Definitely feel health/fitness is a big segment for wearables. Notifications are also something that would be helpful, especially any tied to location based alerts.
I think it would be a great fitness tracker. But purely of the convenience of not having to pull out your phone for every little thing is what I would appreciate,
I think both fitness and business. Fitness because it's an easy way to check stats on the fly without breaking your rhythm or having to fumble with a larger device. Business because you can check your messages in a meeting more discreetly than pulling out your phone and being a distraction.
Fitness for sure. People including myself for a time, use iPods for fitness purposes. Whether it is for use as a pedometer, GPS, talk on the phone(?!), or what have you, people love to bring technology along for the ride... or run. Having information... eh hem... at hand seems like a no-brainer for a lot of people.
If the capabilities of wearables improves to being a standalone phone, that would create a valid value proposition for consumers. There's a market for people who desire a stripped down smartphone in a watch form which can be configured (adding apps, customizing themes) on their computer. As it exists now, wearables only have appeal I think in fitness and healthcare.
I'll have to say Biometrics/Fitness will be the be the area wearables excel. While being Dick Tracy is cool and all. the amount of function able to be backed into such a device is immeasurable. Imagine being in a hospital and only have to wear a watch instead of the dozens of tubes and wires to monitor your vitals.
The most obvious answer is fitness, since that is where they have gained the most traction so far. For example, I currently use my Pebble in conjunction with Runkeeper and Pandora to manage my pace and listen to music while I run.
Wearables and home automation seem to go hand in hand. I would love to be laying in bed and starting my coffee on my watch. NFC would also find a much healthier home on smartwatches as it takes the step of getting your phone from your pocket out of the equation. Health seems to be the focus right now, but I don't see that being a huge selling point (at least in the U.S.) The world can definitely benefit, though, from a watch that notifies you when you are being unhealthy, like just a simple calories burned vs. calories consumed for the day.
Wearables as extension of phone very promising. Displaying texts and notifications. In health, HR, pedometer, body temp, sweat analysis. Also for ID and payment services
Smart watches can be very useful for exercise (step and calorie counters, heart rate sensor, timers for routines, GPS while biking, etc.). I also think they'd be great for home automation, controlling lights, temp, door locks, garage door, etc.
Watches are still viewed as a fashion accessory, regardless of how "smart" they get. I think the most successful watch implementation will be one which combines the aesthetics/design/elegance of a traditional watch with the "smart" features being a bonus. Among the latter, the most important ones for me would be fitness tracking & personal identification applications (ID card replacement, phone unlock, etc..)
Definitely health and fitness. Just having a Fitbit has made me more aware of how active/inactive I've been, so a smart watch will only enhance that awareness.
I feel like entertainment controls are a big area for smart watches. The ability to control my TV or Chromecast when connected to the same WiFi network would be so handy.
Health/Fitness will be a big market for small wearables. Notifications will be next, but I think a true drop-in replacement for a standard watch will be required before notifications really takes off.
In any case, I'm excited about the possibilities for navigation while biking. I've a terrible sense of direction and being able to safely and effectively navigate while cycling around the city would be marvelous. Further, having to pull my phone out less frequently seems really nice.
Once we have cheaper, smaller, more power efficient sensors embedded in everything, the prospects for healthcare are also great. The ability to *reliably* track things like heart rate, blood sugar, blood pressure, and other physiological features will be amazing—given Moore's law and ~big data~ I expect that we'll see a large jump in diagnostic capabilities resulting in earlier, better treatment.
Security should play a pretty large role, as a watch would be something that you always have on you (it could also go multiple layers deep, if needed: randomized token number, password, certificate stored on watch). I think fitness / geolocation will play a pretty large part as well, but I think it will evolve in the future to be un-thethered so there will be no need to also carry a phone around will on a run, hike, bike ride, etc.
I think wearable makers need to take fashion more into consideration. Google has started to do it with Glass, but I don't really like any of the watches so far. Moto 360 is ok, but not really that great.
Healthcare. Having non-contact interaction is a must though. Need to be able to swipe over the phone(whole palmn) for it to display and basic finger motion(scroll up/down/left/right with a single finger). Developers can then tie into GPS to know what room they are in and give full access to all patient information at a glance while allowing hands to be completely free. That's the big deal, glanceable info. Software needs to be location sensitive to give top information without any interaction.
For the near future, wearable techs can be successful for monitoring health and also provide personal assistance such as calendar or reminder services.
Health/fitness is probably the first market, followed by communications. I'd love to see this evolve to handle speakerphone duties for a dump phone hidden in a pocket or backpack. Displaying texts would be nice, but responding to them could be hard unless voice recognition improves. :)
Honestly, I think fitness is the biggest sector. I'd love one of these to run with. That said, I hope future AW watches have stand alone functionality with a built in GPS and ability to play music. I'd love to go run with JUST this and still be able to track everything. For now tho, the watch paired with my phone would make things easier.
I think a useful but slightly niche application would be in security. It would be a very handy way of providing 2 factor authentication and typically such an app would be useful with only minimal interaction. Hit button receive code.
It seems that the aim is activity and notifcation... sleep tracking, running stopwatches, steps taken/miles covered, and calls/text/email notifications.
Let's take a step back. We can already get that on our phones. How about something new? What, you ask? I don't know. If I did I'd be marketing it...
Aside from the obvious benefit in health, security is actually a great use for wearables. It would allow a team of guards to track other guards on their watch for instance to more effectively coordinate.
I would like one. One segment I haven't heard about would be first responders. I would like to know where my firefighters are inside that building, just in case. I think a smart watch might make a good near-field tracking device.
Best non-mentioned use of wearables will be in Electronic Wallet Apps, Keyless Automobile Fob Replacement, Electric Vehicle Charger Scheduling / Activation / Disconnect Notification, Employee Activity Monitoring, Disaster Awareness / Warning, etc.
I think chemical industry is a great growth sector. In a lot of labs you can not take off your gloves to pull your phone out and look at it but you can glance at your wrist. A watch capable of showing not only current time but also that relays the NFPA 704 for the tank closest to you as well as can relay any emergency announcements could be use. Imagine a nearby reactor is going to be put online in 2 hours. Having the ability to broadcast this to every employee before hand could save a lot of workers in chemical factories.
Fitness would be the first choice. So far the existing wearable fitness solutions are not very useful unless you want to enter all your daily activities into a separate computer.
Health monitoring holds great potential if done well.
For the near future, I think the main use case for wearables is fitness and adventure. GPS watches like the Forerunner/Fenix are already a success. A GPS watch that can show you a credible topo map, do more sophisticated navigation, download facts about where you're going, do more sophisticated things with your activity tracking, etc could be a Big Deal.
For many of the other things people seem to aim wearables at, I have a hard time seeing the appeal until vastly improved battery life, on-device voice recognition (no wait for upload to google's servers), and a host of other huge changes occur.
I'd think fitness and possibly a good spot for GPS or similar travel apps. I don't really need or want to do anything requiring typing or reading on it!
Healthcare - I'd like it to check my pulse/heart rate. Security - Would love for my wearable to sound off if my alarm system went off at home or in my car. Fashion - Round watches seem to be more popular than square.
health and fitness are obvious areas where this wearable device could succeed. Security would be interesting as I hate carrying around key chains in my pockets. I would also be excited about calendaring functions, meeting invite reminders, any maybe even important notifications.
I haven't ever used a smartwatch before, but I definitely see their use for communicative purposes. I would love to see how one would affect my live and use
I think smart watches will continue to be a niche product until they really crack the fashion aspect of it. It looks like the moto 360 has some potential here, but it will really only take off if it becomes "cool" to have one, which unfortunately seems to be mostly driven by fashion right now.
Location/GPS with navigation/Altitude/Barometric pressure/Compass for use in hiking/climbing would get me back to wearing a watch. I used to have an expensive Cassio watch that did that (minus GPS) and it helped immensely. Smartphones are great, but you need your hands free when climbing. If necessary, the location/gps could be sent to the watch from the phone. Make it waterproof so I could use it while Kayaking as well. I would be willing to pay a large premium for such a watch.
The only segment I believe it will be useful for is for fitness/health. I do not think the utility of a smartwatch will be fully realized until you can stuff the guts of a modern smartphone into the form factor of a watch, a-la Dick Tracy.
With every new technology there is going to be an adoption period. We saw that adoption period starting with computers, then came cellular phones (dumb phones), then smartphones, and now the adoption period is coming to wearable’s. The computer gave us internet access at our homes and work, the dumb phones made it possible for people to get a hold of us when we were not at home or work. The smartphones gave people the ability to conduct work from virtually anywhere with a data connection and sometimes even without a data connection. With the development of wearable technology starting to be adopted more and more these cellular phone accessories will stand to be adopted more easily and used by the masses. The community is at its infancy when it comes to wearables; no one knows what the future holds. What manufactures are starting to do is see where they can expand their market share and the hot topic is wearables. I foresee, in the future having a wearable would be just as common as having a computer or a cellular phone. The idea of being able to give a quick glance at your wrist and know what direction is next in your navigation, how long of time it is until you’re seated for dinner and even which alarm was set off in your home security system is something that saves time and makes life easier. The hardest part with developing new technology is finding people that are capable of developing these expanding technologies. There is also the reality that wearables are not for everyone; however that does not mean that the development and time should not be spent to make good and reliable applications.
I have to agree with a lot of the comments I'm seeing and say healthcare and fitness jump out as two industries that could benefit most from wearables. Monitoring heart rate, providing a timer for things that need done at set intervals like shots or pills, and so on. A wearable is something you'd likely have on at all times.
It could also be very useful to a small business or something where employees might be spread thin. Think getting notifications or having stream video to know when a customer comes in your shop if you don't have line of sight to the main floor.
It would also have applications in security, possibly large retail locations. Being able to tie your existing security to a wearable to aid in thwarting shoplifters and other types of theft.
Currently, wearables is doing very well for the fitness segment. This will keep continuing because people that are into fitness really want to know as much stats as possible in realtime (distance, heart rate, location, steps, speed, etc). This is especially true right now because it seems like the nation as a whole is becoming much more health conscious.
Aside from the health segmet, I see the business segment and the young college student segment taking off. Being able to quickly see emails & texts without having to pull out your phone will appeal to the busy business person. The same would be said for the college student. Also, if what you're wearing is cool & trendy, the college student would definitely save money for that wearable.
Fitness, more specifically: mountaineering. Would love to have a watch to display route information, altitude, heart rate, hydration, sunrise/sunset, etc!
Probably the biggest thing I'd want my wearable to do is reduce the number of times I take my phone out of my pocket. The two biggest reasons why I do that are to check the time (obvious wearable function) and to see what notifications are. Being able to read a message while I'm driving would be a huge bonus. Driving becomes difficult when trying to wrestle my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, and swipe down just to see whether or not I can ignore a notification until I'm done driving. It's often mentioned that people want their phones to completely stay in their pocket and for everything to interface with their smartwatch. I think this is unrealistic. It needs to merely be an auxiliary display, similar to the Google Glass concept or Logitech's keyboard LCDs. When my phone is navigating somewhere, give me a compass. When I'm listening to music, give me the song. When I get a message, show it to me. Give me a physical button to tap in to Google's voice search, giving only voice replies. Save me the trouble of wrestling for my phone just to ask Google what "315 miles divided by 12.853 gallons" comes out to (and stop giving me the result in kilometers per litre when I've already provided units of measurement!).
Also, something slightly Star Trek Tricorder-like would be nice. Pick up vitals of the wearer, give me temperature, pressure, humidity, etc from hardware sensors. I'm not expecting spectrum analysis of various rocks, but something akin to a mad scientist's swiss army knife. Bonus points if it makes tricorder sounds (although licensing those might be difficult).
With all that said, I like what smartwatches are right now and where they are going. The current generation looks excellent and I'd love to have one. :)
I think these would be useful in a professional environment so you can get updates and screen calls without pulling out a phone in meetings. Also, a wearable would be useful in any profession where you use both your hands. I can imagine a cook, surgeon, rock climber, dentist, etc finding wearables quite useful.
The most important application would be communication and information lookups. With Health and fitness a close second. I would suspect that in the long run, watches that can completely replace phones (at least on the communications front) would win.
Health/fitness, notifications, and security is where I see wearables excelling in. Health/fitness and notifications are pretty obvious by now but security might not be. A good example I see wearables becoming useful is having the watch alert you when it's paired phone is too far away from it.
I believe a smartwatch will be most successful as a fitness tracker or as a fashion accessory. The reason for the fitness tracker is obvious. It would replace a fuelband and also keep track of many other possible metrics.
A smartwatch is also perfect for fashion. As many people know, fashion changes over time. As such, the traditional watches will always have a traditional look to them. However, smartwatches can have any aesthetic. In addition, smartwatches become obsolete in 2-5 years and as such they would be easy to switch out as new fashion trends arise. As such, smartwatches can follow the fashion industry very closely.
I could definitely see a smart watch as a replacement for those scenarios where I only need to glance at my phone. E-mail/text/alert notifications, calendar, time, phone battery life, GPS/directional navigation. It could also work well as an alternate input button for things like my phone's camera (set it up, walk into shot, press watch).
I can see this being useful in a work environment where emails and meetings are commonplace, yet you find yourself not in front of your computer a lot (for example if you worked in a laboratory that uses lab computers that don't necessarily have your email/appointments readily available).
And of course, this would be handy for the casual user who keeps their phone in their pocket and often misses calls because the ring/vibrate was not heard/felt.
They look nice. For the time being they are a gadget with no particular killer-app; if there's ever going to be a rugged one, I can see some use for quick communication between firefighters, quick responders etc.
Fitness is a no brainer. Gamification of fitness has seemingly proved beneficial, at least for now. And healthcare in general... the more sensors we can get, the more information we get to analyze.
And just having wearable sensors period to track yourself. I don't know what offhand, but I'm sure we can learn a lot (the flip side is there's a huge creepy factor in tracking yourself even moreso than Google does now).
ARM is asking the wrong question. The question should be what kinds of apps are interesting, and the second part of that is "Does it make sense to have a sub-app on the Wearable or just send notifications when needed?" Most apps don't need anything more than the Notification layer of the wearable, and there are plenty of people that are ignoring this and, let's say, making a web browser for the wearable *cough*. While this is a good demonstration, this example is absurd until wearables evolve to be more than the tiny screens they are now.
Would be a great fitness item. It could combine all my various fitness related electronics such as heart rate monitor, GPS, navigation, bike computer etc all into a single device. Plus I just want one.
If you have to ask your watch whether you had a good workout, then you probably didn't have a good workout... I don't think the fitness apps will be anything more than a fad, and most users that actually stick to a regimen for a few months will stop using them.
Having the actual time from your phone and getting text messages will be the useful, but the most important thing is being able to change the color of the face/background to match your outfit! They'd also match your smart glasses and other wearables. Fashion followed by Notifications are #1 & #2, IMO.
I think wearables make sense for security as a key fob. Healthcare devices are getting bigger and notifications for asthma and other medications will see a lot of convenience on the arm. Smart filtering of notifications will go along way to keeping this tool relevant. And fashion will sell it.
I think there's two classes of wearables: those with a screen, and those without a screen but use the display on another device.
I think multipurpose wearables will completely replace PMP's (media players), a lot of fitness devices, etc. But where they'll really shine is as a personalized, customizable interfaces to all the random electronics we use in our lives. TV/home theater remotes, home automation systems, unlocking my car, setting my alarm clock, etc.
I think any environment where you're on the move. Security, nursing, and fitness are all good example. I sit at my desk with my phone face up all day and wouldn't really buy one. But I still WANT one!
In my opinion, wearables will be most successful in fitness and fashion. They're just too small for anything important. I'd want one just because I like watches and it would be fun to experiment with various GUIs. I'm hesitant to actually buy one until they could last all day with the time always on display.
I think wearables would be the most successful in environments where pulling out your phone to check notifications is inappropriate. Like during a movie or maybe driving a car since you just have it on your wrist so it's not as distracting as grabbing your phone.
Healthcare and fitness is where I think wearables will be most successful. Being able to check blood pressure, heart rate, or other diagnostics on the fly trumps being able to check your e-mail or looking cool.
Using your watch for cooking would be so awesome. Not having to use dirty fingers to touch a screen, setting a timer by voice, getting the instructions read aloud to you...
I think wearables have big opportunities in vitals. Whether it be for fitness or health wearables gathering and monitoring a persons vitals opens an immense amount of data to use. Also notifications are another big area. Having something immediately view-able, which does not take up a hand, to show you notification information could be a huge benefit.
I think that location and time dependent notifications are the most interesting applications to me (Google Now). I would like my shopping list to appear on my wrist when I walk in a store, and I want to see traffic and public transportation schedules appear when it's time to leave work.
I would say healthcare is a big field because of the need to record information, but the mobility of a nurse and doctor is important. It's practical for a doctor to carry a tablet, and a smart watch could be a helpful companion device. As for a nurse, something with great power like a smart watch but not requiring a hand to carry around is a big boon. Also, hospitals will have a mesh WiFi network so connectivity is present. Just look at the way tablets (and PCs before them) have proliferated in hospitals recently and you'll see that there's money waiting to be spent for convenience.
Enterprise is another one. You must have a laptop to get any work done, but many times that too much. Or you don't want (or shouldn't!) get it out. Tablets are springing up there, but looks are important mobility is also worth something. Grabbing a phone works in so many scenarios, like checking the daily schedule or an upcoming meeting or replying to a quick email. In those cases, instead of reaching for a phone a smart watch could be helpful. How often do you need to read a moderate email, but the reply can be one word or one sentence? In those cases, a smart watch is perfect. And like healthcare, there is a lot of money that can be spent if the product is truly appealing and marketed well.
Certainly there will be folks who will ride the fashion/fad trend of smart watches. But it's hard to target and reach those folks, while the above cases are more straightforward.
I think any job/segment where a smartphone is useful and you need your hands to do something besides using the device. Ie. Food, healthcare, construction...
I, too, feel that fitness and notifications are going to be the primary uses for these devices. Personally, I like the idea of turn-by-turn navigation as well, for example while riding a bike. I'd love to win one!
I think communications (specifically, the notifications aspect) is the only use case for a smartwatch that makes real sense. Being able to communicate without taking your phone out of your pocket is a killer function for me.
FITNESS. As an avid cyclist I would absolutely love to be able to glance down at my watch for turn by turn directions, or view my heart rate, or distance traveled, or speed. This technology could finally keep me from having to stop at every turn when riding new routes.
I think wearables will be most successful when helping people with physical activities (health monitoring) and with eyes-off information (getting info while driving or walking).
security and health will be the most reasonable areas to justify the purchase of the smartwatch in the near future - for communication there need to be more innovation to happen i guess
I would be interested in a watch, but I know the first couple of generations I will not be happy with. As far as wearables, general clothes don't make a lot of sense unless they are washable and sensors only. I have no desire to charge more crap. I'd like the battery life to be one to two weeks. I would tolerate daily charging for a kick ass device, but realistically I expect to charge every 1 - 3 days.
My random thoughts below:
I would be interested in watches, but I want my watch to be waterproof, charge and sync wirelessly. I won't tolerate another cable. I like the ability to tell local weather data with built-in sensors. I have a phone and tablet that can tell me the forecast. The forecast would be nice, but not enough. GPS and compass functionality is handy, but should be able to disable and save the juice. Additional solar charging would be fine or some motion charging. The size is feature dependent to me. I draw the line at a device that makes me lean to one side though. I am into fitness and would be interested in accessories that tell my body temperature and pulse in conjunction with the watch. How many mile I have run (I don't run far) and how fast.
I don't think I want cellular built-in at this point. Privacy is getting to be a concern. WiFi and Bluetooth should do the trick. I'd rather not have a camera. I am at odds with the microphone for security/privacy concerns. I live in MN and freezing temperature operation would be pretty interesting to me, yet I know many batteries don't like it.
Applications: I am not sure how far I want notifications. I can say with certainty that I don't want any EFFFin ads -- Google -- on my watch. I am leery about Google being the OS period; they are too smart and they find subtle ways to figure out things about you. I have a mistrust of all the data they collect and analysis. I know Apple does the same things, but I don't find them as smart/crafty - this can obviously change. Yet I am aware that the others aren't much better. I would call Microsoft the best on privacy because they often have an opt-in approach. The EU loves stealing MS's money in court. I use some 2 factor authenticators and this would be a good location for an like that. Cryptocoin payment functionality; not sure about a live wallet though because of robbery. Reminder and alarm syncing with my phone. Call/text notification within a certain range of my phone. I don't care about music on it because I would expect it to sound like crap - laptop speakers already suck. I don't have diabetes, but blood sugar level notification would be pretty damn cool for telling when I have too much carbs or not enough in my diet: the glycemic level.
Fitness maybe - we've already seen some decently successful fitness products, but whether these devices can provide enough data for a comprehensive fitness assessment, or whether they are rugged enough to be worn while exercising remains to be seen.
I think the segments wearables would be most successful in would be communications (notifications) and fitness (things like tracking calories or miles). Would also be nice if it had some functionality separate from the phone it goes with; for example, taking your wearable on a run to play music and leaving the phone behind.
I think this would be good for business communication. Salesmen, Remote IT services, etc. I also think this would be good for the medical field. Doctors using to log medical notes.
Thanks for the competition! Fingers crossed :) I see wearables as key to productivity in a world full of distractions; reducing the time and attention needed to deal with all the notifications you receive through the day. This should also have the benefit of increasing phone battery life as the screen will be lit up a lot less as you can pre-screen pushes for importance and immediacy.
I see it as augmenting the devices we already carry. Mainly things like notifications, or initiating an action that's being carried out on some other device or service.
The ideal segment/application for wearables will vary based on the type of wearable and the interaction mode the hardware presents.
For watches, I really like Google's notification approach. Presenting some basic information and actions on the watch itself with basic taps and swipes, while leaving more advanced interactions for the phone/tablet. I prefer the functionality to remain fairly minimal, which will keep the computing resource requirements low which will allow smaller form factors and/or cheaper prices. Plus, I think it is incredibly smart how the watch hooks into the phone application's notifications, giving this new hardware an large software base on day one.
For the glasses type of wearables, applications need to require much less interaction as it isn't as convenient to be reaching up to touch your head, nor as socially accepting to be using verbal commands. This could require some type of AI to determine what information the user will want to see based on their situation/environment. I think augmented reality will be the killer app. Some obvious examples of this that come to mind are: navigation, facial recognition (I know, Google has shot this down), or location-based information (landmarks, restaurants, building info, etc.). Possibly, hands-free video recording or reference manual information display (e.g. show the car manual page to me while I have my hands busy working on the engine) would be very useful.
What I am really interested in are what other classes of wearables will be created. But I think all wearables should not be considered general computing devices, but provide relatively limited functionality (when compared to phones and tablets) or even single/fixed function devices like the various health monitoring devices.
I think communication would be the best use of this device. Just imagine you were a rogue scientist with a son, some kid you found in India and a body guard who is an ex GQ magazine model. This would be the perfect way to communicate with them.
Fashion. I think wearables can excel in fashion. People are willing to make trade offs for fashion and within those trade offa you can fit in more tech. Of course, eventually the tech will not have trade offs and be able to be as small as possible, but in the mean time if you make fashionable wearables people will be more willing to buy.
I think that communications or notifications will be the first usable segment. With maybe fitness being the carrot that gets your attention. But basically America has some fitness conscious, it is not a fit country. I would just hope that it would be able to last a few days to be useful.
I hope these wearables take off in security, but I see them impacting the fashion world sooner just because they need to look appealing to reach wide adoption.
Health monitoring and fitness tracking would seem to be the most promising field for wearables in the near term. Other functions could grow as luxury add-ons if core functions are ubiquitous.
A part for easy concepts, like fitness and notifications, I would say that contextual information will be the core feature that will get the wearable war to be won by the company that provides the best implementation.
