Response to Astroboy907, coolguy4747 and Truthfulie 07102014
I would like to start by responding to an earlier comment made by Cameron (cambookpro) in his July 7th posting.
In his post on July 7th Cameron indicated: “It's just not worth Apple's time anymore, considering the 'iWatch' is meant to be their next killer product that will diminish sales even further.”
I have done some research on the “iWatch” on macrumors and learned the following:
> Though we don't know exactly what the iWatch will look like, it is expected to include a durable sapphire crystal display, produced in collaboration with Apple partner GT Advanced.
> Apple's iWatch will offer a "fashionable design" according to Kuo, and could be available in multiple materials at different price points and in multiple sizes.
> The iWatch will be able to measure multiple different health-related metrics like steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, heart rate, and more.
> The iWatch is said to include 10 different sensors to track health and fitness, providing an overall picture of health and making the health-tracking experience more accessible to the general public.
An article by Tero Kuittinen of BGR on May 5, 2014 further speculates the following:
> Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to think that Apple may be plotting to dive deep into real-time blood chemistry, heart rate and respiration analysis. This could turn the iWatch into a far more medical device than most industry observers have earlier anticipated.
> It’s not impossible that the long-term goal here is to integrate the device into U.S. healthcare infrastructure, particularly the gigantic and old-fashioned health insurance sector.
> Could consumers be granted cheaper insurance premiums if they agree to wear iWatches, which could help speed up heart attack response, blunt the damage from diabetes and even predict coming health crisis like strokes?
The first issue with the iWatch will occur if Apple introduces it at a price that most individuals are not be willing to spend.
Lisa Eadicicco of the Business Insider published this chart in an article on June 25, 2014. The statistics shown in the chart don’t appear very favorable for Apple sales of the iWatch (please see attached chart.)
Next can we please talk about the realities of exercise among individuals in the US population? According to a USA Today article written by Nanci Hellmich on May 2, 2013:
> Most adults in the USA aren't meeting the federal physical activity recommendations for both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activity, according to government statistics out today
> About 79% of adults don't meet the physical activity guidelines that advise getting at least 2½ hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
Other research indicates that people are less active than these statistics suggest.
Scientists with the National Cancer Institute, using actual motion sensors, found that fewer than 5% of adults in the USA get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity in bouts of at least 10 minutes.
Although my lifestyle includes exercise many days a week for an hour or more the USA Today statistics paint a different of exercise among the US population.
In addition there have been numerous devices around for years that monitor an individual’s “health related metrics.” They range from heart monitors, calorie counters, pedometers to step counters. Looking at the USA Today statistics these devices don’t seem to have added incentive for people to exercise.
The fact is that the only thing that will cause an individual to make a lifestyle change involving exercise is a personal commitment on their part to make this change. Our arms and legs are the best exercise equipment we have. Many individuals who purchase an iWatch with health related features might not use them.
I don’t think that either of these suggestions by BGR has very much merit:
> “Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to think that Apple may be plotting to dive deep into real-time blood chemistry, heart rate and respiration analysis. This could turn the iWatch into a far more medical device than most industry observers have earlier anticipated.”
> It’s not impossible that the long-term goal here is to integrate the device into U.S. healthcare infrastructure, particularly the gigantic and old-fashioned health insurance sector.
Although Apple can afford to buy companies with healthcare expertise I don’t think they can impact the US healthcare infrastructure in the manner proposed during the couple of decades.
An Apple iWatch or any Apple wearable may be “sexy” to Apple followers…but they might be attempting to put to many features into a small iWatch package...and furthermore features that a lot of people may not use.
I know that I didn’t mention the possibility of streaming music and the Beats connection but its all-only speculation at this point in time anyway.
coolguy4747, thank you for your kind words.
coolguy4747 said “They're approaching the end of the iPod days” and Truthfulie concurred with his comment that “The world is moving towards streaming music services, not downloading to local storage hence the decline of iTunes sales and eventual death of iPods.
Each of you is forcing me to re-think my ideas related to the iPod touch. I will leave my comments on this for a future post.
