It seems like the Kevin Rose of 5 or so years ago would have been excited to work on watch apps. The Kevin Rose of today is excited about fetishizing archaic jewelry.
It makes me sad because he's shown time and time again that he's full of good ideas, but he got sucked in to an "expensive niché market". Lusting over watches isn't really a problem that needs solving.
well its likely that interest in smart watches might lead people to getting into "archaic" watches as many as much art as function.
it is a problem to those involved in the collecting, selling, and trading, of watches. the issue here is that you may not see it as worthwhile market but there those who do and considering the sums involve niche markets like this could very well be profitable.
the surest way to not succeed is to close doors before you go through them. there are many areas where small markets exist that are just waiting to be served. establish a model that works at this size and expand outward. everyone's first hit cannot be facebook sized and some never will have such a hit but you can create success and personal satisfaction if you set goals and reach them, just don't set goals where your comparing yourself to others achievements.
I'm not questioning its profitability. I'm questioning its societal usefulness.
Smart watches will help with health, safety, communication, logistics, etc. Old mechanical watches were innovative feats of craftsmanship and engineering of their time. We should carry on that tradition instead of staying in the past.
And Diggnation, Oink, and Tiny were useful to society? Not everything people in tech do has to help society. In fact, despite what startup founders claim, very little of what they do will have any lasting impact. He's doing something he's interested in. Why should it matter if it benefits society?
It makes me sad because he's shown time and time again that he's full of good ideas, but he got sucked in to an "expensive niché market". Lusting over watches isn't really a problem that needs solving.