I think smartwatches will do well in a variety of businesses - helping people keep constant tabs on email/phone/calendar notifications, without having to stay buried in a phone.
Long battery life would be ideal. Having to charge a watch more often than once or twice a week make it just feel like a 1.5" tablet strapped to your arm.
The category that smart watches would be most useful in? Information summary basically a quick heads up type display that somehow conveys a lot of info in a single glance at the wrist. Second would be a fitness device assuming it has the proper sensors built in for this...
Smart watches/devices would probably work best in IT, infrastructure, security, and fitness spaces. As an IT person, I rely on my Pebble Smartwatch for service interruption notifications and important emails without having to pull out my phone continuously throughout the day.
I think the two most popular uses/applications for wearables will be fitness tracking (e.g. fitbit style) and notifications/second-screen for a smartphone. I can't imagine ever actually using a watch to order food, or book a flight, but I love the idea to use the screen as my boarding pass, or check on package delivery, etc.
For me it would be motorcycling as I would able to see things without having to pull over. Such as maps, spotify, see whos calling or whos texting to see if it is worth pulling over for.
i believe smart watches will turn into smart sensing devices, not only sensing your body, but also the surrounding environment. Air quality, pollens, keeping a track of where i lost my book, people I met today. I think it will be just one node in an array of sensors a person in future will be carrying on his body.
I think communications and security are the best bets for smart watches. I love the triage aspect and the ability to get authentication codes sent to my wrist.
I am looking forward to a smart watch fitness device. Especially a device that could useful for hiking. This would then need to be a device with a looong battery life (carging by solar/movement would be ideal), it would also need gps and navigation, and have the capability to track time and distance accurately.
What might differentiate this from something else already on the market is the ability for advanced navigation and predictions as well as integrated nutrition and health tracking.
Fitness and by extension healthcare are obvious fits for wearables, but hopefully platforms like Android Wear will help them expand into smartphone fields like communication. They can also be useful as one element in a multi-factor authentication system, or simply as a trusted bluetooth device to avoid having to type your password into your phone all the time.
Definitely fitness/healthcare: Having vital sensors to train at the body's max for best efficiency. Second security: Using the watch to unlock my apartment, car, computer, other stuff. A hint of this was demonstrated in the Google IO keynote.
Communication - interfacing with a phone to pull up maps and business locations, and notes on the fly would be the most useful function above the other options.
Blackberry's became popular because they were synonymous with being a successful business(wo)man. Likewise, Nike running shoes are popular because they are synonymous with being healthy and fit. In that same vein, smartwatches would take off if they linked themselves with a positive and desirable lifestyle/theme. Like others have said, the fitness/health market seems like the obvious segment to market to first. There are clear advantages--if smartwatches are marketed for on-the-go use, you can't get more on-the-go than excercise. People want to associate themselves with that image of being fit, and if marketed properly, smartwatches could become the new symbol of fitness.
I would say 5 major fields: 1. communication: this could be a very compact form of a phone with quite a bit of capability. 2. healthcare: this could be used as a medical band that can inform medical personnel of what medications, ailments, and even basic vitals of the person. 3. security: this could function as a tracking mechanism and alert police and first responders to your location 4. fitness: there's a lot here, mostly gps tracking, heart rate, etc.
ha, forgot 5. education: great way to keep students informed on class requirements, reading assignments, etc. all without having to carry tablets/phablets around or phones.
I see this being a huge deal for the health and fitness markets.
As a person with diabetes I am excited by the prospect of coupling this wearable with Google's glucose sensing contact lens. There are so many times I would like to see my blood sugar but don't want to see it badly enough to prick my finger and draw some blood. A continuous monitor on my wrist would be incredible if it were accurate.
I think smartwatches will be most successful in sports/training situations and in social situations, both of which make uisng a smartphone difficult, and of course provided that the smartwatch can make and receive calls and use GPS without being tethered to a smartphone.
I think fitness tracking and travel are the biggest ones. I would love a watch that could give me all my biking app controls on my arm instead of a stupid $400 bike compiter
The only reason I want one for is fitness. To be able to easily control music and see messages. Hopefully developers can come up with some useful apps relating to fitness
Fitness is an obvious answer, but for good reasons. Pulling out your phone isn't really an option when you're running or biking, so being able to quickly glance at your wrist is great.
How about the mobile payment segment? Throw NFC in one of these and it could interface rather nicely with Google Wallet and similar apps. That way, you wouldn't have to pull out your wallet or phone to pay. Just tap your wrist and have a payment confirmation show up on the watch screen. It could even prompt you for a PIN on the watch.
I was looking for a product like this to use at my work. I work in an environment that requires me take calls hands-free and because my hands are often dirty from the machinery I work with, I don't like to handle my phone to check who is calling me. This would work well in my current work flow. Would love to test this product out. Send me one please!
Communication/Notifications being the primary use of wearables, while proximity security for phones, tablets and other computing devices being a complementary use.
Definitely best as an intermediate option for displaying notifications and real-time info (e.g. turn-by-turn directions) between heads-up displays (e.g. Glass) and having to pull out a phone.
Although I feel that wearables such as watches are too limited to fully replace a smartphone, I can definitely see how they could be discreet and effective health trackers. In addition I could imagine wearables being used as a security device, as it is much harder to lose then a traditional smartphone and could be for example, utilized as a digital key.
In our hospital we use smartphones to receive text pages and make calls, which is very convenient. However, we're often in situations where we can't reach into our pockets to look at a message (sterile procedure, isolation room, etc). Sometimes a nearby colleague has to awkwardly reach into a pocket to pull a phone out. It'd be nice to check a message with the turn of a wrist to see whether it requires immediate attention or can wait a few minutes. I don't need something to replace my smartphone, just sync with it and reliably relay messages.
the biggest reason I want to get a smart watch would be so that I don't have to constantly take my phone out to read a message, dial a number and thing like that. another place would be in fitness. a heart rate monitor is something that I would love to have in a watch because I hate wearing a chest strap while exercising
I think these might be nice for easily reading new texts and getting workout information (heart rate). But I'll have to actually play with one to see how useful it is.
In addition I would add that wearable's need to add to the experience by either doing something better than your phone or expanding functionality. I'm personally looking forward fitness integration more than anything.
I would love get my hands on one of these (or get one of these on my wrist)! I am a huge fan of LG (TV's, BD-Rom drives, tablets, etc.). The only complaint I have against LG was my T-Mobile G2X. It was one of the first Tegra2 phones, and yet only the Optimus 2X (which is the same exact phone with a different radio and slightly tweaked internal partition) was upgraded past Android 2.3. All they needed to do was release an ICS driver, and I'd be living the high-life with a CM10 phone.
I think general healthcare would be the way to go. I mean with all the recent child deaths in hot vehicles; having something that can ping their parent's cell or whatever device to remind them would be useful.
1. Driving safety. With good voice recognition and a little engineering, wearables with constant listening will help drivers keep more of their attention on the road. Naturally, glasses can act as a driving HUD. Distracted driving is a big issue nowadays, so this could really help people until self-driving cars truly mature.
2. Military applications. For infantry, I can see smart glasses sharing detailed info between troops with a HUD. For example, the glasses could overlay a green tint on friendly troops who are also using glasses or a watch. One troop could tap into another troop's camera to see what they're seeing. Or maybe they could tap into a drone feed for an overhead perspective.
Some of the above ideas could also be incorporated into civilian applications like search and rescue, fire departments, etc.
I see these watches being most successful for fitness. I'd like to use one with runkeeper. Secondly I expect the watches to be big in security. e.g. to unlock a door or device based on proximity.
I still think wearables have a long way to go before they can have a part in our everyday life. They are just adult toys at this point. That's why I want one especially when it is free.
Watches like this would be most useful for: * Notifications / Alert - so you could quickly see if you want to drag your phone out. Things like texts, email, your flight is leaving * Weather / Calculator / other tools * Music/Video controls * Usual watch stuff: clock, stopwatch, multiple countdown timers
I think that wearables could end up big in the enterprise because it's much more of a distraction to pull your phone out and look at the notification rather than just looking at your watch and seeing if it's important or not.
Wrist is not the way, smart clothing, shoes and enterprises with specific verticals in medicine and healthcare would be the most interesting use cases.
Fitness would be good, but I think increasing everyday productivity would be nice. I pull my phone out of my pocket just to glance at things all the time. If I could just turn my wrist to achieve the same effect, that would be nice. It's not a huge difference, but it adds up.
While fitness is useful, I would find it most useful in day-to-day use as an information conduit (weather, quick-glance calendar, email notifications). I believe there is also a strong use-case for modifying behavior using apps (with notifications and such), but that's not likely mainstream utility
Fitness seems to be the logical choice. I don't see an enterprise use since I believe most enterprise users would have a phone, tablet and laptop available at all times and those would provide a larger screen and potentially better input.
I think this could be useful if integrated into a warehouse environment, the watch could help the employee find the next items to be picked. You could also use the watch to help the worker locate free space to place items.
Maybe in a restaurant for cooks to glance at their arms to see that they need to make next.
The device could be a good up time monitor, alerting the wearer of some serous issue. It could be a website going down, a security alarm, or a medical patients vital signs.
I think wearables would be interesting in the DIY (do it yourself) segment for just about anything. Showing instructions in simple card format, swiping left and right for each step (forward or backward).
This can be applied to Cooking, Engineering, working on your car, DIY electronics, Fixing Computers, virtually anything really.
Another concept would be in enterprise. Reminders for meetings, TPS reports :D, schedules, and emails could enhance productivity and be less disruptive during meetings.
in gaming segment, high scores and friends score compare could be streamed to the watch at the completion of a level.
I work in a chem laboratory and my hands are often contaminated and not in a state where I'd like to be touching anything.
I think these could do very well in any discipline where the use of your hands somehow forces you to document things through voice command and be able to quickly recall that information(by simply raising/rotating your wrist). The most prominent that comes to mind would be Culinary.
As a watch, style is by far the most important thing. Whatever features it has are ok, but it has to look good on your wrist for it to be a hit. Look at Movado watches for example, all looks with limited function.
Yes, I would love to try out a smart watch for once as well actually make some apps for it (can't really do that since I didn't have one on hand to test and android emulators are e"mule"tors"
First of all, multiple day battery life is a must. As far as a segment, I'd like to focus on productivity and easy integration with my everyday life - like my info/control of my car or keeping up with my significant other or use with connected devices (garage door opener, nest, lights)
Hope I win! Would love to see a watch with NFC that would allow you to wave your hand near your computer to unlock it. Would love to have that at work!
In time this might become a replacement for smartphones entirely. One small ultra-portable communication device that you carry everywhere, paired occasionally with a larger screen (a tablet or whatever technology replaces them) when content consumption is desired.
I think the 'watch' in 'smartwatch' is steering development in the wrong direction. The industry should develop a standardized activity (as in the android framework object, google it). This would open up options for developers. It would be nice to keep the 'smartwatch' form factor, minus the wrist band. If market demand enables these cube devices to sell for $50, they'll take off. Btw I recently got an LG G3...
Fitness and recreation for sure. Make a wearable waterproof up to at least 100 feet with GPS, that would be great for diving and storing interesting locations for future dives.
i think that wearables are taking a huge leap with health and fitness logging how much we work out and how many calories we lose. i think its great for america to curve the obesity
I've been on the fence about getting one of these. I think wearables are most useful for fitness and communication, and for getting helpful at-a-glance contextual information based on time/location/etc.
Most successful? I think sports/medical primarily. Reflecting the calendar in an office environment is also great (quick look at the watch rather than fiddling with the bulky phone), but that is probably too much of a niche...
I think a smartwatch could be made a Better Pager for fields like healthcare and security, where alerts are necessary and detail added to the alert could save precious time.
I feel that wearables would excel in providing detailed health monitoring (such as heart rate, pulse, etc.), as well as being able to communicate on a simple level (ie: ask google for the weather forecast and the watch, with a speaker, would be able to tell you), as well as provide simple notifications, easy access to said notifications, and to be able to have light control of your phone to play music and other things.
Using the watch as a speakerphone or headset to carry on a conversation isn't professional. Beyond looking stupid by talking to your watch, it takes away the privacy of a conversation. Yes, if you are in public, you should NOT expect to be able to carry on a private conversation, but my rebuttal is, do people have speakerphone conversations on a regular basis now? I would say no. But that's exactly what will start happening if you have a conversation on a smartwatch.
Healthcare, communicating with other devices e.g., Google contact lens that monitors blood glucose levels, these devices will be inform users to adjust insulin levels accordingly.
I think fitness would be a big thing for wearables. can listen to music, check out a map (GPS) to see where you're going, have heart rate and other applications, etc.
My mom has been staying with us while she undergoes cancer This means that she has a lot of meds she needs to take at different times of the day. Problem is, her mind is a little fried. I guess they call it chemo-brain. So she's set up these really convoluted alarms on her clock to try and remember what she needs to take when.
I think something like the G Watch would be ideal for someone like her so she can set different alarms on her phone and have hem on her wrist, telling her which meds she needs, when, and have multiple times it can go of. She wouldn't even need her phone on her at the time, so long as she was near it.
Healthcare. Having hands free/voice access to patient data with the right system integration would be really useful and improve safety in a hospital setting.
I don't think wearables will be successful in anything other than being a convenient way of looking out notifications and doing small tasks with your voice.
Oh, I could see it being useful for search and rescue responders, hikers, outdoorsmen, etc. Compass would be handy on your wrist and other data could be useful.
I'd say that as it stands right now, fitness and fashion would make up most market share for this sort of device. You can look good or do the occasional fitness/health monitoring, but it just wouldn't work well enough in things like business or security. If you're consistently checking the watch, you aren't doing a very good job of keeping an eye out for what you're actually supposed to be looking for right? And just too much information has to stream through in a business environment for it to be practical. The volume of emails, meeting arrangements, and other such activities is hard enough to manage with a phone, let alone a watch. It why most business activities need at least a small laptop because it just ends up being more efficient, albeit more bulky.
i think some examples of segments or applications where wearables would be most successful are communication, enterprise, fashion, healthcare, security, and fitness. gib
I want one! I think these wereables are going to be used more for time, notifications, weather and navigation! At least those are the uses I will give to mine once is win!
sci-fi for the win. I would really like a PA slash com hub for a wearable. No need to carry all the variety of device we carry around in the name of necessity. cell phone, wifi internet, personal data, computer, all of these need to be rolled up into one wearable. One ring to bind them all.
I think the LG G Watch is really cool and my suggestions as to what I think would be really great to have in the G Watch in my opinion would be security apps for people like me who have home security cameras, and fitness app like Runtastic so we aren't so bothered by our phones. I love the concept of smart watches and I thought it was really cool that it was really cool to know that the LG G Watch is running a new OS. I would also like to be able to connect it to my phone to get all my notifications.
I would think that bracelets/watches for esthetic purposes for normal wear and Google Glass type sunglasses with HUD type screens on the lenses would be the likely form factors to have a chance of success. I think that it's going to take one more generation to get the style/activation/power draw kinks worked out to where wearables will be truly useful.
1. Communication - Very handy for women as they usually don't have the phone with them all the time (Men usually keep phones in their pant/shirt pockets). 2. Fitness - tracker - mile, pulse, etc. 3. Travel - (hopefully) fewer recharges than a phone 4. HealthCare - Nurse on-call 5. Addiction :) - Helps avoid mindless web surfing 6. Security - Never misplace it
I would love to have one of these to use as my schedule keeper.For something this small be great to keep your schedule on and make quick notes. Then there is just the great Geek feature also, once everyone see's this they will run out to get one to.
I think one segment where wearables would be important is in communication, possibly in situations where your cellphone is not allowed or is just inconvenient, you could possible use your smartwatch for instant messaging or communication between yourself and another person.
Would love to win one of these. ARM one app idea RSA softtoken ability from watch face would be amazing for those who use RSA daily and can replace hard tokens .. Capability to unlock a PC (or server or similar) by way of proximity of watch to the machine (add layer of security by also require a PIN for more security). Also I would love to have a speaker on the watch in the future to take calls as well as dictate actions. Incorporating some secure element to the watch by hardware could launch this device into the enterprise world in my opinion. Hoping for a win :) thanks
I believe wearables have the potential to have a real impact in the area of personal health and fitness. If I win, this is how I will use mine, in addition, of course, to normal, day-to-day apps.
I think smart watches are great for anyone who needs to stay connected but can't have their phone out or visible, like people who work in retail or manufacturing settings.
Honestly, no idea if/where these watches will be successful. The concept is neat and definitely warrants exploration, which is why I'd like to win one, but it doesn't seem like the killer app has been sussed out yet.
I see smart watches really taking off as a fashion accessory. While they may be convenient for communication/ social media, many people don't need them for convenience's sake as they already take their phones with them everywhere they go. However, if smart watches can become a trendy fashion accessory, I think they will find their niche. Just look at the recent boom in colorful branded headphone sales for proof of concept.
I think wearables would be useful in the fitness segment. They already contain most of the necessary hardware to be a useful tracker. Syncing to a heart rate monitor would be the only useful addition I could see.
A crossover of fitness and music. A lot of people Walk/go jogging with a pair of headphones plugged into their ears; listening to music. However, as phones are getting bigger, they don't seem practical to take with you while you walk or jog. This way, wearables will make it to the market successfully if they have enough storage and a music app!
To me the size the of the screen is going to be a deciding factor. Its nice check time weather and alerts on the phone. People with smaller hands might be able to do more on it. I look at it as being a fashion thing for teenagers then really a Enterprise or business solution. In today's world security is this biggest thing for businesses. If thieves can scan ur wallet passing by u and get ur credit card number this will be a field day for hackers to get all kinds of info from ur phone. NFC is not a secured technology but credit card companies don't want people to know it because if they knew they won't use them and they have invested a lot of money in it so people can go out and shop without swiping their cards. My take on this watch, its for kids. Some older people will buy it as a fashion statement then it will die. I see google glass doing a lot better.
Healthcare and fitness I think is where the biggest chances of success are. With heart rate, sweat detection, breathing detection, thermometer, and maybe even blood-ox then these devices would be HUGE for 24/7 monitoring of people with medical conditions. There already exists devices that can detect all of those things just from your fingertips. Hell, but some of the technology in the band if you can't make it all work on the watch. Program pill reminders with pictures of the exact pills so that they have a detailed alert right on their person that shows them exactly what they should be doing at that moment. These things can quite literally become the ultimate (so far) personal health monitor system that there is. And then of course being able to communicate to a computer/tablet/smartphone to share the data with healthcare professionals or just view trends would absolutely shatter the technology barrier between that exists between people who are 65+ and smart devices. Hell, buddy up with Life Alert and have a Life Alert version that has a button they can press if they are in distress. Also add a "Help me find home" feature that phones in the police so that they can take them home.
For fitness nuts.... well fitness nuts love tracking every metric possible. Give them an easy way to track a ton of metrics, and they will gobble it up, even if the metric isn't terrible important to exercise (skin sweat levels). Temperature, breathing detection, blood-ox, gps, heart rate, plus received text messages automatically pop up, voice-to-text replying to text messages, apps that allow you to easily set routines and lengths for them that will automatically tell you when to stop your current exercise, how long to rest between the next exercise, and when to start the next one. Basically like a mini-personal-trainer almost.
Those two markets, I think, are where the most possibility is. Only problem is, will a company actually implement something like these correctly? Or will some executive insist on a half-ass product be release like they normally do?
Would be great to have one of these superb watches while working on the fireline staying in communications without pulling out my phone. Thanks and great job !
Location Aware Games - playing these on the phone is ok, but being able to keep moving and just glance at your watch is going to be a much better experience.
The greatest potential is in Healthcare. I wear an analog watch daily which I use for pulse & respiratory rate measurement. I also have to constantly pull out my phone to look up drug dosage, treatment guidelines etc. Patients take much more kindly to me looking at my watch, than at my phone. In their view, doctors use watches for work, but if they use their phone, they're just texting or browsing the web. It would be great if Google Now (or Cortana) using a third-party healthcare platform like HealthVault or HealthKit preemptively provided me contextual info on each patient as I interact with them. It could do this using anonymous demographic & statistical info or securely using protected personal info. Even if it just let me use my voice to record vitals and any 'notes to self', it would be invaluable. The best part is, it wouldn't creep the patient out like Google Glass might. One hopes that these devices all go cross-platform though. I have an iPhone & a Surface, my colleague uses a Moto X & a MacBook, an EKG tech uses a Lumia & a Thinkpad. At the moment, it looks like wishful thinking though!
I suppose communication is the best category. Really, for me at least it's just about convenience - a glance at my wrist instead of fishing something out of my pocket.
I think smart watches + health care apps would be a good way to drive adoption. People tend to look at their watches when they need info (the time/date), not to use frivolous apps. Those can stay on those phones, or I hope they will.
Like everyone else I would love to win! I think healthcare is where the focus should be on wearables like this. I hope there is a day where you could check glucose levels easily using something like a G watch.
Right now wearables are very niche, and the barrier to entry is too high for mass market consumption. I believe that they could find great utility in the medical field, where the cost won't be an issue, right now until the technology matures.
Sure, I'd like to have one. For my purposes, it would probably be most useful for remote monitoring of my phone for e-mail and message notifications and operational things like the phone's battery charge.
I believe that the andriod wear watches will be successful in fitness, but it strongest cavit is its ability to multi-task. How awesome is it to read your email, see a text, and launch Google now, all while running and no need to pull out your phone? I think the potential is excellent!
Fitness is the most likely segment at first because it is already an established use for watches and GPS integration and music control are really helpful. Long run I see communication (email headers, weather, etc) being the main use.
Wearables will be most successful in personal notifications (communication), navigation, public safety, personal security, social networking and travel.
I think manufacturing is poised for this space. Able to be alerted to issues on a wearable device, able to get tips and recommendations on who is responding and what to do next!
cool, hope i win! i think wearables will be most successful in the fitness and health tracking segments. fitness because there are all kinds of sensors besides watches that can collect data during activites. health tracking is related but the more data that is collected the better it can help uncover indicators of health issues. like a tricorder! nice.
Theirs a realm of options available for these devices. These are a few I feel need to happen within a reasonable time to make them relevant. (outside the normal notification, email stuff, wifi.. etc)
#1. No Ports.. no holes, no charging slots (back opens up to change battery and SD card, but then seals water tight) - Water proof at depths comparable to Casio's best watches. - QI charging, and comes with its own mini pad that clamps on the back of watch, that then plugs into a USB port for desktop or car charging - heart rate monitoring and/or the host of different Ant + modules - NFC ( NFC unlocking capabilities ) - basic MMS with SOLID voice recognition capabilities (no onscreen keyboard, this thing needs its own voice processor) - Google Play Music integration/sync - I don't expect it to have 4G capabilities, but if when connected to wifi, it could download songs to play offline in playlists from google Play Music (along with separate SD card storage) - google maps - lite - GPS support (perhaps 2 different editions could be made, one to support GPS on board, and another without) - GPS distress beacon ... optional, but its time - NEST support and Home automation - **** built in PTT (push to talk) app such as TiKL .I realize this would require a data connection of some sort, but if this were supported natively, this would sufficiently give me the ability to contact someone vocally without needing phone capabilities.
To keep this device from becoming another " gadget with data plan", the carriers or manufacturers could strike a deal with other carriers to provide free/throttled 3G (similar to the kindle) to the device when not on Wifi.
May be a long laundry list of items, but definitely doable. A big one that I think should be mentioned is Durability. Get Casio to make this watch life proof and sell different watches for different purposes. Give me a big green combat ready version with an arm cuff looking thing (similar to that which the predator has) for outdoors, and sleek fashionable versions (still life proof). I don't think anything on this list is outside the realm of possibility. I just don't want to need to carry my Phablet note 3 everywhere (biking, hiking, swimming etc) .
