What's the point of posting April 24th, when people that are going to pre-order that haven't will not receive by the 24th or no where near that date. It makes sense just to put, "It's Coming" instead of the release date. Dissatisfied customers who pre-order will be infuriated that they would have to wait till June possibly know it's releasing April 24th. Generally everyone should know it's the the 24th since Apple has created such a large marketing advertising campaign on TV and such.
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Apple Updated Website "The Watch is Coming."
- Thread starter iJcaP
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Guys, they missed the 4/24 launch date. Period. They have to update the software, then load it onto millions of watches they have already left that stage of the assembly line.
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...with-software-update-ahead-of-april-24-launch
Apple sold a million that first day. They would ordinarily have no problem getting all of them delivered to our doors on 4/24. But instead, I ordered 4 minutes in, and I'm getting it a month late.
4/24 is not launch day. A month later is. They didn't want the press focusing on problems and spoil an important launch. Better to just everyone think it's late because of overwhelming demand.
None of the Apple Watches in the store are operational. I don't recall that happening ever before. "Well, they did that so no one will run off with them." Um, no. You can cut the line on a multi-thousand dollar Mac Pro and run off with it under your arm like a football.
Those ones along the walls are fixed to a platform and would be difficult to steal. They could've put only Sport's there, and they'd all be cheaper than iPhones.
"Yeah, but, they wouldn't want someone out in the wild with a Watch in their possession." Like all those employees were? Like all those reviewers were? They are not going to dumb down a demonstration of a product for that reason. The Watches along the wall are in demo mode. Every other product we have full access to. But the software isn't ready.
If the software was updated and ready TODAY, Apple would instruct the Apple stores to load it on the Watches for display. It's not ready.
http://appleinsider.com/articles/15...with-software-update-ahead-of-april-24-launch
Apple sold a million that first day. They would ordinarily have no problem getting all of them delivered to our doors on 4/24. But instead, I ordered 4 minutes in, and I'm getting it a month late.
4/24 is not launch day. A month later is. They didn't want the press focusing on problems and spoil an important launch. Better to just everyone think it's late because of overwhelming demand.
None of the Apple Watches in the store are operational. I don't recall that happening ever before. "Well, they did that so no one will run off with them." Um, no. You can cut the line on a multi-thousand dollar Mac Pro and run off with it under your arm like a football.
Those ones along the walls are fixed to a platform and would be difficult to steal. They could've put only Sport's there, and they'd all be cheaper than iPhones.
"Yeah, but, they wouldn't want someone out in the wild with a Watch in their possession." Like all those employees were? Like all those reviewers were? They are not going to dumb down a demonstration of a product for that reason. The Watches along the wall are in demo mode. Every other product we have full access to. But the software isn't ready.
If the software was updated and ready TODAY, Apple would instruct the Apple stores to load it on the Watches for display. It's not ready.
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Makes sense to change it. Anyone who is just now going to apples site sure as hell won't have one on the 24th.
This makes perfect sense, since the watch is not available to new customers on April 24. It's Angela Ahrendts' new way of launching a product. After everything was backordered to June, I wondered why the front page of Apple.com still said "
Watch — Available 4.24.15".
Perhaps they'll still allocate a few watches for in-store purchase on the 24th, but I wouldn't count on getting one. If Apple wants orders to made exclusively online for now, it's best they make their policy clear.
Those that pre-ordered fast and were promised delivery 4/24-5/8 should still be the first in line for a new watch.
Watch — Available 4.24.15".Perhaps they'll still allocate a few watches for in-store purchase on the 24th, but I wouldn't count on getting one. If Apple wants orders to made exclusively online for now, it's best they make their policy clear.
Those that pre-ordered fast and were promised delivery 4/24-5/8 should still be the first in line for a new watch.
This change gives absolutely no reason to believe that when you will get your existing order has changed. It merely reflects the realization that... nobody who has not already bought/ordered a watch could possibly get one on 4/24 even though that's the first date they'll start leaking out into the general public.
