When you look back over the last year, who would have thought that “connected” watches would have taken off as well as they did? When I say connected, I am NOT talking about Nike’s “FuelBand” watch, or JawBone’s UP; I’m talking about the watches that do more than just tell the time and count your steps, the ones that stay ‘connected’ and become an ultra-convenient extension of your phone. For the last few days I’ve been using the MetaWatch, another KickStarter alum, as my go-to. And, as I go through my paces of reviewing it, I thought I would introduce you all to its CEO, Bill Geiser, and offer a bit of history behind the brand, tell you what Mr. Geiser thinks is the future of connected watches and of course, what he has planned for the brand.

Me: Bill, thank you kindly for taking the time out of your day to be interviewed.

BG: Honestly, Corey, it’s my pleasure, I love spreading the word of MetaWatch!

Me: Alright! Let’s get right into it.

Me: You launched shortly after Pebble on Kickstarter, however with a more reputable branding behind you (Fossil). In your words, what makes MetaWatch stand out above the crowd of ‘connected watches’, especially with a rumoured ‘iWatch’ hot on your tail.

BG: MetaWatch is a spin-out of Fossil. Fossil has always made fashion accessories that emanate personal expression; remember the watches that gave Fossil their name? The ones that you could have one watch face and interchange the watch bands as much as you wanted. They’re still around and still a large part of Fossil’s business. MetaWatch, like their cousin the Fossil watch, are a fashion accessory that happen to connect to your phone, unlike the competition (Pebble) which is simply an electronic. That’s the difference, you carry electronics, you wear fashion. If you’re wearing a watch (or anything really) that looks court-ordered, you’re not going to be inclined to wear it.

Me: We spoke about MW being an extension of Fossil, so why did you feel the need to go the KickStarter route for funding?

BG: We didn’t need any funding. The Kickstarter idea was solely for marketing and promotion, and it worked. On the topic of our relationship with Fossil, we have since amicably parted ways. There is no longer any affiliation.

“The most powerful technologies, are the ones that are invisible.”

Me: What kind of thought process went into the design and functionality of the MetaWatch?

BG: Long ago, MetaWatch began exploring richer displays, looking for something that could best display ‘ambient’ information. Our team were/are big believers that the most important design of any watch is the display; the users’ should ALWAYS see something. This without pushing a button or reminding the watch work. This is exactly why we don’t use color displays, they can’t be on 24/7. Our goal was to have a product that did more than tell time, this is where the ‘widget’ idea came to form. Alerts and notifications are helpful in saving time, it’s easier (and frankly more appreciated by other parties) to check your wrist occasionally than be pulling your phone out constantly. With just a glance at your wrist, typically one second, you can see live updates that are relevant to you.

We are trying to go after both fashion and technology lovers, not just technology buffs.

Me: What is the future of MetaWatch? At least, what can you talk about?

BG: We (MetaWatch) just inked a multi-year deal with Frank Nuovo, of design studio Nuovo, former chief of design at Nokia and Vertuu. Although I cannot comment on where the relationship is going, you will see the fruits of this relationship later this year.

Me: There are start-ups and ‘great’ ideas popping up daily, is there anything you can recommend to any young inventor (reading this interview right now) who is playing with the idea of using KickStarter for funding?

BG: Absolutely. Keep it simple, invest in a good video, it can easily mean the difference between a successful product and failure. Make sure you focus on customer and, of course, the value proposition.

Me: I am currently an Android user and have been reading reviews online that the Android app isn’t as fluid or easy to use as its iOS counterpart. Any word on future updates or development?

BG: Apple released iOS 6 much quicker than anyone expected, and Google threw a curveball with Android 4.2 (it was thefirst time they changed their bluetooth stacks, from Bluezy to broadcom, which completely threw off development). It all comes down to Android fragmentation. The manufacturer is responsible for their own Bluetooth chips. The problem solely lies with how Google implemented Bluetooth on Android 4.2. They focused on underlying infrastructure rather features. Never fear, though, the updated Android app is launching in the Play store in a week or so. Remember: MetaWatch is an open-source company. We give developers access to source code. So even if our official app isn’t up to snuff, there are several apps available for download that may offer a better experience. We encourage our users to search and find the best for them.

Me: Awesome, good to know. Now, for the magic question: do you have plans to support any other devices other than Android and iOS.

BG: At this point, unfortunately not.

Me: Bill, thank you so much for your time with this.

BG: My pleasure!

Stay tuned for our official review of the MetaWatch Frame coming shortly! Until then, you can learn more or buy your own MetaWatch from their website.

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