I'd love to see NFC or Low-Energy Bluetooth incorporated into new smartwatches. With the advances made in "The Internet of Things," it would be awesome to control all of a house's devices from a watch on my wrist. Imagine reaching out to open a network-equipped door lock and have it spring open on detecting your smartwatch.
I think wearables will have a home run in communications. After seeing some demos I can see many people picking one up just to answer/send texts and phone calls. I also see a huge potential in the fitness side of things if the right sensors and creative development are involved.
I think this type of product is a natural for all types of fitness apps. That is what I would be most interested from, to pedometers and heart rate monitors to apps showing calories burned based on user info. I'm excited to see what's available out there.
I think wearables will be useful in minimizing the need to pull out my phone to get basic information or even answer a call. I also think the wearable could be used for thngs like home automation and medical monitoring for things like EKG wireless monitors on individuals who have had multiple mini-strokes or possibly even sezures. Wireless monitoring by doctors offices. The initial ideas are endless. Pretty exciting really.
I think wearables would be most useful in just our day-to-day lives. Maybe one day they'll be useful enough to replace our smartphones and we'll move to Watch + Tablet instead of Phone + (Tablet or PC)
I think these will prove most useful for fitness, at least that's how I envision myself using it. Calories, heartrate, pace, etc.. Also like the idea of glancing at messages/emails without having to pull out my phone.
Honestly, I tink thhis G Watch will be used for Fitness for the most part. People generally useb arm-wear tech for fitness related aspects. Other than that, another large percentage of people will just buy this product as something to show off to family and friends.
One to win. I would have to say the benefit for such a device is for people that small short messages will be useful for. Personally I don't see the value thus far at least for the watch type devices. Google Glass has more potential in my mind. Say for people needing access to information while their hands are working on things.
I see wearables being particularly successful in commercial and health tracking scenarios. A smartwatch would be a perfect companion to a busy business person by keeping track of their meetings, commutes, and emails. Wearables with active heartrate monitors and GPS monitors would be fantastic for runners and cyclists. I see them being very successful in the future!
Health and watches go hand in hand. if I can use a digital device to track tasks, meetings, and my heart rate all for the success of my job with some reliance, then sign me up for that watch! Keep it simple and smart.
This is awesome. I think that it would be great with fitness, hiking, biking,. Great apps would be Facebook, email, Pandora or other radio apps, maybe a game out two, maps of some sort, find your phone, maybe even take a pic if eventually in the future, to start your car apps, so much to say.. I can go ramble on.
I think they will eork great in the fitness, with social media such as facebook and Twitter! Also like the voice response. Android wear will make texting in class so much easier
Enterprise - Being able to see meeting reminders or see email subjects without having to pull a phone out all the time would be great & a lot more discreet.
I'd definitely be interested in using this as a silent alarm clock. Keeping my phone in my pocket I typically lose a lot of notifications for meetings. So all in all, using this to supplement Google Calendar would be a huge benefit.
The other area I'd want make good use of this is with Fitness. I'm very interested in a product that can track my heart rate and keep stats throughout the day. With a desk job I don't tend to burn the calories I typically did as a kid. Time management is a huge issue after work as well. But long term I'd be able to track my eating habits through apps while it also logs my activity.
So honestly, this can help stream line my time management between staying fit, work schedule, and family life.
It certainly wouldn't come off as rude or as intrusive checking my watch vs. giving full attention to my phone while with a group of people.
I'd like to see these watches used as a pilot's watch. Barometer, GPS, multiple timers and countdowns would be helpful. Calculator might be unworkable on the watch but with speech recognition and a smartphone, it would work.
This watch is a God send for college students and college teachers who have a variable schedule perhaps in different buildings. I see it's also good for fitness buffs. While it's always nice to own and use the latest, greatest technology, this watch is fabulous because it is so practical and useful while not sacrificing style.
I think that the LG G Watch can be very useful in replacing security devices that provide employees of large corporations two factor authentication codes to log into their work devices.
I think fitness is obvious, along with notifications. Also "light controls" meaning providing a way to interact with applications in a reduced set of functions is another. For example being able to play/pause your music app, being able to ask for the next direction from navigation, and being able to set/dismiss an alarm from a wearable all makes sense.
Certainly the wearable willneed to fulfill all expected basic functions of the smartphone from a communications standpoint. After that, and thinking of the future, maybe get people used to using navigation applications on it...or anything similar to prepare them for driverless cars or more effective use of mas transit...like I can call up my google car, or an uber.
They will be very important to healthcare, so that physicians can be contacted by something newer than pagers. Fashion and healthcare because studies show people who use a fitness tracker are more likely to actually exercise.
I see smart watches being more capable in the social era of things in the fact that people might stop interrupting each to check their phones. They'll have a watch to quickly glance and worry about later. Texting isn't supposed to be immediate, that's what calling is for. Hope to win it!
Fitness would be a great application for these, along with communication... quick access to see who called / texted without having to pull phone out of pocket.
I think a device like this could work with communication, healthcare and fitness in mind. And if it takes off in these areas I could see it then becoming fashionable in a sense.
The best use for a wearable device is to help authenticate yourself with you surroundings. Being able to walk in a room and the lights come on, approach your car at night, the lights come on the doors unlock. This is where the market should go, inexpensive bands that communicate with your surroundings. They need to get the location awareness, first than add other features over time. i would like to see a band with a detachable "watch face", where the band can be replaced with what ever sensors you would need or want.
I hope i win so i can pair it to my G3... i bet ot will make the google voice search much easier, and make me look like one cool secret agent. Lol LG should paint that pic in its next commercial
Wearables would be successfull in on the go and harsh environments where you can't take out you phone, like construction zones, wearing a waterproof smartwach while riding a motorcycle, wearables with extra sensors could assist users in environment sensitive applications
Thanks for the giveaway. As far as I can see now (which means the future will be awesomely unpredictable!) for me, fitness, communication and self management will be the most useful to me. In the immediate future, most particularly fitness and health.
Imagine automated time lines of basic health parameters including heart rates, blood sugar levels, etc.
Imagine communication and directions on your watch while hiking or running.
There is also the random 007 like control of automotive machines!!!!! The future is awesome
I think mobile payments will really take off if it was properly implemented in smart watches. I also think it will be a great way to get some sort of real time score updates for the upcoming NFL season !!
As a health care professional, I can certainly see some benefits there. Being able to check heart rates (with permission, of course) and monitor could really help some people. The device could work like Lifealert or something of the sort. Beyond that, the primary purpose I can see would be (personally) to let me know when I have an incoming communication / event and see what it is without having to pull the phone out. Would keep the phone out of sight unless needed, but still be able to be on top of communication... unlike now where I tend to ignore when I'm around people, driving some friends up the wall ;-)
I like the way they look, so fashion statement for sure. Next I think this kind of wearable mini-computer is perfect for fitness monitoring. That's how I would use it. I really want one!
Definitely fitness. Being able to simply glance at my wrist during a race and have it show me me stuff like my pace, stats, and a small map of the course would be great!
I think the fitness/healthcare segment is where the killer apps for these devices will originate. Of course I'm an old guy so I tend to obsess over that kind of stuff...
If these things could do GPS with topo maps that are stored on the device, it would be awesome for hiking/backpacking/mountain biking. With a high resolution screen and good battery life, something this compact and lightweight would be great.
I have a blue-collar job where I am often not near the (shared) computer and it is often awkward to check my phone often -- making a wearable interface a good idea. A good application would be a reminder app to take water breaks, that would be more frequent when the local temperature is higher, or when my personal activity (pedometer?) is higher. Or perhaps a ticker/counter app to help keep track of stock counts, or a "speed-dial" button to send a notification message to other people in the company when a shipment comes in, rather than run around to find a (shared) phone or computer.
This could be Awesome! I could see it being really handy in security. Imagine a smart watch that would broadcast a small NFC to unlock doors. Perhaps it could be a way to input a PIN without using a large keypad that could be viewed from many angles.
I imagine this works well for fitness or other commuting (not driving!) in order to see notifications. and pause/answer and skip forward/back music would be great too.
I would love one of these. :) I'm getting an LG G3 on Friday. Talk about a perfect companion! I have a Qualcomm Toq Smartwatch already, but I broke the screen, and Qualcomm refuses to let me send it in, so I refuse to use their product any longer.
I think security is the best implementation of this! You wanna log into email/steam/phone etc. you have to have the watch! It could pop up a little screen asking you to confirm the login. kinda like the 2-step verification on google but without the stupid sms messages. I'd love to have one of these and be part of making that system!
Wearables are most useful for fitness and communication, but may have use in healthcare as well. It's very convenient to not have to take out the phone from the pocket every time.
Oooh pretty. I think the Segment they will do best with is people who are prioritizing and juggling a great deal of things at the same time and need to keep updated at a glance. So all segments, but business and technology where they're stuck in meetings in particular.
Wearables could be very useful in the medical field. Nurses could have them linked to their patients and receive alerts immediately with any unexpected issues, or allow them to check in on patients without disturbing them.
My thoughts are on fitness first but I also see wearables being very useful in the IT sector where IT employees in the field can get their texts quickly and efficiently on the fly.
I would expect that the most viable segments that the wearables will be successful in are healthcare and fitness as both of these are areas where a wearable can offer a significant advantage over existing smartphones due to their very nature of being "worn" directly on your person.
At this stage I'd say the foot in the door for wearables is the healthcare market. I'm interested to see if they can be made practical for general purpose use as well though.
First off, believe it or not, telling time is most important. After that, meetings and to dos I think will be key. I would love to have health apps but that will probably more the iwatch space. I think things like door unlocking, payment scanning etc., could be useful....
For me, tracking News, Incoming Texts & Emails, Id'ing phone callers and Time display would be the dominant value, but I could imagine Map displays while walking city streets as useful too. NO games, however, and minimal data-entry by voice or screen.
I see this as good for health/fitness of course, but also as an extension to a device that may be in a backpack, for example, allowing communications, authentication and other "smart" features such as environmental controls.
I think the market has shown that fitness and health are the main drivers of these wearables. I don't know if that'll be enough to push it into other segments though.
The market would be on extension of the mobile phone. Being able to see needed information (news, sms, phone #) without pulling out the phone is the future with phone size growing larger and larger.
I would love to use the wearable as a remote login for my phone, which would speed up my productivity. Voice or swipe the watch, and it unlocks my phone.
A good stopwatch app on the phone would also be great when I'm on the track! So fitness would benefit as well.
I am most excited to have one of these so I can look at google maps when I am riding my motorcycle around when it way too hard to bring out my phone when riding around
Wearables will be most successful in short communications (think text messages) and enterprise (think having all your meeting information in one spot).
But, wearables will fail in their current configuration. The requirement to (A) have a smart phone and (B) carry two devices around with you at all times kills the deal for almost anyone. Simply removing the need to reach into your pocket to get your smartphone is NOT enough justification to purchase / carry around / charge an additional device.
A successful wearable would remove those two requirements. Image an enterprise wearable device that updates you of a meeting change when you have no access to a computer and when you are in the middle of a large commercial building with no cell phone signal. The ability to know changs to a meeting room / time / purpose on-the-fly where cell phone service is non-existant could make or break major projects. That is invaluable and a truely new reason with new capabilities to have a wearable. All you need is a wearable with wi-fi capability that checks once a minute or so for updates to Microsoft Outlook. That simple change to current wearables doesn't require a massive device and it doesn't kill a battery. And it doesn't require a smartphone that is often useless inside a big building since cell singals don't reach many locations.
Wearables... I think at some point they'll be ubiquitous (after they become sufficiently cheap, useful, and fashionable). They'll probably catch on first in fitness, though. Right now, that's the only market segment where they seem useful.
I am rather skeptical about smartwatches. i think wearables do have a future, but i'm not sure it's smartwatches. although i'll hopefully try an LG G watch to test that out. for what it's worth, fitness and healthcare seem like the two very obvious places where wearables will be successful. another possible segment is home monitoring/automation, with smart sensors in the house, that is. productivity/enterprise and such do not really seem like viable markets -- a wearable should be mostly a latent device
I think the best way smart watches can win over the public is better battery life then smartphones along with an excellent outdoor display and health integration.
I was spending time on the internet for a charging pad and found this site...I stayed on this page when I saw "REVIEWS" and started reading (forgot about the charging pad) I love hearing/reading what people have to say about products, which lead me here! YAY! I'm a people person & I'm a talker so I'm going to quit before I reach a character limit & my pride gets hurt. GOOD LUCK, LUCKY 2!
Definitely, wearables will most succeed in being a notification system between our devices. Notifications for calendar, communications (phones, sms), and navigation; things which our smart phones and tablets already do well in but the user has access at a glance.
Notifications are the current obvious answer. With sleeker wearables they could make it in the corporate world where it would be better to see meeting reminders without looking at your phone.
I don't know if it'll be possible without having a huge phone, but I'd like to see NFC incorporated into wearables. If NFC was properly incorporated into a watch it could be awesome. It would obviously hinge on other companies following along and adapting NFC into their services, but it would be great. Imagine paying for anything with just a tap of your wrist. For those in a city, getting onto the subway with just your watch would be slick. If we had NFC in our watches, we wouldn't need it on our phones... so even the Apple users could finally take advantage of NFC tech.
I imagine consumer wearables will do best as a fashion accessory for the tech-conscious, mostly in watch form, but I see Google Glass type devices being useful in the enterprise industries as a HUD.
I'd love a g-watch. I've been excited about android wearables for a while now. I think a really interesting application application is in aggregating sensor data from either watch, phone or both for activity monitoring (sleep, workout, etc)
Fitness, notifications, and the expansion of the use of voice search/virtual assistants. Potential to make phone use while in the car much more safe and less distracting.
I think the wareables market is still looking for The killer app. The great thing is the smart phone is as well. I think that will be instrumental in the wearable market. The problem with wearable technology is that most people don't like the knowledge that they're being watched, listened to, or monitored in general. I think looking at this the real opportunity will come when someone takes these and makes them invisible. Not literally but in looking at UI designs, some of the most effective are the ones you don't need to think about. Looking at it that way I think it's best if it only "responds" visually when it's oriented facing the user. Slight vibrations to get attention. Audible only with things you deem to be a high priority. That's the real trick - anyone who's had an assistant, staff, or anything similar can tell you that the relationship works best when they know HOW and WHEN to help you.
By "how" I mean, are you missing meetings because appointments run long or because you're running late. Each has a similar end result, but the way you'd like to be notified would be different.
That'd tie into the "when" part. You're late for your next meeting... but it's because you're still in the one prior. You, likely, don't want a loud beeping messing up whatever you're doing. A gentle tap on the wrist, however, is a nice heads up that doesn't intrude.
That's the best use case. It's best fit is as an extension of a smart phone meant to interact with a person in a nonintrusive manner. Displaying simple information that gets the point across.
In the short term fitness seems the most practical application, then if size can be further reduced, battery increased, and display improved, fashion may keep wearables strong. Ultimately there will need to be new utility that people can derive from having the wearable.
I would love to win this for my husband. He has been in the military for 20 years and he is always on the firing ranges and other locations where he can't carry much. I think many military guys would like to have a device like this that is lightweight and useful.
Don't know if anyone actually reads these... but: I would like motion based remote control of various electronics: TVs, AC, lights, and obviously computers. Accelerometer for large motions, and possibly an electro sensor in the watch or band to detect finger motions for things like air taps and pinches.
Well, I used to wear those Casio Calculator Watches back in the 89s. (have a Seiko version also) So why not a new geek watch! Ha Ha....thanks Anandtech and LG!
Smart watch would be a different experience. I believe it would bring a real change over on simplifying little tasks like checking mails, sending texts, selecting music and the like.
To be fair, "wearables" will have to include devices like Glass - only then will they start to do more than just be "fancy watches" or "dick tracy phones". The eventual goal is somewhere in the neighborhood of an on-body network that acts primarily as a memory aid, or a fitness tracker, or a communication (read: translation) device. If you're willing to add some specialized cameras (near-infrared, UV), you can expand into some very interesting fields (archaeology, botany, healthcare, ...)
Basically, it's going to become a professional accessory, more than the smartphone accessory of today.
It can become a professional accessory. It can be used for important task lists, memory aids, trip reminders. It can be a medical aid to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, etc. It can be used for fitness to monitor heart rate, calories burned, etc. If it has cameras it can include active scanning for example help with plan care.
I personally would like to see more inter-device connectivity in the fitness realm. And all of this walled garden BS really gets in the way of enjoyability. Let me have Company A's smartwatch display my heart rate from Company B's sensor while showing my speed from Company C's smartphone and cadence from Company D please.
I find that wearables could be big in the enterprise, where there is potentially a real use case scenario. Case in point. It's entirely possible for workflow items that need approval could be processed quickly and easily via a watch card app. Other use case scenarios would be additional authentication to secure areas.
This will make on the go so much easier without pulling the phone out of my pocket constantly. Can't wait to hear that I have won...."I can dream can't I?"
Thanks Anand and LG. I think a wearable watch would be most helpful for: navigation, fitness, information regarding surroundings, communication only via voice, ect.
I failed to put the applications I think this will be most successful in when I commented before so here I go:
I think that wearables will become so widespread that no single application would be more successful then any other. They will be the next call phone or smart phone. They may start smaller in a few specific fields such as healthcare or security but they will eventually be ubiquitous....
I think wearable technology it would be most useful in services such as firefighters, police and hospitals. Patients could be given a watch to help with remembering to take medication or doctor appointments. I use my phone to remember appointments and i depend on it for birthdays. But sometimes you just put your phone down and.... well its missing for a few hours.
fitness is probably the most useful application in general for wearables, for watches in particular it would be nice to be able to control music and track progress of a run without having to fumble around with my phone.
I could imagine these being useful in law enforcement to receive updates about calls or in the medical field to bluetooth with other sensors like blood pressure or temp.
Battery life! Please make these last more than a day. On the software side, just make it open enough that anyone with an app can easily utilize it! Lastly, make managing what apps can utilize it from your phone easy to manage. Thanks! Would love to win one!
I already have a Sony Smartwatch 2 and find that other than a conversation piece it has little value. I would like to see a garage door opener function, remote automobile starter app., or something usefull.
I think they could have a great place in fitness, but they will need a bit more before they become truly useful. They need the ability to do some functions without a primary device. Tracking a run, listening to music, etc. shouldn't have to be done through a primary device.
Healthcare is most likely the segment that wearables would be most successful in. Having the ability to more effortlessly monitor your health metrics (blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, etc.) with a device that's always on your person could open the door to many advances in personal technology. I can even see the potential for saving lives: a traffic accident could be detected by combining data from an accelerometer, causing the wearable to prompt the wearer to verify if they are injured. Failure to respond could initiate an emergency call to the paramedics, with the GPS location giving responders the location of the incapicated person.
The rules in every contest say the winner will be announced on the website, but I've never found where they list winners of past giveaways and I've never seen any kind of announcement regarding the drawing. Sure would be nice if they updated the article with that info, or at least provided a link to where the winners are listed.
Would love to win one of these. Personally, I find the idea of wearables most attractive for scheduling and keeping my day together, along with their possible uses as quick remotes and media control devices.
I think that the communication and healthcare would be the strongest points of wearable. Of course there is no limit due to huds and gps and other technology. But imagine a diabetic being able to check his or her blood sugar with the watch compared to having to test themselves daily.
We’ve updated our terms. By continuing to use the site and/or by logging into your account, you agree to the Site’s updated Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
1194 Comments
Back to Article
tukkas - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
first. thanksdylan522p - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I've never won one of these, but eventually I will!taracatac - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
My turn to win!bigboxes - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
No, it's got to be my turn to win. I'm overdue!mhersher - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Well then, aren't we all.teddyboyd - Tuesday, December 9, 2014 - link
LG smartwatch is not very popular if you look at consumer based reviews (such as http://www.topreport.org/wearable// which is my favorite).Elixer - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I suppose fitness would be the 'go to' thing for these...thralloforcus - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
yay!coolmoose7 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
sweet!bdoMoto - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Here's to winning one!!kosmostick - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wow! You were fast. Is this giveaway selection going to be random?Frenetic Pony - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
first. WIN. thanks(that'll work right?)
Adam Turney - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be great at work as I could leave my phone in the desk and just check my watch. Convenient!dshirsh - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I deserve to win.......I've been sick.jsbruner - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely feel health/fitness is a big segment for wearables. Notifications are also something that would be helpful, especially any tied to location based alerts.leoblaze9 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
here's to wishful thinking! "hope i win."Sunagwa - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
=DSivar - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry submission.StilleStyrke - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm still skeptical on how big smart watches will become. But, then again, I'd love to get my hands on one to see how it fairs in day-to-day life.golem - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think Fitness will probably be the most useful function.Deelron - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness and notifications, it's nice to be able to leave the phone in the pocket and see what is coming in.erikiksaz - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Communication for sure, since the devices works as a notification supplement.Suuave - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health and fitness would be really big. If it could be used as a communications, like a portable Skype device, this would really be big.[email protected] - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Only for smart people. Thanks.Travisx2 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
sweet!crimson117 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness, communication.ph33rtehgd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Here's to hoping! Would be cool to see how useful these smart watches actually are.funnyferrell - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hope I winsemandjem - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wearable android goodness! :-)Angrychair - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
does anyone actually win these giveaways?Premium1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would love to have one for the ability to quickly glance at notifications on my wrist rather than constantly pulling my phone outJikIdk - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks.stevessvt - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think it would be a great fitness tracker. But purely of the convenience of not having to pull out your phone for every little thing is what I would appreciate,Grebuloner - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think both fitness and business. Fitness because it's an easy way to check stats on the fly without breaking your rhythm or having to fumble with a larger device. Business because you can check your messages in a meeting more discreetly than pulling out your phone and being a distraction.quicksilver98 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I've really been wanting to try one of these. I wonder if there is a way to get it to work with the Samsung Fitness app built into my Note 3.Hyoyeon - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I definitely need one.DanNeely - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Loot, loot, loot!megakilo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The short battery life is the biggest issue. But I still want one!Cullinaire - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wearables will be successful in multiple segments just like smartphones - it all depends on the apps.I will fight crime with mine, just watch.
macmuchmore - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think I could have a lot of fun tinkering with one of these!phobos512 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would go fanstastically with the new LG G3 I picked up last week! :)kenstockwell - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare and Fitness are the 2 best fits for this tech.dmgr0108 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm in. I would love to get one to play around with the SDK. Thanks!CaptainMarino - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness for sure. People including myself for a time, use iPods for fitness purposes. Whether it is for use as a pedometer, GPS, talk on the phone(?!), or what have you, people love to bring technology along for the ride... or run. Having information... eh hem... at hand seems like a no-brainer for a lot of people.san2508 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thank you.manoj252 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think they will be great for notifications (communications I guess), fitness and healthcare.Axiomatic - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Looks like something that belongs on my wrist! Thank you for the opportunity!masgreko - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'll be watchingShaneRob93 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Good luck to all who enter. Thank you AnandTech for the opportunity to win a cool device. :)Amoro - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm really interested in trying out a smart watch.Cr0nJ0b - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
me me me me. I need a watch.schang105 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
If the capabilities of wearables improves to being a standalone phone, that would create a valid value proposition for consumers. There's a market for people who desire a stripped down smartphone in a watch form which can be configured (adding apps, customizing themes) on their computer. As it exists now, wearables only have appeal I think in fitness and healthcare.Borumha - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'll have to say Biometrics/Fitness will be the be the area wearables excel. While being Dick Tracy is cool and all. the amount of function able to be backed into such a device is immeasurable. Imagine being in a hospital and only have to wear a watch instead of the dozens of tubes and wires to monitor your vitals.wade_county - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
notifications and fitnessSleepyD - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The most obvious answer is fitness, since that is where they have gained the most traction so far. For example, I currently use my Pebble in conjunction with Runkeeper and Pandora to manage my pace and listen to music while I run.jshan04 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
win?icedredrink - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love to try one of these out!ayprof - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
please and thanksDirk_Funk - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wearables and home automation seem to go hand in hand. I would love to be laying in bed and starting my coffee on my watch. NFC would also find a much healthier home on smartwatches as it takes the step of getting your phone from your pocket out of the equation. Health seems to be the focus right now, but I don't see that being a huge selling point (at least in the U.S.) The world can definitely benefit, though, from a watch that notifies you when you are being unhealthy, like just a simple calories burned vs. calories consumed for the day.deltisme - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
second, thanksdcohen32 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wearables as extension of phone very promising. Displaying texts and notifications. In health, HR, pedometer, body temp, sweat analysis. Also for ID and payment servicesmwildtech - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This is my entry.Affectionate-Bed-980 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
winner winner chicken dinner? I wisharnavvdesai - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hope to win this!!happy_chickens - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
fingers crossedwoody345 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Pick me, i feel the need to show off and this would work great for that.archdale - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Always like gadgets!mvs4kvd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Looks pretty radberrykerry789 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
At times where using a phone would be too cumbersome.Trodomir - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare. If a nurse doesn't have to fish a phone out of their pocket and can just glance at their wrist, that's a huge improvement.danxor - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I want to be a cyborg!Red Storm - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Smart watches can be very useful for exercise (step and calorie counters, heart rate sensor, timers for routines, GPS while biking, etc.). I also think they'd be great for home automation, controlling lights, temp, door locks, garage door, etc.sridhanush - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Watches are still viewed as a fashion accessory, regardless of how "smart" they get. I think the most successful watch implementation will be one which combines the aesthetics/design/elegance of a traditional watch with the "smart" features being a bonus. Among the latter, the most important ones for me would be fitness tracking & personal identification applications (ID card replacement, phone unlock, etc..)worm - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Found my passwordwildkarrde21 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely health and fitness. Just having a Fitbit has made me more aware of how active/inactive I've been, so a smart watch will only enhance that awareness.jordanclock - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I feel like entertainment controls are a big area for smart watches. The ability to control my TV or Chromecast when connected to the same WiFi network would be so handy.Arkive - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This actually looks a lot nicer than the other wearables I've seen so far. I would use this.frenchy_2001 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health will be a big driver, followed by fashion once those will be seen as "cool", replacing the same cool factor from your smart phone.gldnduck - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health/Fitness will be a big market for small wearables. Notifications will be next, but I think a true drop-in replacement for a standard watch will be required before notifications really takes off.SteelRing - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Gamewatch ? Anyone remember that from back in the 80s?jardows2 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
If I win this, I can have an ARM on my arm!pansonic - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Here's hoping)furfoot - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry submission - Go AnandTech!ryanmt - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Well... it isn't a 360, but I'd sure take it!evanhr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
need to replace this Toq :)valvalis - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In it!toooskies - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Can't tell if it's useless or useful, but it's the kind of thing I like to acquire and find out for myself.murph17 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
yes please. give me something to play with until the Moto360.tayb - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Gimme dat watch.cobberbearr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think healthcare has the largest potential market.arben - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This'll take some luck.In any case, I'm excited about the possibilities for navigation while biking. I've a terrible sense of direction and being able to safely and effectively navigate while cycling around the city would be marvelous. Further, having to pull my phone out less frequently seems really nice.