4/24 is still the launch date, it's just... well... not going to be available to very many people
Actually, this is very likely a response to the broad criticism of the statement of availability in the face of pre-order sell-out combined with announcing no stock will be available in stores initially. Thinking about how Apple could have communicated this better... I have to make an assumption about whether they expected to sell out all models during pre-order. Maybe they did NOT expect this? Maybe they expected there to be far fewer than 2 million people willing to buy sight unseen? If they assumed there would actually be stock, the pre-existing communications were totally reasonable and in retrospect, just a very happy error (who wouldn't be happy to be surprised by a massive run on a brand new product which has questionable demand levels?)
Now, if you assume they expected this kind of sell-out, you could start to criticize their decision to simply state available 4/24. They could've said something like they have done in the past like... "Pre-orders start 4/10 for deliveries beginning 4/24" or something like that. They could have also chosen to have some stock in stores and specified that separately "With limited stock available at Apple Stores on 4/24" but since they are explicitly trying to cut down on scalping and the negative image of smelly dorks and TaskRabbiters sleeping in front of Apple Stores for weeks... I'd guess they should've just gone straight online order only for the first shipments. Then perhaps they could've communicated something like... "Pre-order yours beginning April 10th for delivery beginning April 24th or find Apple Watch in Apple Stores in May" though perhaps with a wittier phrasing.
Still, I actually think they expected far less interest for a niche product and their first real step into lifestyle-first, technology-second as well as fashion. It's a big jump, albeit one with a clear trajectory beginning 17 years ago. I think they are kind of freaking out from the combination of massive blind interest and production problems. I really doubt they wish for anything less than the ability to sell a watch to every single solitary buyer that could possibly wish to buy one directly from them and all of the oddities of this launch are explainable by unpredictable circumstances, new circumstances, and attempting to avoid undesirable circumstances all causing conflict and indecision.
4/24 is still the launch date, it's just... well... not going to be available to very many people
Actually, this is very likely a response to the broad criticism of the statement of availability in the face of pre-order sell-out combined with announcing no stock will be available in stores initially. Thinking about how Apple could have communicated this better... I have to make an assumption about whether they expected to sell out all models during pre-order. Maybe they did NOT expect this? Maybe they expected there to be far fewer than 2 million people willing to buy sight unseen? If they assumed there would actually be stock, the pre-existing communications were totally reasonable and in retrospect, just a very happy error (who wouldn't be happy to be surprised by a massive run on a brand new product which has questionable demand levels?)
Now, if you assume they expected this kind of sell-out, you could start to criticize their decision to simply state available 4/24. They could've said something like they have done in the past like... "Pre-orders start 4/10 for deliveries beginning 4/24" or something like that. They could have also chosen to have some stock in stores and specified that separately "With limited stock available at Apple Stores on 4/24" but since they are explicitly trying to cut down on scalping and the negative image of smelly dorks and TaskRabbiters sleeping in front of Apple Stores for weeks... I'd guess they should've just gone straight online order only for the first shipments. Then perhaps they could've communicated something like... "Pre-order yours beginning April 10th for delivery beginning April 24th or find Apple Watch in Apple Stores in May" though perhaps with a wittier phrasing.
Still, I actually think they expected far less interest for a niche product and their first real step into lifestyle-first, technology-second as well as fashion. It's a big jump, albeit one with a clear trajectory beginning 17 years ago. I think they are kind of freaking out from the combination of massive blind interest and production problems. I really doubt they wish for anything less than the ability to sell a watch to every single solitary buyer that could possibly wish to buy one directly from them and all of the oddities of this launch are explainable by unpredictable circumstances, new circumstances, and attempting to avoid undesirable circumstances all causing conflict and indecision.
That article claims the watch software will be updated by the 24th. It doesn't say watches will not be delivered by that date. Maybe they have a phenomenal software problem that is difficult to be fixed and are deliberately slowing the release, but surely some watches will be delivered 4/24-5/8 (after all, there are all those celebrities already showing off their Apple Watch Editions).
