Apple Announces Apple Watch, Available in Early 2015 From $349

[Paradoxally]

Then the last bit of the event they don't give us the iPad Air 2... instead it was dedicated to a U2 performance and a crappy U2 album for free? Who would pay for their music in the first place?

Alright, let's stop trolling. I get the watch criticism, it's just a product, but insulting one of the greatest bands on the planet is just laughable.

I'm not a huge fan of the Beatles, for example, but I have enough respect to acknowledge them as also one of the best bands ever.

I personally thought it was a nice gesture. Or would you rather get a free Justin Bieber album?

 

[Roessnakhan]

As it turns out, the $350 Sport version has neither sapphire nor steel. It has glass and aluminum.

Any educated guesses as to what the stainless steel + sapphire, or the ultimate gold Edition models might go for?

Thanks!

I figured the standard model would start at $349. Unless I missed where it said that the Sport would start at $349, effectively making it the base?

 

[fortysomegeek]

Great post. I’ve enjoyed some of your other posts regarding watches.

I’ve been saying for some time, this needs to succeed in both the style/fashion and functional capacities. The former looks dynamite - with several finishes, two sizes, dozens of bands that are also modular, so the look is easily changed and 3rd parties will have 100s of options. Easily dressed a little up, a little down, can be made playful or not .....

Thanks.

Us watch folks have debating watches for years. Omega Vs Rolex. Blancpain vs Patek. Panerai vs IWC. So I've been in many watch flame wars.
No watch will be universally accepted. When tech nerds on various blogs, forums slam this, they are not looking at the BIG picture.

I see the all the luxury hires and the strap combination, I see that Apple is serious.

The Tag Hire was specifically hired because he has the retail channel expertise to get this in the showcases of boutiques like Airport Kiosk, watch malls in high end Beverly Hill equivalents in place like Dubai, Bangkok, Frankfurt. This is a premium product in the $600-1200 market. I won't compete with Rolex, IWC and the likes but it will compete with the high-margin "mall watches" The ones with Burberry, Armani, Movado stamped on the dial because the fashionistas like it.
They use $5 quartz movements with $40-50 BOM in materials yet sell for $600. This is the true competitors. The Apple watch will be sold at Harrods in London. The Moto 360 and the Samsung wont be.
Did you see Gwen Stefani today at the show? She and the Hollywood types will buy this. Apple is building a premium brand. That is why it is competing with Armani who has a $300-500 watch made out of $10 in materials.

Like I said many times, this watch isn't for me.
I generally agree with the theme that it isn't an attractive watch but that is only my opinion just as much as I think Tag Heuer/Bell & Ross are a crap brand with ugly styling.
That is just my preference just as someone else may have a preference for the 360. Simply calling it ugly is anyone's right but there is no denying, the Apple Watch is premium.

Because of the premium build quality, it will sell. The materials and strap combination have persuaded me on this. As many of the "tech nerd" journalists have said, it is an inoffensive design. This alone will make it generally more appealing to many people than a polarizing 46mm supersize oversize 360.

And the person in my household who will probably pick one up is my wife. I'll stick to my Rolex, Panerai, IWC, and Swiss watches.
You have to look at the Twitter trending responses from the fashion blogs, the social media "whores", and Instagram celebrities. The Apple watch is a hit with the ladies. The response is incredible if you measure it based on social media metrics.

I think my wife loves it enough, I hope it is available Valentines Day in 2015.

 

[johnsawyercjs]

While the official promotional renders look great I have to say that real photos of the actual devices (taken at the event) do not give the same flawless and smooth impression

I dunno, those still look nice to me

 

[I WAS the one]

let me tell you why Apple nailed it.

Apple turn a micro computer into a watch, the competition turn a watch into a micro computer. That where they fail.

This is something so useful that the Google Wearable OS is useless now. The Motorola "Flat Tire" looks old fashion already and yesterday it was the best looking in the market! The Samsung Gear is now officially the ugliest watch in town and the pebble's still in the right track as a notification device.

I'll buy one for my wife and for myself. This is not a gadget and is not a toy, when you add gold to a device you turn it into a jewelry and yes Apple change the market once again!

