Internet of Things & Wearable Technology Insights

As we approach Peak Smart Watch at the Apple event next week, manufacturers are racing to offer product to those who might not want to bow down to Cupertino in the coming months. The latest contender is the Moto 360, a steel and leather beauty that launched today alongside the new Motorola .

Although I’ve been duly impressed by the Samsung Gear series, you will immediately see that the design language of the 360 is far more chic. Made of a round piece of coated steel and featuring a nice leather band and Gorilla Glass crystal, the watch looks more like a Misfit Shine than a nerd accouterment.

How does it work? Well, if you’re not familiar with the vagaries of Android Wear, not very well at first. The interface consists of notifications that appear over the various watch faces available as well as a voice activated screen that allows you to ask for various pieces of information....

The smartwatch market is dominated by Samsung, followed by Sony and Pebble, according to a mid-May Strategy Analytics report, but that may change as soon as Apple’s rumored iWatch launches.

Obtained by Forbes, a new research note from Morgan Stanley’s Katy Huberty reveals that Apple’s ecosystem strength and consumer loyalty are going to drive an incredible amount of sales in the first year alone.

Citing data from AlphaWise, Huberty says that Apple’s brand loyalty continues to grow and that, thanks to its integrated ecosystem of devices and the “halo effect,” Apple may be able to sell more than 30 million iWatch units in the first 12 months, for $300 a pop. iWatch sales would bring in an extra $9 billion in revenue, and $0.49 EPS – that’s the “worst case” scenario, with the stock seen driving up to $110 as a result.

In the “bull case,” Huberty sees Apple selling 60 million smartwatches in the first year, with stock hitting $132 by the same time next year....

Investment firm Piper Jaffray has published the results of their recent fashion-focused survey, and while the poll was mostly about fashion and jewelry, it did touch on Apple’s much-rumored “iWatch.”

The poll found that 14% of consumers would buy an iWatch that was priced at $350. Interest in such a device varied greatly based on price....

When asked whether he’s looked into Google Glass, Dorsey had the following to say:“I don’t think glasses are the answer. I think it might be a 10-year answer, but not in the next five years. Maybe if they’re in sunglasses or what not. I think the movement you see around Fitbit, Up and FuelBand, that seems to be the next step in wearable. So something on the wrist that feels natural, almost feels a bit like jewelry. Glasses are very compelling and I think it’s an amazing technology, but I just can’t imagine my mom wearing them right now. What is the value of Glass?”

Google Glass was announced last year at Google’s I/O developer conference but the consumer version of the product isn’t expected to be released until the end of 2013, or a year-ish from now, depending on who you talk to. Apple has yet to announce its rumored iWatch product, but some rumors have pointed to a late 2013 or early 2014 release date.

When asked specifically, whether he had more faith in the rumored iWatch, Dorsey replied: ”(Laughs.) I don’t know, I think there’s a lot going on. The Pebble watch I think is pretty compelling as well.”...