My Apple Watch and Why I Don't Miss It

I was among the first users of the shiny new Apple Watch when it was released.  My pre-order was successfully entered a few hours after it opened so it took a few weeks before mine arrived.  Since then I've blogged about it with some regularity.

Initial thoughts were quite positive.  I especially liked how I could tailor the notifications to the watch.  My phone would buzz constantly with emails, work emails, and text messages.  If it buzzed at my watch I knew it was important.  Finally, I could set my phone down and forget about it.

The exercise tracking was nice as well.  An always on way to track everything you do.  The results surprised me.  Some of the things I did that wiped me out (snow shoveling) actually didn't burn a massive amount of calories like I thought it did.  However, the simple acts of walking around and doing little tasks like washing the dishes after dinner burned more than I thought.  Really informative.

Then, something happened.

Reports the first version of the watch had an issue with the battery expanding, enlarging, over time resulted in Apple raising the warranty from 1 year to 3.  The battery would get so large it would pop the device apart, never at a convenient time.

At 3 and a half years my watch flew apart during a workout.  That was about 4 months ago and I haven't worn it since.

I don't miss it.

The benefits have mostly run their course and the drawbacks I hadn't really identified while I was wearing it have at last been revealed.

That 15 minute weightlifting workout that I stretched out to ensure I "got credit" for a workout by hitting the 15 minute mark?  Gone.  I do the same work in 10 minutes now.  I don't have to worry about recharging it, or ensuring it is always on so I "get credit" for whatever I'm doing.  I just do it.  If I go on a run I really want to track my times.  My phone is always present so I just use an app there.  It works.

I don't feel I need the Apple Watch any more and I don't really want it.  I do feel it helped me on my journey to get back in shape but that time has passed, I've learned from having its tracking on me all the time, but I no longer see incremental gains from continuing to wear it.

Here is a great little article from 2016 on smart watches, watches in general, and other options such as the little chronos smart attachment for traditional watches:

https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2016/08/24/an-amateur-watch-collectors-thoughts-on-smartwatches-after-wearing-one-for-a-month/

Here's one great little snippet from that piece:

Perhaps the most important factor in deciding whether a watch is worthy of gracing your wrist is whether you miss it when you’re not wearing it. While I found the Pebble to be handy and good at the things it can do, I didn’t mind switching it for one of my analog watches and not receiving notifications or replying to messages with it. Using my phone doesn’t take much longer, and I’m happy to be able to choose a watch that I enjoy looking at.

So the question then changes doesn't it?  Should you buy a smart watch?  Maybe, but not for the reasons you think. If you want to get really extravagant on your spending and buy one of the GPS fully wireless connected smart watches such as the newest Apple Watches then you'll see lots more benefit over my first edition.  That is exorbitantly expensive though and I don't think most people will go that route.  If you aren't really in tune with your body, your movements, your level of activity then pick one up and wear it for a year or two.  You'll learn a lot about yourself. Power users still have some gains to reap from smart watches with the notifications but you can get a lot of that by simple self control.  Limit your screen time.  Period.

Good luck and Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Drone Deliveries are Working Well

This little article tells a pretty compelling story.  If drone delivery can work well under the rather extreme demands of Iceland then maybe we should  be taking the concept seriously.

Yeah.  Just maybe.

Read on:

https://thenextweb.com/eu/2017/09/14/using-drone-deliveries-in-iceland-isnt-as-stupid-as-it-sounds/#.tnw_aU7AEwx2

Here is a snippet from the piece:

…upcoming drones will be able to handle any type of precipitation with simple modifications — and the wind isn’t as much of a problem as you’d think. It was quite windy when I went to AHA’s headquarters but the drone handled itself easily in the skies. The main concern is the windspeed at the landing sites, if it’s more than 4 m/s it could make the drone trip over during landing.

But despite the current drawbacks, the drone deliveries are already saving the AHA a lot of time and resources — drones actually make more sense to use than cars.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

There's an app for that.

And a "smart water bottle" too.

Yeap.

http://www.nbcnews.com/better/diet-fitness/i-stayed-hydrated-two-weeks-it-changed-my-life-n731131

Their conclusions?

... I tried to drink four liters of water a day, which is when I really started to see a difference.

Pre-water challenge, whenever the clock would strike 2 pm, I'd have a headache. The afternoon slump and caffeine withdrawals were certainly real for me. Drinking more water throughout my day helped make my afternoons much more pleasant and headache-free, which made me more productive.

Happy ... Water Drinking,

J.W. Gant

Internet of Things (IoT) for Retail by Intel

Intel, the computer chip maker, wants to help retail with the shopping experience.

Read on:

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2017/01/17/retail-to-get-internet-of-things-twist-with-100m.html

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Intel wants to take your shopping experience into the future by building a retail-focused Internet-of-Things (IoT) platform and investing $100 million in the retail sector.