Respectfully….Ralph
I would like to start by responding to an earlier comment made by Cameron (cambookpro) in his July 7th posting.
In his post on July 7th Cameron indicated: “It's just not worth Apple's time anymore, considering the 'iWatch' is meant to be their next killer product that will diminish sales even further.”
I have done some research on the “iWatch” on macrumors and learned the following:
> Though we don't know exactly what the iWatch will look like, it is expected to include a durable sapphire crystal display, produced in collaboration with Apple partner GT Advanced.
> Apple's iWatch will offer a "fashionable design" according to Kuo, and could be available in multiple materials at different price points and in multiple sizes.
> The iWatch will be able to measure multiple different health-related metrics like steps taken, calories burned, sleep quality, heart rate, and more.
> The iWatch is said to include 10 different sensors to track health and fitness, providing an overall picture of health and making the health-tracking experience more accessible to the general public.
An article by Tero Kuittinen of BGR on May 5, 2014 further speculates the following:
> Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to think that Apple may be plotting to dive deep into real-time blood chemistry, heart rate and respiration analysis. This could turn the iWatch into a far more medical device than most industry observers have earlier anticipated.
> It’s not impossible that the long-term goal here is to integrate the device into U.S. healthcare infrastructure, particularly the gigantic and old-fashioned health insurance sector.
> Could consumers be granted cheaper insurance premiums if they agree to wear iWatches, which could help speed up heart attack response, blunt the damage from diabetes and even predict coming health crisis like strokes?
The first issue with the iWatch will occur if Apple introduces it at a price that most individuals are not be willing to spend.
Lisa Eadicicco of the Business Insider published this chart in an article on June 25, 2014. The statistics shown in the chart don’t appear very favorable for Apple sales of the iWatch (please see attached chart.)
Next can we please talk about the realities of exercise among individuals in the US population? According to a USA Today article written by Nanci Hellmich on May 2, 2013:
> Most adults in the USA aren't meeting the federal physical activity recommendations for both aerobic exercise and muscle-strengthening activity, according to government statistics out today
> About 79% of adults don't meet the physical activity guidelines that advise getting at least 2½ hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity
Other research indicates that people are less active than these statistics suggest.
Scientists with the National Cancer Institute, using actual motion sensors, found that fewer than 5% of adults in the USA get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity in bouts of at least 10 minutes.
Although my lifestyle includes exercise many days a week for an hour or more the USA Today statistics paint a different of exercise among the US population.
In addition there have been numerous devices around for years that monitor an individual’s “health related metrics.” They range from heart monitors, calorie counters, pedometers to step counters. Looking at the USA Today statistics these devices don’t seem to have added incentive for people to exercise.
The fact is that the only thing that will cause an individual to make a lifestyle change involving exercise is a personal commitment on their part to make this change. Our arms and legs are the best exercise equipment we have. Many individuals who purchase an iWatch with health related features might not use them.
I don’t think that either of these suggestions by BGR has very much merit:
> “Nevertheless, it’s intriguing to think that Apple may be plotting to dive deep into real-time blood chemistry, heart rate and respiration analysis. This could turn the iWatch into a far more medical device than most industry observers have earlier anticipated.”
> It’s not impossible that the long-term goal here is to integrate the device into U.S. healthcare infrastructure, particularly the gigantic and old-fashioned health insurance sector.
Although Apple can afford to buy companies with healthcare expertise I don’t think they can impact the US healthcare infrastructure in the manner proposed during the couple of decades.
An Apple iWatch or any Apple wearable may be “sexy” to Apple followers…but they might be attempting to put to many features into a small iWatch package...and furthermore features that a lot of people may not use.
I know that I didn’t mention the possibility of streaming music and the Beats connection but its all-only speculation at this point in time anyway.
coolguy4747, thank you for your kind words.
coolguy4747 said “They're approaching the end of the iPod days” and Truthfulie concurred with his comment that “The world is moving towards streaming music services, not downloading to local storage hence the decline of iTunes sales and eventual death of iPods.
Each of you is forcing me to re-think my ideas related to the iPod touch. I will leave my comments on this for a future post.
Respectfully….Ralph
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