Twelve reasons why I would consider buying an Apple Watch

Can Apple Watch succeed where Google Glass did not? Only time will tell! Pun intended. 

As Apple prepares to launch its much-awaited Watch, there is a palpable “Can Apple pull it off again?” sentiment within the tech community and the luxury goods segment at large. After all Apple, once considered a has-been, has successfully launched the iPod, iPhone, and iPad, completely transforming the way we listen to music and how we communicate with each other.

Can Apple repeat its previous success which was largely driven by the consolidation of applications such as telephone, camera, and music player? Aesthetics and ease of use of have become hallmarks of Apple products, cementing a base of high-end consumer diehards.

Are there still pain points left in these consumer devices that an Apple Watch can address?

At first look, it would appear to be a stretch. But, we are talking about Apple here. They are known to break conventions, and disrupt giants within their respective industries!

However, this time around, it’s a little less clear as to who are they taking on. Smartphone and tablet manufacturers? Or, the luxury watchmakers? Or both?

As a moderately gadget-friendly individual, I decided to look for reasons as to why I would consider buying an Apple Watch. Obviously, the real capabilities of the Apple Watch will only be announced at the launch next week and may not align with some of my observations below.

So, here are twelve reasons why I would consider buying an Apple Watch.

I have had my current watch for over four years

I have been contemplating buying a new watch for a while. So, why not look at the Apple Watch? The most expensive watch that I have ever owned cost me $150. So the starting price of the Apple Watch at $350 is a bit of a deterrent. But, I may be able to live with a one-time splurge!

I can connect it to my iPhone and iPad

For me, the choice of an Apple Watch over other similar devices like Samsung’s Gear Watch and Pebble is simply based on the fact that I have an iPhone and an iPad. The ability to add the Apple Watch as an “authorized device” and “airdrop” files would be a useful functionality that may not be possible with devices from competing manufacturers. It’s a no-brainer that for every existing Apple customer, an Apple watch is the obvious choice among smartwatches. The price point is the real barrier.

I can seamlessly connect to my car audio

The ability to connect directly from the watch to my car’s audio system is a huge one for me. Playing music or podcasts while in transit can be done with one less device in the mix. For real-time applications like playing music through Spotify etc. a cellular device may still need to be involved.

I can see who is calling or texting me without taking the phone out of my pocket

This would be a good feature to have. Especially while driving, or while in a meeting. A discreet look at my wrist may not receive the same kind of disapproving looks as pulling out my smartphone in the middle of a one-on-one meeting.

I can charge it without plugging it in

The expectation is that the Apple Watch would have inbuilt wireless charging capability. In general, wireless charging has been slower to take off due to conflicting standards that don’t necessarily work with each other. Apple’s choice of the standard will certainly give a boost to companies currently offering wireless charging products and protocols.

It can act as my Fitbit

For a while now, I have been planning to get a Fitbit or a Fuelband. Since the Apple Watch incorporates heart monitoring functionality into the watch, perhaps the $100 or so that I would need for the Fitbit can now go into my new watch!

I can tell time in the dark without turning the light on.

I can probably accomplish this with many cheaper digital watches like Casio. Nevertheless, it is a watch after all. So, being able to tell the time and set a wake-up alarm without a clock or my iPhone would be nice.

I can wear it in the shower.

This is not a big one in the scheme of things. I don’t wear my current watch in the shower. But I do like the idea of a watch that is waterproof/resistant enough to be safe for showers.

I don’t have to charge it every few hours

This one could be an issue. The prospect of recharging the watch every two days does not appeal to me. The positive features of the watch will need to outweigh the pain and bother associated with the recharging for it to be worth the investment.

It has enough storage for key apps like music, recording, etc.

I don’t expect the watch to have unlimited amounts of storage. But, enough memory and storage to host some applications natively when I don’t have access to the cloud would be an important functionality. Simple examples would include the ability to store playlists and record audio.

The buttons are intuitive enough without complex menus

In my layman’s point of view, this will be key to the watch’s success. The iPhone and iPad are intuitive devices and easy to operate. Complex menus and maneuvering features can make the experience less enjoyable and less efficient.

Maps/GPS:

The ability to use the GPS functionality embedded in Maps would be handy. This may require access to cellular data and an LTE network associated with my iPhone. But the ability to use the iPhone-Apple Watch combination for navigation purposes would be a neat feature.

As the supporters and detractors wait with bated breath to see the product and the reaction from consumers, it is fair to say that this is unchartered territory for Apple.

Now to convince my wife…