 

[840quadra]

Oh - I'd buy one for $99. $349? not going to happen. Especially since it's iPhone reliant.

Agreed,

I am hoping revision 2 or 3 becomes independent. But I believe we will have to wait for Android Wear to make that a possible / feasible option before we see Apple take that plunge.

The issue with that will be battery life, and flexible service contracts to provide cellular service to a wearable device. Apple's history with making deals with carriers may make it possible for them to do this, however it will still be an expensive device, that will then need to accommodate radios, and quite possibly a SIM card.

Even with all of that, it opens up an other issue (for me personally), do I really want to wear a device that is constantly sending RF to a tower miles away? I love my phones, but I also don't wear (have them on my pocket, or touching my body) for an extended period of time.

Guess we will just have to wait and see.

 

[Arndroid]

Steve would not have added so many SKUs to anything. He understood what a trim and easy to understand product line up is. Apple of today are slowly losing the ability to understand this.

He would have when he realized it was something that was a wardrobe accessory. While everyone else came out with a single device perhaps with a band you could change out, apple went above and beyond offering a myriad of designs knowing that would be important to buyers.

Several of the combinations I don't like at all. A couple I think look really good. This is how they will sell more devices. Unlike phones, laptops, tablets or desktops they are a wearable accessory so variety is pretty much required. This is what every other smart watch maker (except maybe pebble) has missed. Undoubtedly Samsung will release a bajillion designs in the next year after apple's watch sales blow up next year.

This is an area where a single model falters and jobs would have seen that. Ironically the competition trying to outthink apple came out with single designs with no variety or options.

The released apple watches have a wide range of views and appeal. Was a very smart move on their part and one way to push the wearable market into a place that becomes a real market and not a nerd niche where geeks compliment each other on their horrible moto 360s.

 

[kdarling]

While the official promotional renders look great I have to say that real photos of the actual devices (taken at the event) do not give the same flawless and smooth impression:

I'm usually a silver person these days, but I think the gold cases look less cheap.

However, I wonder how many they'll sell at the prices they're charging.

$350 for a sport watch is a lot for most people to pay. I'm going to guess $450 - $500 for the steel and sapphire version. And what, $1000 for the gold plated (?) version? Any other guesses?

I mean, most people buy iPhones only when they're subsidized, and we're talking $200 or less for an entire smartphone, not an accessory like the Apple Watch.

I figured the standard model would start at $349. Unless I missed where it said that the Sport would start at $349, effectively making it the base?

So you're thinking the steel + sapphire is $350 and the Sport would be cheaper than that?

That would be amazing, but it doesn't feel like Apple pricing

 

[Arndroid]

Apple on the way out.....

.... Of the billionaire valuation and on their way to trillionaire valuation?

 

[Manderby]

p.s. I don't think the Swiss are worried.

No. Not yet. In three years maybe when the device has become thinner.

The only thing worrying is the font they use in the logo. It looks very familiar. I can't recall from what though.

 

[Arndroid]

It's okay Switzerland, you can calm down now.

Yup. Don't worry watch makers. Ask your point and shoot camera brethren how it is no biggie.

 

[samcraig]

let me tell you why Apple nailed it.

Apple turn a micro computer into a watch, the competition turn a watch into a micro computer. That where they fail.

LOL - that is nothing but rhetoric.

Agreed,

I am hoping revision 2 or 3 becomes independent. But I believe we will have to wait for Android Wear to make that a possible / feasible option before we see Apple take that plunge.

The issue with that will be battery life, and flexible service contracts to provide cellular service to a wearable device. Apple's history with making deals with carriers may make it possible for them to do this, however it will still be an expensive device, that will then need to accommodate radios, and quite possibly a SIM card.

Even with all of that, it opens up an other issue (for me personally), do I really want to wear a device that is constantly sending RF to a tower miles away? I love my phones, but I also don't wear (have them on my pocket, or touching my body) for an extended period of time.

Guess we will just have to wait and see.

I believe these watch makers are more interested in locking someone in to their ecosystem then trying to make a stand-alone product.

Battery life will be an issue for awhile. Apple will come up with some great reasons why charging every night is no big deal - but it is - if this becomes your "only" watch that now requires you to travel with a charger and/or run out of battery because you're in a 24 hour black out.

