, 2015

1. Apple Watch App From Starwood Will Literally Open Doors. Keyless check-in is cool. One of many ways that smartphones and smartwatches will connect us to things and places.

2. BlackBerry targeted for acquisition, say sources.

Microsoft and a number of China-based handset vendors, including Xiaomi Technology, Lenovo and Huawei, are being indicated as potential investors, the sources noted.

3. BlackBerry to Lay Off Undisclosed Number of Employees in Device Business. The company, like others, stopped innovating. And it also simply stopped adapting.

4. Researchers find Android factory reset faulty and reversible.

The group estimates that as many as 500 to 630 million Android devices might not be capable of completely wiping the data saved in their internal disks and SD cards.

The estimate is far from exact, and the real number could be meaningfully lower, but it’s still in the hundreds of millions. As John Gruber, of Daring Fireball would say, tongue in cheek: “Open always wins.”

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Android, Apple, Assorted Links, BlackBerry, Google, IOT, Security & Privacy, Smartphones, Smartwatches

Apple Watch Demand Flattening as 42mm Models Estimated to Represent Over 80% of Orders

May 22, 2015

Joe Rossignol, reporting for MacRumors (excerpt below). KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has a decent – and the best – track record among financial analysts in getting inside information and/or predicting Apple developments.

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a note to investors today that claims Apple Watch demand may be slowing down, resulting in shipment forecasts being revised down by 20% to 30% to 5-6 million units in the third quarter.

Kuo expects total Apple Watch shipments to fall within the 15 million range for the 2015 fiscal year, lower than the consensus of 20-30 million units, but remains upbeat about the Apple Watch and long-term wearable trends.

KGI also estimates that the 42mm model drives 80% of shipments. That’s based on information about the production split and on order shipment times.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Apple, Smartwatches

Nobody Wants Your Wearable

May 20, 2015

Dylan Tweney, writing for VentureBeat:

The problem with wearable technology might just be that nobody particularly wants it. Not if you call it “wearable technology,” that is. That’s the conclusion proffered by Marcus Weller, the chief executive and cofounder of Skully, the maker of a “smart” motorcycle helmet. […]

In fact, one of his most useful and actionable observations — especially for an audience full of people making wearable tech products — is that the word “wearable” really doesn’t work in marketing campaigns. It’s actually off-putting.

Instead, Weller advises wearable makers to focus on what their product enables customers to do: Ride safely, enjoy life better, have more fun, or be more productive.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Marketing, Product Development, Smartwatches, Wearables - Other

Market Scan Highlights: 2015-05-17

May 17, 2015

Screen Shot 2015-05-17 at 6.11.23 AM

Highlights from this week’s Market Scan. Read it here. Subscribe here.

  • China wireless carriers to slash contract prices, could spur 4G boom (Reuters)
  • MediaTek aims to go head-to-head with Qualcomm in high-end chips using Helio X20 platform (FierceWireless)
  • Amazon VP: ‘Anyone working on NFC is focusing on last century’s problem’ (Mashable)
  • Apple: Top Israeli Tech Exec says Apple’s 700 Israeli-based Engineers Mainly Work on New Chip Designs (Patently Apple)
  • Xiaomi coming to U.S., U.K., France and Germany with accessories to sell (Phone Arena)
  • Microsoft: Cortana for all: Microsoft’s plan to put voice recognition behind anything (Ars Technica)
  • Microsoft will bypass carriers, push Windows 10 updates directly to phones (PC World)
  • Samsung reveals a few facts about its round Gear smartwatch (Engadget)
Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Amazon, Apple, Assorted Links, China, Contracts & Subsidies, Intelligent Assistance, Interface, Market Scan, MediaTek, Microsoft, Processors, Qualcomm, Smartphones, Smartwatches, Voice Recognition, Windows, Xiaomi

Does the Apple Watch Really Need a Killer App to Succeed?

