Apple Reported to Begin Shipping Apple Watch in March, 12-Inch MacBook Air in Early 2015

[coffeemadmanUK]

Out of interest, when would you charge a device that you don't charge at night?

Although admittedly lower in power usage, I wear my Jawbone at night and therefore find time to charge it when it's not "in use".

I would say if I wore my Apple Watch at night, I would charge it at my desk at work. Or perhaps when I'm just sitting on the couch watching TV of an evening.

 

[Aniseedvan]

What happens if the purchase is above the contactless limit of £20 ?

Are you simply prompted to enter your PIN?

Or do you have to switch to a regular chip & PIN purchase using the actual card?

Do you know I've never tried! I would assume it would revert to prompting for a pin.

 

[theSeb]

Look, nobody said iMac was stupid.
It started the iEra and marked the beginning of Apple's road to dominance
Nobody said the iPod was stupid.
Nobody said the iPhone & iPad were stupid.
I love all of those devices and 3 out of 4 of them are world changing.

This? This is stupid.
Apple Watch was made completely without Steve's knowledge/input/blessing.
Proponents say it's great that you can get notifications without having to look at your phone.
Really? How lazy are you?
Has marketing brainwashed you enough that you think such an ability is a substantial thing?
You actually think that's a big deal, having the ability to read phone notices on another device?!?
And is having that ability worth, at minimum, $350 to you?

Couple this with the MAPS fiasco and the Beats aquisition and you have
the makings of a resume of an incompetent CEO.
The stock price has risen in spite of Tim's efforts, thank Christ.

Lots of people on this very site said that the iMac, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad were stupid ideas before they were released.

 

[lowendlinux]

~3 million seems reasonable.

 

[abraxian]

Do you know I've never tried! I would assume it would revert to prompting for a pin.

You'll need to use the Chip & Pin service. The POS machine behind the tills won't even push the card reader to allow for contactless purchases, as I have to explain to customers every other day

 

[kdarling]

Do you know I've never tried! I would assume it would revert to prompting for a pin.

Actually, it makes sense that you never tried! Info on this is hard to find, but according to this, it reverts to prompting for both card and PIN:

Is there a limit on the value of goods I can purchase with my contactless card?

You can use your contactless card to pay for items of £20 and under. For purchases over £20, you will need to carry out a chip and PIN transaction.

- Lloyd's Bank

This is different from the US, where a contactless payment terminal can prompt for a PIN (or digital signature) after the card or phone is moved away... and still not require the actual card.

--

Interestingly, it seems that Visa has plans to update UK terminal software to be able to accept the PIN being entered on the phone itself, when prompted. This would get rid of the need for the physical card with larger purchases, but is different from the US method where the PIN is entered on the terminal.

Apparently this is driven by the desire to make mobile payments (such as Apple Pay) more appealing to users in the UK, by allowing higher transactions without a card.

What's unknown is if this means a change is also needed to Apple Pay (to add a PIN entry prompt if needed) or if Visa UK will allow something like TouchID in its place. Or perhaps Visa will change their mind and go with the US method.

 

[meboy]

Intel Core M...

I was really looking forward to a Macbook Air update but Intel Core M processor is a huge disappointment.

Look at the reviews of the other Core M notebooks so far. Very underwhelming performance..

This really better not be where the whole Air line is headed.
They had better relaunch a 13/14" with retina and Intel Core i, or a whole lot of people are going to be pissed.

 

[bnmcj1]

12 inch is useless these days with big tablets and big phones. Would like to see 17/18 inch to replace my 13" Air. You need a bag to carry it anyway and they are so thin now.

 

[Jungo]

TAKE my money - I too will be up at 3am EST to buy TWO.

 

[iPadCary]

One More Thing ....

Another thing I despise about Apple Watch [AW] is it's look.
Jony's so anal about all the devices having the same look & feel.
Of being of the same "design language", as all the cool guys say.
Does AW strike you at all that way?
Does AW look like it belongs in the same family as MacBook/iPad/iPhone/iPod?
Nope.

Take your avaerage schmoe.
He'll have one look at an iPad, let's say, not know anything about it,
but he'll see the only single solitary button on it and some instinct
inside of him will tell him to push it, which will take him to the homescreen
where he can see all of the pretty little pictures, then touch one of those and he's off to the races.

Would the above scenario work with an AW?
Nope.
First of all, a dial. A dial .... Really?!?
Oh, excuse me: I mean a "digital crown" [DC].
To get to AW s homescreen, you have to push the DC in.
Who in God's name would think to do that intuitively?
You line up a thousand people, hand them a AW with an app open,
and tell them all to make thier way to the homescreen.
NOT A ONE out of those thousand people will think to push in the DC.
NOT. A. ONE.
What they would do is press the button that's under the DC.
I mean, the only button on the thing, that must be the main one, right?
The thing that brings ypu to the homescreen just like every other Apple mobile device, right?
Nope.
That button's only for the contacts, 'cause that's what you wanna do, y'know,
is have the only button on a complex digital device be solely for contacts ....

