Don't lose your iPod Nano watch—until iWatch is ready

Posted by TQM5 on September 13, 2012 03:57 pm 1

Yesterday Apple went through their yearly release of iPod and iPhone hardware. Included, as usual, was an updated version of the iPod Nano. It has a bigger screen, more storage space, and ability to listen to radio (for those who remember what that is). But there was a quiet omission: clock faces.

The new iPod Nano is not a wristwatch in any way. A record setting (at the time) Kickstarter to create a watchband was sparked by a comment by Steve Jobs at the keynote introducing the then-new form factor in 2010. This new accessory category went so far as to merit inclusion in the Apple online store. And yesterday it came to a quiet end.

This feels odd. Consumers clearly took to the idea of a computer watch. It is a product that feels like the future. Take the Pebble as an example, it too set a a new Kickstarter bar for success. Did Apple realize what they sparked? or are they purposefully ignoring a budding product category they could potentially dominate?

Apple is not inept when it comes to things like this. They plainly realized consumers want a connected watch, but they are also meticulous about product creation. An iPod that doubles as a smart watch does not fit their modus operandi. Creating an iPod and a completely separate iWatch does.

Don't be surprised if Apple releases a smart watch in the next five years. But also don't expect them to mention it until they can stand up on stage and call it "revolutionary". Which, to be fair, it will probably be.

Until then: don't lose your iPod Nano watch, it will be a while before you can replace it.

Images: TikTok Kickstarter, Apple