According to foreign media (TechCrunch), after the development of the past few years, the fate of wearable devices is still to be seen. At the past CES 2017, there weren't too many highlights for wearables, and only two or three new watches were unveiled. More manufacturers' interest seems to have shifted to smart homes and Alexa.
Investigating the reason, the release time of Google Android Wear 2.0 system is also one of the reasons for the current wearable device. The latest version of the Android Wear system is scheduled for release next month (probably February 2nd).
In the past year, the wearable device industry, which has been lacking in the past year, may be turning around. A report released by IDC in October showed that total shipments of wearable devices fell "significantly" by 51.6% compared to last year. A December study by market research firm eMarketer has greatly reduced expectations for the wearable device industry, saying that "smart watches have failed to impress consumers."
Last year, the situation of some leaders in the wearables industry has changed. Fitbit stocks fell to scary, and Intel also convinced its ambitions to be used. By the end of the year, Microsoft terminated the development of its bracelet products. The legendary third-generation product eventually failed to come out, and the second generation also stopped selling. Jawbone is in a worse situation, from the "one unicorn" to the stock price less than a penny.
At the end of last year, Fitbit stopped allegations of patent infringement against Jawbone, believing that the latter would eventually go bankrupt. Even if Fitbit is exaggerating, Jawbone's situation is really not much better, and it has been reported that the CFO has left and the funds are in short supply. After finding new investments this year, Jawbone announced that it will stop developing consumer-oriented products and develop health sensors for professional organizations.
The aura of crowdfunding star Pebble also failed to help it last for a year. At the end of last year, the company held up its own curtain call with three new products. In fact, only one of the three products was delivered. In December 2016, Fitbit announced the acquisition of Pebble at a low price with a purchase price of less than $40 million.
Not only bad news. Market analysis company Canalys has predicted that the smart watch market will resume growth at the end of the year: "Despite the opposite report, Canalys' research shows that shipments in the third quarter were no less than the 2015 first release of Apple Watch." Canalys pays too much attention to the proportion of Apple Watch in the entire industry, leading to errors in the conclusions.
Canalys and other analysts attributed last year's industry decline to the delayed release of Apple, Samsung and Android Ware 2.0. The three together occupy a large part of the market for wearable devices.
Wearables are at an intersection. Waiting for it may be continuous pain, perhaps the evolution of the next wave of products, or other unpredictable things. Wearable devices are now a victim of their early success. The rapid growth of the industry has never been seen before.
The market is likely to be saturated. Many users have begun to give up. Wearables want to be both digital and fitness products, and the results are not done on either side. Not to mention that many products are just an exaggerated pedometer, and their features are just the most basic built-in features of all smartphones.
The industry needs change. With the new version of Android Wear alone, it may be difficult for the declining industry to reproduce the spring. In contrast, expecting hardware upgrades is more realistic. Wearables need to learn from their past experience and inspiration. Although consumers are interested in health indicators, these basic functions have been built into the product by large hardware companies.
The next generation of wearable devices should be said to do more. Consumers have realized that there are no products that can make their lives look new. The next generation of products should be more pragmatic, provide just the right amount of help when people need it, and don't bother when it's needed. Such as products such as embedded clothing or hybrid smart watches.
The road to homogenization of smart watches and bracelets is gradually slowing down, and it is hoped that the bumps of 2016 will bring real innovation in the market.
Sensen Group Co., Ltd.  , https://www.sunsunglobal.com