Well, this probably won't make you feel any better, but I ordered 3 minutes in and they tell me the earliest I'll get it is 2 weeks after the 24th. Some people say they're promised delivery 4/24-5/8 I'm sure we'll hear plenty of complaints if no one gets a watch on April 24.
I totally agree 4/24 is not the launch day I don't understand why anyone called it that. Sales started 4/10 it seems to me that was the launch day.
Hmm.. I went to the store on the 10th, and they did have demo units running and I could play with them all I wanted to. Other's have said the try-on models were running the demo loop, but the ones given to me were off. I'd assumed they had lost their charge, but maybe they are having software glitches. My specialist also had trouble opening the drawer, so they could've just had trouble with retail setup.
Whatever. Software can and will be fixed. If there is a problem, it could mean Apple gave us all conservative shipping estimates and once it's all working to Apple's standards, we'll all get our delivery.
Oddly, I can forgive an Apple delaying as they work hard to fix any lingering any technical difficulties I'd be less happy, if they were delaying the release because they thought it would increase demand.
I went into the store for a fitting today and all of the watches were completely operable.
I leave on a trip the 26th soooo id rather have a slightly buggy watch and have it updated in the first couple of days than wait to get back to my watch
I thought the Apple.com front page had a link to the TV commercial, but it's certainly not there now. If they're still running the commercial, I'd think they would update it.
—————————————
Wait.. now I see they had the link to the commercial on the "Watch" main page. Now at the end, there is a screen that says "THE WATCH IS COMING" followed by a screen that says "4.24.15".
So yeah, they updated it.
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So the public have now been damaged, is that what you are saying? What sort of damage? Hope not a brain one
Oh, and by the way, the few (I wouldn't call it few but whatever) who preordered weren't simply lucky. They were up and ready to preorder so they can get it sooner then the rest. But you are right, since people are in general daft as a brush, Apple needs to be careful with how they advertise their stuff on their website.
I leave on a trip the 26th soooo id rather have a slightly buggy watch and have it updated in the first couple of days than wait to get back to my watch
lol I leave on the 27th and feel the exact same way.
That was their plan the entire time. You would have heard that if you had listened to what they were saying. They were very clear upfront. I heard multiple Apple executives say during media events as well as press interviews that the watch would be available for preorder through the website on the 10th as well as available for preorder at try-on appointments. No one ever promised stock in stores on the 24th. Anyone who thought that only assumed. As a matter of fact, Angela Ahrendts mentioned in two interviews I saw that the watch would not be available in store on release date specifically to do away with lines.
Supposed damage is much to do about nothing. I guess people just must have something to complain about.
All this does is temper expectations to those who have not put in an order yet and take the focus off of a specific date.
And btw. Apple Store Aventura, FL has working models of the phones. They are mounted with half of the band(hard composite material in this case) onto a wood platform. I was changing faces and options and it really is smooth.
One thing of note. The rotary dial does not have any type of friction/click to it while you are turning it. It is VERY smooth and light and you may not even notice you are turning the dial until you see items on the screen change or get highlighted.
And btw. Apple Store Aventura, FL has working models of the phones. They are mounted with half of the band(hard composite material in this case) onto a wood platform. I was changing faces and options and it really is smooth.
One thing of note. The rotary dial does not have any type of friction/click to it while you are turning it. It is VERY smooth and light and you may not even notice you are turning the dial until you see items on the screen change or get highlighted.
Not misleading.
Those who ordered online and were lucky enough to be in the first wave will get their watches on the 24th.
The watch just won't be available in stores, hence the reason for Apple changing their site.
Okay, I believe you... in fact, I verified it by looking at a week-old TV recording I had. I thought the commercials ended with just "Available 4.24.15". So, they don't have to update their commercials since I presume the watch is still coming on the 24th (just not as many as we'd like).
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