Smartwatches have been around for some time now, but it appears that the vast majority of people are only beginning to take notice now because of the likes of the Motorola 360 and the alleged iwatch expected to be announced by Apple.
I'm not here to state any facts, only to share my thoughts on this category: It won't last.
Here's why:
In short, it's a gimmick. There isn't actually any widespread "need" for this category. Sure, bikers and hikers and geeks may find a use for it, but it doesn't actually fill any "void". I never heard anyone say "I always needed something like this", rather, the most I've ever heard was "this is a cool gadget" or "it's neat" or "it's nifty".
Even the original Ipad, which many thought was just a laughably oversized Iphone had a void to fill.
Currently, statistics are showing that smartwatch buyers are abandoning their smartwatches in droves. People buy it excitedly, and then realize that it is just a toy, so they sell it on Ebay or return it.
But there's more:
Much of today's youth don't even wear a watch. Many of those who do wear it as a fashion statement more than to tell time. There is no way that a smartwatch is going to take the place of a Cartier or a Rolex.
Also, because battery technology has made such poor advancements in the past decade, these watches need to be charged daily, which means taking it off every day for charging, which is on top of taking it off for showering etc...
I firmly believe that Apple is making one because they have no choice. If they don't make one it will disappoint investors who have been spreading rumors for two years already about an "iwatch".
To summarize, it is a useless category, as it does not do anything that a smartphone, which is already in your pocket, cannot do.