Based on MacBreak Weekly - did we ever get a definition of what Leo Laporte meant by the Apple Wa...

[G+_John Borgen (Fat Guy Ba]

Based on MacBreak Weekly - did we ever get a definition of what Leo Laporte meant by the Apple Watch category is tanking... All smart watches, the apple watch itself? Just wondering since he stated he didn't care about sale numbers. 

 

So what sort of metric, or is this just another "I fee it's this way" sorts of things?

 

Thoughts?

[G+_Dave Trautman]

Leo's been on this for nearly a year now.

 

Essentially he's saying that wearables are not working out, for anyone. Narrowly targeted devices seem to have better adoption and traction with users, but those users each have a specific "use case" when it comes to each particular need. He's also debated this with a lot of his guests on TWiT (the Sunday show). He's gone over it with Myriam Joire a couple of times regarding the Pebble and other devices.

 

It's been a couple of years for the "multifunction" types to get something out there which appeals to a wider customer base. Everyone is giving it a try, clearly. But I believe Leo Laporte is saying that he expected Apple to do it's usual thing and come late to the party with the best booze. It doesn't seem like what Apple has put on the table is solving many of the inherent problems of a wearable or giving us a better wearable experience. His expectations may be a bit high in this regard, but he's partly right that Apple usually finds the 'special sauce' in these things and all other makers begin to tilt toward their solutions.

 

It just may be, as you might be inferring from your question, that this area is so different – and the ground is still so soft – that we won't really see a functionally better device for many years. Just as discreet music player devices quickly faded when phones carried the tune, we might find the 'watch' concept fade to the background once a more innovative and clearly better interface steps out of the shadows. I'm still thinking glasses are a better place. But Google seems to have clouded the water with their little experiment.

 

 

[G+_Paul Comeau]

Yup... I guess I get tired of the "it's a failure" but there's no real data. Or as Andy tried to push (again) "what do you mean by failure?"

 

If not manner of measuring is given it's just an opinion that's hard to refute.

 

As for Apple "coming late w/ the best booze" I think over the years that has been over sold... (by the media in general, not singling out TWiT in any way). Apple has done it 3 maybe 4 times. An incredible amount of large hits for one company to be sure, but still that's over a decade plus now time wise. 

 

So yeah I agree that the general watch and wearable category is still rather new, Google Glass kinda muddied things, and more innovation is on the way. I just get a little tired of the 'x is doomed' proclamation when x is still getting out of the gate. (for any device, not just Apple)

[G+_Dave Trautman]

Paul Comeau I am with you on that score.