Swatch CEO Says Apple Watch is an 'Interesting Toy'

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Posted August 24, 2015 at 5:36pm by iClarified

Swatch CEO Nick Hayek Jr dismissed the Apple Watch as an 'interesting toy' in a recent interview with Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, reports The Guardian.

Hayek Jr told the paper that, "The Apple watch is an interesting toy, but not a revolution." He continues, "These devices, which all eat so much power that they last no longer than 24 hours without needing to be plugged in. In addition, the user immediately loses control of their data. I personally don’t want my blood pressure and blood sugar values stored in the cloud, or on servers in Silicon Valley."

Swatch is planning to release its own smartwatches soon that will start at 150 Swiss frances, will be water resistant, and have a battery life that lasts around nine months.

"We will bring a watch to market this year that acts as an alternative to the credit card, using near field communication. The technology works, we’re just finalising details with our partners from the credit card industry. The watch can be used for access control."

While Swatch is interested in mobile payments, it doesn't appear interested in making a smartwatch with health tracking features. Hayek Jr says, as a “watch producer, I cannot accept the responsibility of whether my device warns a customer in time before a heart attack”.

Notably, Swatch has worked to prevent Apple from obtaining an iWatch trademark and most recently trademarked the 'One More Thing' phrase that Steve Jobs was famous for.

Whether or not the company will be able to fend off Apple's advances into its market remains to be seen.

Swatch CEO Says Apple Watch is an 'Interesting Toy'

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iAmMe - August 26, 2015 at 4:59pm

The last watch I had was a Casio G-Shock...

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iAmMe - August 26, 2015 at 4:57pm

Remember what happened to Blackberry! Lol

iAmMe - August 26, 2015 at 4:58pm

and Nokia!

Rujak.poh - August 26, 2015 at 1:46am

Swatch The next Blackberry

Maximus93 - August 25, 2015 at 12:17pm

When the Swatch came out it was very much like 'a toy' as it replaced the mechanical movement, standard metal case, metal or black face, glass and leather strap. Swatch innovation was to do with fashion and cheaper production materials and an electronic movement with a battery. Since when they have failed to innovate in any functional sense. The new kid on the block has a fashion item with a different display and a lot more functionality. The bar has therefore been raised. Swatch now need to back up their words with actions.

Mang Domeng - August 25, 2015 at 3:24am

When people say something bad about an innovation and just wait 2-3 years these watch manufacturers will also change the way they do their watches. Fossil is now embracing that change. If swatch is stuborn to jump in maybe they will loose their business the same as what happened to Nokia. I remember when phone manufacturers before say that the idea of a touch screen phone and apps will fail and few years later all phones look and behave like an iPhone.

Gary - August 25, 2015 at 2:47am

"Interesting toy"? I've always said the same thing about Swatch watches.

Great - August 25, 2015 at 12:04am

So in his mind, what differentiates the Apple Watch and his Swatch smart watch is just the battery life. His claim is that Swatch's will last 9 months before needing a recharge. Let's see how accurate that is when it is available shall we? Let's see how useful the Swatch watch is when it comes out.

Ken - August 24, 2015 at 8:59pm

The classic signs of a worried company; dis the competition, dismiss a competing product yet claim to be working on something similar that will be "better". Sad.

one apple a day - August 24, 2015 at 7:32pm

well put.

Sti - August 24, 2015 at 7:14pm

This is impolite and I really start to hate swatch they should respect others products specially Apple

Basicitizen - August 24, 2015 at 6:17pm

How do you take blood pressure and blood sugar values on the Apple Watch? And how does it poses a threat if it's store on the cloud? So, you are "creating" a NFC mobile payment just like everyone else? I think you should just stick with making great looking watches that I'd personally buy rather than trash talks with no valid merits to the matter.