Once we have cheaper, smaller, more power efficient sensors embedded in everything, the prospects for healthcare are also great. The ability to *reliably* track things like heart rate, blood sugar, blood pressure, and other physiological features will be amazing—given Moore's law and ~big data~ I expect that we'll see a large jump in diagnostic capabilities resulting in earlier, better treatment.
Sundervine - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would mind onejooprzol - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Security should play a pretty large role, as a watch would be something that you always have on you (it could also go multiple layers deep, if needed: randomized token number, password, certificate stored on watch). I think fitness / geolocation will play a pretty large part as well, but I think it will evolve in the future to be un-thethered so there will be no need to also carry a phone around will on a run, hike, bike ride, etc.Lazlo Panaflex - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
yes plz!droorda - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would be niceVisionX302 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wow, thanks!jedimike64 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
sweet looking watchsaf227 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
My post. Hoping to win - even though I like my current watch more.hansmuff - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
One, please!scottmchsd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I am inSb87 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Communication. So we don't have to pull the phone out of our pockets every time we get a notification...rjkarl - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Next; thanks,thepowerofdonuts - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearable makers need to take fashion more into consideration. Google has started to do it with Glass, but I don't really like any of the watches so far. Moto 360 is ok, but not really that great.raptoro07 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Cool. This would make my friends jealous!brentK - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Pick me! pick me!NXTwoThou - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare. Having non-contact interaction is a must though. Need to be able to swipe over the phone(whole palmn) for it to display and basic finger motion(scroll up/down/left/right with a single finger). Developers can then tie into GPS to know what room they are in and give full access to all patient information at a glance while allowing hands to be completely free. That's the big deal, glanceable info. Software needs to be location sensitive to give top information without any interaction.Nam Khuong - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
For the near future, wearable techs can be successful for monitoring health and also provide personal assistance such as calendar or reminder services.robl - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health/fitness is probably the first market, followed by communications. I'd love to see this evolve to handle speakerphone duties for a dump phone hidden in a pocket or backpack. Displaying texts would be nice, but responding to them could be hard unless voice recognition improves. :)Oh yeah, please pick me!
cjbrigol - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Honestly, I think fitness is the biggest sector. I'd love one of these to run with. That said, I hope future AW watches have stand alone functionality with a built in GPS and ability to play music. I'd love to go run with JUST this and still be able to track everything. For now tho, the watch paired with my phone would make things easier.ssleeper - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think a useful but slightly niche application would be in security. It would be a very handy way of providing 2 factor authentication and typically such an app would be useful with only minimal interaction. Hit button receive code.ericwilborn - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It seems that the aim is activity and notifcation... sleep tracking, running stopwatches, steps taken/miles covered, and calls/text/email notifications.Let's take a step back. We can already get that on our phones. How about something new? What, you ask? I don't know. If I did I'd be marketing it...
Varjo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Aside from the obvious benefit in health, security is actually a great use for wearables. It would allow a team of guards to track other guards on their watch for instance to more effectively coordinate.Andy_S - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would like one. One segment I haven't heard about would be first responders. I would like to know where my firefighters are inside that building, just in case. I think a smart watch might make a good near-field tracking device.davegraham - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
ooh i'd love this. love to keep track of my issues. :)darkmuck - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
fitness is the best bet for the most useful use case of wearablesretrospooty - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry submission... Because I honestly don't deserve a free smartwatch.schoemakerd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Nice to be able to see notifications when phone in pocketRowsby - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Best non-mentioned use of wearables will be in Electronic Wallet Apps, Keyless Automobile Fob Replacement, Electric Vehicle Charger Scheduling / Activation / Disconnect Notification, Employee Activity Monitoring, Disaster Awareness / Warning, etc.microAmp - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Englishlasserith - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think chemical industry is a great growth sector. In a lot of labs you can not take off your gloves to pull your phone out and look at it but you can glance at your wrist. A watch capable of showing not only current time but also that relays the NFPA 704 for the tank closest to you as well as can relay any emergency announcements could be use. Imagine a nearby reactor is going to be put online in 2 hours. Having the ability to broadcast this to every employee before hand could save a lot of workers in chemical factories.Nbarsotti - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fingers crossed!insanex1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The G needs a G watch.A5 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sure, why not.jstapels - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health and jewelry will be the big segments for wearables.alphacat44 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be sweet!ShirowShadow - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
So far my odds are 1/110.That's not bad. Soon to rapidly shrink.
push7joshi - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I guess people started noticing wearables from Pranav Mistry's sixth sense.. Rapidly progressing and would be soon mainstreambHappy1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness would be the first choice. So far the existing wearable fitness solutions are not very useful unless you want to enter all your daily activities into a separate computer.Health monitoring holds great potential if done well.
m0sfett - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I just want to look cool :)poet_will - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The segment is geeks.savio.coelho - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
could use onesbatwater - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would love to win. I think wearables could be huge for security/verification/authentication purposes.rlhunts - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I mainly see them used for health and fitness monitoring.mikedice - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
fitness, location-based apps & mapsHeisenburger - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Gadgets.SpacedCadet - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In the future health and fitness. For now notifications.Creig - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Notification, communication and fitness would be three of the most used categories, IMO.Teleport - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would go great with my Nexus 5.jensend - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
For the near future, I think the main use case for wearables is fitness and adventure. GPS watches like the Forerunner/Fenix are already a success. A GPS watch that can show you a credible topo map, do more sophisticated navigation, download facts about where you're going, do more sophisticated things with your activity tracking, etc could be a Big Deal.For many of the other things people seem to aim wearables at, I have a hard time seeing the appeal until vastly improved battery life, on-device voice recognition (no wait for upload to google's servers), and a host of other huge changes occur.
lordbannon - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm interested enough in Android Wear to try to win a free one.Icehawk - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd think fitness and possibly a good spot for GPS or similar travel apps. I don't really need or want to do anything requiring typing or reading on it!murraymartini - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Me me!!giarcnoswals - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Seems real time notifications would be extremely useful in Healthcare and Security fields.alembic555 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Count me in!jistump - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health monitoring would potentially be one useful application with different types of sensors getting smaller and being able to fit into a watch.Zero110 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sweet.anandreader106 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare - I'd like it to check my pulse/heart rate.Security - Would love for my wearable to sound off if my alarm system went off at home or in my car.
Fashion - Round watches seem to be more popular than square.
paulandpedro - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Winning is like Candy.XenIneX - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Location-based services, notifications, and easy remote control of my device (music controls, etc...)SniperWulf - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Count me in.edlee - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
i want one pleaseamritbansal - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fingers crossed!bhopki3 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
health and fitness are obvious areas where this wearable device could succeed. Security would be interesting as I hate carrying around key chains in my pockets. I would also be excited about calendaring functions, meeting invite reminders, any maybe even important notifications.grazapin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It's been years since I've worn a watch, but these smartphone companion watches are somewhat interesting. Give it to me!ther00kie16 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would be a great accessory to my LG phoneCptCheese - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I haven't ever used a smartwatch before, but I definitely see their use for communicative purposes. I would love to see how one would affect my live and usepac man - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think smart watches will continue to be a niche product until they really crack the fashion aspect of it. It looks like the moto 360 has some potential here, but it will really only take off if it becomes "cool" to have one, which unfortunately seems to be mostly driven by fashion right now.Davabled - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Location/GPS with navigation/Altitude/Barometric pressure/Compass for use in hiking/climbing would get me back to wearing a watch. I used to have an expensive Cassio watch that did that (minus GPS) and it helped immensely. Smartphones are great, but you need your hands free when climbing. If necessary, the location/gps could be sent to the watch from the phone. Make it waterproof so I could use it while Kayaking as well. I would be willing to pay a large premium for such a watch.Communism - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry Submission.dlmartin53 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Gimmekidbear75 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Quite interested in how Google Wear works.pigswig - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
pick meunrulycow - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The obvious uses are in communication and fitnesskgh00007 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Why not Canada eh?coachingjoy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Best bets:Communication, navigation, Scheduling utility, Time piece resp.
Bamboozle - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I am definitely intrigued by all the new smart watches. Seems like this generation is now to the point of being quite useful.hot-soup - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The only segment I believe it will be useful for is for fitness/health. I do not think the utility of a smartwatch will be fully realized until you can stuff the guts of a modern smartphone into the form factor of a watch, a-la Dick Tracy.RacerX17237 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
With every new technology there is going to be an adoption period. We saw that adoption period starting with computers, then came cellular phones (dumb phones), then smartphones, and now the adoption period is coming to wearable’s. The computer gave us internet access at our homes and work, the dumb phones made it possible for people to get a hold of us when we were not at home or work. The smartphones gave people the ability to conduct work from virtually anywhere with a data connection and sometimes even without a data connection. With the development of wearable technology starting to be adopted more and more these cellular phone accessories will stand to be adopted more easily and used by the masses. The community is at its infancy when it comes to wearables; no one knows what the future holds. What manufactures are starting to do is see where they can expand their market share and the hot topic is wearables. I foresee, in the future having a wearable would be just as common as having a computer or a cellular phone. The idea of being able to give a quick glance at your wrist and know what direction is next in your navigation, how long of time it is until you’re seated for dinner and even which alarm was set off in your home security system is something that saves time and makes life easier. The hardest part with developing new technology is finding people that are capable of developing these expanding technologies. There is also the reality that wearables are not for everyone; however that does not mean that the development and time should not be spent to make good and reliable applications.Boltar - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would not buy one, but am ok with winning one :-)diavetinh - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Absolutely useful wearable NOW!davidhn112 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
FTWTifosi248F1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I have to agree with a lot of the comments I'm seeing and say healthcare and fitness jump out as two industries that could benefit most from wearables. Monitoring heart rate, providing a timer for things that need done at set intervals like shots or pills, and so on. A wearable is something you'd likely have on at all times.It could also be very useful to a small business or something where employees might be spread thin. Think getting notifications or having stream video to know when a customer comes in your shop if you don't have line of sight to the main floor.
It would also have applications in security, possibly large retail locations. Being able to tie your existing security to a wearable to aid in thwarting shoplifters and other types of theft.
The possibilities really are endless.
funkdat81 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I've always wanted one!Deadeye37 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Currently, wearables is doing very well for the fitness segment. This will keep continuing because people that are into fitness really want to know as much stats as possible in realtime (distance, heart rate, location, steps, speed, etc). This is especially true right now because it seems like the nation as a whole is becoming much more health conscious.Aside from the health segmet, I see the business segment and the young college student segment taking off. Being able to quickly see emails & texts without having to pull out your phone will appeal to the busy business person. The same would be said for the college student. Also, if what you're wearing is cool & trendy, the college student would definitely save money for that wearable.
TheBigBadGRIM - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Nice watch! I'd like that for running.Samus - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd have to use the money I save not purchasing this to buy an Android phone ;)gogat0r - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness, more specifically: mountaineering. Would love to have a watch to display route information, altitude, heart rate, hydration, sunrise/sunset, etc!tech.kyle - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Probably the biggest thing I'd want my wearable to do is reduce the number of times I take my phone out of my pocket. The two biggest reasons why I do that are to check the time (obvious wearable function) and to see what notifications are. Being able to read a message while I'm driving would be a huge bonus. Driving becomes difficult when trying to wrestle my phone out of my pocket, unlock it, and swipe down just to see whether or not I can ignore a notification until I'm done driving.It's often mentioned that people want their phones to completely stay in their pocket and for everything to interface with their smartwatch. I think this is unrealistic. It needs to merely be an auxiliary display, similar to the Google Glass concept or Logitech's keyboard LCDs. When my phone is navigating somewhere, give me a compass. When I'm listening to music, give me the song. When I get a message, show it to me. Give me a physical button to tap in to Google's voice search, giving only voice replies. Save me the trouble of wrestling for my phone just to ask Google what "315 miles divided by 12.853 gallons" comes out to (and stop giving me the result in kilometers per litre when I've already provided units of measurement!).
Also, something slightly Star Trek Tricorder-like would be nice. Pick up vitals of the wearer, give me temperature, pressure, humidity, etc from hardware sensors. I'm not expecting spectrum analysis of various rocks, but something akin to a mad scientist's swiss army knife. Bonus points if it makes tricorder sounds (although licensing those might be difficult).
With all that said, I like what smartwatches are right now and where they are going. The current generation looks excellent and I'd love to have one. :)
tdktank59 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Ooo shiney objects!anthonya - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love to have one!yuriylsh - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm in, thanks!extide - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
woohoo!rocktober13 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think these would be useful in a professional environment so you can get updates and screen calls without pulling out a phone in meetings. Also, a wearable would be useful in any profession where you use both your hands. I can imagine a cook, surgeon, rock climber, dentist, etc finding wearables quite useful.dexgen - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The most important application would be communication and information lookups. With Health and fitness a close second. I would suspect that in the long run, watches that can completely replace phones (at least on the communications front) would win.gspence2000 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Pick me!Azhrei - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health/fitness, notifications, and security is where I see wearables excelling in. Health/fitness and notifications are pretty obvious by now but security might not be. A good example I see wearables becoming useful is having the watch alert you when it's paired phone is too far away from it.DragonNOA1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The best uses for your wearable is fitness apps, IT (email, built-in alerts to your managed systems, etc), social media apps.scottmarkman - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
My kids will think I'm a hero if I win this watch.jaydee - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Enter me please, hope I win!pie36 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I hope to win!silverx75 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
good luck!trekinator - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I hope I win! Health, fitness, and fashion will are all going to drive success.invinciblegod - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I believe a smartwatch will be most successful as a fitness tracker or as a fashion accessory. The reason for the fitness tracker is obvious. It would replace a fuelband and also keep track of many other possible metrics.A smartwatch is also perfect for fashion. As many people know, fashion changes over time. As such, the traditional watches will always have a traditional look to them. However, smartwatches can have any aesthetic. In addition, smartwatches become obsolete in 2-5 years and as such they would be easy to switch out as new fashion trends arise. As such, smartwatches can follow the fashion industry very closely.
BradleyR - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare and Fitnessandrewd18 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I could definitely see a smart watch as a replacement for those scenarios where I only need to glance at my phone. E-mail/text/alert notifications, calendar, time, phone battery life, GPS/directional navigation. It could also work well as an alternate input button for things like my phone's camera (set it up, walk into shot, press watch).whitehat2k9 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In to win!natelw - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think its gotta be a fitness thing. maybe medical but you couldnt fit quite enough information to make it that useful.s1175290 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks for the give away!somebrains_crucialssd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Dick TracyNicias - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
watch!Andypro - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would like one, thank you.aemerson - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
My big picks are Health & Home Automation integration.designgears - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Gimme gimme gimme!vivaciousgold - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
transportation and logisticsishmoo21 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I want one!mgl888 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Willing to give this a try!bubbl07 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The biggest draw for me is location-based convenience (i.e., unlocking my door when I speak it into the watch without pulling out my phone)ChaddM - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Pleaseyowetz - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I can see this being useful in a work environment where emails and meetings are commonplace, yet you find yourself not in front of your computer a lot (for example if you worked in a laboratory that uses lab computers that don't necessarily have your email/appointments readily available).And of course, this would be handy for the casual user who keeps their phone in their pocket and often misses calls because the ring/vibrate was not heard/felt.
B.Jay - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
194. Thx!ipapadop - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
They look nice. For the time being they are a gadget with no particular killer-app; if there's ever going to be a rugged one, I can see some use for quick communication between firefighters, quick responders etc.smackababy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Never won anything here before, but it is possible right? Probably better odds than the lottery. >_<randomlinh - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness is a no brainer. Gamification of fitness has seemingly proved beneficial, at least for now. And healthcare in general... the more sensors we can get, the more information we get to analyze.And just having wearable sensors period to track yourself. I don't know what offhand, but I'm sure we can learn a lot (the flip side is there's a huge creepy factor in tracking yourself even moreso than Google does now).
chocoholic - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Looks sleekFoolOnTheHill - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks for the opportunity!bibibobibo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
good luck everyoneVaygr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Cann't wait to try one out!nsomers1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd like to check my ebay listings.LB-ID - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Besides the normal function as a timepiece, I'd like to have it primarily for notifications. Syncing with my calendar would obviously be a must.Death - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Like others have said, I think health/fitness segment.dkmage - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
nice to have...electroball09 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Location based notifications. Tracking distance for runners, etc.acenuke - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry!chuckey - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be great for fitness/healthcare. I've seen a fitbit in use and its great for monitoring your progress.silenceisgolden - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
ARM is asking the wrong question. The question should be what kinds of apps are interesting, and the second part of that is "Does it make sense to have a sub-app on the Wearable or just send notifications when needed?" Most apps don't need anything more than the Notification layer of the wearable, and there are plenty of people that are ignoring this and, let's say, making a web browser for the wearable *cough*. While this is a good demonstration, this example is absurd until wearables evolve to be more than the tiny screens they are now.Ratman6161 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would be a great fitness item. It could combine all my various fitness related electronics such as heart rate monitor, GPS, navigation, bike computer etc all into a single device. Plus I just want one.jkrafcik - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sign me up. :)keshav52 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
If you have to ask your watch whether you had a good workout, then you probably didn't have a good workout... I don't think the fitness apps will be anything more than a fad, and most users that actually stick to a regimen for a few months will stop using them.Having the actual time from your phone and getting text messages will be the useful, but the most important thing is being able to change the color of the face/background to match your outfit! They'd also match your smart glasses and other wearables. Fashion followed by Notifications are #1 & #2, IMO.
kiskopata - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think communication, fitness and fashion are most likely segments for wearablesfikuschris - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables make sense for security as a key fob. Healthcare devices are getting bigger and notifications for asthma and other medications will see a lot of convenience on the arm. Smart filtering of notifications will go along way to keeping this tool relevant. And fashion will sell it.DataPath - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think there's two classes of wearables: those with a screen, and those without a screen but use the display on another device.I think multipurpose wearables will completely replace PMP's (media players), a lot of fitness devices, etc. But where they'll really shine is as a personalized, customizable interfaces to all the random electronics we use in our lives. TV/home theater remotes, home automation systems, unlocking my car, setting my alarm clock, etc.
SulianJeo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It's awesome that you guys are doing a giveaway and I definitely want in.slowreload - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Im in, Would love a smart watch for workWankie - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness and walking navigation are the two main areas of interest for myself in smartwatches.pmcorriveau - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think any environment where you're on the move. Security, nursing, and fitness are all good example. I sit at my desk with my phone face up all day and wouldn't really buy one. But I still WANT one!anandraja13 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
in the quantified self movement, right from heart rate, blood pressure measurement to calendar management.joelhamill - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think health/fitness is wear wearables will be the most valuable.Haipapa - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be cool.Assimilator87 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In my opinion, wearables will be most successful in fitness and fashion. They're just too small for anything important. I'd want one just because I like watches and it would be fun to experiment with various GUIs. I'm hesitant to actually buy one until they could last all day with the time always on display.donebu - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
OK, I'm in.D1RTYD1Z619 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
What time is it? I don't have a watch.Norzman5 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be the most successful in environments where pulling out your phone to check notifications is inappropriate. Like during a movie or maybe driving a car since you just have it on your wrist so it's not as distracting as grabbing your phone.stevenmi89 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare and fitness is where I think wearables will be most successful. Being able to check blood pressure, heart rate, or other diagnostics on the fly trumps being able to check your e-mail or looking cool.humjaba - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I never win thingsxyzsam - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Using your watch for cooking would be so awesome. Not having to use dirty fingers to touch a screen, setting a timer by voice, getting the instructions read aloud to you...FunBunny2 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I wouldn't wear such a silly thing if you paid me.Jax Omen - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
contests!bradleyjx - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
?MichaelCG - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
mmmvikrant - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I can handle one of those with my LG G2 :)cknobman - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables have big opportunities in vitals. Whether it be for fitness or health wearables gathering and monitoring a persons vitals opens an immense amount of data to use.Also notifications are another big area. Having something immediately view-able, which does not take up a hand, to show you notification information could be a huge benefit.
Hemlocke - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hook a dude up with some free wearable tech.cdoubleu - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wish me luck!vykos - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think that location and time dependent notifications are the most interesting applications to me (Google Now). I would like my shopping list to appear on my wrist when I walk in a store, and I want to see traffic and public transportation schedules appear when it's time to leave work.TheDoctr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely fitness. I would love to ditch the Fitbit for just a nice Android Wear watch.eezip - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks AnandTech and LG. I'd love to own one!I would say healthcare is a big field because of the need to record information, but the mobility of a nurse and doctor is important. It's practical for a doctor to carry a tablet, and a smart watch could be a helpful companion device. As for a nurse, something with great power like a smart watch but not requiring a hand to carry around is a big boon. Also, hospitals will have a mesh WiFi network so connectivity is present. Just look at the way tablets (and PCs before them) have proliferated in hospitals recently and you'll see that there's money waiting to be spent for convenience.
