The document summarizes the key developments in wearable technology over the summer of 2014. It discusses that (1) the first Android Wear smartwatch devices launched, led by popular models like the Moto 360, (2) Apple announced their upcoming smartwatch, (3) fashion brands started influencing wearable designs, making them more stylish, (4) Samsung and Sony launched 3G-enabled smartwatches that can function without smartphones, and (5) health-focused wearables expanded beyond basic fitness trackers. The market for wearables grew significantly over the summer and the document predicts further advances in the coming months.

1. Wearables Recap
Summer 2014:
The 5 Facts You Need to Know
@philiplikens

2. The wearable market is changing rapidly. Most of us
are too busy to keep up with everything, so I’ve taken
a few minutes to recap the most important advances
in wearables for Summer 2014. I've included links for
those who want to know more, as well as an
executive summary of the most important points.

3. Executive Summary
1. The first Android Wear (Google's smart watch OS)
devices are making their way into the market.
2. Apple has made their move by announcing their
version of the smart watch.
3. Fashion is beginning to heavily influence the
wearables market.
4. Samsung and Sony announced 3G enabled
watches, disrupting the mobile mainframe.
5. Athletic and health-oriented wearables are improving
and moving beyond wrist-bound fitness trackers.

4. Fact 1:
The first Android Wear devices are
making their way into the market

5. Android Wear, Google’s operating system
for smart watches, was announced in the
first quarter of 2014, but the initial Wear
devices just hit the market this summer.

6. The Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch
were released in June. Both watches are
fairly plain, sport rectangular displays, and
are not terribly fashionable.

7. LG G Watch - https://www.flickr.com/photos/pestoverde/15051421752

8. The coveted Motorola Moto 360 was
released in early September and is
generally seen as the most fashionable
Wear device on the market. Other Android
watches were released this summer, but
none were as significant as the Moto 360.

9. Motorola Moto 360 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/eager/14360550007

10. Fact 2:
Apple has made their move by announcing
their version of the smart watch

11. Apple’s announcement is the single most
important move in the wearable space this
year, and legitimizes the smart watch
industry as a whole for consumers.

12. Apple Watch - http://images.apple.com/watch/home/images/hero_ygold_edition_large_2x.jpg

13. Their watch will be out early next year in
two different sizes, a variety of bands, and
number of finishes.

14. Apple will sell millions of watches in the
next calendar year.

15. Fact 3:
Fashion is beginning to heavily
influence the wearables market

16. A year ago you would be hard pressed to
find any fashionable wearables. Google
Glass was still relatively unknown and
fitness trackers (such as Fitbit) were the
hot commodity.

17. Nearly any wearable on the market, or in
the process of being Kickstarted, was
available in some blend of silicone, rubber,
and metal - basically in early adopter
“nerd” attire.

18. This summer we’ve seen fashion come into
the wearables market. Diane Von
Furstenberg teamed up with Google Glass
and Tory Burch teamed up with Fitbit to put
their spin on wearable tech.

19. DVF for Glass - http://mashable.com/2014/06/23/google-glass-diane-von-furstenberg-frames/

20. Each designer took the existing wearable
and designed fashionable accessories to
augment the original technology.

21. Tory Burch for Fitbit - http://www.fitbit.com/toryburch

22. However, we also have devices such as
the Withings Activité, Ringly, and Cuff
which have obviously been designed for
fashion from the beginning.

23. The Activité gives you fitness tracking in a
beautiful, elegant, analog watch design.

24. Withings Activité - http://www.withings.com/activite

25. Ringly announced notifications in the form
of a women’s fashion ring.

26. Ringly - https://ringly.com/images/slider/woman_bg2.jpg

27. And Cuff, which was announced in
February, seems to be making progress
toward their goal of making the world safer
for women.

28. Cuff - http://cuff.io

29. Of course, between the Moto 360 and the
Apple Watch, screen-centric smart
watches are making progress along the
fashion front as well.

30. Fact 4:
Samsung and Sony announced 3G
enabled wristwatches, disrupting the
mobile mainframe

31. I’ve criticized the mobile / wearable market
for being an “Internet of Thing” rather than
the “Internet of Things.” However, I had
speculated that we would have our first 3g
enabled watches this year, and that has
now come true thanks to both Samsung
and Sony.

32. Samsung Gear S - http://www.cnet.com/products/samsung-gear-s/

33. The companies announced the Samsung
Gear S and Sony Smartwatch 3 back-to-back,
only a week before Apple’s big
announcement.

34. Sony Smartwatch 3 - http://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/smartwear/smartwatch-3-swr50/

35. In the least, this gives users GPS and the
ability to safely leave their phone at home
for a long jog.

36. More radically, this gives technologists like
myself the ability to ditch their smartphone
all-together in favor of a smart watch /
tablet / Jawbone combination.

37. Fact 5:
Athletic and health-oriented wearables are
improving and moving beyond wrist-bound
fitness trackers

38. I’ve talked about the demise of the fitness
trackers as a wrist-band as well. I believe
smart watches will take the place of most
fitness bands for consumers.

39. Samsung Gear 2 Fit - http://gadgets.ndtv.com/wearables/news/samsung-gear-fit-smart-band-price-slashed-to-rs-12100-551561

40. Devices like the Samsung Gear family
include basic heart rate monitoring, step
counting, and other heath measurements -
which is enough for most of us.

41. Athos - http://athos.com

42. Athletes will move to devices with more
precision and better capabilities (like
Hexoskin or Athos). There are a whole
slew of wearable devices for athletes that
are currently either Kickstarting or in
production.

43. It’s been a massive summer for the wearables
market and things are just heating up for the Fall
and Winter. Many of the devices promised and
promoted this Spring and Summer won’t launch
for another six months, so keep your eyes open.
I’m excited to experience the new technologies,
and to have fashion play a larger part.

44. Thank you for viewing this presentation. Please
share with your friends and colleagues. If you’re
interested in hearing more, I’m open to speaking at
conferences and other events. Feel free to connect
with me on LinkedIn or Twitter.
@PhilipLikens