Apple Predicted to Launch Apple Watch Sport in Yellow & Rose Gold, New iMacs & iPad Mini Later This Year

[PatriotInvasion]

I don't see a redesign happening. If a complete iMac redesign was only a year away, they would have waited to release the Retina 5K iMac until the new design was ready. The fact that the retina 5K iMac was completely unchanged from normal iMac made it pretty clear that no major redesign is happening for awhile.

At this point, any update will be purely internal and new I/O.

You're probably right.

I don't see a redesign happening. If a complete iMac redesign was only a year away, they would have waited to release the Retina 5K iMac until the new design was ready. The fact that the retina 5K iMac was completely unchanged from normal iMac made it pretty clear that no major redesign is happening for awhile.

At this point, any update will be purely internal and new I/O.

You're probably right but I wouldn't put it past them to make some tweaks...especially with Skylake and DisplayPort 1.3 allowing them to run 5K without additional hardware tricks. While not a full case redesign, Apple did make the 13" rMBP a bit thinner only a year after its original release.

My guess though is Apple will try to get the new MacBook closer to the $999 or $1,099 price point this fall to establish that model as the new go-to money maker replacing the Air and hooking people in with the iOS-style color options. I do see that trickling over to the MBP and eventually the iMac but maybe not in 2015.

 

[maflynn]

Hard to find a compelling reason for most people to upgrade

You hit the nail on the head, I see no real reason to upgrade my iPad mini, it works well enough, its a secondary device next to my iPhone.

Apple has been in a mode of making things thinner, I don't care if they make the iPad thinner, that's not a reason for me to buy a newer version

 

[thekeyring]

I know a few people my age (22) who wear regularly analogue watches - I asked one of my friends yesterday "What do you use your watch for?" She replied: "The time, obviously." I said "But your phone does that too?" Doesn't seem to be a problem that the phone already performs the function when it's jewellery. Yet the common Apple Watch complaint is "but my phone already does ... !"

So, I guess more styles of Apple Watch can't hurt... The more people it appeals to from a jewellery/fashion point of view the better. Even though functionality will be the same across the board.

 

[ProjectManager101]

Apple has no way to go with the Apple Watch. It is a failure because of the wrong marketing. They Apple watch was the product with more exposure and advertisement Apple ever had, not even the iPod nor the iPhone or any iMac. For the little it does and the impractical and no fashionable, Apple is trying hard to pretend it is a success... if I had a penny the times I have seen that in my field.

They should have released it as they did with the iPod (look for the iPod keynote), with no pretensions and let it get track itself. Not to mention the screen is tiny and clumsy, the bigger the better and more fun. Personally I like them big.

 

[thekeyring]

I hope the next iwatch adds something more than rose gold! I won't touch it until I see some significant improvements.

There's two minor things which will make a huge difference.

Number one: With iOS 9, your iPhone no longer needs to be in the vicinity of your other devices to allow your other devices to send and receive phone calls / text messages. As long as your iPhone is connected to WiFi somewhere.

Number two: I'm unsure of the Watch's current wi-fi capabilities when the iPhone isn't around, but the rumours are the second-generation Watch will be more of an independent device.

Put these together and it means you can take phone calls on your Watch in one location, when your phone is at another location.

 

[Edgar Spayce]

iMac's with Skylake? Any chance of it gaining a 2TB SSD, similar to the one Samsung just released? What about a 4k 21.5 inch?

That's the thing, Apple is not Samsung, Asus or Lenovo. Hence you'll never get such upgrade.

 

[Edgar Spayce]

Where do you get 3 years from? My iMac was bought the day the design prior to the current one first went on sale and it'll be 8 years old this Fall... If Apple were to release a new iMac design it would be the 2nd redesign in 8 years, suggesting that they do it once every 4 years.

Honestly though, I don't expect new desktop designs. Laptops and mobiles are the future - desktops are a dying breed and the current designs are fine. The people who still need them care more about what's on the inside than what they look like.

That's because you don't use or know anything about computers. Interest for Macbook is waning mainly due to the fact that it's so underpowered, especially on the graphic side.

I went from using macbook/air/pro for 10 years as my main machine, to going back to desktop PC because I was tired of not being able to do any serious ish, be it gaming or work wise.

 

[x0vash0x]

Cook already said that the Chinese market is now a major player in decisions regarding Apple product design. Gold colored electronics are very popular in China, and that alone is reason enough for Apple to give every product they make a gold or rose gold paint job.

This so much. Everyone complaining about how it doesn't make sense for Apple to release Gold colored iPhones are severely biased that the only thing that matters is 'Western' tastes. China is where Apple's growth is going to come from and Chinese love them some gold colored stuff.

You hit the nail on the head, I see no real reason to upgrade my iPad mini, it works well enough, its a secondary device next to my iPhone.

