Apple Introduces New Apple Watch Link Bracelet Kit, L/XL Sport Bands to Fit Larger Wrists

[Keirasplace]

What we don't know is whether growth is happening in all countries it is on sale or whether adding new countries is overcompensating a slowdown in sales in the initial launch countries.

Their basically adding very little countries or even retail outlets; which is strange for a product that's supposedly "sitting in the factory" (sic). The June comment came when they were adding no country yet. But, they started selling retail at the end of June which could have helped sales quite a bit. Right now, distribution is still constrained which does have an effect on sales; the fact they've been so slow in extending it makes me think they're close to their manufacturing limit.

 

[Keirasplace]

Yes, I know. I was being a factious. But my point remains the same. A company is not going to go around with sad faces moaning to the public "It's a flop!" rather than "we're happy with the numbers." A CEO may, however, be a little more candid on the sly with an analyst, for example saying, "Thank you for those facts; we'll take your advice on how much we should now continue to invest in this product..."

Just because Apple is presenting a positive face to the public doesn't mean that they're ignoring the facts or what their project managers are advising (as was the case in that silly story). I mean, of course they're going to say "we're happy with the numbers" publicly rather than "we're miserable and pulling the plug on this thing"...duh! Especially when the watch has only been on the market for 4 months, when the company itself its doing well, and there is no chance of the company crashing and burning if this one product doesn't meet extravagant expectations.

I'm sorry if the way I presented this point made you think I didn't understand Biz 101. I hope this elaboration clarified things.

It did. I agree that in general CEO's tend to spin at least to neutral even when its going very bad (at least in the short term). In all other case, they spin positive vague. Referring to numbers or expectations only them know about.
We are making a decent civil discussion on Macrumour... Must be full moon or something! ;-).

 

[thirteen1031]

Blah, blah, blah.....

If you don't respect another's credentials, then there's no reason for anyone to respect yours. Fair is fair. Next time you tout your credentials as a project manager, we'll be sure to repspond:"blah, blah, blah."

And why ask for venom600's opinon on the watch? How will that prove anything? I mean, you may be confident that the watch is a flop and that anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about...but what if a venom600 is a project manager genius and realizes something about the watch that you, not being such a genius, are missing?

Either way, stating an opinion about the watch doesn't prove or disprove your credentials as a project manager, unless you are working for Apple and know all the facts. Or would you, as a good project manager, hired to advise a CEO, really say to any CEO that a product was a flop (whatever you thought of it) before reading through all the reltevant informaton on that product and its sales, etc? If you would tell them it's a flop before getting all of he facts on the product, then, once again, you're casting doubts on your credentials.

 

[venom600]

The point I was trying to make is that a project manager isn't qualified to call something a flop. That's not what we do. We build to a spec, and others determine it's success or failure on the market based on a variety of metrics. Calling it a flop because of his experience as a project manager to reinforce his opinion is borderline unethical (yes, we do have a professional code of ethics) without knowing what the original goals for the product were or even rough sales figures.

 

[thirteen1031]

Calling it a flop because of his experience as a project manager to reinforce his opinion is borderline unethical (yes, we do have a professional code of ethics) without knowing what the original goals for the product were or even rough sales figures.

Well, there is a kinda irony there, isn't there? If pm101 states that the watch is a flop and they know because they're a project manager, then they're being unethical as well as not a good project manager because, as you say, they haven't all the facts to make such a judgement even if that was their job.

But if they don't mention their credentials as a project manager, then their opinion is no more relevant than anyone else's. Quite a Catch-22 for pm101.

Then again, as you say, it really makes no never-mind either way until and unless there's an agreed on definition of "flop" and "success." Otherwise, anyone can just define themselves to victory. Example: "If users of the watch are 90% or more satisfied with it, then it's a success." And there you go. The watch is a huge success

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Well, there is a kinda irony there, isn't there? If pm101 states that the watch is a flop and they know because they're a project manager, then they're being unethical as well as not a good project manager because, as you say, they haven't all the facts to make such a judgement even if that was their job.

But if they don't mention their credentials as a project manager, then their opinion is no more relevant than anyone else's. Quite a Catch-22 for pm101.

Then again, as you say, it really makes no never-mind either way until and unless there's an agreed on definition of "flop" and "success." Otherwise, anyone can just define themselves to victory. Example: "If users of the watch are 90% or more satisfied with it, then it's a success." And there you go. The watch is a huge success

All we can do is make educated guesses in the light of Tim Cook's shadiness.

As such, most educated guesses say that it's a flop.

I'm glad you're enjoying yours! It's fine to like a flop.

 

[thirteen1031]

All we can do is make educated guesses in the light of Tim Cook's shadiness. As such, most educated guesses say that it's a flop.

I think you need to be educated as to the meaning of "defining oneself to victory." Once again, you have decided what defines a "flop" and in this case it's what you think of Cook's 'shadiness" as you put it. Funny, but Steve Jobs was equally shady about many Apple products that turned out, when the facts were in, to be successes.

So...your educated guess...a flop. I'm defining it that way given my educated guess at your shadiness.

 

[venom600]

I'm glad you're enjoying yours! It's fine to like a flop.

I still think the Cube is the finest computer Apple ever made. I'm quite used to being fond of tech that flops.

 

[thirteen1031]

I still think the Cube is the finest computer Apple ever made. I'm quite used to being fond of tech that flops.

But is it a flop? Apple has this odd burden thanks to the iPod and iPhone: whatever new or latest device the company puts out must immediately be desired and gobbled up in huge numbers or it's branded a flop. But consider the iPad. The first generation of iPads sold three million in the first 80 days. Guess what? The AW's numbers (i.e. what's being rumored and estimated and guessed), if correct, are pretty much the same as that (especially if you take into consideration the Edition watches where buying one is like buying 10-17 regular watches).

So...why is the watch a "flop" if it's doing as well as the original iPads which, eventually, did quite well for Apple?

I think that the watch, like many products from Apple, it will do a slow burn, gaining customers with new iterations. Which makes it more compatible to the iPad than the Cube, don't you think? And if so, then it will do fine. I know that the news, the social media and stockholders prefer blazing successes, but we long-time Apple fans know that some Apple products are a modest success; and often those devices are hidden gems. The rest of the world might eventually discover them, but for now, they're all ours.

 

[kevinjohnson20]

Apple launched apple watch and there are mix response on it but I presume that it's incredible nano technology which gives a lots of facilities and technology.