May 14, 2015

Yoni Heisler, writing for BGR:

A more reasoned explanation for why products like the iPhone succeed is that they present a wide range of use scenarios that appeal to a broad cross-section of people. Even with the iPod, by the time sales truly began to skyrocket, the iPod came in a variety of different form factors and was something of a jack of all trades as it was able to play video, casual games, display photos, and of course, play music.

Similarly, it stands to reason that the Apple Watch will succeed not because of some wild new futuristic third-party app, but rather because it’s a sleek-looking device that can do a number of varying functions pretty well. Perhaps the fact that the Apple Watch fits seamlessly within the broader iOS ecosystem is all that’s truly needed.

I agree. In fact, when Walt Mossberg published his review, I commented:

That’s the thing about this product. It seemed broad-ranging in functionality when it was announced — and it is — but the upside to that is that it means something different to everyone. (For instance, texting wouldn’t make my top three list. Neither would checking in, at the moment.) I’m not saying a broad range of features was the right move. Only time will tell. But – and this is a big “but” – for people that are curious about smartwatches, it does seem to offer each one something slightly different.

Just like with the iPhone and iPad, Apple intends the Apple Watch to be a general purpose device.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Apple, Apps, Smartwatches

Wednesday Assorted Links

May 13, 2015

1. Almost all smartphones sold today have the same two flaws — and the cases you’re buying prove it. Durability and battery life. Battery life is always in the news. This is a good reminder that durability is important too. The question is, for the next $1 of R&D to spend, do you allocate it to optimizing durability? Tough call, but most might answer “no”.

(Correction: I don’t think I should have framed it that way. It really depends on what other features you’ve developed and what parts of the product you’re able to control. And, crucially, the degree of improvement you’re able to make.)

2. Why 8 and 10 CPU cores in smartphones are a good idea – a lesson from the kitchen. (Remember, not every company is in a position to optimize its own CPU.) The main point:

The clusters of cores have different performance and power characteristics. With clever scheduling the mobile OS is able to use the best core for the best job […] more cores equals […] better power efficiency, but not necessarily more performance.

3. How Smartphones Have Changed Photography, In Three Numbers. And add to that the simple ability to share them.

4. Samsung answers the Apple Watch Digital Crown with a rotating, round bezel. What they need to avoid is this.

5. Why the Verizon-AOL deal just might work: Mobile video ads are worth a lot. “Verizon didn’t buy AOL, a dying ISP—it bought AOL, a digital ad company.” Maybe because of this.

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Acquisitions, Assorted Links, Design, Imaging, Power, Processors, Samsung, Smartphones, Smartwatches, Verizon

Luke Wroblewski: Why the Wrist Matters

May 12, 2015

In case you were wondering.

why the wrist matters. pic.twitter.com/J71416yjQF

— Luke Wroblewski (@lukew) March 8, 2015

Share:Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email

Filed Under: Smartwatches, Wearables - Other

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

MOBILE FORWARD POSTS

Popular Posts

   Go to Complete List  ››

Latest Posts

  • The PC is Passé. What Now?
  • Google RankBrain: AI in Search
  • Tim Cook on Cars
  • Foxconn Makes About 30% of the Components in a Tesla
  • A Search for Another Run-Time Model
  • How Tesla is Ushering in the Age of the Learning Car
  • Nobody Can Override the Director
  • Apple’s Bold Platform Risk
  • Toyota Executive: “Toyota has to change its ways” to Move Forward
  • Intel Working on an iPhone Modem: New Chatter
  • On Product Names
  • Windows Laptops Need Better Engineering, Not Better Marketing
  • On Robot Creativity and Imagination
  • Perfecting Pixar’s Movies Takes a Crazy Amount of Research
  • A Leading Indicator of Success

Categories

Archives

  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015

Mobile Forward

About
A
Contact

Categories

Recent Posts

  • The PC is Passé. What Now?
  • Google RankBrain: AI in Search
  • Tim Cook on Cars
  • Foxconn Makes About 30% of the Components in a Tesla
  • A Search for Another Run-Time Model

Support MF

Subscribe

Follow MF

Twitter
A
RSS
A
By Email

Search

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in