Apple has been in a mode of making things thinner, I don't care if they make the iPad thinner, that's not a reason for me to buy a newer version

I agree. I have an iPad 2 with a cracked screen, and there's nothing I can't do on it. The one thing I want it pressure sensitive pen input system wide. I imagine Force Touch + Apple Stylus will make a great system wide pressure sensitive input.

 

[cocky jeremy]

What about the update to the wireless keyboard that was rumored? Would like to see that with the backlit keys.

I'd rather have built in TouchID.

 

[Edgar Spayce]

But we're talking the new Apple, where fashion is key.

I wish it was true. Except I don't know anyone related close or far to the fashion or culture industry who likes the Apple Watch, or even the iPhones, and it's mainly a design thing.

Space Gay, Couch Potato Gold and Silver whatever are really ugly outdated designs. The Apple Watch is not that bad, it's just to fat and...square.

 

[McGiord]

Apple has no way to go with the Apple Watch. It is a failure because of the wrong marketing. They Apple watch was the product with more exposure and advertisement Apple ever had, not even the iPod nor the iPhone or any iMac. For the little it does and the impractical and no fashionable, Apple is trying hard to pretend it is a success... if I had a penny the times I have seen that in my field.

They should have released it as they did with the iPod (look for the iPod keynote), with no pretensions and let it get track itself. Not to mention the screen is tiny and clumsy, the bigger the better and more fun. Personally I like them big.

Nice pic.
The Apple Watch shape should be round not a square. Also the use cases are very limited and redundant as well as dependent on the iPhone. I guess in a few iterations when HomeKit devices proliferate there will be more functions for it.

 

[Edgar Spayce]

Apple has no way to go with the Apple Watch. It is a failure because of the wrong marketing. They Apple watch was the product with more exposure and advertisement Apple ever had, not even the iPod nor the iPhone or any iMac. For the little it does and the impractical and no fashionable, Apple is trying hard to pretend it is a success... if I had a penny the times I have seen that in my field.

They should have released it as they did with the iPod (look for the iPod keynote), with no pretensions and let it get track itself. Not to mention the screen is tiny and clumsy, the bigger the better and more fun. Personally I like them big.

You're right on your conclusion, but wrong on the reason (which I'm sure you'll understand, you seem smart): yes the Apple Watch is useless today, mainly due to it's very limited autonomy, but it's not relevant as it's the first version and (hopefully, otherwise Apple Watch is dead) it'll only get better.

But on the fashion side, which indeed is more important, Apple simply does not have Steve Jobs anymore to tell them how a vision for smart-wearable works (instead they have Angela Ahrendts whom like Tim Cook is a manager rather than a conceptor or a visionary): it's not about industrial design anymore, it REALLY is about fashion. And fashion is not about brand, logos, function or ugly silver/gold colors, it's about making all of this disappear behind something that makes organic sense in terms of fashion.

One exemple as you said and anyone with taste would agree, is that the Apple Watch should've been or come in a round format. And be thinner as they could. And not have an ugly rounded protuberant surface. And not be limited to cheap looking silicon bracelets, or have a mobile like flat-design interface etc...

 

[SeattleMoose]

Apple TV? It sounded like an update was pending a few months ago...then nothing.

 

[McGiord]

Apple TV? It sounded like an update was pending a few months ago...then nothing.

As El Chapo left his prison cell there would be no external pressure to have it released soon...

 

[AppleScruff1]

I wish it was true. Except I don't know anyone related close or far to the fashion or culture industry who likes the Apple Watch, or even the iPhones, and it's mainly a design thing.

Space Gay, Couch Potato Gold and Silver whatever are really ugly outdated designs. The Apple Watch is not that bad, it's just to fat and...square.

In person, I don't think the watch is too fat. The shape is personal preference and there are expensive mechanical watches that aren't round. I think for a smart watch, it was wise to maximize the display usability and not use a round face. IMO, of course.

 

[tampageek]

This is different. It makes no sense for Apple's sake to sell an anodized gold / rose gold Apple Watch Sport for $350 because it would demolish the exclusivity factor of buying the gold Apple Watch Edition. Why buy a $10,000 Apple Watch Edition when you can get a gold one for $350?

Here's a thought: the watches aren't selling so Angela needs a fashion gimmick to save her phoney baloney job.

 

[sirdir]

No, it wouldn't. Anodised aluminium is not gold. If your iPhone is gold-coloured, you might want to have a fitting Apple Watch for it, like you can with space grey and silver. The Apple Watch Sport is designed for activities and casual wear, not formal wear. Those in the market for an Apple Watch Edition will not be put off by a gold-coloured Apple Watch Sport. Besides, the Sport already looks cheaper than the regular Apple Watch. By your definition, the Apple Watch Sport is the de facto poor man's watch.

