For reasons I don?t completely understand, people are really into the idea of big
high-tech watches.
Maybe it was that square iPod Nano, or the insane response
to the Pebble Watch on Kickstarter, or the whole Nike Fuelband and FitBit craze.
Whatever it is, the hot rumor right now is that Apple is cooking up their own
wristwatch due out this year.
I?m Donald Bell, and in this Top 5, I?m counting down the must-have iWatch
features that might get me to buy one.
Starting off at #5: Notifications.
Honestly, I don't really want a watch.
What I want
is a way to obsess over my phone without having to actually take out my phone
and look like a jerk.
I want to screen calls, read text messages, see upcoming
appointments, AND I want my watch to blink and buzz a lot so that EVERYONE
think?s I?m important.
#4 is a little gross but it's got to be...
sweat resistant.
In fact, if they can make this
whole thing waterproof by going with wireless charging and sealing the whole
thing up, even better.
All I know is, if this thing can be undone by a workout or
careless hand washing, it's too fragile for me.
I need my pointless status symbols
to be military grade.
At #3: Connectivity.
Controlling music playback on my phone or iPod is the least
it can do.
I want it to control Apple TV, airplay speakers, Keynote presentations,
talk to Siri, maybe even turn on the lights in my house.
Knowing Apple, I'll bet
we'll get half those features and then they'll dangle the other ones out for iWatch
2 and iWatch 3, which will come in more colors and then an iWatch Mini for the
kids.
I've suffered from this abuse before.
I know how it goes.
Coming in at #2: Third party apps.
I don?t just want this thing to be a window onto
the phone in my pocket.
I want it to have it?s own apps, and I want to see what
kinds of cool things developers can make.
Maybe some leeetle teeny tiny games.
I mean, it?ll take some pretty tough design restrictions to keep designers from
going off the rails, but Apple more than anyone else has shown that they can
crack the whip to enforce app quality.
Now, before we get to #1, let?s take a minute to consider all of the features that
the iWatch doesn?t need.
I mean really, if this thing is an iPhone companion
device, why not let the phone in your pocket do the heavy lifting?
That means no GPS.
Bluetooth 4.0 instead of Wi-Fi or 4G.
No headphone jack.
No pedometer.
No quadcore processors.
And most importantly, no offensively
high price.
I mean, who the hell really needs a smartwatch?
Make it low tech with
a low price and put the emphasis on apps and design.
I mean, I know it?s Apple,
so it?s not gonna be cheap, but don?t make me have to explain dropping $400 on
an iWatch to my wife.
It sounds ridiculous.
Alright, and now the #1 thing that Apple?s hypothetical iWatch is going to need if
they?re going to get people to re-embrace the watch: long battery life.
Man, I have
got enough crap that I need to charge every day.
Now, Apple has shown that
they can pull of some miraculous battery life with products like the iPad, but
there?s no way to cram a giant battery into something small enough to fit on your
wrist.
Well, maybe if it?s like a Nintendo Power Glove.
That would actually be
kinda bad ass.
Put a solar panel on there, maybe a couple laser pointers.
Chick
magnet.
So there you go, those are the five features an Apple iWatch would need to have
to keep me interested.
But it?s just my opinion and I?m sure you?ve got one of
your own.
So hit me up on Twitter or leave a comment on the Top 5 blog over at
Top5.CNET.com.
Also, check out Scott Stein?s writeup of 9 features he wants
from the iWatch.
I ripped you off, I only gave you 5.
I?m Donald Bell, thanks for watching.
