Things I Tell My Wife by Matt Knutson

“Your appointment is making me miss the Apple keynote,” I told my wife as we waited in line. These big announcements from Apple only happen so many times a year, and my iPhone wasn’t loading the live-blogs fast enough. Apparently it matters to me that I’m the first to know about the new, bigger iPhone and the Apple Watch. I realize how goofy this is, and certainly won’t be waiting in line to buy any Apple product on the first day, but a small part of me gets incredibly excited when Apple releases a new product.

When I was able to get access to a computer and read the recaps of the event, I found myself less than thrilled. The mind-blowing innovation wasn’t there for me, and I’m not sure why I expected it. I love my current iPhone and can’t think of too much that I would want it to do that it can’t already. Sure, the camera is pretty crummy after two years of use, but other than that, it does all that I want and plenty more that I ignore. Why do I want some innovative new feature that I won’t use in three weeks?

I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with wanting to be cool. At first I was envious of everyone with the original iPhone. Time passed and other companies came out with smart phones that many would call equally good, and I continued to use my “dumb” phone with a sticky No. 9 button. After watching product reveals from Apple since the first iPhone, I finally splurged in 2012 and purchased my first smartphone, an iPhone 5.

It did change how I lived my life, and I was expecting something similar to happen on Tuesday based on the increase in hype for this particular event. I just don’t think Apple’s new watch product and other announcements will do that.

What will the Apple Watch do? Nothing that the new iPhone can’t already accomplish. It may be doing something in a new way, but it’s still doing the same thing.

Years from now, perhaps months, I hope my tune has changed. The announcement of Apple including near-field communication, called NFC, in the products announced this week means businesses will finally start implementing the technology in the marketplace.

That is real innovation. Yes, the leading iPhone competitor, Samsung’s Galaxy S5, beat Apple by including NFC in their most recent model in early 2014. Do you know anyone who has used it? I don’t.

What Apple brings with its new device is enough recognition to inspire technological advancement in other businesses. Apple announced several retailers who will be implementing NFC in their stores, making paying with your phone that much easier. Unique innovation can also accompany NFC devices. One hotel plans to allow guests to unlock their hotel room door with their phone. Imagine the possibilities with how this could impact technology in our homes. It’s not Apple’s innovation; they’re just implementing it.

I see the future of smartphones relying on the same premise. Apple and Samsung don’t have to raise the bar dramatically with each new product, but they do need to make sure their product allows others to raise the bar for them. Apple’s new iOS hopes to do this with Apple Pay and their Health app. Both of these borrow ideas from other successful apps and are refined by Apple’s team to hopefully provide a better, more comprehensive experience. Right now, they’re nothing to get excited about. What other innovators do with them could be ground-breaking.

A year from now, do I still anticipate being glued to a computer screen when Apple launches their latest version of the iPhone/iPad/Watch/another awesome product? Yes. My expectations have changed though, and I anticipate many others are with me. Apple continues to make a quality product that influences the rest of the tech community, but I just didn’t feel the hype was worth it this time. Maybe waiting in line with my wife for her appointment is where I’m suppose to be from now on.

 

Rochester resident Matt Knutson is the communications and events director for United Way of Olmsted County.