Relying on bluetooth or wifi (adhoc or otherwise) is a battery drainer. I would have thought they might rely more heavily on NFC with the ability to just tap to download the data (IE - take the watch out for a run and it stores everything) and then tap to transfer. However - it doesn't look like the watch has a built in GPS to handle that (or did I miss it).

It's a big "ask" for a "slave" device.

 

[MNJohn]

"You never really own an Apple watch...."

Patek Phillipe: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation.”

Apple: “You never actually own an Apple watch, or at least won't want to admit to it in public"

 

[Roessnakhan]

So you're thinking the steel + sapphire is $350 and the Sport would be cheaper than that?

I'm not disagreeing with you, just the way they have them shown on the page I assumed cheapest to most expensive.

 

[samcraig]

No. Not yet. In three years maybe when the device has become thinner.

Not as long as battery life remains low and reliance on an additional device is required.

Yup. Don't worry watch makers. Ask your point and shoot camera brethren how it is no biggie.

Not exactly the same thing.

----------

Patek Phillipe: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation.”

Apple: “You never actually own an Apple watch, or at least won't want to admit to it in public"

More like Apple: You own this watch - at least for the 2-3 years it's relevant. Then you'll buy the next generation

 

[MNJohn]

"You never really own an Apple watch...."

Patek Phillipe: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation.”

Possible Apple candidate: “You never actually own an Apple watch, or at least won't want to admit you do"

 

[fortysomegeek]

However, I wonder how many they'll sell at the prices they're charging.

$350 for a sport watch is a lot for most people to pay. I'm going to guess $450 - $500 for the steel and sapphire version. And what, $1000 for the gold plated (?) version? Any other guesses?

$350, $500 is chump change when it comes to fashion accessories.
Go measure the social media response; graph the positive twitter trending response. Apple invited some big names Fashion bloggers and journalists and posted their response right on apple.com.

Us tech folks are underestimating the female pull on this.

Women have no problem spending $400 on a purse or pair of shoes.
They just don't want to spend $4K on a watch. That person is my wife.
It has the potential to succeed at $350-1200. My wife spends $200 on a dress for my 1 year old cause it says Burberry on it. The girl wears it once or twice.
She drops $80, $150 on leather bracelets. I have female friends that routinely spend $300-600 on throwaway fashion watches. They go ape-**** because it has Michael Kors or Kate Spade on the dial.
None of those brands have any horological expertise. They all use $5 ETA quartz. Their cases are $40 tops yet tell sell for $300-500.
It is all about distribution and branding.

This is specifically in the expertise of the Burberry CEO hire.

The key question is now. How effective is Apple's branding and retail distribution strategy. The Fashion blogger invites today is a real sign of them being serious.

Reading fanboy banter/responses on Engdadget, the Verge and here are no longer the barometer of this success. You'll need to go to Fashion blogs and TMZ.

 

[richardbb85]

350 for this.........i dont even know where to began. just know for a fact i will never get one

 

[Arndroid]

Anyone who thought this was going to be sleek and thing like a Movado or Skagen were living in fantasy land. Miniaturization simple isn't there yet.

I my humble opinion this is a fine looking watch which seems to have the best user experience. I think it's safe to say that in the next 3-5 years it may be as thin and sleek as one of the watches I mentioned above.

I actually didn't expect the plethora of apps they showed or at least showed icons for but I think the health stuff eliminates the need for the 4 or 5 apps I have to use now. Some of that will of course depend on if it will be able to connect to my BT bike computer and be able to pull in the stats off of that.

Overall I think it's a fine design for a first version and as a matter of fact it really isn't much thicker than some of the Rolex or Brietling or Invicta watches which are all quite thick and heavy. So in that respect it is somewhat sleek.

Will I buy for $349? Not sure. Maybe. I'm in no big rush (Actually don't have a choice in that) so I'll make up my mind in early 2015.

And please don't mention the Moto 360. While it is round and maybe a bit thinner, but that could be an optical illusion, it also does not have half the functionality.

All in all it is about what I expected but a bit prettier.

