Anticipation over the forthcoming Apple watch release is fever-pitch. For the last few months, rumor sites and Apple sites continuously do the guesswork on how the smartwatch would actually look or feel or work its way towards revolutionizing the mobile technology.

People are assuming that the tech giant’s smartwatch will again set a new trend by making wearable technology more promising than ever. That’s how it did with the MacBook in 1984, the iPod in 2001, the iPhone in 2007, and the iPad in 2010. With each product, the tech giant was able to control the market, garnering a big number of fans, consumers, and even critics in the process.

In a bid to capture a wider audience, more tech companies and fashion designers are weaving technology into their products. According to Reuters, Tag Heuer is teaming up with Intel to create an edition of the black Carerra that will challenge the capabilities of the Apple watch. The luxury watchmaker allegedly plans to foil the Apple watch release by having their own big reveal of a digital version of one of their iconic models. The smartwatch version of the Carerra will have the same functions of Apple watch but will retain the sporty allure of a real watch.

Other companies who are intent on investing a good sum to give Apple a run for its money include Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, and Microsoft who are all looking into presenting their own version of the smartwatch. Apart from smartwatches, a number of wearable tech products from sportswear to undergarments to other types of wrist-worn items are also expected to flood the market in the coming years. An IDC market research revealed that wearable technology shipments are jumping up from a little over 19 million last year to close to 112 million by 2018, possibly due to the Apple watch release as well.

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