Screw Apple Watch. In it's mouth.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

In what universe March counts as early 2015.

 

[oliversl]

12 inch retina? I hope the MBA 13" stays in the same price.

 

[filmantopia]

Look, nobody said iMac was stupid.
It started the iEra and marked the beginning of Apple's road to dominance
Nobody said the iPod was stupid.
Nobody said the iPhone & iPad were stupid.
I love all of those devices and 3 out of 4 of them are world changing.

This? This is stupid.
Apple Watch was made completely without Steve's knowledge/input/blessing.
Proponents say it's great that you can get notifications without having to look at your phone.
Really? How lazy are you?
Has marketing brainwashed you enough that you think such an ability is a substantial thing?
You actually think that's a big deal, having the ability to read phone notices on another device?!?
And is having that ability worth, at minimum, $350 to you?

Couple this with the MAPS fiasco and the Beats aquisition and you have
the makings of a resume of an incompetent CEO.
The stock price has risen in spite of Tim's efforts, thank Christ.

People relentlessly complaining about the iPad in 2010
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/856880/

Complaining about the iPod
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/apples-new-thing-ipod.500/

 

[zedsdead]

In what universe March counts as early 2015.

Apple divides the years into three segments with Mac releases, so the same logic applies here:

Early: Jan-Apr
Mid: May-Aug
Late: Sep-Dec

 

[bobob]

In what universe March counts as early 2015.

Every universe.

 

[mangasm]

Woah woah wait!! Just saw this post while looking at the buyer's guide because my laptop seems ready to bite the dust . . .

If they switch to USB charging, will that mean that the magnetic charger will be no more? The detaching charger has saved my ass so many times.

 

[pcmofo]

I currently have been using the Pebble since day 1 when it had 1-2 day battery life. I dont wear it to bed nor do I have any interest in wearing a real watch to bed. When I had a FitBit Flex I had to make time to charge it since it is meant to be worn 24/7.

Ideally I think I would have a nice looking Apple Watch that I wear during the day and a second sleep/fitness watch that only does that specific task. That way the other device is able to charge regularly. Sleep/Fitness trackers are super small and cheap now, its great if the Apple watch COULD track those things but I would never wear any of my other watches to bed/work out so why would I wear the Apple Watch?

As long as the Apple watch can make it through ~12hr day it seems pretty practical to me. I had no issue when my Pebble did that in the past. I'm more likely to forget to charge it because it can go days without a charge. I see the same thing happen to people who switch from dumb phones that dont need to be charged daily to smart phones that do. When they charge every other day or whenever it is low they are always running into battery issues, if you charge it every day then its not a problem.

 

[MacrumoursUser]

Every universe.

Missed my universe.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Would the above scenario work with an AW?
Nope.
First of all, a dial. A dial .... Really?!?
Oh, excuse me: I mean a "digital crown" [DC].
To get to AW s homescreen, you have to push the DC in.
Who in God's name would think to do that intuitively?

Keep grasping at straws, but you could not be more wrong.

Every sport watch (digital and analog) on the planet has multiple buttons on the side to control features. The Apple Watch employs a button resembling a crown -- like a regular watch -- that is used to control it. I think people can figure that out -- well, everyone except you. It is intuitive because it's in line with universal watch language. And when people want to control a feature on a digital watch they already understand to look for side buttons.

 

[Reds622]

The design of the watch itself is ok. I haven't seen it in person, but I'm sure it's one of the nicer looking smart watches on the market, and im sure its build quality will be top notch. Although the screen looks a little, pixelated?, if that makes sense.

The real problem with this device is its purpose and function. Before this thing was released, I think practically everyone thought that if Apple was going to release such a product, they have must have come up with something truly revolutionary since the smart watch seemed like a rather pointless device. Then they released something that looks, feels, and acts like all the others, and now somehow that is ok? I don't know how anyone could say that the product that eventually was released has lived up to the expectations.

At worst, I thought Apple would release a device where the watch face was actually mechanical, but lifted up to reveal an oled display.. Or, in patent filings, the many thought the watch would not be a watch at all, but an advanced wrap around display band that went completely around your wrist. What we eventually got was a smart watch that looks like all the others, in a variety of materials and bands in different price ranges to make the most profit.

Sorry, that doesn't really impress me. Instead, it strikes me as Apple trying to take advantage of a loyal customer market it thinks will buy products even if it's function is nether revolutionary nor a substantional step forward. That I have a problem with. It will be very interesting to see what Apple comes up with next, because if it isn't a product that truly speaks of innovation, then I'm going to start to get worried. Until then, I will continue to believe they make the best products in the best interests of their customers. The watch to me seems like a cash grab.

