There has been a bit of chatter around the Web on wearable devices over the past year, particularly with smartwatches and smartwatch-like devices (such as fitness trackers). 2016 was not a great year for wearables: Google delayed the release of Android Wear 2.0, Fitbit devices – particularly the Charge 2 and Flex 2 – did not sell as well as expected even with generous discounts, several OEMs have discarded plans to manufacture smartwatches, and Apple has not released the sales figures for the Apple Watch. I posted on Facebook about Microsoft's shuttering of its health platforms and the Band being the spur to leave the Windows ecosystem. To date, I have pretty much done that. That is for another post, however.
As far as wearables go, there has been a bit of buzz as we close out the month of January. Android Wear 2.0 is getting released next month. Fitbit has acquired smartwatch manufacturers Pebble and Vector. This short "wish list" of sorts is spun out of that buzz. It is a bit biased towards Fitbit, as that is my current wearable of choice. Without further ado:
- Tighter integration with virtual assistants. Android Wear 2.0 will bring the Google Assistant to the wearable space. I am looking forward to seeing how Google positions wearables within its vision of a "more personal Google." Microsoft's Band and Health platform had (have?) tight integration with Cortana. However, with the Band being shuttered and Health's future cloudy, this seems like the perfect time to build out an integration between Fitbit and Cortana.
- The ability to import data into the ecosystem of choice. This is primarily targeted at Fitbit. I have several years worth of data in Microsoft's various health platforms (Health, Healthvault, MSN Health & Fitness). I would love to be able to import that data into either Fitbit or Google Fit without having to use yet another app as a workaround. This takes on more urgency as integrations between these various platforms fall by the wayside.
- Replace the phone for most tasks. I would like to see smartwatches with cellular connectivity become more affordable so I can accomplish minor tasks such as responding to notifications without having to rely on my phone. Also, I'd love to see them available on networks other than AT&T and Verizon.
So there you have it: my short wish list for wearables in 2017. What would you like to see happen in the wearable space, if anything?
References
Android Wear 2.0 is launching next month - The Verge. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.theverge.com/2017/1/11/14245336/google-android-wear-2-february-launch-smartwatch
Fitbit continues to beef up smartwatch efforts with acquisition of Vector | Ars Technica. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/01/fitbit-continues-to-beef-up-smartwatch-efforts-with-acquisition-of-vector/
Fitbit ending Microsoft HealthVault integration on September 12th - MSPoweruser. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mspoweruser.com/fitbit-ending-microsoft-healthvault-integration-september-12th/
The Future Of Microsoft Health Is Foggy - Thurrott.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.thurrott.com/hardware/80034/future-microsoft-health-foggy
Microsoft disbands the Band: fitness device pulled from stores, no Band 3 this year | Ars Technica. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/10/microsoft-disbands-the-band-fitness-device-pulled-from-stores-no-band-3-this-year/
Microsoft drops Windows Phone version of its HealthVault app | ZDNet. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-drops-windows-phone-version-of-its-healthvault-app/
Microsoft ejects Windows Phones from their HealthVault - MSPoweruser. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://mspoweruser.com/microsoft-ejects-windows-phones-healthvault/
Microsoft Health app on Windows and Android has been rebranded as "Microsoft Band" [Update]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-health-app-on-windows-and-android-has-been-rebranded-as-microsoft-band
Report: Fitbit tried to buy wearable arch-rival Jawbone. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/12/report-fitbit-tried-to-buy-wearable-arch-rival-jawbone/
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