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I ordered 2 and still got the email. I did already submit and get my Apple Watch app approved though, maybe that has something to do with it? Do others who got the email have Apple Watch apps approved or in review?



I only have two apps for sale, have not completed or submitted my Apple Watch app yet, and I do have a Watch on order already (stainless steel w/ black classic strap).


I think it really is completely random.
 
They should sell it to Devs at a deep discount. If they can give away $10,000.00+ watches to rich people, it's the least they can do. Devs are the ones that are going to make the Apple Watch exciting to own/use.

That's what I'm hoping for. I already ordered an Apple Watch but if this watch is less than $200 I wouldn't mind picking it up as a collectors item.

And I have an Apple Watch app in the App Store at the moment too. Maybe that helped me get the email?
 
I'm a registered active developer with apps on the App Store. My latest updates just went out 2 weeks ago. Been on the store for years (registered under my personal name, not company). I make over $100k/year on my apps, and I never got this offer....



Nice... Sounds pretty impressive for personal sales. Do you mind if I ask what some of your apps are?
 
Still. Pretty cool opportunity for developers to potentially score one.

Also makes sense because:
(1) :apple:Watch Sport is cheapest
(2) Blue & Green bands (both sizes) aren't in high demand (2-4 week ship date CURRENTLY)
(3) :apple: can use excess inventory to their advantage and help out developers and come out looking awesome in any way shape or form possible.

Remember :apple: has yet another huge advantage -- devout developers. The life blood of :apple: and people who make it more awesome everyday to use these wonderful new pieces of tech in ways even Jony himself never thought of. Wonder what kind of surprises are in store for WWDC.... teheeheehee!

I'm waiting for my 42mm Milanese to show me a tracking # and got iOS app Deliveries b/c it directly interfaces to :apple: website. Fridayyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!

And for those who are "bitter" about having to wait for theirs for a couple weeks before developers get them: First off, you pay fees to do developer stuff, and this is a nice way to get reminded you're appreciated, as a developer. Second, and more importantly, dude don't you want better / more apps for your :apple: Watch when it launches? At least you'll know what's up.

You're gonna make it Charlie Brown. The wait is excruciating, I know. But you can do it.

PPS- Don't forget to buy :apple:Care+ either lol. I looked through my product history and should write it all down in my signature, because :apple:Care paid for itself EVERYTIME lol.

Perhaps I'll do periscope or meerkat for my unboxing Friday. Besos besos besos and stay positive soul sisters.
 
I really wish there was a way they could expedite our existing orders instead. I have a 42mm stainless steel w/ black classic on order already, for June delivery (ordered Friday after a try-on). I really have no desire for the aluminum one, and especially not one of the bright sport bands. I was so excited when this email randomly showed up (saw the notification on my Pebble Steel, in fact, haha). Then I was incredibly disappointed when it was limited to that single model...


Do you guys know if there is a way to exchange the bands in-store? I mean, are they selling them separately? Even just exchanging the blue band for black would be so much more tolerable.
 
And someone mentioned the marketing benefit.. A bunch of people will probably sign up for dev accounts who were on the fence. Only $99 and you have a shot at a watch next week!
 
WOW you get a chance to BUY a predetermined size and color apple watch, :apple: you're too kind

Well, a developer doesn't have a need for any specific band or case. Not sure why they limited the size, but clearly supplies are highly constrained and this simplifies the program.

this seems like a nice second chance for devs who are serious about releasing a Watch app but didn't manage to get an early-shipping pre-order in.
 
So I haven't been a "long time" registered developer (2 years now). But I do have an app in the AppStore with a WatchKit extension and I was one of the first developers to get an invitation. It frustrated the heck out of me that I wasn't able to actually test my code on a live device because I am absolutely sure that the simulator is messing some things up (Launching your app through a notification action appears to be doing some weird things). I guess I'm trying to say 2 things:

1. Shame on Apple for not giving me the opportunity to test on a live device even a day before the public launch. It baffles me that Developers like me submit a production app without one second of live device testing, a lack of polish that is so un-apple. (That said, my app is completely functional to the best of my knowledge and I test the heck out of every release)

2. Maybe I was invited because I have a WatchKit app which is currently in the freaking AppStore, but was never invited to Apple's "cool kid" testing facility in California which let big shots like Facebook test their apps for months (2 days for small devs) on live devices.