Enterprise is another one. You must have a laptop to get any work done, but many times that too much. Or you don't want (or shouldn't!) get it out. Tablets are springing up there, but looks are important mobility is also worth something. Grabbing a phone works in so many scenarios, like checking the daily schedule or an upcoming meeting or replying to a quick email. In those cases, instead of reaching for a phone a smart watch could be helpful. How often do you need to read a moderate email, but the reply can be one word or one sentence? In those cases, a smart watch is perfect. And like healthcare, there is a lot of money that can be spent if the product is truly appealing and marketed well.
Certainly there will be folks who will ride the fashion/fad trend of smart watches. But it's hard to target and reach those folks, while the above cases are more straightforward.
mrfou - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think ideally a great smartwatch should be an extension to display the most important notifications and simultaneously the ultimate fitness tracker.DParadoxx - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
So ready for one of these!konroh77 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sign me up!event121 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think any job/segment where a smartphone is useful and you need your hands to do something besides using the device. Ie. Food, healthcare, construction...Thrawn - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would make a great gift for my wife just for the pedometer alone. I'll likely get her a fitbit if I don't win this but hey free is great.austinsharp111 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Woo hoo!Qubix - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
You can't win if you don't play... been saying this for a long while now and I still never win.lnugent66 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
So much potential for fitness and overall health...ingwe - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
one of these times...culhwch - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Keeping Time.countkrzysztof - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I, too, feel that fitness and notifications are going to be the primary uses for these devices. Personally, I like the idea of turn-by-turn navigation as well, for example while riding a bike. I'd love to win one!tarqsharq - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
OK GOOGLE, I need a watch.Torgog - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Two, please.cherrybombaz - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Excceletnburwij - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health/Fitness definitely seems like the area in which these types of wearables will excel.Thanks!
godl!ke - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I stopped wearing watches years ago, but I'd resume doing so if it's smart enough.icetorch - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness, notifications, text messages, and fashion.nyonya - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think communications (specifically, the notifications aspect) is the only use case for a smartwatch that makes real sense. Being able to communicate without taking your phone out of your pocket is a killer function for me.CU - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
If I keep trying maybe I will win something one day.Trefugl - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It would be nice to try one of these out!tass1234 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sign me up!Pwnstar - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables will be most successful in fitness, as you can't carry a big device very well while jogging or whatnot.deskjob - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Never won any contest like this before... maybe this will be the first!rrrromas - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think security is a big interest for me. Having your other devices know that you're you is a pretty killer featuremkyledhamilton - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
FITNESS. As an avid cyclist I would absolutely love to be able to glance down at my watch for turn by turn directions, or view my heart rate, or distance traveled, or speed. This technology could finally keep me from having to stop at every turn when riding new routes.bopcbopc - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yes pleasetyger11 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables will be most successful when helping people with physical activities (health monitoring) and with eyes-off information (getting info while driving or walking).KITH - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Mostly see its usefulness for fitness uses.frankngo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I suppose navigation will be the best use caseGhostdg - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would love one. I think wearables will be best for fitness/healthcare and productivity.WarnerYoung - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hey, why not?win95gui - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would be elated to win one of these fine devices - it would be a nice complement to my LG Optimus G Pro phone - my favorite phone ever.venym76 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Free stuffnand - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
security and health will be the most reasonable areas to justify the purchase of the smartwatch in the near future - for communication there need to be more innovation to happen i guesseanazag - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would be interested in a watch, but I know the first couple of generations I will not be happy with. As far as wearables, general clothes don't make a lot of sense unless they are washable and sensors only. I have no desire to charge more crap. I'd like the battery life to be one to two weeks. I would tolerate daily charging for a kick ass device, but realistically I expect to charge every 1 - 3 days.My random thoughts below:
I would be interested in watches, but I want my watch to be waterproof, charge and sync wirelessly. I won't tolerate another cable. I like the ability to tell local weather data with built-in sensors. I have a phone and tablet that can tell me the forecast. The forecast would be nice, but not enough. GPS and compass functionality is handy, but should be able to disable and save the juice. Additional solar charging would be fine or some motion charging. The size is feature dependent to me. I draw the line at a device that makes me lean to one side though. I am into fitness and would be interested in accessories that tell my body temperature and pulse in conjunction with the watch. How many mile I have run (I don't run far) and how fast.
I don't think I want cellular built-in at this point. Privacy is getting to be a concern. WiFi and Bluetooth should do the trick. I'd rather not have a camera. I am at odds with the microphone for security/privacy concerns. I live in MN and freezing temperature operation would be pretty interesting to me, yet I know many batteries don't like it.
Applications: I am not sure how far I want notifications. I can say with certainty that I don't want any EFFFin ads -- Google -- on my watch. I am leery about Google being the OS period; they are too smart and they find subtle ways to figure out things about you. I have a mistrust of all the data they collect and analysis. I know Apple does the same things, but I don't find them as smart/crafty - this can obviously change. Yet I am aware that the others aren't much better. I would call Microsoft the best on privacy because they often have an opt-in approach. The EU loves stealing MS's money in court. I use some 2 factor authenticators and this would be a good location for an like that. Cryptocoin payment functionality; not sure about a live wallet though because of robbery. Reminder and alarm syncing with my phone. Call/text notification within a certain range of my phone. I don't care about music on it because I would expect it to sound like crap - laptop speakers already suck. I don't have diabetes, but blood sugar level notification would be pretty damn cool for telling when I have too much carbs or not enough in my diet: the glycemic level.
SirKnobsworth - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Notifications definitelyFitness maybe - we've already seen some decently successful fitness products, but whether these devices can provide enough data for a comprehensive fitness assessment, or whether they are rugged enough to be worn while exercising remains to be seen.
Telling the time?
Scrote - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
One day, one day!CosmonautDave - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think the segments wearables would be most successful in would be communications (notifications) and fitness (things like tracking calories or miles). Would also be nice if it had some functionality separate from the phone it goes with; for example, taking your wearable on a run to play music and leaving the phone behind.ehicks05 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I can see the allure.jodyweiss - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry submission.Zorrac555 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely would be widely used in healthcare, for notification of physicians, ect.JesterTX2001 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Good luck to all.Especially me!
BreezeDM - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I hope its using it so you don't have to take your phone out of your pocket for most things.[email protected] - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Give me the watch !DCRussian - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would make more sense for fitness tracking than lugging your phone on you evrytime you go to work outezridah - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
why notquaz0r - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be neat for hikingdx_keeper - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think this would be good for business communication. Salesmen, Remote IT services, etc. I also think this would be good for the medical field. Doctors using to log medical notes.jibberegg - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks for the competition! Fingers crossed :)I see wearables as key to productivity in a world full of distractions; reducing the time and attention needed to deal with all the notifications you receive through the day. This should also have the benefit of increasing phone battery life as the screen will be lit up a lot less as you can pre-screen pushes for importance and immediacy.
scook9 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
For free, I would try out Google Wear :)Pokaia - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I see it as augmenting the devices we already carry. Mainly things like notifications, or initiating an action that's being carried out on some other device or service.DeadRinga - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness and ToDo appsMr.Burns - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This time I know I'll win. For sure. Yeah.drw392772 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The ideal segment/application for wearables will vary based on the type of wearable and the interaction mode the hardware presents.For watches, I really like Google's notification approach. Presenting some basic information and actions on the watch itself with basic taps and swipes, while leaving more advanced interactions for the phone/tablet. I prefer the functionality to remain fairly minimal, which will keep the computing resource requirements low which will allow smaller form factors and/or cheaper prices. Plus, I think it is incredibly smart how the watch hooks into the phone application's notifications, giving this new hardware an large software base on day one.
For the glasses type of wearables, applications need to require much less interaction as it isn't as convenient to be reaching up to touch your head, nor as socially accepting to be using verbal commands. This could require some type of AI to determine what information the user will want to see based on their situation/environment. I think augmented reality will be the killer app. Some obvious examples of this that come to mind are: navigation, facial recognition (I know, Google has shot this down), or location-based information (landmarks, restaurants, building info, etc.). Possibly, hands-free video recording or reference manual information display (e.g. show the car manual page to me while I have my hands busy working on the engine) would be very useful.
What I am really interested in are what other classes of wearables will be created. But I think all wearables should not be considered general computing devices, but provide relatively limited functionality (when compared to phones and tablets) or even single/fixed function devices like the various health monitoring devices.
rpanic - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yoworthless - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
That's sorta jazzy...Tarvaln - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think communication would be the best use of this device.Just imagine you were a rogue scientist with a son, some kid you found in India and a body guard who is an ex GQ magazine model. This would be the perfect way to communicate with them.
technacity - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fashion. I think wearables can excel in fashion. People are willing to make trade offs for fashion and within those trade offa you can fit in more tech. Of course, eventually the tech will not have trade offs and be able to be as small as possible, but in the mean time if you make fashionable wearables people will be more willing to buy.Leftbranch - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think that communications or notifications will be the first usable segment. With maybe fitness being the carrot that gets your attention. But basically America has some fitness conscious, it is not a fit country. I would just hope that it would be able to last a few days to be useful.jfret - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would be happy to give it a test drive. I will make good use of it, too.ravish - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
weeeeeegrshore - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
interesting...computerfreak001 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
fitness and communicationsquishyTurtle - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
sureMalatar - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness will be the biggest market for wearables. They have to be light though, or they'll distract from your focus.Raffi818 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The smart watch era has begundas32 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fashion accessory, fitnessHexadecazetton - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It's time I won something.Nightfoxx - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I hope these wearables take off in security, but I see them impacting the fashion world sooner just because they need to look appealing to reach wide adoption.lowki - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I can't wait to root this.lessthanjoey - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love to win one of these!Memo.Ray - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Someone will win!lolpatrol - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
"OK Google. Tell my phone we're not on speaking terms right now."bar11172 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health monitoring and fitness tracking would seem to be the most promising field for wearables in the near term. Other functions could grow as luxury add-ons if core functions are ubiquitous.DeesTroy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hoping to win.I think wearables could be very successful in the area of health care.
ZipZopZippity - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think it would be useful for fitness applications as well as enterprise. Here's hoping I can try one out!mreed01 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Here it goes. Maybe I'll get lucky.wontoniii - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
A part for easy concepts, like fitness and notifications, I would say that contextual information will be the core feature that will get the wearable war to be won by the company that provides the best implementation.RustySharpie - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In for a chanceTheCDC - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Weather and traffic might be good, emailsdvincentwest - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
LG Watch, sounds greatfnord123 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love one - would be awesome to have notifications and stuff on it!Nogib - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wearables are best for hands free navigation!toast70 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would love to try one!armodons - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Good luck everyone!apljack80 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hola, thank you to the awesome giveaways!Niroth - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Odds do say one of these times I'll win right?kashk5 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health/Fitness and Communication are definitely the two areas where I see smartwatches being most successful.gamefreakgcb - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Home Automation can really benefit from a versatile wearable.MakingMonkeys - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
BE MINEdeathapples - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think smartwatches will do well in a variety of businesses - helping people keep constant tabs on email/phone/calendar notifications, without having to stay buried in a phone.MattyStatty - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think fitness would have the most useful application because its easier and more convenient to carry than a phone.Broken - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
For me, notifications are my priority and health would be second...Thral1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Long battery life would be ideal. Having to charge a watch more often than once or twice a week make it just feel like a 1.5" tablet strapped to your arm.lujosh87 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
good luckmanianand74 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
fitness, healthcare, communicationmuiriddin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The category that smart watches would be most useful in? Information summary basically a quick heads up type display that somehow conveys a lot of info in a single glance at the wrist. Second would be a fitness device assuming it has the proper sensors built in for this...StealthGhost - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Watch doesn't look half bad, nice!sotoa - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sounds like a nice deal.thrawnis - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Smart watches/devices would probably work best in IT, infrastructure, security, and fitness spaces. As an IT person, I rely on my Pebble Smartwatch for service interruption notifications and important emails without having to pull out my phone continuously throughout the day.adrenaline7879 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It would be great to have a watch that I would actually use ^.^haastyle - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
one day I'll win something!nerdyjem - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think the two most popular uses/applications for wearables will be fitness tracking (e.g. fitbit style) and notifications/second-screen for a smartphone. I can't imagine ever actually using a watch to order food, or book a flight, but I love the idea to use the screen as my boarding pass, or check on package delivery, etc.Messy_Alligator - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Here's to nothing!shinta86 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
For me it would be motorcycling as I would able to see things without having to pull over. Such as maps, spotify, see whos calling or whos texting to see if it is worth pulling over for.antithenes - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Quite likely Healthcare and I.T. will be the most successful industry segments for wearable computing. Good luck all!cmdrdredd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Nice giveaway.haelduksf - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely fashion- they aren't actually all that useful.yelped - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
BSDRaLX - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health and fitness.timetowiseup - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks, AT!pratikmm - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
i believe smart watches will turn into smart sensing devices, not only sensing your body, but also the surrounding environment. Air quality, pollens, keeping a track of where i lost my book, people I met today. I think it will be just one node in an array of sensors a person in future will be carrying on his body.ZivNYC - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yes Please!jonnberg - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think communications and security are the best bets for smart watches. I love the triage aspect and the ability to get authentication codes sent to my wrist.Morawka - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks for the giveaway, here's my entrywizawuza - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness initially, but after that general "daily habits", basically the way Google Keep works.drewdavidmartin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I am looking forward to a smart watch fitness device. Especially a device that could useful for hiking. This would then need to be a device with a looong battery life (carging by solar/movement would be ideal), it would also need gps and navigation, and have the capability to track time and distance accurately.What might differentiate this from something else already on the market is the ability for advanced navigation and predictions as well as integrated nutrition and health tracking.
teiglin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness and by extension healthcare are obvious fits for wearables, but hopefully platforms like Android Wear will help them expand into smartphone fields like communication. They can also be useful as one element in a multi-factor authentication system, or simply as a trusted bluetooth device to avoid having to type your password into your phone all the time.phwting - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
will use it for fitness and even checking the time of day.jkyle - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
All your watch are belong to me.raulr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Health/FitnessComputer Bottleneck - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Entry submissionleine - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sign me up! Good luck to everyone!Heekon - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thank you.BrianL22 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I will try it.ezschemi - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely fitness/healthcare: Having vital sensors to train at the body's max for best efficiency.Second security: Using the watch to unlock my apartment, car, computer, other stuff. A hint of this was demonstrated in the Google IO keynote.
Vepsa - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think the would be most successful in the health/fitness area.hosps - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yes please....:PKougar - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Communication - interfacing with a phone to pull up maps and business locations, and notes on the fly would be the most useful function above the other options.rjb471 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I rarely wear a watch, but I'd still like to win this.derTorbs - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would love to have this wrist-lojack-amatorwillis936 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
That's a lot of hardware...iindigo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I have no idea how I would such a thing, but it’d be fun to play with.mclaba - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Dear Sirs, I would surely like me a new G Watch...BiggJohn - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yay.NickFlare - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm anxious to get started on the smartwatch revolution. A Moto 360 might be prettier, but the LG G Watch looks more than capable.Hoghead2737 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Maybe this go round!smorebuds - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Blackberry's became popular because they were synonymous with being a successful business(wo)man. Likewise, Nike running shoes are popular because they are synonymous with being healthy and fit. In that same vein, smartwatches would take off if they linked themselves with a positive and desirable lifestyle/theme. Like others have said, the fitness/health market seems like the obvious segment to market to first. There are clear advantages--if smartwatches are marketed for on-the-go use, you can't get more on-the-go than excercise. People want to associate themselves with that image of being fit, and if marketed properly, smartwatches could become the new symbol of fitness.cashnmillions - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would say 5 major fields: 1. communication: this could be a very compact form of a phone with quite a bit of capability. 2. healthcare: this could be used as a medical band that can inform medical personnel of what medications, ailments, and even basic vitals of the person. 3. security: this could function as a tracking mechanism and alert police and first responders to your location 4. fitness: there's a lot here, mostly gps tracking, heart rate, etc.cashnmillions - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
ha, forgot 5. education: great way to keep students informed on class requirements, reading assignments, etc. all without having to carry tablets/phablets around or phones.ryoung415 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think they have possible uses in most people's lives as long as the app support is there. Beauty will always be in the eye of the beholder.SLCPUNK - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I see this being a huge deal for the health and fitness markets.As a person with diabetes I am excited by the prospect of coupling this wearable with Google's glucose sensing contact lens. There are so many times I would like to see my blood sugar but don't want to see it badly enough to prick my finger and draw some blood. A continuous monitor on my wrist would be incredible if it were accurate.
isa - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think smartwatches will be most successful in sports/training situations and in social situations, both of which make uisng a smartphone difficult, and of course provided that the smartwatch can make and receive calls and use GPS without being tethered to a smartphone.ScarabEpic22 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be great to have!dannoddd - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think fitness tracking and travel are the biggest ones. I would love a watch that could give me all my biking app controls on my arm instead of a stupid $400 bike compitertekeffect - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
The only reason I want one for is fitness. To be able to easily control music and see messages. Hopefully developers can come up with some useful apps relating to fitnesstyman4752000 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Winnnnnnlazydc - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
security purposes. hope i win!kavanoz - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It is going to be mine :)arsena1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Thanks AT!zinfamous - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I shall gladly submit my body for science.Ballanche - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Want itasoiaf7 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Want to try one of these.dali71 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think that healthcare and fitness would be well-served by wearables such as this watch.secretmanofagent - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Please.MattCoz - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness is an obvious answer, but for good reasons. Pulling out your phone isn't really an option when you're running or biking, so being able to quickly glance at your wrist is great.tarheel91 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Comment.grayson_carr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
How about the mobile payment segment? Throw NFC in one of these and it could interface rather nicely with Google Wallet and similar apps. That way, you wouldn't have to pull out your wallet or phone to pay. Just tap your wrist and have a payment confirmation show up on the watch screen. It could even prompt you for a PIN on the watch.hoarangE - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I was looking for a product like this to use at my work. I work in an environment that requires me take calls hands-free and because my hands are often dirty from the machinery I work with, I don't like to handle my phone to check who is calling me. This would work well in my current work flow. Would love to test this product out. Send me one please!stringstream - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
here's my entry!SGTGimpy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I will take one Pretty Please. :)slidindelta - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
interesting thing to dothewooster - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Still a little skeptical about the usefulness of smart-watches, but I'd be more than willing to give it a try!hucklongfin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sounds good. I hope I win.LavosPhoenix - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Communication/Notifications being the primary use of wearables, while proximity security for phones, tablets and other computing devices being a complementary use.Redcoat17 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
trying for a win!ussfletcher - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Ooh I've been looking to play with these!DarthBobo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I just got a G3 and would love to use this with my phone.DeTraveler - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think Fashion and Healthcare would benefit the most from wearables.BenjaminTseng - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hope I win :) -- I think wearables bundled with services will be the key -- and this will take them into new healthcare and enterprise verticalsCamdogXIII - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'll take eight!Simozene - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
sweet! :)steryma - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Please include mkosmostick - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I've never won a giveaway before. Here's hoping for my first, Anand.ericjwdchen - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love to win a gwatchflacjacket - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely best as an intermediate option for displaying notifications and real-time info (e.g. turn-by-turn directions) between heads-up displays (e.g. Glass) and having to pull out a phone.wbensky - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Although I feel that wearables such as watches are too limited to fully replace a smartphone, I can definitely see how they could be discreet and effective health trackers. In addition I could imagine wearables being used as a security device, as it is much harder to lose then a traditional smartphone and could be for example, utilized as a digital key.gdansk - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Is it necessary to use an Android phone for this to make sense and/or work properly?aferrick - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Cool devicefusoyaii - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In our hospital we use smartphones to receive text pages and make calls, which is very convenient. However, we're often in situations where we can't reach into our pockets to look at a message (sterile procedure, isolation room, etc). Sometimes a nearby colleague has to awkwardly reach into a pocket to pull a phone out. It'd be nice to check a message with the turn of a wrist to see whether it requires immediate attention or can wait a few minutes. I don't need something to replace my smartphone, just sync with it and reliably relay messages.Pontius Dilate - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Seriously looking forward to the Moto Android Wear device, but the LG looks like a good start.hoohoo51 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
the biggest reason I want to get a smart watch would be so that I don't have to constantly take my phone out to read a message, dial a number and thing like that. another place would be in fitness. a heart rate monitor is something that I would love to have in a watch because I hate wearing a chest strap while exercisingmukiex - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Woozoot, tossin' my hat in.JS77 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think these might be nice for easily reading new texts and getting workout information (heart rate). But I'll have to actually play with one to see how useful it is.sweenish - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Notifications, fitness, voice powered automation come to mind.Gyro231995 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
It looks promising.Spyrano - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yeah, fitness probably. And of course being able to tell time.Zincatwink - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Tossing my name in that every expanding hat again.Zincatwink - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In addition I would add that wearable's need to add to the experience by either doing something better than your phone or expanding functionality. I'm personally looking forward fitness integration more than anything.Jschraff - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Good luck everyone!cmikeh2 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would love to have one of these to work with developing.PCHardwareDude - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
coolradiusmax - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I need this smart watch.knightspawn1138 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would love get my hands on one of these (or get one of these on my wrist)! I am a huge fan of LG (TV's, BD-Rom drives, tablets, etc.). The only complaint I have against LG was my T-Mobile G2X. It was one of the first Tegra2 phones, and yet only the Optimus 2X (which is the same exact phone with a different radio and slightly tweaked internal partition) was upgraded past Android 2.3. All they needed to do was release an ICS driver, and I'd be living the high-life with a CM10 phone.Anyway, I hope I win the watch!
projektsun - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
YeeeeHaaaa! Need me some wrist bling!DaBoSSs - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sign me upTchamber - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd wear one, could be fun.chenjf - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think general healthcare would be the way to go. I mean with all the recent child deaths in hot vehicles; having something that can ping their parent's cell or whatever device to remind them would be useful.junaid - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
How long does its battery last?t_ral - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This is way better than Pebble!ahchiu - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
LG G WATCH!daneren2005 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Definitely health. Embedded sensors have the potential to be huge!deadflare - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Need a watchTheCurve3141 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
1. Driving safety. With good voice recognition and a little engineering, wearables with constant listening will help drivers keep more of their attention on the road. Naturally, glasses can act as a driving HUD. Distracted driving is a big issue nowadays, so this could really help people until self-driving cars truly mature.2. Military applications. For infantry, I can see smart glasses sharing detailed info between troops with a HUD. For example, the glasses could overlay a green tint on friendly troops who are also using glasses or a watch. One troop could tap into another troop's camera to see what they're seeing. Or maybe they could tap into a drone feed for an overhead perspective.
Some of the above ideas could also be incorporated into civilian applications like search and rescue, fire departments, etc.
