Would a ‘killer app’ make the Apple Watch more successful?
We dare to say no.
The presentation of the new Apple Watch is being celebrated and criticised around the world. There are quite a few shortcomings in this first release, like the slowness of communication between iPhone and watch. Some say the watch needs a ‘killer app’ to prove its right to exist in this modern world, full of tech devices that are meant to make our lives easier, faster and more connecting.
We say: the Apple Watch doesn’t need a killer app to be successful.
WHAT? Is this really the opinion that an app development agency would state — that a killer app won’t save the future of the Apple Watch?
Yes, we do. And we’ll tell you why.
The succes of the watch is in its utilities. What’s already there doesn’t need improvement. For example, the iPad didn’t have a killer app either. People just wanted to use the new device then and they still do — and apps gradually developed themselves to be more attractive on a large screen. With the Apple Watch, the reverse thing can happen; existing tools will convert to watch-ready formats. Think of common handy things like to-do-lists, sporting plans and tracking features — for instance, counting how many cups of coffee you drink in a day. Or, on a more healthy diet: keeping track of the amount of sugar or salt you take in. And stimulate users to take less.
Those would be nice assets which can make the Apple Watch successful, since your wrist is always by your side to help you keep track of regular things on an ordinary day. By adding the info manually, the Apple Watch can be a great friend in achieving a lifestyle that fully supports your needs — like the iPhone already does in a way, being a bigger and heavier device. Which is not always the most practical when undertaking sports activities or other adventures. The smartphone is relatively vulnerable and easy to drop in the water or elsewhere (we know it by experience). So, a minimised watch — given that it will perform quicker and more accurate than it does now - would be a useful device in itself.
Of course, a lot more information could be collected from the intelligent sensors that are built into the Apple Watch. Besides the Heart Rate Monitor there’s plenty of stuff to measure (already built in), like blood oxygen levels and other bodily functions. But the health authorities probably won’t allow that kind of data to be used, as it comes too close to medical diagnosis. And that’s why we’re stuck with a simple device that lacks a killer app.
We don’t mind. We love the Apple Watch anyway. And you will too, we tell you. Just wait — and see it happen.
