What Exactly Is a Smartwatch?

[WavyDavey]

There's been some interesting discussion about whether the Ionic is actually a smartwatch or not. So let's discuss this.

We can start at Wikipedia, which defines a later-model smartwatch as:

2010s smartwatches are effectively wearable computers. Many run mobile apps, using a mobile operating system. Some smartwatches function as portable media players, with FM radio and playback of digital audio and video files via a Bluetooth or USB headset. "

So in terms of this definition, The Ionic has mobile apps (limited until the app store deploys), and has its own operating system. It functions as a media player for audio files via Bluetooth headset. It would seem to fit the bill. 

Have some decided that the Ionic isn't a smartwatch, and are looking for examples to prove that? The things I see mentioned are fairly specific features-- like ability to respond to texts, heart rate while swimming, or a built-in speaker.

I realize the lack of some features may be a deal-breaker for some people. But I'd suggest that none of those features are essential for a device to be considered a smartwatch.

What do you think a smartwatch is? What features are absolutely essential in order for a device to be considered a smartwatch?

[datalore]

I can’t argue that point. I’d just much rather have apps and watch interactivity over notifications, but that’s just taste. There’s no doubt the Ionic does not meet the expectations of many consumers when they hear the term smart watch. Maybe the platform will mature and rise to that level; only time will tell. 

[bbarrera]

Fitbit hobbled the hardware by leaving out speaker and microphone. I predict the Fitbit App Store will be filled with watch faces. Shrug. Ionic still holds great potential for Fitbit fans, but you can't deny that even Pebble owners are disappointed by lack of features that should have been table stakes for playing in smartwatch game.

[datalore]

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@bbarrera wrote:

Fitbit hobbled the hardware by leaving out speaker and microphone. I predict the Fitbit App Store will be filled with watch faces. Shrug. Ionic still holds great potential for Fitbit fans, but you can't deny that even Pebble owners are disappointed by lack of features that should have been table stakes for playing in smartwatch game.

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The original question was does the ionic qualify as a smart watch and the answer to that is yes. Is it a fully featured good smart watch is a different question. I understand they wanted the form factor to be as thin as possible, but they should have included a speaker and microphone. While they don't appeal to me those are features consumers just expect. You could be right about the app store being filled with watch faces, but time will tell that story. I hope some of the Pebble DNA survives and we see some of the funky, and downright weird apps that Pebble had. If the watch is a huge hit we should see some movement on the apps, if not apps may not be fitbits biggest problem.

[bbarrera]

Ionic will sell to Fitbit fans, beyond that I don't know. We've since learned that "fitness" isn't the killer app for taking activity trackers to being mainstream devices, activity trackers / connected fitness / health / whatever is still somewhat of a niche. Mobile devices are going to eat into this category, just like they killed point and shoot cameras and MP3 players.

[SunsetRunner]

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@bbarrera wrote:

Ionic will sell to Fitbit fans, beyond that I don't know. We've since learned that "fitness" isn't the killer app for taking activity trackers to being mainstream devices, activity trackers / connected fitness / health / whatever is still somewhat of a niche. Mobile devices are going to eat into this category, just like they killed point and shoot cameras and MP3 players.

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What do you mean by "mobile device" ? Ultimately the new iwatch is a pretty good allrounder but it's limited to Apple users.

The watch market needs another 2 years to get it's act together, in the meantime you can have a slick iwatch or for the rest of us a Fitbit Ionic. Mystery to me why Apple users haven't bought an iWatch.

[bbarrera]

I mean mobile devices are going to get smaller and more capable. At the forefront of that trend are the Samsung Gear and Apple Watch.

[datalore]

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@bbarrera wrote:

Ionic will sell to Fitbit fans, beyond that I don't know. We've since learned that "fitness" isn't the killer app for taking activity trackers to being mainstream devices, activity trackers / connected fitness / health / whatever is still somewhat of a niche. Mobile devices are going to eat into this category, just like they killed point and shoot cameras and MP3 players.

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It really is tough to tell with technology. If fitbit, apple, garmin, or samsung, introduce something that can really diagnose illness and they become a must have then wearables will survive if they find a way to use their watch to monitor glucose that's going to be a game changer for the smartwatch and the company that does it first is in the catbird seat. Is it even possible to find a noninvasive way to monitor glucose? Someone is going to figure it out.  Will watches and smartphones merge? Of course, just like the camera, MP3, and mechanical watch merged.  I think you're on to something there. You are correct that technology gets better, smaller, cheaper, and we have no idea where it's going other than it's going to get better, smaller, cheaper, and more powerful. I'm just glad all this hardware will need software, so I  should be good for a while; I just have to keep up with the furious pace of change.