The Santa Clara-based chip maker will create a common set of sensors, software kits and other components that will aid brick-and-mortar sellers with inventory tracking, shopping habit feedback and creating personalized shopping experiences. The technology will be a part of the company’s new Responsive Retail Platform...

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Big Data Coupons as you Drive

The era of big data is upon us as techies around the world scramble to figure out the best ways to use all of that data floating out there (with much more data still to come as the Internet of Things grows).

A startup has figured out how to hit you with coupons on the fly, in a relevant way, and has some major retailers interested.  Here is the story:

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/blog/techflash/2015/08/startup-hopes-to-push-shopping-offers-to-you-while.html

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Repeat entrepreneur Sanjay Chopra and Eric Nyberg, professor at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Computer Science, have teamed on an ecommerce startup that will use mobile data to create personalized shopping offers.

Cognistx, which is based in Gibsonia, launched in July and expects to debut its first product in early fall. Via language processing and data manipulation, the young mobile marketing firm enables retailers to offer personalized offers to customers, Chopra said. That includes their history with the retailer and to-the-minute information such as their location. Nyberg had consulted with IBM on the Watson project, the supercomputer that won on “Jeopardy!” four years ago.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Misc on Mobile and Marketing - IoT, Twitter, & Programmatic Ads

Quite a few articles grabbed my eye today and I'm going to share a few in one big post here.

First up is Twitter Marketing:

https://www.internetretailer.com/2015/06/11/twitter-lets-marketers-target-consumers-based-mobile-apps

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Twitter Inc. is letting marketers seeking to drive consumers to download or use their mobile apps target consumers based on the types of apps they have installed on their phones or tablets.

Next is mobile programmatic ad buys:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/251835/mobile-programmatic-growing-as-91-of-marketers-up.html?edition=83587

Here is a snippet from the piece:

Nearly all (91%) mobile ad-buyers have increased their programmatic spend in 2015, according to a new survey and research report from Millennial Media, a mobile ad exchange.

Next is the "Internet of Things" and how some visionary grocers view their potential:

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/departments/technology/grocers-can-use-%E2%80%98internet-things%E2%80%99-their-advantage

Here is a snippet from the piece:

For those who’ve wondered what the Internet of Things (IoT) is, let alone how they can leverage it to benefit their business, the June 9 FMI Connect Learning Lounge presentation "The Internet of Things," held on the exhibit floor, was a must-attend event.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Amazon Dash - No It Wasn't An April Fools Joke

I wouldn't be the first to state I thought the news was an April Fools joke.  Amazon has created tiny little connected buttons you can place throughout your home and press to order specially designated products.

Here is one story on that:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/03/31/amazon-dash-ordering-button/70747342/

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Never, ever want to run out of coffee, toilet paper, razors or trash bags again? Amazon has a button for you.

The online behemoth launched Amazon Dash on Tuesday. Although that was one day before April Fools', it actually is a real product, the company says.

Dash is a small oval electronic device about the size of a pack of gum. Each one comes emblazoned with the name of a different, frequently used-up, product.

What I think is interesting is the opportunity for national brand CPGs.  AdAge has a piece on that:

http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/big-brands-dash-amazon-cash-joke/297898/

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Amazon Dash, the push-button auto-replenishment service that the e-commerce giant has begun testing with select Amazon Prime members, could give big packaged-goods brands the edge they've been looking for on a playing field where the industry's traditional behemoths have been getting pushed around by smaller players.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

PS  I may not have found this article if not for MorningNewsBeat:
http://morningnewsbeat.com/News/Detail/46715/2015-04-06/

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0168 Smart Devices Altering the Competitive Landscape

When Michael Porter writes on strategy & competition you should read it.

HBR, the Harvard Business Review, has a great little piece on their new website co-authored by Porter and James Heppelmann.

https://hbr.org/2014/11/how-smart-connected-products-are-transforming-competition

Here is a snippet from that piece:

Information technology is revolutionizing products. Once composed solely of mechanical and electrical parts, products have become complex systems that combine hardware, sensors, data storage, microprocessors, software, and connectivity in myriad ways. These “smart, connected products”—made possible by vast improvements in processing power and device miniaturization and by the network benefits of ubiquitous wireless connectivity—have unleashed a new era of competition.

Smart, connected products offer exponentially expanding opportunities for new functionality, far greater reliability, much higher product utilization, and capabilities that cut across and transcend traditional product boundaries. The changing nature of products is also disrupting value chains, forcing companies to rethink and retool nearly everything they do internally.

You may need to create a login with HBR to read the entire piece.  It is well worth it to do so.  That site has excellent content frequently refreshed.