GivMe1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd like a smarter watch...GivMe1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
And... I think these watches will be useful for busy people who don't have time to look at their phone every 5 minutes.asgallant - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Throwing my hat into the ring.anikko - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I see these watches being most successful for fitness. I'd like to use one with runkeeper. Secondly I expect the watches to be big in security. e.g. to unlock a door or device based on proximity.Drakkhen - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think that communication, fitness and healthcare will be a nice focus for this type of device.m8d - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
like.cturkarslan - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I still think wearables have a long way to go before they can have a part in our everyday life. They are just adult toys at this point. That's why I want one especially when it is free.smeghead4269 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness seems like the most obvious area where wearable tech can find success.mikeangs2004 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Now is a better time to buy thesetom_yellowblue - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Watches like this would be most useful for:* Notifications / Alert - so you could quickly see if you want to drag your phone out. Things like texts, email, your flight is leaving
* Weather / Calculator / other tools
* Music/Video controls
* Usual watch stuff: clock, stopwatch, multiple countdown timers
GrJohnso - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Healthcare and fitness, at least to me. Not sold on other areas of value, yet.... :)DarkKnight_Y2K - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I feel lucky today!jikdoc - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
sign me up to winNickelindiana - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think that wearables could end up big in the enterprise because it's much more of a distraction to pull your phone out and look at the notification rather than just looking at your watch and seeing if it's important or not.mevensen - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Love to win this to upgrade from my Pebble.twkatadin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm insamgt13 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wrist is not the way, smart clothing, shoes and enterprises with specific verticals in medicine and healthcare would be the most interesting use cases.nartistic - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love to test one of these out!sivmac239 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I need one for my Nexus 5!Jbl1 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Posting a comment!dergamma - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
:O watchJeff72 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd like a chance to win, thanks!Byte - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
interestingmsp35 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This watch looks amazing!skiboysteve - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Guessing I can't win these anymore...heero884 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Me please :)vijayd81 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness and Home Automationsamdonia - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Super-duper!vinitasher - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
watch plzplasmasmp - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Enter me in, not sure I'd use it, but I want itwilldeng - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
hope i win!davidmackey2 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would like one!SergeC - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Interesting idea, as far as technology. Would be fun to try it out.jkbrennan77 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
FTWabrowne1993 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness would be good, but I think increasing everyday productivity would be nice. I pull my phone out of my pocket just to glance at things all the time. If I could just turn my wrist to achieve the same effect, that would be nice. It's not a huge difference, but it adds up.cgalyon - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
While fitness is useful, I would find it most useful in day-to-day use as an information conduit (weather, quick-glance calendar, email notifications). I believe there is also a strong use-case for modifying behavior using apps (with notifications and such), but that's not likely mainstream utilitypeterfares - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd love one of these to take on my bike rides! Would be great!Argy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think fitness and healthcare for starters...Hardlin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Fitness seems to be the logical choice. I don't see an enterprise use since I believe most enterprise users would have a phone, tablet and laptop available at all times and those would provide a larger screen and potentially better input.fraeone - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Home automation & security!Spongers - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would love to win one! Thanks Anand!LanceDavis - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Anand we totally need your website in our life! Thanks!dlafave - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Commentcodefeenix - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think this could be useful if integrated into a warehouse environment, the watch could help the employee find the next items to be picked. You could also use the watch to help the worker locate free space to place items.Maybe in a restaurant for cooks to glance at their arms to see that they need to make next.
The device could be a good up time monitor, alerting the wearer of some serous issue. It could be a website going down, a security alarm, or a medical patients vital signs.
Mandarinez - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
plzwebmastir - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Awesome. Hope I win. Thanks Anandtech!!espy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be most successful in communication, but would have significant growth in fitness.Morawka - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be interesting in the DIY (do it yourself) segment for just about anything. Showing instructions in simple card format, swiping left and right for each step (forward or backward).This can be applied to Cooking, Engineering, working on your car, DIY electronics, Fixing Computers, virtually anything really.
Another concept would be in enterprise. Reminders for meetings, TPS reports :D, schedules, and emails could enhance productivity and be less disruptive during meetings.
in gaming segment, high scores and friends score compare could be streamed to the watch at the completion of a level.
Thanks for the contest, hope to win!
APairOfDocs - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would love a smart watch of any type. I have contemplated a Pebble but the new Google watches look sweet.aznchum - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I wanna be fly like a G6.Fenix917 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd like to try one out.Amagus - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yes.tongjia19 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
kewl!Boogaloo - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I really don't think that in the forseeable future 'wearables' will be successful at all.shermanx - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would like one! I promise to report back if I got it. ;)Raza_King - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
"Healthcare & fitness" are two biggest applications IMHOyatzmom - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
great for healthcarerwoodr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would love to win!sammymax - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I want!!!IX - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I work in a chem laboratory and my hands are often contaminated and not in a state where I'd like to be touching anything.I think these could do very well in any discipline where the use of your hands somehow forces you to document things through voice command and be able to quickly recall that information(by simply raising/rotating your wrist). The most prominent that comes to mind would be Culinary.
Ekodas - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would definitely love one of these. Have been wanting to play around with one of the new smart watches.huiL - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
entedphatswarra - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Wearables are great for communication and fitness.ydc - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Watch me win this!soydios - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
acting as a second screen for the smartphone would be nifty, sorta like Windows Modern UI pinning opsClockw0rk - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hurray for gadgets!tattedmex - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
As a watch, style is by far the most important thing. Whatever features it has are ok, but it has to look good on your wrist for it to be a hit. Look at Movado watches for example, all looks with limited function.markrb38 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I am commenting.Einy0 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
would match my LG phone nicely.Kcilorak - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
OOOOO OOOO ME ME ME!!! PICK ME!!!!arvee - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
yay! back to 1980 wearing watches again, where's my calculator?!KineticArc - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Snapdragon 400 in a watch sounds good. Also sounds very bad with battery life...MacTheSpoon - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Okay, here goes!schmedy - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Good Luck Alljuliocho - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
retailambie86 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
My husband would absolutely LOVE this!Mikey16888 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Niceeightspancrow - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
snacksrickon66 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yo!bkbroiled - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Anandtech, best place for tech news .... and giveaways too!SodaAnt - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would go very well with the new LG G3 I just got.Brinith - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yes, I would love to try out a smart watch for once as well actually make some apps for it (can't really do that since I didn't have one on hand to test and android emulators are e"mule"tors"OctaneZ - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'll never know the time again!rktectr4evr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
For short term: Health and Fitness. For long term: security, nfc and electronic payment. Pick me so I can try it out!Nick2000 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I could see it used for fitness and enterprise.mortona - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Personal information stuff. Tracking your progress, goals, schedule, reminders, etc.Reflex - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sure, why not?RMSe17 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sweet watchversabox - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In it to win it!Shapur - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Sure would be nice to win for once.I think it would be useful to tell the time without taking my phone out.
napalm288 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
First of all, multiple day battery life is a must. As far as a segment, I'd like to focus on productivity and easy integration with my everyday life - like my info/control of my car or keeping up with my significant other or use with connected devices (garage door opener, nest, lights)bingho - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
awesome!flashbacck - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
SHAZAMTaurus229 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Very nice! Thanks, AnandTechMadEmperor - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Here is trying!rahonavis75 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This will be the first lottery I've ever won if I make it.BigLan - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
good luck everyone*kjm - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Would love to win this thanks....... I'm in.shaddadjr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
anandtech rocksThe_Chief - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
How exciting! What's cooler than wearing a smartwatch? Wearing a smartwatch that you WON! Now THAT would be C@@L!khaydin - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Hope I win! Would love to see a watch with NFC that would allow you to wave your hand near your computer to unlock it. Would love to have that at work!parim - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
yoliteon163 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Yes, please.Coldaine - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Eh, I'd like to give this a try.StargateNH - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I would say both daily usability and fashion.Scarier - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm blind can't tell time, hopefully i'll winciasaboark - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
In time this might become a replacement for smartphones entirely. One small ultra-portable communication device that you carry everywhere, paired occasionally with a larger screen (a tablet or whatever technology replaces them) when content consumption is desired.NesuD - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I can haz pleaseKralizec - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I think the first watch that merges pebble and basis will be the one that stands out. Especially if they can make it cross platform.lorasal - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
woot woot!! \o/ProfBio - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Already have a pebble but these are so much sexier!SirKronan - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Awesome! Thanks, LG and AnandTech!!NotAgOat - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'm in!jonnyz - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
Pick meXandar0 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I'd LOVE to not have to take my phone out of my pocket so often just to check if there are any notifications.opiapr - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
I a pretty sure fitness & healthcare are going to be the major selling points.mismeasure - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
putting my name in the hatqbert1111 - Friday, July 25, 2014 - link
This would be great. I could start wearing a watch.dumpsterj - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Hope I win !!! got the new g3 :)Davor Vekic - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Here goes nothing... :)gates2112 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Thanks!b0bj0e - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think the 'watch' in 'smartwatch' is steering development in the wrong direction. The industry should develop a standardized activity (as in the android framework object, google it). This would open up options for developers. It would be nice to keep the 'smartwatch' form factor, minus the wrist band. If market demand enables these cube devices to sell for $50, they'll take off. Btw I recently got an LG G3...richard G. - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
cool. thanks!s2kpacifist - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness and recreation for sure. Make a wearable waterproof up to at least 100 feet with GPS, that would be great for diving and storing interesting locations for future dives.MasterTactician - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
in4oneRekoj - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I want to win because cake.proudmommy808 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
i think that wearables are taking a huge leap with health and fitness logging how much we work out and how many calories we lose. i think its great for america to curve the obesitylightsword - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Looks amazing! I think they'll most revolutionize health and communication.kornfan71 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I've been on the fence about getting one of these.I think wearables are most useful for fitness and communication, and for getting helpful at-a-glance contextual information based on time/location/etc.
TheLastBoyscout - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Most successful? I think sports/medical primarily. Reflecting the calendar in an office environment is also great (quick look at the watch rather than fiddling with the bulky phone), but that is probably too much of a niche...automagical - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
wearable tech is the best!chrisprcr - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness and communication.Factory Factory - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think a smartwatch could be made a Better Pager for fields like healthcare and security, where alerts are necessary and detail added to the alert could save precious time.mstrmind - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Pebble is better with longer battery life and integration with IOS and Android.byersbw - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I feel that wearables would excel in providing detailed health monitoring (such as heart rate, pulse, etc.), as well as being able to communicate on a simple level (ie: ask google for the weather forecast and the watch, with a speaker, would be able to tell you), as well as provide simple notifications, easy access to said notifications, and to be able to have light control of your phone to play music and other things.Using the watch as a speakerphone or headset to carry on a conversation isn't professional. Beyond looking stupid by talking to your watch, it takes away the privacy of a conversation. Yes, if you are in public, you should NOT expect to be able to carry on a private conversation, but my rebuttal is, do people have speakerphone conversations on a regular basis now? I would say no. But that's exactly what will start happening if you have a conversation on a smartwatch.
To each their own I guess.
PS: Thanks for the great giveaway! :o)
steveb32 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Here to win thiskedesh83 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'd like to try one of these, thank you.Phryxus - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
good stuff here!ynk1121 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'm in!abrar - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
in Sports is my hope for the future wearablescyj - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I could see using it for fitness tracking. Also would be good for monitoring heart rate and other health vital signs.jbeneast - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Healthcare, communicating with other devices e.g., Google contact lens that monitors blood glucose levels, these devices will be inform users to adjust insulin levels accordingly.mclardass - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Battling the forces of evil or, perhaps, reminding you to pop down to the pub for a pint with friends. Either way, it would be cool to win.df2rools - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think fitness would be a big thing for wearables. can listen to music, check out a map (GPS) to see where you're going, have heart rate and other applications, etc.DPUser - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I see fitness as a prime segment… my wife would love it!ol1bit - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Man that would be cool! Some day I'll win!Yacko1975 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Real tome communications and device control of apps like Pandora etc.Sheninat0r - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
security/military. i want the smi from splinter cell blacklist.JesusVanDam - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Adding to the functionality of the watch while maintaining a simple, sleek and stylish look. Works for meRobgoblin - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
MememeFastidious - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Probably get the most use out of it for exercise related stuff.Jonahkirk - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness apps for me so solid GPS is importantImDonly1 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness would be nice especially if they could play audio via bluetooth.bobasaur - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Entering to win! Also, where is Lacie Big5 NAS pro part 2?mnalley - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
woooooZuke1624 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
This might sound a little dumb, but bear with me.My mom has been staying with us while she undergoes cancer This means that she has a lot of meds she needs to take at different times of the day. Problem is, her mind is a little fried. I guess they call it chemo-brain. So she's set up these really convoluted alarms on her clock to try and remember what she needs to take when.
I think something like the G Watch would be ideal for someone like her so she can set different alarms on her phone and have hem on her wrist, telling her which meds she needs, when, and have multiple times it can go of. She wouldn't even need her phone on her at the time, so long as she was near it.
Zuke1624 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
That was also my entry, btwjoocrazy - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
winwiwiwndesertbears - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
The LG is the best released so far.ColdMist - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I would use this!earthrace57 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Seems like a nice new watch to haveIKROWNI - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Over 3000 of these contests entered eventually it will be my time to shine! Pick me this time pretty please?deltagarrett - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Yay! : )kamsar - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Healthcare. Having hands free/voice access to patient data with the right system integration would be really useful and improve safety in a hospital setting.JDLion - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think smart watches will eventually be used for health monitoringTheDome - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I don't think wearables will be successful in anything other than being a convenient way of looking out notifications and doing small tasks with your voice.estarkey7 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Give me that watch, I want to hack it...BadThad - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Looks cool! Count me in.BadThad - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Oh, I could see it being useful for search and rescue responders, hikers, outdoorsmen, etc. Compass would be handy on your wrist and other data could be useful.vbaker9 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Nice watch count me in.kaleoa - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'm most interested in seamless, elegant notifications, and fitness tracking. Battery life is a must as well. Thanks.chzeckmate - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
"Ok Google!" on your wrist...How awesome is that?! I need this watch!likeabaker - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think the most prominent industries for wearables will be Fitness, Communication, and Enterprise.SAMSAMHA - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Wonder if I would be so lucky.Midgetguy - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'd say that as it stands right now, fitness and fashion would make up most market share for this sort of device. You can look good or do the occasional fitness/health monitoring, but it just wouldn't work well enough in things like business or security. If you're consistently checking the watch, you aren't doing a very good job of keeping an eye out for what you're actually supposed to be looking for right? And just too much information has to stream through in a business environment for it to be practical. The volume of emails, meeting arrangements, and other such activities is hard enough to manage with a phone, let alone a watch. It why most business activities need at least a small laptop because it just ends up being more efficient, albeit more bulky.Jedi2155 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Meeeeeeee!johncoro - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
wanthtotfalitm - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
i think some examples of segments or applications where wearables would be most successful are communication, enterprise, fashion, healthcare, security, and fitness. gibeRosenn - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I believe that music controls would be a big thing.jlafount - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I like the look of the watchsunshine - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Nice...TLCSwagger - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Hope I win :-) Best of luck to everyone!!eyk - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I want one! I think these wereables are going to be used more for time, notifications, weather and navigation! At least those are the uses I will give to mine once is win!slowted - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
sci-fi for the win. I would really like a PA slash com hub for a wearable. No need to carry all the variety of device we carry around in the name of necessity. cell phone, wifi internet, personal data, computer, all of these need to be rolled up into one wearable. One ring to bind them all.e1jones - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Looks great!Zero501 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think the LG G Watch is really cool and my suggestions as to what I think would be really great to have in the G Watch in my opinion would be security apps for people like me who have home security cameras, and fitness app like Runtastic so we aren't so bothered by our phones. I love the concept of smart watches and I thought it was really cool that it was really cool to know that the LG G Watch is running a new OS. I would also like to be able to connect it to my phone to get all my notifications.eastbei - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Yes please I need the g3 as wellDonniesito - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Okey dokey.Maniyayo - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
While at work, in gym, and driving.JRogers81 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
This is a pretty cool piece of tech! Great review too!Scalarscience - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Wonder what I'd do with one of these...MWink - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be best suited for simple things like news, weather, and time.MikieTImT - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I would think that bracelets/watches for esthetic purposes for normal wear and Google Glass type sunglasses with HUD type screens on the lenses would be the likely form factors to have a chance of success. I think that it's going to take one more generation to get the style/activation/power draw kinks worked out to where wearables will be truly useful.demol3 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
try my luck, oh wait, I have no luck :(scarroll - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I really like your how you break down and give the reports on each new tech toy Thank youraxton - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
looks fun i want onedawp - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
nice style and would use it most as an extension of my phone, checking e-mail, music and such.gsembhi - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
communication and navigationDerder4 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think that the watch is super innovative and I'm interested in the music and fitness aspect of it and would love to win one!RamsesII - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
One of these daysJoelexicon - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Wearable tech is great for almost any profession in that it makes it so much less rude to keep up on notification while you work.acss - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
1. Communication - Very handy for women as they usually don't have the phone with them all the time (Men usually keep phones in their pant/shirt pockets).2. Fitness - tracker - mile, pulse, etc.
3. Travel - (hopefully) fewer recharges than a phone
4. HealthCare - Nurse on-call
5. Addiction :) - Helps avoid mindless web surfing
6. Security - Never misplace it
zeagus - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Yaykngcgr - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I would love to have one of these to use as my schedule keeper.For something this small be great to keep your schedule on and make quick notes. Then there is just the great Geek feature also, once everyone see's this they will run out to get one to.bae0wolf - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Yes PleaseJunz - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Nice!!! I'm about to get my Lg G3 too!!pnagano - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Communication for surefla_boy - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Smart watches would be best in corporate America. No more annoying notifications and missed calls.Rictorhell - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think one segment where wearables would be important is in communication, possibly in situations where your cellphone is not allowed or is just inconvenient, you could possible use your smartwatch for instant messaging or communication between yourself and another person.Endda - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think healthcare/fitness and communication will be where wearables shinemik1mik - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness, GPS, e-mail notification.mmm11105 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I definitely think that fitness applications are going to be the first big market for wearables.jojoguy10 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Entered! hope I win!LoccOtHaN - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Hi :D Pick Me Please :)TooYellow - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Watch me win!fairyfractal - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
The first application that came to mind is healthcare. Thank you for the fabulous giveaway - These are just so fascinating!Demomega - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Yes Please!!kcconlin9319 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Mine!BubbaJoe TBoneMalone - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
"Asking is a polite way of demanding." - Buckaroo BanzaiMrLelang - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness is the most obvious, but it kind of needs it's own GPS for that. Home automation and security would be pretty excellent as well.mythrocks - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Pebble replacement! Me! Me!The Saint - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think the most fertile field for wearables will be surfacing glanceable information like notifications that aren't worth pulling a phone out for.TheGizmo - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Would love to win one of these. ARM one app idea RSA softtoken ability from watch face would be amazing for those who use RSA daily and can replace hard tokens .. Capability to unlock a PC (or server or similar) by way of proximity of watch to the machine (add layer of security by also require a PIN for more security). Also I would love to have a speaker on the watch in the future to take calls as well as dictate actions. Incorporating some secure element to the watch by hardware could launch this device into the enterprise world in my opinion. Hoping for a win :) thanksblakflag - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Yes, I'd love one!mebby - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Comment number 681 or so.punkinduster - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I believe fitness and healthcare could have a use for this. Thanks for giving me a chance to win!nismotigerwvu - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Neat, sign me up! :Dkf27fix - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Exhacirculationics or something like it.8fprofunk - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
G winner status: pending.Josephg778 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Submitted :)mikemcc - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I believe wearables have the potential to have a real impact in the area of personal health and fitness. If I win, this is how I will use mine, in addition, of course, to normal, day-to-day apps.Bobsy - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
This would make my dream come true: look like Dilbert when he's got all the high-tech gear.geofcol - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I can't wait to be the first on my block with a Lucky Goldstar on my wrist.Boozen - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I can't wait to have one of these, as it might give me a reason to wear a watch forthe first time in, oh, 20 years, more or less.
I'd be the coolest scraggly beard old lech on the block with that on my wrist.
booyah
nkeelergb - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think smart watches are great for anyone who needs to stay connected but can't have their phone out or visible, like people who work in retail or manufacturing settings.GreenMeters - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Honestly, no idea if/where these watches will be successful. The concept is neat and definitely warrants exploration, which is why I'd like to win one, but it doesn't seem like the killer app has been sussed out yet.Hruodgar - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Haven't worn a watch in years. It'll be deja vu all over again!Woprdroid - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Would love to get one of these in my wrist. Very Cool!burnedtoast - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Wearables in my opinion would be most successful in any high volume communications facet.SurfSeven - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
watch, watch, watch... I like watch. Hope I win, thanks!notatechwriter - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
For me, primarily fitness and quick-checking notifications while at work without constantly grabbing my phone and interrupting task flow.milleron - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'm enteredSpankle - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
In it to win it.Loganm - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I see smart watches really taking off as a fashion accessory. While they may be convenient for communication/ social media, many people don't need them for convenience's sake as they already take their phones with them everywhere they go. However, if smart watches can become a trendy fashion accessory, I think they will find their niche. Just look at the recent boom in colorful branded headphone sales for proof of concept.au04alum - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Android Wear looks like great platform.sp8cef8ce - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Smart me, I dont android but 2canwintroy.greig - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Enterprises are going to eat these up as a "please excuse me" device, but I can't wait to see how they get implemented into home automation.ahdoo - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I can see this being useful for monitoring email alerts while working on racks. What did I just unplug?sleeper22 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Lots of potential with notifications especially if they continue improving Google card functionality.Count me in
LancerVI - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Nice watch. One please!?!sam380 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think Fitnessdigitalrefuse - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I have no idea what I'd do with this, other than lord it over those who don't have one...ITloser - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Thanks Anandtech for all the great articles!JoneD - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
thanks, Anand.Sobran - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be useful in the fitness segment. They already contain most of the necessary hardware to be a useful tracker. Syncing to a heart rate monitor would be the only useful addition I could see.M3rw1ck - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
A crossover of fitness and music. A lot of people Walk/go jogging with a pair of headphones plugged into their ears; listening to music. However, as phones are getting bigger, they don't seem practical to take with you while you walk or jog. This way, wearables will make it to the market successfully if they have enough storage and a music app!Bearcliff - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
This would be a perfect accessory for my LG g2!TDHairy - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
To me the size the of the screen is going to be a deciding factor. Its nice check time weather and alerts on the phone. People with smaller hands might be able to do more on it. I look at it as being a fashion thing for teenagers then really a Enterprise or business solution. In today's world security is this biggest thing for businesses. If thieves can scan ur wallet passing by u and get ur credit card number this will be a field day for hackers to get all kinds of info from ur phone. NFC is not a secured technology but credit card companies don't want people to know it because if they knew they won't use them and they have invested a lot of money in it so people can go out and shop without swiping their cards. My take on this watch, its for kids. Some older people will buy it as a fashion statement then it will die. I see google glass doing a lot better.Fyodor - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I could use a watch.edshin95 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think the biggest initial market will be fitness, but I'd like to see wearables become something that could replace my phone as a daily driver.Freakie - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Healthcare and fitness I think is where the biggest chances of success are. With heart rate, sweat detection, breathing detection, thermometer, and maybe even blood-ox then these devices would be HUGE for 24/7 monitoring of people with medical conditions. There already exists devices that can detect all of those things just from your fingertips. Hell, but some of the technology in the band if you can't make it all work on the watch. Program pill reminders with pictures of the exact pills so that they have a detailed alert right on their person that shows them exactly what they should be doing at that moment. These things can quite literally become the ultimate (so far) personal health monitor system that there is. And then of course being able to communicate to a computer/tablet/smartphone to share the data with healthcare professionals or just view trends would absolutely shatter the technology barrier between that exists between people who are 65+ and smart devices. Hell, buddy up with Life Alert and have a Life Alert version that has a button they can press if they are in distress. Also add a "Help me find home" feature that phones in the police so that they can take them home.For fitness nuts.... well fitness nuts love tracking every metric possible. Give them an easy way to track a ton of metrics, and they will gobble it up, even if the metric isn't terrible important to exercise (skin sweat levels). Temperature, breathing detection, blood-ox, gps, heart rate, plus received text messages automatically pop up, voice-to-text replying to text messages, apps that allow you to easily set routines and lengths for them that will automatically tell you when to stop your current exercise, how long to rest between the next exercise, and when to start the next one. Basically like a mini-personal-trainer almost.
Those two markets, I think, are where the most possibility is. Only problem is, will a company actually implement something like these correctly? Or will some executive insist on a half-ass product be release like they normally do?
