The rumours I've seen are not predicting the S4 to be radically different, just a slightly bigger screen squeezed in to similar sized cases so the existing straps should still be compatible.None of the existing bands/straps will be compatible as S4 is a complete redesign. You'll see for yourselves on Sept 12th.
The rumours I've seen are not predicting the S4 to be radically different, just a slightly bigger screen squeezed in to similar sized cases so the existing straps should still be compatible.
I still expect them to be compatible. Not long to go so let's wait and see.They'd be no constraints/removals if they were the same. size. If the screen is bigger/wider then the lugs will be in a different position.
Because Apples OEM bands are that *much* better quality over third-party bands for the most part in terms of materials, durability, thickness, and just overall construction is stellar.
There is no unsold supply, the majority of the bands sell out very quickly after being released. For a company that has mastered the supply chain its clear this is on purpose to hype demand. Many popular watch bands sit there for months with a SOLD OUT under them. No one at Apple can answer why they make such a limited supply. I refuse to believe they don't know what colors will be popular and actually make enough for roughly the 3 month duration they'll be around. Instead like clockwork new bands sell out in a couple weeks. Seems silly they're leaving loads of cash on the table. But they sure have an ample supply of $9 dongles!!Apple fades out seasonal bands and cases all the time and imo all too frequently
What do they do with the unsold supply?
Wouldn't necessarily chalk that up to being not compatible w 4th gen
I think they'd be taking a major risk not having compatible band rails on the new watch to work with all the others
Not like the 30-pin to lightning transition
The Apple store near me has been sold out of the seasonal cases and bands for some time now.Apple fades out seasonal bands and cases all the time and imo all too frequently
What do they do with the unsold supply?
Wouldn't necessarily chalk that up to being not compatible w 4th gen
I think they'd be taking a major risk not having compatible band rails on the new watch to work with all the others
Not like the 30-pin to lightning transition
That would probably be a deal breaker for me... The number of bands I have collected over the years...
Yeah I should have /s'd it.Gotcha. Didn’t pick up on the implicit “/s”. sbt
None of the existing bands/straps will be compatible as S4 is a complete redesign. You'll see for yourselves on Sept 12th.
"New watch bands! This is what EVERY SINGLE PERSON on MacRumors has been desperately waiting for!"
Said nobody ever.
Indeed, Apple has some resident designers who very much like mechanical watches and the whole field of horology, and they've had considerable experience with designing mechanical interfaces for the real world (firewire, lightning, magsafe), and seeing how they fared when millions were using those connectors, and they had a clean sheet of paper and could build anything they wanted. They put a large amount of thought into the current connector, and designed it to last. It'll be another five years at least before they change the watch band connector.The reality is, the band port is a very important part of the Apple Watch as it currently stands, and Apple executed it perfectly, they know that and there is a monopoly for the band market as it stands.
Woohooo Sold my Watch S3 Nike+ yesterday. I can wait 2 months before upgrading![]()
It wasn't exactly a clean sheet of paper approach, they took some of Marc Newson's earlier Ikepod strap designs and refined the connector to make it simple to fit and remove. It's an absolutely brilliant design.Indeed, Apple has some resident designers who very much like mechanical watches and the whole field of horology, and they've had considerable experience with designing mechanical interfaces for the real world (firewire, lightning, magsafe), and seeing how they fared when millions were using those connectors, and they had a clean sheet of paper and could build anything they wanted. They put a large amount of thought into the current connector, and designed it to last. It'll be another five years at least before they change the watch band connector.
How much did you get for it? And did you include the sport loop?
Interesting, I hadn't seen that before. Thanks. FWIW, what I meant was they weren't under any requirement to interact with existing standards - if you're designing an AC power plug, say, there's a variety of ways to approach it, but it still has to have the right number of prongs, in the specified orientation, carrying the specific signals/voltages. With the Apple Watch band and connector, their only requirement was that it had to attach the watch to your wrist. So they did have a clean sheet of paper, they set an existing design they liked on it, and then modified it to their taste.It wasn't exactly a clean sheet of paper approach, they took some of Marc Newson's earlier Ikepod strap designs and refined the connector to make it simple to fit and remove. It's an absolutely brilliant design.