 

[robbyx]

Ya I think this is right on. Can we also include the overpriced acquisition of the former CEO of Burberry? To some, Apple already has a reputation as being on the higher end of the market.. So what does Apple and Tim Cook do, they go out and hire the former CEO of a clothing designer brand that screams excessive and overpriced products. This whole venture into the "fashion" world by Apple was completely unnecessary, and their trying to shove an already proven failed idea in a smart watch down their loyal customers throats by trying to create through a blitz marketing campaign that somehow this product will be anything other than a really expensive completely unnecessary accessory to an incredible device (iPhone). Sorry, I just don't see it.

Even if the market for smart watches was already proven to be mature and something customers actually want, it's not and isn't, the Apple watch is just like all the others. What does it have that the competition doesn't? Apple will sell some of these, because some people will buy just about anything Apple puts their names on, but in the long run, if they do not develop a breakthrough piece of technology to put inside of it, it will not succeed. Those who don't currently wear watches need an incentive to put one on their wrist. Only the truly irrational Apple fan would think the Apple Watch or any other smart watch as currently constructed is it. Notifications, haptic feedback, smiley faces, and the number of steps taken? Big deal. When did expectations get so low around here?

Don't forget sending your heartbeat to someone! You know it's bad when that's your much hyped selling point! I've been an Apple/NeXT customer for 33 years now. And Apple Watch is the first Apple product I simply don't get. There are other products that don't interest me, but I understand and appreciate them. Apple Watch is Tim and Jony trying to prove they can "innovate" without Steve. They'd be a lot wiser to invest all of that time, attention and resources into TV. Give us a fully baked Apple TV with an App Store, video game rentals, etc. That would sell like crazy.

But instead we get a very, VERY expensive accessory for the iPhone. I'm reserving judgment until the product actually ships, but so far I'm totally underwhelmed. Nothing they've announced so far is remotely compelling. How lazy are you that you can't pull your phone out of your pocket to read a notification? And when you want to respond? You'll need to pull your phone out of your pocket...so what's the point? I haven't worn a watch in at least 15 years. And sending a heartbeat to someone isn't going to make me start wearing one again. They have to do A LOT better than that.

There's a reason wearables are a niche market. They aren't particularly useful. Rather, they appeal to narcissists. I need to track my steps, my heart rate, my sleep cycles, etc. For what??? Unless you have a bonafide medical condition, is any of that data really useful? What does one do with it? If you're sleeping poorly, how is the Apple Watch going to help with that? Do I really need a $350+ accessory to tell me to stand up and stretch every hour? Am I that brain dead that I can't remember to do that for myself?

Apple Watch will sell really well in the first two quarters thanks to the built-in fanboy market who are slavishly awaiting anything NEW from Apple. After that, sales will tank, the stock will suffer, and the press will gloat over Apple's much hyped flop, thus cementing the narrative that Apple without Steve cannot innovate. As a long-time shareholder, I plan to liquidate most of my shares after Apple Watch ships. I've made a huge profit at this point and I'm confident that Apple Watch hype will drive the share price up for a while. Might as well take the money and run.

 

[firewood]

To some, Apple already has a reputation as being on the higher end of the market.. So what does Apple and Tim Cook do, they go out and hire the former CEO of a clothing designer brand that screams excessive and overpriced products...

... who is thus far far better qualified than some Dixons exec to help Apple keep selling lots and lots the high priced products in Apple's stores at a nice profit. Possibly with an increase in retail profit far higher than her salary, thus earning her pay.

If you don't want to help pay her salary, buy a Dell or Xiaomi (et.al.) product instead.

 

[firewood]

One of my kids is a teacher, and cannot use a phone during the day. So she keeps her phone in her desk, and instead uses her Gear Fit to get any urgent messages from her husband, and to choose preset replies.

I wonder if the places that don't allow mobile phones will stop allowing wearing a watch as well? (especially if new models come out where it's hard to tell the difference between smart and automatic wind...) Will all the judges and lawyers have to remove their fancy watches at the court entrance? And military pilots before entering launch control? Will kids be allowed to look at their "watch" to see how much time they have left taking an exam? Etc.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I've been an Apple/NeXT customer for 33 years now. And Apple Watch is the first Apple product I simply don't get.

Not sure what one has to do with the other. Or are you saying because YOU don't "get it," it's ill fated launch is already written?

FWIW I've been buying Apple products for 27 years -- perhaps I'm a bit younger than you. I buy the one's that serve my needs/desires and don't buy the other ones. But Apple has customers for those products just the same. I don't dismiss or denigrate the one's I don't buy, I just ignore them as they have zero impact on me or to me.

 

[bobob]

a very, VERY expensive accessory for the iPhone.

If $349 is "very, VERY expensive" for you, I strongly advise you to not buy one. The Apple Watch is an ancillary tool that should be purchased only by those with sufficient discretionary capital.