Can Apple avoid Samsung’s many smartwatch mistakes?

Jon Phillips knows a thing or two about the current smartwatch market, having reviewed pretty much all the Android Wear watches and dozens of fitness bands over the past couple of years. He’s a watch guy. But when he shows up to work at Macworld HQ every day, the watch strapped to his wrist usually isn’t a smartwatch at all. And he’s a little concerned Apple is trying to do too much, adding in features that don’t really matter and on other watches, don’t even work that well. So he dropped by the podcast this week to share his thoughts with Glenn and Susie.

We also discuss the long-anticipated Apple TV streaming service, rumored to be launching this fall. Glenn and Susie are both cord-cutters, so we talk about how fragmented the viewing experience can be when you aren’t paying for a cable or satellite subscription, even though it has some advantages. And how will Apple be different than Sling TV or (RIP) Aereo?

Finally, we just can’t stop discussing that shiny gold MacBook and its single USB-C port. It’s the Internet’s hottest topic. We just can’t help it. Nor can we help making at least one Simpsons reference this episode. See if you can spot it.

Show notes

• The Apple Watch is flirting with feature bloat, putting sublime simplicity at risk by Jon Phillips
• Pebble CEO welcomes Apple to the smartwatch party by Caitlin McGarry
• Hands on: Why trying an Apple Watch made me want to buy one by Susie Ochs
• Apple streaming TV service rumors are back, and more credible than ever by Jared Newman
• Your next Apple TV could come from Comcast by Susie Ochs
• Five things Apple should fix in the next Apple TV update by Susie Ochs
• Sling TV review: Television’s future is still in development by Jared Newman
• Fire TV review: Amazon’s set-top box is cooking with gas by Susie Ochs
• Glenn is taking over Mac 911, so please send questions to mac911@macworld.com to Glenn on Twitter

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