IDC's 3Q15 wearables figures are out, and Fitbit is the big winner while Samsung the big loser. The market research firm says Fitbit sold 4.7 million devices in the third quarter, twice as many as it sold in the same period last year. It accounts for 22.2 percent of the global market. Apple, IDC said, sold 3.9 million Apple Watches, for 18.6 percent of the market. It was … [Read more...]
What the Misfit Purchase Means for Wearables Startups
Misfit, which began life as a Kickstarter and became one of the best known wearables companies, was bought yesterday by a big public watch company for $230 million. That was probably its best possible end as an independent company. Misfit, over its four years of life, had raised $63 million in three rounds of funding. The products are beautiful and have a loyal following. … [Read more...]
What’s on Your Finger?
One ring to bind them all, one ring to ... check your email? Apple has applied for a patent for “Devices and Methods for a Ring Computing Device.” That’s right; an iRing, a touchscreen device that you can wear on your finger, complete with a battery and the ability to communicate with other iDevices. It might also have a camera and a biometric sensor for Apple Pay. There … [Read more...]
Apple’s Revving Up for the Holidays
In another move away from Apple’s once vaunted isolationism, T-Mobile and Sprint will be selling the Apple Watch in store starting Sept. 25, the same launch date as for iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. (This must count as an accessory for them, as there's no network connectivity or plan involved.) Not long afterwards, on Oct. 5, Apple and Hermes stores will carry a luxury … [Read more...]
New Bands, Watch Finishes, OS for Apple Watch
The Apple Watch went first at today's big Apple blowout, which was fitting because its news was pretty small potatoes. We already knew about WatchOS 2.0, although the September 16 date hadn't been publicly announced. There's a new rose gold finish for the aluminum Sport watch, and some new wristbands, both plastic and leather. The part of all that with the largest … [Read more...]
Apple’s Earnings Are Up; Doesn’t Break Out Watch Sales [Updated]
Apple announced its second quarter earnings today, up 38 percent supported by big sales increases in China and strong iPhone demand. The company did not break out Apple Watch sales, lumping them instead with Apple TV, Beats products, and iPods. Sales for that group of products grew 49 percent in the second quarter, to $2.64 billion. CEO Tim Cook said watch sales were … [Read more...]
New Canalys Figures Show Fitbit Leading Wearables Market — For Now
Canalys, which has a better-than-most handle on the size and shape of the consumer wearables market, is out with its 1Q15 numbers, and they show Fitbit maintaining its lead in a growing market. Overall, the research company said the wearable band market grew 150 percent year over year, with more than 7 million units shipped in the first quarter. The company did not publicly … [Read more...]
First-Day US Apple Watch Sales Estimated At About 1 Million
Someone tell Tim Cook that he can start the production line. The e-commerce consulting company Slice Intelligence estimates that 957.000 Apple Watches were pre-ordered on Friday, the first day of "availability." The average customer bought 1.3 watches, and spend $504 per watch. Sales were skewed to the less-expensive Sport watch -- 62 percent of those buying -- at $383.83 … [Read more...]
The Apple Store Try-On Experience Tried Out
We stopped by an Apple Store this morning -- the one in Soho, Manhattan -- to try on a Watch and see how smooth the try-on experience is. The short version: it's a very nice piece of hardware, and the experience is a little bumpy. In fairness, a lot of the experience is new for everyone involved; one of the sales associates reminded a customer that they themselves have only … [Read more...]
Apple Watch Review Roundup: This One Will Take Some Getting Used To (Updated)
The flood of major reviews of the Apple Watch is coming in, and they're consistent: Apple Pay is magical. Nice hardware. Third-party apps are pretty bad. Haptics are cool. 3D emojis are not. This is the best smart watch. Using one will take some getting used to. Joshua Topolsky at Bloomberg writes about how it's a fair amount of work to figure out which … [Read more...]