Kamus - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'll take it!firefighter559 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Would be great to have one of these superb watches while working on the fireline staying in communications without pulling out my phone.Thanks and great job !
Daniel.McMullen - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Location Aware Games - playing these on the phone is ok, but being able to keep moving and just glance at your watch is going to be a much better experience.Fabier - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Comment 721 is the charm :-)ATC9001 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'll trynihcas - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Communication! And controlling internet enabled devices. One watch to rule them all!deepakiyer - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think they will be used for creating voice-controlled home automation.TommyBoyAF - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I wanna win =)MSFTnerd - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
The greatest potential is in Healthcare. I wear an analog watch daily which I use for pulse & respiratory rate measurement. I also have to constantly pull out my phone to look up drug dosage, treatment guidelines etc. Patients take much more kindly to me looking at my watch, than at my phone. In their view, doctors use watches for work, but if they use their phone, they're just texting or browsing the web. It would be great if Google Now (or Cortana) using a third-party healthcare platform like HealthVault or HealthKit preemptively provided me contextual info on each patient as I interact with them. It could do this using anonymous demographic & statistical info or securely using protected personal info. Even if it just let me use my voice to record vitals and any 'notes to self', it would be invaluable. The best part is, it wouldn't creep the patient out like Google Glass might. One hopes that these devices all go cross-platform though. I have an iPhone & a Surface, my colleague uses a Moto X & a MacBook, an EKG tech uses a Lumia & a Thinkpad. At the moment, it looks like wishful thinking though!Rokanaske - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Free Smart watch = awesomedawheat - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Dollar a dreamshmuck - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I suppose communication is the best category. Really, for me at least it's just about convenience - a glance at my wrist instead of fishing something out of my pocket.shibli.aftab - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I wanna hangoverHYPhoenix - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
i want one pleasevailr - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Nice watch.makfreeman - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Here is to not winning.kazanma - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think smart watches + health care apps would be a good way to drive adoption. People tend to look at their watches when they need info (the time/date), not to use frivolous apps. Those can stay on those phones, or I hope they will.quis5550 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Would love to have a watch. To go with the phone .plus lg makes wonderful productsquis5550 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
This would compliment my phone very good .Cruizin86 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I just got the new LG G3 and would love this watch to go along with it!!! I hope I win!seanz - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Like everyone else I would love to win! I think healthcare is where the focus should be on wearables like this. I hope there is a day where you could check glucose levels easily using something like a G watch.LaMpiR - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Still no worldwide!wrkingclass_hero - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Right now wearables are very niche, and the barrier to entry is too high for mass market consumption. I believe that they could find great utility in the medical field, where the cost won't be an issue, right now until the technology matures.mkhadi1 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
1.) win G watch2.) summon Big O
3.) ?
4.) profit.
Softcorps - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Sure, I'd like to have one. For my purposes, it would probably be most useful for remote monitoring of my phone for e-mail and message notifications and operational things like the phone's battery charge.allenwr1505 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
one day i'll win!ysingh - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be most successful in healthcare and fitness.rehanahmed - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Lets see if my luck holds.....gnutttheshark - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I believe that the andriod wear watches will be successful in fitness, but it strongest cavit is its ability to multi-task. How awesome is it to read your email, see a text, and launch Google now, all while running and no need to pull out your phone? I think the potential is excellent!Skarn - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I would LOVE to see a wearable, non-invasive, and RELIABLE blood glucose monitor.f1mini - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I would say Fitness, but it depends on the person wearing it.campbbri - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness is the most likely segment at first because it is already an established use for watches and GPS integration and music control are really helpful. Long run I see communication (email headers, weather, etc) being the main use.DimensionalComputing - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'm not really a fan of wearables that replace features of cell phone but rather extends them. More toward pebble's setup over stuff like the gear.madhuryag - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Wearables will be most successful in personal notifications (communication), navigation, public safety, personal security, social networking and travel.Omnom the Fluffy Dinosaur - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I hope I win! Thanks AnandTech!bluetiki - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I would say fitness is probably the thing that will benefit the most from these devices.jessem1323 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fitness and communication will be big with these wearables. I am looking forward to getting my hands on one!jgard000 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I might start wearing a "wrist watch" again.tiquio - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
this would be awesome.lovegiveaway - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Please I have lg g3 can't afford the watch please lg g3 is expensiverraman.ca - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think manufacturing is poised for this space. Able to be alerted to issues on a wearable device, able to get tips and recommendations on who is responding and what to do next!avkrakkle - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think these will work best as "smartwatches" i.e. watches, but better.Legendarydust - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I really want one will go great with my nexus 5johnp888 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
cool, hope i win! i think wearables will be most successful in the fitness and health tracking segments. fitness because there are all kinds of sensors besides watches that can collect data during activites. health tracking is related but the more data that is collected the better it can help uncover indicators of health issues. like a tricorder! nice.omegadoom13 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Thanks! Awesome giveaway!KumaKoom - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Theirs a realm of options available for these devices. These are a few I feel need to happen within a reasonable time to make them relevant. (outside the normal notification, email stuff, wifi.. etc)#1. No Ports.. no holes, no charging slots (back opens up to change battery and SD card, but then seals water tight)
- Water proof at depths comparable to Casio's best watches.
- QI charging, and comes with its own mini pad that clamps on the back of watch, that then plugs into a USB port for desktop or car charging
- heart rate monitoring and/or the host of different Ant + modules
- NFC ( NFC unlocking capabilities )
- basic MMS with SOLID voice recognition capabilities (no onscreen keyboard, this thing needs its own voice processor)
- Google Play Music integration/sync - I don't expect it to have 4G capabilities, but if when connected to wifi, it could download songs to play offline in playlists from google Play Music (along with separate SD card storage)
- google maps - lite - GPS support (perhaps 2 different editions could be made, one to support GPS on board, and another without)
- GPS distress beacon ... optional, but its time
- NEST support and Home automation
- **** built in PTT (push to talk) app such as TiKL .I realize this would require a data connection of some sort, but if this were supported natively, this would sufficiently give me the ability to contact someone vocally without needing phone capabilities.
To keep this device from becoming another " gadget with data plan", the carriers or manufacturers could strike a deal with other carriers to provide free/throttled 3G (similar to the kindle) to the device when not on Wifi.
May be a long laundry list of items, but definitely doable. A big one that I think should be mentioned is Durability. Get Casio to make this watch life proof and sell different watches for different purposes. Give me a big green combat ready version with an arm cuff looking thing (similar to that which the predator has) for outdoors, and sleek fashionable versions (still life proof). I don't think anything on this list is outside the realm of possibility. I just don't want to need to carry my Phablet note 3 everywhere (biking, hiking, swimming etc) .
NoctisReitop - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Thanks. Rollin' the dice again =Dpseudonymmster - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I've been wanting a fancy smart watch!TrellDescant - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fingers crossed...stdowa - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I don't think wearables are going to be successful at all.akersc - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
The G watch will be the perfect partner for my new G3!!!antef - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
great thanksfaster - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
OMG my fear is that I win this instead of a giveaway I really want like a cutting edge motherboard/processor/video card.cowsrool - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think that Smart Watches will finally be able to make Google now more accessible and usable than it already is. Thanks a lot Anandtech!entnok - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'd love to see NFC or Low-Energy Bluetooth incorporated into new smartwatches. With the advances made in "The Internet of Things," it would be awesome to control all of a house's devices from a watch on my wrist. Imagine reaching out to open a network-equipped door lock and have it spring open on detecting your smartwatch.mauler1973 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think wearables will have a home run in communications. After seeing some demos I can see many people picking one up just to answer/send texts and phone calls. I also see a huge potential in the fitness side of things if the right sensors and creative development are involved.Yoda883 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Victory is Mine!!MikaNika - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I'll really appreciate it!!!manly - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Wearables should be successful in both fashion and fitness applications. Dubious about the rest though.rebecca.l.mccue - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think this type of product is a natural for all types of fitness apps. That is what I would be most interested from, to pedometers and heart rate monitors to apps showing calories burned based on user info. I'm excited to see what's available out there.edswindelles - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
FitnessGotThumbs - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think wearables will be useful in minimizing the need to pull out my phone to get basic information or even answer a call. I also think the wearable could be used for thngs like home automation and medical monitoring for things like EKG wireless monitors on individuals who have had multiple mini-strokes or possibly even sezures. Wireless monitoring by doctors offices. The initial ideas are endless. Pretty exciting really.Bolas - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Fun watch.scy1192 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be most useful in just our day-to-day lives. Maybe one day they'll be useful enough to replace our smartphones and we'll move to Watch + Tablet instead of Phone + (Tablet or PC)chazzh - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Functionality and fashionable. Also durability kind of important.TETRONG - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
I think these will prove most useful for fitness, at least that's how I envision myself using it. Calories, heartrate, pace, etc.. Also like the idea of glancing at messages/emails without having to pull out my phone.Arban - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Honestly, I tink thhis G Watch will be used for Fitness for the most part. People generally useb arm-wear tech for fitness related aspects. Other than that, another large percentage of people will just buy this product as something to show off to family and friends.HotInEER - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Would love to win this.mike8675309 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
One to win. I would have to say the benefit for such a device is for people that small short messages will be useful for. Personally I don't see the value thus far at least for the watch type devices. Google Glass has more potential in my mind. Say for people needing access to information while their hands are working on things.rseiler - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
HopeW34513 - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
It'd go awesome with my LG G3...ChicagoMark - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
My turn to win. I think it would be cool for home automationredshirtmook - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
looks niceWar00Raven - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Would be fun to play with!virtuacarl - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
crossing fingersnixtish - Saturday, July 26, 2014 - link
Hope !medo - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Development time.flutberf - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I see wearables being particularly successful in commercial and health tracking scenarios. A smartwatch would be a perfect companion to a busy business person by keeping track of their meetings, commutes, and emails. Wearables with active heartrate monitors and GPS monitors would be fantastic for runners and cyclists. I see them being very successful in the future!jh123416 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Education. Information can be obtained even quicker with a smartwatch.aloza - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Health and watches go hand in hand. if I can use a digital device to track tasks, meetings, and my heart rate all for the success of my job with some reliance, then sign me up for that watch! Keep it simple and smart.ATF_Piston - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Awesome, I want one.mhopeyp - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
This is awesome. I think that it would be great with fitness, hiking, biking,. Great apps would be Facebook, email, Pandora or other radio apps, maybe a game out two, maps of some sort, find your phone, maybe even take a pic if eventually in the future, to start your car apps, so much to say.. I can go ramble on.The Von Matrices - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I would like to see the wearables make security easier by acting as a token for locks, both physical and virtual.But honestly, the most likely things these wearable will succeed in is fashion, just like certain smartphones have become fashion accessories.
emiry - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
fitness.mediusnacht - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Don't mind if I do...bradster1029 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think they will eork great in the fitness, with social media such as facebook and Twitter! Also like the voice response. Android wear will make texting in class so much easierC.C. - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I personally think fitness and healthcare (remote monitoring of vitals) are the two areas most likely to benefit from wearable tech! I hope I win!!!zotlaker - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'm a watch guy. Would love one of these.qwertyman12 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
It will be most successful in day to day life wearables. Smart watch fitness trackersJonnyreg - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
fitness i would thinkdmanatunga - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think fitness will be the big draw for these devices.qnz - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
How cool is that?!banshee164 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Enterprise - Being able to see meeting reminders or see email subjects without having to pull a phone out all the time would be great & a lot more discreet.geoffrules - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Fingers crossedI800C0LLECT - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'd definitely be interested in using this as a silent alarm clock. Keeping my phone in my pocket I typically lose a lot of notifications for meetings. So all in all, using this to supplement Google Calendar would be a huge benefit.The other area I'd want make good use of this is with Fitness. I'm very interested in a product that can track my heart rate and keep stats throughout the day. With a desk job I don't tend to burn the calories I typically did as a kid. Time management is a huge issue after work as well. But long term I'd be able to track my eating habits through apps while it also logs my activity.
So honestly, this can help stream line my time management between staying fit, work schedule, and family life.
It certainly wouldn't come off as rude or as intrusive checking my watch vs. giving full attention to my phone while with a group of people.
Concept211 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
The LG model is my favorite one...would love to win one!Papaspud - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
i'LL TAKE 2Astromacky - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Yes please!dag2332 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Crossing my fingers!!1traver - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Awesome!strid3r - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Looks neat!themeinme75 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
win win winsnjnet - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I am inrsclark3 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'd like to see these watches used as a pilot's watch. Barometer, GPS, multiple timers and countdowns would be helpful. Calculator might be unworkable on the watch but with speech recognition and a smartphone, it would work.snowmojo - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
These should be great for fitness apps like StravaBeltonius - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Wearables will succeed best because of making smart phones more convenientPeppuzzN5 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Now it's my turn to win this awesome smartwatch!threeclaws - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Health/fitness is where wearables have a shot.al74 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Thanks!colinstu - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
sure!_fyi_ - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
cool I want one !!!RoboKaren - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I would love one. Goodbye Pebble! Hello LG!Andgle - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think notifications and communication are the best features of smart watches since you have everyone you need easily accessible on your wrist.flora444 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
This watch is a God send for college students and college teachers who have a variable schedule perhaps in different buildings. I see it's also good for fitness buffs. While it's always nice to own and use the latest, greatest technology, this watch is fabulous because it is so practical and useful while not sacrificing style.bowtech247 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
would some one really wear these?SkyBum - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'll be watching this article with great interest...bk8 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Hope I win! ... Re: ARM would like to know what segments or applications you think wearables would be most successful in: Communicationdrewstylz - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
smartwatch wootdrewstylz - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
whoops appropriate comments...Fitness apps! Real time feedback pls, stat aggregation.
"Ping the phone" app for when I lose my phone in the room and can't find it under the blankets...
Security! Front door motion-detected snapshot
Checking the weather, calendar/schedule reminders.
Music/playback remote control
cybereql - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
i could definitely use one of these to go with my G2bellows22 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
amazing prize! Hope I win!collegeguypat - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
In for this, just to see if I can win.johnduhon27 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Dick Tracy-1931. The LG G-2014. Info, notifications, audio recording. And it tells time, too. Sweet.trell__ - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Some great features would be healthcare, fitness, and communication.It needs simple apps, this could be better then Samsung's watch! !!
Ovrthedge11 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Good luck to everyone who has entered!yehudisjonathan - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Fashion!abalan@sas - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
sooo coool :)howard164551 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I would Love to win this amazing watch for my son. He just finished his masters program in college and deserves a nice gift for his hard work.sushain97 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think that the LG G Watch can be very useful in replacing security devices that provide employees of large corporations two factor authentication codes to log into their work devices.abhaxus - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I will definitely take oneRocket321 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think fitness is obvious, along with notifications. Also "light controls" meaning providing a way to interact with applications in a reduced set of functions is another. For example being able to play/pause your music app, being able to ask for the next direction from navigation, and being able to set/dismiss an alarm from a wearable all makes sense.NoWayMan - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Watch outdadbeh - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
without a doubt its health and fitnessStreamlined - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Don't pick me for these bug-ridden pieces of junk.Fossus - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Fitness and notifications is what I'm most interested in.staxd - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'll start exercising when I win this!phy1729 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Most useful for less intrusive, real-time notificationslethaljohnson - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Certainly the wearable willneed to fulfill all expected basic functions of the smartphone from a communications standpoint. After that, and thinking of the future, maybe get people used to using navigation applications on it...or anything similar to prepare them for driverless cars or more effective use of mas transit...like I can call up my google car, or an uber.Amar7 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Count me in... and hopefully lucky.wackyanimation - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Never won any contests, so I suppose I am overdue?scottjb411 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
They will be very important to healthcare, so that physicians can be contacted by something newer than pagers. Fashion and healthcare because studies show people who use a fitness tracker are more likely to actually exercise.sgibbons - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Awesome watches. Can't wait to win minegrayson360 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I see smart watches being more capable in the social era of things in the fact that people might stop interrupting each to check their phones. They'll have a watch to quickly glance and worry about later. Texting isn't supposed to be immediate, that's what calling is for. Hope to win it!JBT - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I agree 100% flipping to check your watch does seem WAY less annoying than having people pull out their phone check there phone right in front of you.JBT - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'd love to get one of these!comphomer - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
this would cool to winabp - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
yes pleasedkgamez - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
fitness seems like the biggest market.dpaneil - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
gimmejgstew - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Interesting.lukalus - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
entrythe_bigcheese - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
AMERICA! :Dartifex - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Wearables will be awesome for healthcare and fitness, especially once you add other sensors to the ecosystem.Param - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
communication and seamless connectivityantpellegrino - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Fitness would be a great application for these, along with communication... quick access to see who called / texted without having to pull phone out of pocket.trasymachos01 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think fitness would be the best market for this.arcanemagus - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I would love one of these, especially with how much simpler they make communication with others.whtrook - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Would be nicespado - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think they will be optimal for communication and socialzdteacher - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Swag.tehh4ck3r - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
GIFF WATCHProd1702 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
may odds ever be in my favorash_arani - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Great giveaway :)iLLz - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think a device like this could work with communication, healthcare and fitness in mind. And if it takes off in these areas I could see it then becoming fashionable in a sense.Nfarce - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I'll take one to pair with my LG phone! Hopefully down the road I will be able to control my LG TVs with it too!venky80 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
great:)bhandwerk - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
It would be awesome to win one of these!Mcbobpants - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
yesrhino19 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
The best use for a wearable device is to help authenticate yourself with you surroundings. Being able to walk in a room and the lights come on, approach your car at night, the lights come on the doors unlock. This is where the market should go, inexpensive bands that communicate with your surroundings. They need to get the location awareness, first than add other features over time. i would like to see a band with a detachable "watch face", where the band can be replaced with what ever sensors you would need or want.HeySteve - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Will there ever be Nexus wearables?tigr2141 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Be a really cool piece to have.EclipseMints - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
It's mine, thanks!!!starwarsgamer - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
here we goathion777 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
thanks!ezidaLGguy - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I hope i win so i can pair it to my G3... i bet ot will make the google voice search much easier, and make me look like one cool secret agent. Lol LG should paint that pic in its next commercialAFSOC_Commando - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Would love to pair one of these to my G3!vortexmak - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Wearables would be successfull in on the go and harsh environments where you can't take out you phone, like construction zones, wearing a waterproof smartwach while riding a motorcycle, wearables with extra sensors could assist users in environment sensitive applicationschou1229 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I like it very much and hope I am one of the winners.ttt20 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
cool watchminn.tan - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Thanks for the giveaway. As far as I can see now (which means the future will be awesomely unpredictable!) for me, fitness, communication and self management will be the most useful to me. In the immediate future, most particularly fitness and health.Imagine automated time lines of basic health parameters including heart rates, blood sugar levels, etc.
Imagine communication and directions on your watch while hiking or running.
There is also the random 007 like control of automotive machines!!!!!
The future is awesome
mrbunwah - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Super cool!Mkoll - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
sign me up, thanksONUPHARMCHEMPHYS - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
With this LG G Watch my Android arsenal will be fully operational.eXenthIOn - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
My wrist on the non-dominant hand has been looking dumb lately and it'd be nice to have something to smarten things up a bit.Chimex410 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think mobile payments will really take off if it was properly implemented in smart watches. I also think it will be a great way to get some sort of real time score updates for the upcoming NFL season !!jm3494 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I want to winseamonkey79 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
As a health care professional, I can certainly see some benefits there. Being able to check heart rates (with permission, of course) and monitor could really help some people. The device could work like Lifealert or something of the sort. Beyond that, the primary purpose I can see would be (personally) to let me know when I have an incoming communication / event and see what it is without having to pull the phone out. Would keep the phone out of sight unless needed, but still be able to be on top of communication... unlike now where I tend to ignore when I'm around people, driving some friends up the wall ;-)timcrna - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I like the way they look, so fashion statement for sure. Next I think this kind of wearable mini-computer is perfect for fitness monitoring. That's how I would use it. I really want one!casualinnovation - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
Definitely fitness. Being able to simply glance at my wrist during a race and have it show me me stuff like my pace, stats, and a small map of the course would be great!TheRealDrBob2 - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I think the fitness/healthcare segment is where the killer apps for these devices will originate. Of course I'm an old guy so I tend to obsess over that kind of stuff...notathome - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
If these things could do GPS with topo maps that are stored on the device, it would be awesome for hiking/backpacking/mountain biking. With a high resolution screen and good battery life, something this compact and lightweight would be great.Dzerzhinski - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
I have a blue-collar job where I am often not near the (shared) computer and it is often awkward to check my phone often -- making a wearable interface a good idea. A good application would be a reminder app to take water breaks, that would be more frequent when the local temperature is higher, or when my personal activity (pedometer?) is higher. Or perhaps a ticker/counter app to help keep track of stock counts, or a "speed-dial" button to send a notification message to other people in the company when a shipment comes in, rather than run around to find a (shared) phone or computer.microed - Sunday, July 27, 2014 - link
This could be Awesome! I could see it being really handy in security. Imagine a smart watch that would broadcast a small NFC to unlock doors. Perhaps it could be a way to input a PIN without using a large keypad that could be viewed from many angles.bnpoteet84 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Heyyohypopraxia - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Entered!quantumlove - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Niceethantsai - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
For smartwatches, fashion and fitness are number 1!martincorps - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Maybe someday they'll be watches like the omnitrix from Ben 10. Pick me please!darckhart - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
entry postayersmj - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I wonder if I want one of these?!?Rifuhl - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hallelujah help me tell timesmendez328 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I NEED this watch!!!!Tsaar - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Maybe I will win something for once in my life...Cravenmor - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I imagine this works well for fitness or other commuting (not driving!) in order to see notifications. and pause/answer and skip forward/back music would be great too.justareader - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
weather is the key then fitness other than that I would say timematt3D - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Sweet! Thanks LG!OrbitalSI - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
First fashion, but many other segments will followkevin.lau31 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
IPS display on a watch, mmngazi - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hands free is where the watch really shines. Great for working on the car and around the house.ssj4Gogeta - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness, I believe.keppy71 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Security. Would be great to use as a keyless fob for your house, car and passwords for everything....mutley - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
this would go nice with my new G3jamesevans101 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I would love one of these. :) I'm getting an LG G3 on Friday. Talk about a perfect companion! I have a Qualcomm Toq Smartwatch already, but I broke the screen, and Qualcomm refuses to let me send it in, so I refuse to use their product any longer.buddhazpriest - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think security is the best implementation of this! You wanna log into email/steam/phone etc. you have to have the watch! It could pop up a little screen asking you to confirm the login. kinda like the 2-step verification on google but without the stupid sms messages. I'd love to have one of these and be part of making that system!TheSteveO - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Would love to try out android wearfirehopper - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think healthcare and communicationdlock13 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
In all honesty, I'd probably use this for the gym, for running, and for making it easier to dismiss notifications when I'm busy at work.Uritziel - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Want.celestialgrave - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hmm...probably would use it mostly for fitness/health tracking and shopping listsobsydian - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Security and healthcare could both get a boost from wearables. Hopefully fashion isn't completely left out in the process.budabellyx - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Sweet dealZap - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I normally prefer analog wristwatches, but this might change my mind if I won it.glugglug - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
What time is it? Time for swag!hardeswm - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Me Toofooze - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
All of my current wearables are fitness related.. here's hoping I get a new one that can do moreee!Klieforth1697 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
This is awesome!!SanLouBlues - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Watch!saisandeep - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Thanks, hope I win this timeLtHnd - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'd love to get my hands on this!pgkennedy - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
goes great with my nexus 5?ibex333 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Wearables are most useful for fitness and communication, but may have use in healthcare as well. It's very convenient to not have to take out the phone from the pocket every time.zoogoober - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Very nice!mwraitt - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I have been wondering about the performance of these watches. Would be nice to test in person.plext0r - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'd really like to win my first AnandTech giveaway!HotTorch451 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
This would be awesome to win!HotTorch451 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think that wearables would be most successful in fitnessnickggully - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Oooh pretty. I think the Segment they will do best with is people who are prioritizing and juggling a great deal of things at the same time and need to keep updated at a glance. So all segments, but business and technology where they're stuck in meetings in particular.Mistercheif - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Well, I might as well try!Scorpial - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Wearables could be very useful in the medical field. Nurses could have them linked to their patients and receive alerts immediately with any unexpected issues, or allow them to check in on patients without disturbing them.cstring625 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness applications all the way. A strava or similar app is a must!Tyrothz - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
My thoughts are on fitness first but I also see wearables being very useful in the IT sector where IT employees in the field can get their texts quickly and efficiently on the fly.alphakp295 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Better chance than one!!!TheTick077 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be awesome in the enterprise area - thinking email, security, and fitness.ElDudarino - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Yes please! Great to see a giveaway on the best tech site I know! Keep it up Anand!l8gravely - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hey, I could use one of these, esp since I will probably wear it into the shower by mistake and bust it...digitalsolo - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I would expect that the most viable segments that the wearables will be successful in are healthcare and fitness as both of these are areas where a wearable can offer a significant advantage over existing smartphones due to their very nature of being "worn" directly on your person.Oh, and sign me up! I'd love to win one of these!