Also.... is it seriously that hard to just bump Dev's existing orders to the front of the line. I don't want to hold up every other person who wants a blue AW sport because I absolutely can't wait until May (or try to con people into installing my app onto their AW) to test my app. I also feel super unethical about turning my Developer AW for a profit.
 
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I think out of the people that sign up they are randomly selecting who wins but the sign up likely only went out to targeted DEVs. I didn't get one but I have barely submitted any apps so I am not surprised.

I actually have two developer accounts. Once for the company I work for and one personal one. The company has a few apps in the store, I have several in the store.

I got the invite only for my personal developer account, not for the company one.

Either they are sending it out in stages or the 'random' selection already happened.
 
I'm a developer and never got this invite. i already have a couple watches on order for friday but id like the chance to snag another for a friend
 
I really wish every developer could at least have a shot at the lottery of being able to get one on the 28th. I tried to pre ordered one at 3am and got June as a delivery date. I have paid IOS and MAC developer subscriptions. It would be really nice to get one before the end of the month than have to wait till June. Its not a huge deal but again all paid developers should get a shot at one.
 
I'm a registered active developer with apps on the App Store. My latest updates just went out 2 weeks ago. Been on the store for years (registered under my personal name, not company). I make over $100k/year on my apps, and I never got this offer....

Did you ship any apple watch extensions? I got the email but my latest submissions have watch apps attached.
 
It's pretty interesting. I have 3 dev accounts (day job, personal, and startup), my personal (and oldest account) was the only one to receive the offer.

The day job and startup accounts have far more recent apps, though admittedly fewer total downloads.

It is curious as to how they do their selection.
 
I just want to repeat this very clearly because some of you thinks all developers can order this, which is false.

This is a lottery for ~5-10K developers to get a guaranteed spot to buy a specific Apple Watch by a date. Apple is not holding 5-10K watches for all developers to buy one, they are offering tickets to get onto this lottery.

This does not determine the supply of anything.

The problem for many developers is that they can't get the product sooner than May/June if they buy it through the regular channels (business and normal stores). So, Apple reserved a few for the lottery to get one sooner than May.
 
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so when you see someone with a silver face and blue band, you can give then a nod, like "hey, apple developer...."
 
They should sell it to Devs at a deep discount. If they can give away $10,000.00+ watches to rich people, it's the least they can do. Devs are the ones that are going to make the Apple Watch exciting to own/use.

True but developers overall are 80/20 on productivity. There are a lot of "developer boho" on the Apple Dev program that enroll into the latest and greatest to just learn a few personal tricks and not make product out it. Like what I tell every gradate, "You make money for applying what you know and not what you know."
 
I thought inventory constraints meant there was not enough product to sell? How is it possible that all of sudden they have thousands of units available for developers? :confused:
 
Now we have top tier Celebrities getting their watch first.
Then Developers, developers and developers.
then comes, we mere mortals ..

I think preferential treatment is the 'new' game in town as far as Apple is concerned.
 
I thought inventory constraints meant there was not enough product to sell? How is it possible that all of sudden they have thousands of units available for developers? :confused:

They don't, this is a lottery to win the chance to buy a watch by a certain date since many developers won't be able to get it sooner if they go through the normal channels , it's not guaranteed to every developer. It is unknown how many there are but it is most likely not thousands, probably in the two or three digit ranges.
 
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They don't, this is a lottery to win a watch, it's not guaranteed to every developer. It is unknown how many there are but it is most likely not thousands, probably in the two or three digit ranges.



Win a watch? Sounds to me like it's a lottery to be entered into a lottery to be allowed to purchase a watch early.
 
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