In a way, it is. On the other hand, with a leather band it's just as 'formal' as another apple watch. You'll never be able to compete with a 'real' watch though, even if some of them also have rubber bands

"Nearly indistinguishable", you must be jesting. It's aluminium, not gold. Anodised aluminium can never match real gold. Who buys the Apple Watch Edition for the colour? No one. You buy the Edition for the quality and its expensive materials.

So what? Could you tell it apart (if it's well done) from 5m away? From 2m? Of course, if they want to get rid of the 'real' gold watches anyway, it would be an option, but otherwise - never.
BTW the sports band (the metal latch) is giving me a rash. Maybe I should get a gold one
(In fact I have a leather loop, but the sports band feels more comfortable IMHO)

 

[Rogifan]

No, it wouldn't. Anodised aluminium is not gold. If your iPhone is gold-coloured, you might want to have a fitting Apple Watch for it, like you can with space grey and silver. The Apple Watch Sport is designed for activities and casual wear, not formal wear. Those in the market for an Apple Watch Edition will not be put off by a gold-coloured Apple Watch Sport. Besides, the Sport already looks cheaper than the regular Apple Watch. By your definition, the Apple Watch Sport is the de facto poor man's watch.



"Nearly indistinguishable", you must be jesting. It's aluminium, not gold. Anodised aluminium can never match real gold. Who buys the Apple Watch Edition for the colour? No one. You buy the Edition for the quality and its expensive materials.

Gold plated watches haven't stopped 18-karat gold watches from selling. And they look a lot more like the real thing than a champagne gold tinted aluminum watch would. IF this analyst is right then I suspect we're going to see a rose gold tinted iPhone and not a pink one. Perhaps the pink they thought was for the iPhone was actually the iPod touch just released.

 

[iKnackwurst]

So either apple releases the iPad Pro, or my iPad 2 has to do another round until 2016. Makes my decision a lot easier.

 

[Rogifan]

Nice pic.
The Apple Watch shape should be round not a square. Also the use cases are very limited and redundant as well as dependent on the iPhone. I guess in a few iterations when HomeKit devices proliferate there will be more functions for it.

Why should it be round? Just because mechanical watches are round? Using that logic the first iPhone should've had a physical keyboard.

You're probably right.


You're probably right but I wouldn't put it past them to make some tweaks...especially with Skylake and DisplayPort 1.3 allowing them to run 5K without additional hardware tricks. While not a full case redesign, Apple did make the 13" rMBP a bit thinner only a year after its original release.

My guess though is Apple will try to get the new MacBook closer to the $999 or $1,099 price point this fall to establish that model as the new go-to money maker replacing the Air and hooking people in with the iOS-style color options. I do see that trickling over to the MBP and eventually the iMac but maybe not in 2015.

You really think Apple will reduce the new MacBook price yet this year? How quickly did they drop the price on the original MBA?

 

[Andres Cantu]

We have to remember that even Ming-Chi Kuo does not have a perfect track record.

Why did he not mention anything about the iPad Air 3 or iPad Pro? Did he forget, or does he simply not know and does not want to guess what Apple will do to lower his record (at least for the iPad Air 3, I know he's predicted the iPad Pro before).

 

[KALLT]

Gold plated watches haven't stopped 18-karat gold watches from selling. And they look a lot more like the real thing than a champagne gold tinted aluminum watch would.

Exactly.

So what? Could you tell it apart (if it's well done) from 5m away? From 2m?

Who would be able to tell apart a Rolex from a cheap, gold-plated counterfeit at such a distance? And who would care? You buy the watch because you appreciate the quality and materials and have the money to spend. People with an eye for such quality will undoubtedly recognise the difference. The point is: there is nothing wrong with offering a gold-coloured Sport edition, it will not eat the sales of, or devalue, the Edition watches. They are only indistinguishable when looking from a distance, but that is all. The argument would only make sense if people were willing to buy the Edition watch just for the golden colour and that is silly.

 

[RogerWilco]

When will they announce the true breakthrough product of the year?

Purse

More personal than personal -- pursonal. Imagine the combinations of materials and straps, the mind reels.

 

[Dwalls90]

WHY is anyone going to pay for a Watch Edition if you can get a 'gold' watch for so much less?

I don't think we need more actual watch colors, as much as we should have more band options.. and not forcing us to buy a certain band with a certain watch.

 

[RedOrchestra]

Considering that the iPad Air is still Apple's flagship tablet, I can't for a moment believe that they won't be offering an iPad Air 3, this fall. Seeing as how a lot of the "new" features of iOS 9 will only run on the Air 2 it just doesn't make sense that they would narrow their field to a single model without introducing a new model.