Ghaleon - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
At this stage I'd say the foot in the door for wearables is the healthcare market. I'm interested to see if they can be made practical for general purpose use as well though.nhilyna - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I have heard about these but never own one. Wish I could win one mainly for healthcare.Souzetsu - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Yes.MmmmmBeef - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Wearables would be the most successful for fitness or healthcare uses. Thanks.Icabus - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Sign me up.GeorgeO1984 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
First off, believe it or not, telling time is most important. After that, meetings and to dos I think will be key. I would love to have health apps but that will probably more the iwatch space. I think things like door unlocking, payment scanning etc., could be useful....Senpuu - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'd love one!Thanks!
aesthetics1 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
In!jaredjolson - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hopefully this counts for an entrydudusmaximus - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Would be cool to try outCapt Caveman - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Nice!dvinnen - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
trying my luckfatpenguin - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Thanks again Anand!anan1234 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
LG, here I comeStuartCF68 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
This would go nicely with my new LG G3 phone. :-)Basilisk - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
For me, tracking News, Incoming Texts & Emails, Id'ing phone callers and Time display would be the dominant value, but I could imagine Map displays while walking city streets as useful too. NO games, however, and minimal data-entry by voice or screen.oln - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I do need a new watch...My 2 Cents - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Need to replace the Casiometalzer0 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'll take it!AndyPJ - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'd mostly just love to have the weather at a glance, and I suppose big breaking news links.Rinadien - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
health and fitness would be the best market to focus on as far as wearable devices are concerned.treym - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I see this as good for health/fitness of course, but also as an extension to a device that may be in a backpack, for example, allowing communications, authentication and other "smart" features such as environmental controls.Ryard - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think the market has shown that fitness and health are the main drivers of these wearables. I don't know if that'll be enough to push it into other segments though.ivanc - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
healthcare!Olmak - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Would love to get one of these.RogRubMcQ - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think the wearable industry will have most success on being a virtual assistant to the person who wears them. I hope i win lolpbmaxwell - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
The market would be on extension of the mobile phone. Being able to see needed information (news, sms, phone #) without pulling out the phone is the future with phone size growing larger and larger.The_Chief - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I would love to use the wearable as a remote login for my phone, which would speed up my productivity. Voice or swipe the watch, and it unlocks my phone.A good stopwatch app on the phone would also be great when I'm on the track! So fitness would benefit as well.
yyaros01 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
looks promising..putupwet - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Nevertheless, I've never won a thing.pvillegeek - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Want!jdendless - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Cool pick mecastlefox44 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I am most excited to have one of these so I can look at google maps when I am riding my motorcycle around when it way too hard to bring out my phone when riding aroundsnappyq - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
::insert feedback here::tvarga2 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Number one wish, lot's of fitness data and connection to bike stats, etc. Good voice controlled operation and integration with phone.improteani - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Quick communications and alerts are where the wearables help the most.rlkpilli - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Intremblingwater - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
This is awesome. Thank you. I would love to enter!nnaorin19 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
i want one pleasedemonbug - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
If I had one then maybe I could figure out what they are for.tjbynum - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
w00t, free schwag!Kerick - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Watch me win ha.dullard - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Wearables will be most successful in short communications (think text messages) and enterprise (think having all your meeting information in one spot).But, wearables will fail in their current configuration. The requirement to (A) have a smart phone and (B) carry two devices around with you at all times kills the deal for almost anyone. Simply removing the need to reach into your pocket to get your smartphone is NOT enough justification to purchase / carry around / charge an additional device.
A successful wearable would remove those two requirements. Image an enterprise wearable device that updates you of a meeting change when you have no access to a computer and when you are in the middle of a large commercial building with no cell phone signal. The ability to know changs to a meeting room / time / purpose on-the-fly where cell phone service is non-existant could make or break major projects. That is invaluable and a truely new reason with new capabilities to have a wearable. All you need is a wearable with wi-fi capability that checks once a minute or so for updates to Microsoft Outlook. That simple change to current wearables doesn't require a massive device and it doesn't kill a battery. And it doesn't require a smartphone that is often useless inside a big building since cell singals don't reach many locations.
gassyjoe - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Very excitingorlzx6r - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Been a long time lurker on anandtech (since 1999). Finally signed up to WIN!acer589 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness is an easy one, but I also really like navigation. Especially in indoor places like a mall or a college campus.phantom007 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hope I win! I think wearables like this may work best in the fitness and healthcare areas, in addition to general convenience for communications.ArrogantAdam - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I love the minimalist look of the watchsriramll - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
fitness and healthcare. IMO having a phone or wearable for notification or answering call makes no difference. i would rather use the phone!nafhan - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Wearables... I think at some point they'll be ubiquitous (after they become sufficiently cheap, useful, and fashionable). They'll probably catch on first in fitness, though. Right now, that's the only market segment where they seem useful.dukepeter - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I am rather skeptical about smartwatches. i think wearables do have a future, but i'm not sure it's smartwatches. although i'll hopefully try an LG G watch to test that out.for what it's worth, fitness and healthcare seem like the two very obvious places where wearables will be successful. another possible segment is home monitoring/automation, with smart sensors in the house, that is. productivity/enterprise and such do not really seem like viable markets -- a wearable should be mostly a latent device
rkrishnan390 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
reading since early 2000's; here's to winning! cheers!realremon - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Good luck to meBeardedLurker - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think security, fitness, and communication would all be very successful markets for wearables.Dannylo77 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think the best way smart watches can win over the public is better battery life then smartphones along with an excellent outdoor display and health integration.I. Liveclean - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
What time is it?zeehar - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
woo!Rocinantex1 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Communcation would be my #1 reason.Hard Ball - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Thanks Anand,great work on the wearables section.
ivysmom28584 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I was spending time on the internet for a charging pad and found this site...I stayed on this page when I saw "REVIEWS" and started reading (forgot about the charging pad) I love hearing/reading what people have to say about products, which lead me here! YAY! I'm a people person & I'm a talker so I'm going to quit before I reach a character limit & my pride gets hurt. GOOD LUCK, LUCKY 2!Hrel - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I chance to get a feel for a new form of technology that may or may not, one day, become mainstream?! Hell yes!rbk281 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Yes to fitness but don't forget healthcare and security.Guimar - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Definitely Big in healthcare, imagine being able to monitor Heart rate and other vital sign and contact help automatically.awsumatt - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
PLEASE im begging you. I would be the happiest person in the worldhighlnder69 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I don't have a watch, would like one though..037marc - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Definitely, wearables will most succeed in being a notification system between our devices. Notifications for calendar, communications (phones, sms), and navigation; things which our smart phones and tablets already do well in but the user has access at a glance.Skaar - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Sign me up!dpimente - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Hopefully this time!yorick - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness and Health Care would be my guesses as to the markets that will be most successful with these.Ktracho - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Don't hesitate to send it my way!peckiro - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
This would work well with my LG G2.remy1701 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I know I'm more interested in using one for fitness and communication.gorcorps - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Notifications are the current obvious answer. With sleeker wearables they could make it in the corporate world where it would be better to see meeting reminders without looking at your phone.I don't know if it'll be possible without having a huge phone, but I'd like to see NFC incorporated into wearables. If NFC was properly incorporated into a watch it could be awesome. It would obviously hinge on other companies following along and adapting NFC into their services, but it would be great. Imagine paying for anything with just a tap of your wrist. For those in a city, getting onto the subway with just your watch would be slick. If we had NFC in our watches, we wouldn't need it on our phones... so even the Apple users could finally take advantage of NFC tech.
wilso850 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
But will it open the doors on my '84 Rabbit?Fredbob711 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'm really interested in testing these out in an aviation environment, maybe I'll get my chance.ds1817 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
one of these days I will win somethingsrathi - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness would be the best use case for a smart watch!jrizzz - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
This looks awesome. Finally a high tech watch lollordwolf2004 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I wouldn't mind having one of thesegmkmay - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness is my main interest. I really like the idea of being able to glance and see heartbeat and other information.kositorb - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'd love one...yoramsk - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Yay!Popskalius - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
"We will draw 2 winner(s) who will be selected by 7/31/2014." LOL I call BSspetsnaz - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Thank you ARM and AnandTech for giving us an opportunity to win an awesome LG G Watch!Segments or applications: notification/communication & fitness.
unhuman - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
memiahshodan - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
pleaseJohnnyKahnny - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I imagine consumer wearables will do best as a fashion accessory for the tech-conscious, mostly in watch form, but I see Google Glass type devices being useful in the enterprise industries as a HUD.secretions - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I desperately need something to pair with my shoephone!gabrielloewen - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'd love a g-watch. I've been excited about android wearables for a while now. I think a really interesting application application is in aggregating sensor data from either watch, phone or both for activity monitoring (sleep, workout, etc)korkedkevin1 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think wearables are headed in the direction of more functionality, maybe allowing you to do actions on your phone or replace themphileasfogg - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Healthcare, most assuredly. Every diabetic and heart patient in the world will be the immediate beneficiary of one of these new marvels.cpinfdp - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Me pleasetheocontinuum - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
cooljonah112094 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness, notifications, and the expansion of the use of voice search/virtual assistants. Potential to make phone use while in the car much more safe and less distracting.trumb - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I think the wareables market is still looking for The killer app. The great thing is the smart phone is as well. I think that will be instrumental in the wearable market. The problem with wearable technology is that most people don't like the knowledge that they're being watched, listened to, or monitored in general. I think looking at this the real opportunity will come when someone takes these and makes them invisible. Not literally but in looking at UI designs, some of the most effective are the ones you don't need to think about. Looking at it that way I think it's best if it only "responds" visually when it's oriented facing the user. Slight vibrations to get attention. Audible only with things you deem to be a high priority.That's the real trick - anyone who's had an assistant, staff, or anything similar can tell you that the relationship works best when they know HOW and WHEN to help you.
By "how" I mean, are you missing meetings because appointments run long or because you're running late. Each has a similar end result, but the way you'd like to be notified would be different.
That'd tie into the "when" part. You're late for your next meeting... but it's because you're still in the one prior. You, likely, don't want a loud beeping messing up whatever you're doing. A gentle tap on the wrist, however, is a nice heads up that doesn't intrude.
That's the best use case. It's best fit is as an extension of a smart phone meant to interact with a person in a nonintrusive manner. Displaying simple information that gets the point across.
ockky - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
i would be able to tell time so much better with thisZeusKOTG - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
winningBackedupdrive - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Comment made and dinner too.HiDefender - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Fitness and ease of use. It would be nice not having to pull my phone out of my pocket to read texts/emails, answer calls, and browse music.Omalizumab - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Measure heart-rate while running.SushiCat - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I'm a new mom, and it would be nice being able to answer the phone without having to get my phone out of my purse.Khanar - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
In the short term fitness seems the most practical application, then if size can be further reduced, battery increased, and display improved, fashion may keep wearables strong. Ultimately there will need to be new utility that people can derive from having the wearable.pabrown935 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I would love to win this for my husband. He has been in the military for 20 years and he is always on the firing ranges and other locations where he can't carry much. I think many military guys would like to have a device like this that is lightweight and useful.ndtoan - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Entry submissionmyhui - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Enterprise: check outbound email feed of your group as you sit in a meeting.Healthcare: check patient status, in a hospital, automatically sent from electronic monitoring devices.
Zorrac555 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
would love to win one of these. Have never won anything!vicharshunya - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
I am IN ! Fingercrossed !gorf1337 - Monday, July 28, 2014 - link
Would be really cool to win one of these. Already didn't win one at an extended Google I/Ovinayd - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
communication (voice guided text/calls), news, audio/steaming video (integrated with handset/computer), transceiverKibbles - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Don't know if anyone actually reads these... but:I would like motion based remote control of various electronics: TVs, AC, lights, and obviously computers. Accelerometer for large motions, and possibly an electro sensor in the watch or band to detect finger motions for things like air taps and pinches.
Grarrg - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I haven't worn a watch since I was a kid but the fitness functionality is something I think I'd use a lot.JETninja - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Well, I used to wear those Casio Calculator Watches back in the 89s. (have a Seiko version also) So why not a new geek watch! Ha Ha....thanks Anandtech and LG!FatClown - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I think wearables would be most successful in communication, fashion, healthcare, security, and fitness.critical_ - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
ME! Plz! Thx!aswinsagar - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Smart watch would be a different experience. I believe it would bring a real change over on simplifying little tasks like checking mails, sending texts, selecting music and the like.Wolfheart - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Time to play the game!evongugg - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Hoping to win.limproved - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
This would be so cool to have.wiesses - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
To be fair, "wearables" will have to include devices like Glass - only then will they start to do more than just be "fancy watches" or "dick tracy phones". The eventual goal is somewhere in the neighborhood of an on-body network that acts primarily as a memory aid, or a fitness tracker, or a communication (read: translation) device. If you're willing to add some specialized cameras (near-infrared, UV), you can expand into some very interesting fields (archaeology, botany, healthcare, ...)Basically, it's going to become a professional accessory, more than the smartphone accessory of today.
Wifeoftheyear - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
It can become a professional accessory. It can be used for important task lists, memory aids, trip reminders. It can be a medical aid to monitor heart rate, blood pressure, etc. It can be used for fitness to monitor heart rate, calories burned, etc.If it has cameras it can include active scanning for example help with plan care.
Wifeoftheyear - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
^plant care.Bassplayeraz - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Does anybody really know what time it is?js277 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
fingers crossed :Dgojoecho - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Style. We like to wear watches that look luxurious. It's the same for the smart watch alsoajdavis - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I personally would like to see more inter-device connectivity in the fitness realm. And all of this walled garden BS really gets in the way of enjoyability. Let me have Company A's smartwatch display my heart rate from Company B's sensor while showing my speed from Company C's smartphone and cadence from Company D please.SanX - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Will seebbatod - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
It would fit all of the fields. Everything is being connected. so why not.jrlehtinen - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Here's hoping.raincityboy - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Entry submissionChickenFur - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I would love one. Thanks!DarthRache - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I would really like to win one of these....seecoolguy - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I find that wearables could be big in the enterprise, where there is potentially a real use case scenario. Case in point. It's entirely possible for workflow items that need approval could be processed quickly and easily via a watch card app. Other use case scenarios would be additional authentication to secure areas.Imek - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I could use this.WiredOne - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
This will make on the go so much easier without pulling the phone out of my pocket constantly. Can't wait to hear that I have won...."I can dream can't I?"Terra_Nocuus - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Couldn't hurt to try :)Zorrac555 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Want to win it!Rigomortis - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
The obvious fitness aspect is an easy "like".Parents with trackers on kids playing would be another great option.
leviap - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
One for me pleaseuallas5 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
sure, OKsherazch - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Thanks Anand and LG. I think a wearable watch would be most helpful for: navigation, fitness, information regarding surroundings, communication only via voice, ect.Brofessor Cain - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
With great posts, comes great responsibility.#FTW!
JSStewart - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Put me on your list please...quadratiq - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Perhaps this is my chance to win something.thebigdude - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
In it to win it. My thought is that these will be the most successful in the healthcare field.TrellDescant - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I failed to put the applications I think this will be most successful in when I commented before so here I go:I think that wearables will become so widespread that no single application would be more successful then any other. They will be the next call phone or smart phone. They may start smaller in a few specific fields such as healthcare or security but they will eventually be ubiquitous....
cabraswel2 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I think wearable technology it would be most useful in services such as firefighters, police and hospitals. Patients could be given a watch to help with remembering to take medication or doctor appointments. I use my phone to remember appointments and i depend on it for birthdays. But sometimes you just put your phone down and.... well its missing for a few hours.hkhawkins - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I hope I win!mstrscrfc - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
communication. i want to be able to see my emails/texts/notifications as they come in without having to get my phone out of my pocketwkissam - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
fitness is probably the most useful application in general for wearables, for watches in particular it would be nice to be able to control music and track progress of a run without having to fumble around with my phone.CuriousMike - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Here's my chance to win... :)huron25 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I don't think I'd complain if I had a 2 in 1000+ chance...that's better than most contests, so here's my entry.prb123 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I would like one. Sign me up.Bradlee - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Wearables will be most useful in day to day activities, lessening dependence on phones as that information will be brought out of the pocket.sotired - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
am i too late?SalientKing - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I think this will be good for sales guys and fitness nuts. can i haz now pls? k thx LG.LYNxExE - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Semi-last! <zoidberg> "ill take 8!"allenpan - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
time for me to wear a watch! (never really own one or wear one ever!)biagg - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I wonder if it is waterproof?carmichaelhugo - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Woo!khnshkr - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I want a g watch..Chaser - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
It will match my new G3!jeglwar - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Yes I would like one, two if you can spare them.Thanks
lcmercer - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Wow, this would look fabulous on my wrist. Make me a winner!wooties - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
wooties!superunknown98 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I could imagine these being useful in law enforcement to receive updates about calls or in the medical field to bluetooth with other sensors like blood pressure or temp.chang3d - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Well, why not me?memon01 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
hopefully ill win :) - my usage would primarily be fitness and communication. Oh and maybe to tell me the time!ahamling27 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Battery life! Please make these last more than a day. On the software side, just make it open enough that anyone with an app can easily utilize it! Lastly, make managing what apps can utilize it from your phone easy to manage. Thanks! Would love to win one!Magictoaster - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
If all of you would stop entering it would give me a better chance, so... you know, cut it out :)Anandtech is the best review site. One of the few places that does truly thoughtful, and evidence based reviews.
wlbellows - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Fitness or business travelblizhu - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
mine!mrobbeloth - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Here's hoping I can replace my old analog watch that the battery has died on it.AWVSALAN - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Please let me win for my son!Jden - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
HRM, MP3 player, GPS Navigation.rizenfrmtheashes - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I will try.raghwendra123 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Fitness is definitely the area where wearables will succeed.tiwana200013 - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Cool watch really wanna winthedanimal - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
I'll take a watch.SyndromeOCZ - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
To late?Che - Tuesday, July 29, 2014 - link
Wearables will be most successful with fitnessThe1stBeliever - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
Wohoo!aghory1 - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
great watch can't wait to have it. I will mainly use it to control my phone but it would be cool to use it for home security. cheersamandeeppremi - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
I would love one of these. Thankskarstwindow - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
I'm feeling luckyliquidaim - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
Mergor - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
Time to hit they gym..better late than never. :-)bremen231 - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
Mee too win please.hshendon - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
Would love to break into the world of wearables! Been wrestling with the decision to buy a smart watch, and this would clinch the decision!mguebert - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
It would be great to pair with my new HTC Oneyamms - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
communication, duh.raylet - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
Mine! mine!sevenwords - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
I think fitness, messaging, calendar, reminders, navigation, and Google Now integration would be best uses for the new tech.dacmx5 - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
I already have a Sony Smartwatch 2 and find that other than a conversation piece it has little value. I would like to see a garage door opener function, remote automobile starter app., or something usefull.csoohoo - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
fitness, fashion, and communication through voice commandsPackk01 - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
I think turn by turn navigation on a watch is/will be great so that it is not necessary to look down at your phone or GPS while drivingzak706 - Wednesday, July 30, 2014 - link
I want!nbatothemax - Thursday, July 31, 2014 - link
I need a G Watch...please!Shuttlevvorth - Friday, August 1, 2014 - link
Good luck everyone!officialeki - Friday, August 1, 2014 - link
lg i love thatvyduong - Friday, August 1, 2014 - link
Just a toyrival29 - Saturday, August 2, 2014 - link
I hope these are waterproof!got2013 - Saturday, August 2, 2014 - link
Would be interesting to try out. I think after the first adopters get smart watches, I think it will be enterprise next.Mr. Toad - Sunday, August 3, 2014 - link
One day I will win something in a giveaway.tommydaniel - Sunday, August 3, 2014 - link
I think they could have a great place in fitness, but they will need a bit more before they become truly useful. They need the ability to do some functions without a primary device. Tracking a run, listening to music, etc. shouldn't have to be done through a primary device.Smudgeous - Monday, August 4, 2014 - link
Healthcare is most likely the segment that wearables would be most successful in. Having the ability to more effortlessly monitor your health metrics (blood pressure, heart rate, skin temperature, etc.) with a device that's always on your person could open the door to many advances in personal technology. I can even see the potential for saving lives: a traffic accident could be detected by combining data from an accelerometer, causing the wearable to prompt the wearer to verify if they are injured. Failure to respond could initiate an emergency call to the paramedics, with the GPS location giving responders the location of the incapicated person.kumquatsrus - Monday, August 4, 2014 - link
me rikeyvlinn - Monday, August 4, 2014 - link
I'll take oneisa - Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - link
Have the winners actually been selected and notified yet? If so, why not add that to the article? Why keep it a big secret?demonbug - Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - link
The rules in every contest say the winner will be announced on the website, but I've never found where they list winners of past giveaways and I've never seen any kind of announcement regarding the drawing. Sure would be nice if they updated the article with that info, or at least provided a link to where the winners are listed.phillipstuerzl - Tuesday, August 5, 2014 - link
Would love to win one of these. Personally, I find the idea of wearables most attractive for scheduling and keeping my day together, along with their possible uses as quick remotes and media control devices.grayson_carr - Wednesday, August 6, 2014 - link
Anyone else think they forgot to pick a winner?Rhodenator - Thursday, August 7, 2014 - link
Win!snoopykul - Friday, August 8, 2014 - link
looks coolcasey8me - Friday, August 8, 2014 - link
I like to know the timechaoticseda - Friday, August 8, 2014 - link
I think that the communication and healthcare would be the strongest points of wearable. Of course there is no limit due to huds and gps and other technology. But imagine a diabetic being able to check his or her blood sugar with the watch compared to having to test themselves daily.grimm2000 - Thursday, August 14, 2014 - link
I would love one of those watches..Hxx - Thursday, August 14, 2014 - link
nice7keypad - Thursday, August 14, 2014 - link
http://youtu.be/Oj1wVNOsAGIfont77.com
Ammohunt - Thursday, August 14, 2014 - link
I feel the segment that these types of wearables will be most successful in is in the meassurement of time.jmurias - Friday, August 15, 2014 - link
This watch is awesome. I would love to win it so I can try it out. Patiently waiting...eithel - Sunday, September 7, 2014 - link
Thanks!MidnightSolace - Saturday, September 27, 2014 - link
Would say over all fitness is how I see it being used!nihaal - Saturday, November 1, 2014 - link
good lord. win me at least this oncebobalex - Sunday, November 2, 2014 - link
Cheers!hotFIRE - Wednesday, May 27, 2015 - link
everyone wants to win :DTreylude - Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - link
I would like it yes yesWarel - Thursday, July 23, 2015 - link
Want to win so bad,awsome giveaway.