SmartWatch(1): Apple iPod Nano Watch - A lost opportunity?

In a few months we are likely to see the release of a number of smart watches by Google, Android, Samsung and maybe even Microsoft. The first thing I that comes to mind is the iPod Nano 6th generation.

This reignites up the questions surrounding Apple's decision to stop doing the iPod Nano in the watch form factor and switched to a larger size similar to previous generations. With the Nano 6th generation, Apple was very close to a proper smart watch. They had basic apps, what they needed to do was to build further apps and sync with the iPhone to receive messages and emails. What the Pebble does today it could have been easily done by Apple in the iPod Nano watch.

Did Apple lose a golden opportunity? By changing the form factor of the new iPod Nano, Apple threw away the huge advantage it had with the possibility of being in this market 2 years before anyone else. Now Apple will most likely release its smart watch during the same period as other competitors or even latter.

What makes it harder to understand is that the iPod watch become quite popular with a number of device accessory makers who created different types of bands for it. The answer few can answer is what led Apple to this change in direction. I repeat, it could (or should) have been leading the Tech world in a new type of wearable computers.

The iPod Nano actually looked quite nice and accessories for it included high quality looking metal bands. I would be surprised if a smart watch by Apple or someone else resembles its form factor and design.

iPod Nano 6th gen with Gunmetal Watch Band

Back in February the New York Times reported that Apple is developing “wristwatch-like devices”. These devices are reportedly made of curved glass. Innovative technology will without any doubt make it a much better device than the iPod Nano version, but the fact still remains that Apple could have been in this segment of the market a year or two ahead of its rivals