Apple Watch was Black Hole at Apple during Development

New report reveals that Apple struggled to define what the Apple Watch is for.

The Apple Watch is set to launch in April and is expected to overnight change the smartwatch market. Analyst ABI Research predicts that Apple sells 11.8 million Apple Watches in 2015. This would represent 50% of all wrist wearables. According to a new Wall Street Journal report Apple has struggled to define what the Apple Watch is for. 

Apple has started to develop the Apple Watch four years ago initially focusing on health tracking. Apple executives envisioned the Apple Watch to measure blood pressure, enhanced heart tracking, stress levels and more. Nothing materialized because of technical issues. Apple ended up offering a bit of everything in the Apple Watch.

The amount of resources Apple invested in the development have been apparently staggering. The WSJ report says that internally the Apple Watch project was referred to as a “Black Hole.”

Apple tried to make the health sensors work, but could not make them to meet Apple’s quality standards. Apple has tried sense that measure skin conductivity to identify stress levels and deliver EKG type information. In the end the Apple Watch just got the typical heart rate monitor many other wearable trackers have today.

Apple also decided to back off from too detailed health monitoring through the Apple Watch because of potential regulatory barriers. Apple wants to get the Apple Watch on the market without any friction. Future Apple Watch versions are likely to more advanced health tracking features.

Apple needs to land a success with the Apple Watch to proof that they still can create a new product category post Steve Jobs. The first Apple Watch has enough appeal for early adopters to invest the $349 to be part of Apple’s next gadget movement. The Apple Watch will be propelled forward by the creativity of App developers. 

Apple is supposed to have ordered 5 to 6 million Apple Watch units from its Asian supply partners for the first quarter. Most of them are for the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Sport edition. Apple has so far only revealed the price of the entry level Apple Watch models. For $349 you get the Apple Watch Sport version with aluminum case and standard glass. The Apple Watch collection features stainless steel and sapphire glass housings, while the Apple Watch Edition models splurge with 18-karat gold.

Do you already know which of the 34 Apple Watch styles is the one for you? Find your Apple Watch.

If you still are not convinced that the Apple Watch will be a success, watch Steve Wozniak talk about the Apple Watch in an interview with the BBC. Note also the amazingly cool watch Woz is wearing right now.