Bits & Bytes | Apple Smartwatch, Jumia Taps African Diaspora, Tinker Tailor

"Can Apple Crack the Smartwatch Code?" (The Wall Street Journal)
"Apple Inc. is ready to join Google Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. and a host of startups making smartwatches and, potentially, other wearable computing devices. But it isn't clear how much consumers want the devices. Those on the market so far haven't sold well, because most wearable devices only offer a limited set of features already found on a smartphone."

"Can Amazon's New Phone Make It as a Fashion Accessory?" (The New York Times)
"In all the hoo-ha around Amazon's entry into the smartphone market Wednesday with its Fire phone, complete with 3D screen and the ability to drive users to the Amazon marketplace, one pretty important issue has been overlooked: Will it work as a fashion accessory?"

"Internet Retailer Tapping Into Diaspora Dollars" (The Financial Times)
"For ecommerce startup Jumia, the African diaspora represents a potentially lucrative market and this month it launched a website through which UK-dwelling Nigerians can send consumer goods from watches to dishwashers directly to their family and friends back home."

"Angela Ahrendt's Touchy-Feely Arrival at Apple" (The Financial Times)
"It's not every day an Apple executive gets personal. That makes Angela Ahrendts' first public comments since starting at the company – posted on LinkedIn – of more than usual interest. It is a sign that she intends to keep her own style, whatever the pressures of running Apple's retail operations – and also that, under Tim Cook, Apple is evolving further beyond the Steve Jobs era." 

"A Start-Up Lets You Customize Designer Dresses" (The Cut)
"The site offers customers two options: They can design a dress with their choice of fabric and cut — or they can modify existing designs by labels like Vivienne Westwood, Roksanda Ilincic, and Marchesa. [CEO Aslaug] Magnúsdóttir talked to the Cut about convincing designers to let people customize their wares, and, along the way, making bridesmaids really, really happy."