The internet of things is happening right now.  Here is a great little device I found through BusinessWeek.  A unit you plug in to your wall in your home that is connected to the internet and calls your smartphone if it hears your fire alarms go off.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-21/leeo-a-nightlight-that-will-call-you-when-your-house-is-on-fire#r=tec-ls

Excellent.  What else is coming?  I just had a conversation with a VP of Sales who had just left a company developing a smart rifle.  Yeap.  The list is endless.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

Best Reading of the Day - Entry 0097 The Internet of Things

Excellent read over on Marketing Daily regarding how the Internet of Things is going to transform marketing.

What is "The Internet of Things"??  Here is WikiPedia:

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to uniquely identifiable objects and their virtual representations in an Internet-like structure. ... Radio-frequency identification (RFID) was seen as a prerequisite for the Internet of Things in the early days. If all objects and people in daily life were equipped with identifiers, they could be managed and inventoried by computers. ...

Equipping all objects in the world with minuscule identifying devices or machine-readable identifiers could transform daily life. ...

Here is the article:

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/222030/the-internet-of-things-will-reshape-advertising.html

Here is a snippet from that piece:

There are two important drivers of the next evolution of the Internet, known as the Internet of Things. First, changes in consumer behavior and the broad adoption of mobile devices are dramatically changing how (and how much) people consume and create Internet content. Second is a massive proliferation of devices connected to the Internet. These include everything from smartphones, fitness wearables, and thermostats to cars. Where consumer behavior and connected devices intersect is the crux of the opportunity that exists for advertisers. To make sense of this intersection we must consider two key areas: the data created by connected devices and the design of services that use that data to create utility for consumers.

Happy Reading,

J.W. Gant

News From 2013 and What Will Make News in 2014

If you are in the Boston, MA area as I am you are starting off the New Year with a pretty decent winter storm.  About a foot of snow expected and it is gusting up pretty well right now.

Happy Holidays, Happy Winter Solstice, and Happy New Year to everyone.

First I want to cover a few articles that recap 2013.  There are always quite a few as the year ends and I've found a few that are worth sharing.  Then I'll take a moment to put down a few of my thoughts for what to expect in 2014.

2013

Payments.com has been a go-to site for me and Karen Webster's writings are the best.  This recap of 2013 is a good one for payments:

http://www.pymnts.com/briefing-room/consumer-engagement/Loyalty/2013/looking-ahead-at-the-close-of-2013/

Here are a couple of lines from that one I want to share to help us look forward to 2014:

The payments and commerce space over the next year will be the most interesting we've seen in at least the last five and unleash even more innovation. 

This one from TechCrunch says goodbye to 2013 and welcomes the rest of the world to the mobile internet:

http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/02/the-late-adopters/

User Experience is important to product management in the technology space.  This article from a blog is a good one:

milestones-and-missteps-in-ux-design-for-2013-winners-and-losers-not-the-usual-suspects/

Last one from 2013 deals with the advent of the "mobile internet" during the holiday shopping season.  The title of the article says quite a lot:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2013/1227/Santa-leaves-smart-phone-steps-in-Mobile-sales-soar-on-Christmas-Day

Here is a bit from that article:

Overall, online shopping continues to make a bigger dent in holiday shopping than previous years. IBM reports that online sales on Christmas Day were up 16.5 percent from last year, and mobile sales made up for 29 percent of all online sales, which is up 40 percent from 2012.

We will use that to segue to 2014...

2014

...speaking of mobile.  IBM is now declaring we must differentiate our data between smart phones and tablets.

http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240211774/Retailers-must-distinguish-between-smartphones-and-tablets-says-IBM

This is, of course, old news in this blog.  I wrote a white paper about this subject early in 2013.

Now how about a few thoughts on what 2014 might bring?

• Apple will attempt to make a splash in some arena, wearable devices maybe, maybe TV, maybe payments.  Meanwhile incremental changes will continue in their mature offerings but a move towards the now proven 2 in 1 laptop/tablet style by Microsoft will likely be forthcoming as well.
• This will be the year of the beacon.  Bluetooth 4.1 and Bluetooth Low Energy solutions will finally enable many of the brightest ideas around mobile internet interactions with people.
• Mobile wallets will have a breakout year.  The security breach at Target just might give EMV a push over the finish line and that could save ISIS.  Meanwhile MCX is on its way and PayPal isn't sitting around.
• Facebook will see big declines.  The "services" provided by Facebook have been chipped away at by a variety of other solutions such as Vine and Snapchat.  Overall the next generation of users has no interest in Facebook and this will begin to show itself this year.  Maybe the company will be mostly flat, maybe they'll find incremental ways to monetize their current offering, but the decline will be noticeable this year.
• Samsung will come out with yet another not-yet-ready product and declare itself the first to the top of the mountain once more ... and nobody will care.
• The biggest news I can't yet predict will likely involve a cloud-based solution for something.  I don't know what, but something.  The "internet of things" will take off in some way.  Will it be related to a cloud-based solution?  I don't know. 

Hope your new year brings you much happiness.

Happy reading,

J.W. Gant