Even a year on from its launch, former Apple CEO John Sculley isn’t convinced the Apple Watch is a must-have Apple device just yet.
“I think the Apple Watch is beautiful, but it doesn’t have enough utility to be something that I feel I have to have at this point in time,” he says in a new interview with The Street, noting that it’s the only major Apple product he doesn’t use.
Part of the problem Sculley says is that the Watch remains too reliant on the iPhone to achieve full functionality. “When you go jogging, I don’t want to carry my iPhone and Apple Watch to count the steps,” he notes — although he’s quick to point out that Apple will eventually solve this problem.
Sculley’s words echo what he said to us in an interview with Cult of Mac earlier this year. “It’s a beautiful device, but when do I look at a watch?” he told me. “Well, I look at one when I want to know what time it is. In that case, I pull my iPhone out of my pocket and look at it. I don’t even wear a watch. When do I want to be able to get a read-out of activity tracking? When I’m out running. I don’t want to carry an iPhone in my pocket, and I’m getting older so I need glasses — which means I can’t easily see the little tiny screen.”
“Plus you have to charge it every day. For me, there just aren’t enough compelling reasons to get one — although I think there is a future for [smart] watches as sensors get better and better. Over time, I think Apple will be successful with the Apple Watch, but it’s not something I feel I need to own now.”
A lot of people attack Sculley for being the CEO who booted Steve Jobs out of Apple (a decision he has been open about regretting in recent years). In doing so, they often erroneously conflate him with Apple’s disastrous decline in the 1990s, which came after Sculley’s departure. In fact, I think it’s especially interesting to hear his view of the Apple Watch given the multiple similarities between Sculley and Tim Cook: with both men being operations experts as opposed to product visionaries.
The negative response to the Apple Watch in some quarters also reminds me a lot of the criticism which greeted the Newton MessagePad upon its release: a device which has since gone on to become enormously influential and a cult hit among Apple fans.
What do you think of Sculley’s assessment of the Apple Watch? Leave your comments below.
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
10 responses to “John Sculley isn’t a believer in the Apple Watch just yet”
I haven’t purchased an Apple Watch, primarily because I own a few nice watches that I enjoy wearing.
I’m a dedicated Apple fan and have purchased a lot of computers and other Apple products in the past 30-plus years. However, I’ve never bought an Apple Watch and probably never will, simply because I see no need to have one.
He’s right. The functionality is too limited. It will get better in the future.
It would appear someone is brave enough to say it as it is. I’m also a long time Apple user (30 years) and owner of many Apple products, but see no need for the Watch. I haven’t worn watches since I’ve owned mobile phones, and probably won’t for the foreseeable future. Some things that may change that:
Use it for access control at my office.
Use it as a “walkie talkie” at my office.
Use it as an extension to my office phone (call forward to my Watch when I’m not at my desk).
Use it to locate me at the office.
So really, it comes down to two things. One. It will be an incredibly useful office tool. Two. It could be a way to get into business in a big way.
Ah, John Scully. The genius who ousted Steve Jobs and who was responsible for the pizza box Macs that almost put Apple out of business. That is someone’s opinion I care about.
Having to charge the watch everyday and worrying about durability in wet environments is enough to dissuade me. My 16 year old Seiko Kinetic stays charged and waterproof and meets my needs. I am surprised that some kinetic method for charging while wearing hasn’t appeared yet.
So he hasn’t owned the watch but is commenting on how its not useful. Well don’t knock it until you try it. I like mine and find it useful. I don’t mind someone’s opinion if they gave it a shot and didn’t like it. Thats fair, but to never use something and give an opinion on it just makes you look foolish. Looks like most of the comments are also from people who haven’t used one.
coming from a guy who ran the company in to the ground lol
and started BeOS.. where is that today?
Sculley looks like Scrooge
“John Sculley isn’t a believer in the Apple Watch just yet”
Not a believer “just yet?” Sculley wouldn’t know an innovation if it sat down in his lap, much less was strapped to his wrist. Does no one remember the Sculley years at Apple? Why he keeps asserting his specious opinions is obvious, but why the tech press covers them escapes me. (But Luke, I’m glad you presented what I consider his silly thoughts in a well-written way.)