Disclaimer: All the above is my personal opinion.

I am not a watch guy at all. Disdain them and don't wear them. However there once was this Movado I came so close to buying. Was very thin, super simplistic. Black face with a single stone. Was around $1100. I still think about it today. Reality is I probably would not have worn it much but was the only watch I ever saw and was like "That is an amazing watch I must have." I think rolexes and a lot of the higher end watches are garish. They are certainly as big and hefty as these apple watches, if not more so.

As of now I don't expect to buy one. I don't wear a watch or any jewelry. However actual functionality could be the tipping point for me, especially when third parties start accessing the Apis. I think apple has a real sound foundation for a platform here and I think because they control it all it has a much better chance of blossoming than the android / oem partnership.

As I mentioned before the edition version they use in the comparison shot is pretty appealing to me. While some other combinations I would never wear. It is an interesting first salvo into the wearables market. It is clear apple has spent more resources putting together their first offering than any of the competition has.

 

[RobertRJohnson]

I would have liked the watch to be all gold. Thats the only thing I'm disappointed about!!

 

[Arndroid]

That crown thingy will get quite a workout and be the first thing to fail or come off.

Crowngate!


PS: I fail to see why I would buy a small screen watch @ 349 STARTING (LOL) when I can look at a bigger screen iPhone 6 in the same amount of time for
almost the same amount of money.

.

While I don't fundamentally disagree (the time saving thing is not a big selling point to me) if your phone is in your pocket it will take you longer to pull it out and look at it than glance at your wrist.

The haptic feedback element is something that could be used to extraordinary great effect though. I think there is a ton of potential for a worn device that can subtly notify you of a number of things without disturbing or even making others around you aware you got information.

 

[Glideslope]

Apple on the way out.....

Rich, pinch yourself. Your dreaming.

 

[Arndroid]

I don't hate it, but a few things irk me about it.

I'm also not one for smaller is better as I wish the iPhone 5/6 were as thick as the 4 and just gave us better battery life.

But, that watch is fat. I own an Omega Seamaster Professional and it just doesn't look in the same league. I realise there are huge engineering challenges but it needs to be thinner to have that sleek look about it.

It's a real shame the display doesn't stretch to the edge of the bezel, I believe it's an OLED display so it should be entirely possible.

UI is decent but some of that Emoji rubbish was just cringeworthy.

Seems simple but I wish it was round, just would make it a bit more classier. Also gold watches != class.

Aside from that I do like some of the touches, Sapphire, sensors, digital crown, taptic feedback, nice engraved detailing like high end Swiss watches.

But over all it feels like a very 'first attempt' sort of product.

Do you think the moto 360 is a classy looking watch?

 

[TTile]

If only apple had copied Moto 360 design

Why would they do that? I don't like the 360 at all. Its far too big of a face. The Apple Watch looks like a luxury product. I don't want some cheap looking thing on my wrist.

----------

Image
I really was hoping the apple watch would look more like this. Ugh. Guess i'll wait for 2.0.

Why? I think they're ugly.

 

[Arndroid]

If Ive is so bad why is it that every new laptop looks like a Mac, every Phone looks like an iPhone, every all-in-one PC looks like an iMac .

Get real, Ive is one, if no the, most influential modern designer in the world - certainly in the personal tech world

These are excellent points.

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Really don't understand why people are complaining about the 'thickness'. Chunky watches are some of the most popular and most sought after (Hublot Big Bang anyone?)

I highly doubt overall it's any thicker than your average Rolex, and all they do is tell the time!

Image

Yeah I don't get the bulky complaint. I don't want a bulky watch but a huge percentage of the high end market is comprised of very bulky and thick watches. Much bigger than needed for the actual mechanisms to tell time.

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I usually take my watch off before I go to bed anyway so having to charge it once a day isn't a big deal for me, as far as battery life. I realize other people may have a bigger issue with it, but if charging the Apple Watch once a day is such an inconvience for you than you might want to buy a Pebble instead.

What if you are having a one night stand with a woman who is sleeping with you because you appear wealthy? Wouldn't you want to keep the watch on so it reminds her by occasionally scraping her and getting tangled in her hair.