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Apple Watch 2 May Arrive in Mid- to Late-2016

brinary001 said:
Right. Apple is trying to lay out a predictable schedule for the next several years which I think will be welcomed by many of us who only want to be left guessing about the products themselves instead of when and where they'll be debuted.

The Watch's customer base seems pretty evenly divided on the topic of a next-gen update. Most of us are dedicated Apple fans, of course, because we bought a new product in its risky and experimental stage. So we'd have no problem (and would even welcome) a new generation of Watch. However, there's an equally large group out there who dropped a grand on a steel version with leather buckle, or even the gold Edition for many thousands more who would definitely like to see the update held off as long as possible to protect their investment.

This is certainly a unique product with unique customers, so both points are valid.
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I'd be curious to see if people who bought the more expensive models are more (or less) likely to upgrade yearly.

MacRumors is definitely not representative of the general population though, there are a LOT of people on these forums with tons of disposable income who can upgrade everything all the time. But still, I'd be curious. :)
 
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Between the Watch and bands... I'm currently in for ~$1000... and I wouldn't mind a new one next year. I might not upgrade to it, it would depend on the specific features it has... but it wouldn't bother me if there were a new one. My existing Watch works quite well and it will continue to work even after a new one is released!

I _do_ hope they keep the same band attachment though... it would be really nice to be able to use all the bands I've bought with a new Watch...
 
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Gentlemen please listen. In my opinion The iPhone is the only thing Apple will update yearly. The iPad every year or every other year. The MacBook line can update every other year or 3 and the Apple Watch.... I really believe that will be a 5 year cycle. Or at least 3 years no less. I'm thinking 5. or between 3-5. But not that soon. It's just crazy. I don't think the Apple Watch has fully caught on or reached its potential yet. It still feels brand new.

Hell im still saving for one! Haha
 
Being an iPhone companion device, it wouldn't surprise me to see a new watch with each major iPhone revision. (iPhone 6, 7, 8 etc.)
 
wigby said:
What's GPS going to give you that the phone's GPS doesn't already give you? It's not like the watch is going to be able to use cellular data without the phone so you still have o use your phone. And the accuracy differences between GPS and Appel Watch trained with GPS are minuscule.
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I have no desire to run with my iPhone 6. If I'm going to buy a smart watch that touts health and fitness tracking among its functions, it must have GPS.

As it is, I don't wear a watch except when I'm running, cycling, or swimming, and for those I wear a Garmin 910xt, a dedicated (non-smart) (square) fitness watch.

I'll be pleasantly surprised, though, if they add GPS in generation 2. It will probably come down to battery life.
 
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I hope Apple doesn't burn too many bridges with the Apple Watch. Unlike phones that people have bought through cellular carriers at steep discounts for years, most people don't go out and buy a new watch every year or so. I could see myself buying another in a couple years but I'd like to think my investment lasts a while with the watch. Certainly won't be buying a new 400$ watch every year.
 
wigby said:
What's GPS going to give you that the phone's GPS doesn't already give you? It's not like the watch is going to be able to use cellular data without the phone so you still have o use your phone. And the accuracy differences between GPS and Appel Watch trained with GPS are minuscule.
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By that reasoning there is no reason to ever get an Apple Watch because all of the functionality is on your phone. But consider people who don't want to carry an iPhone 6+ on a 6-mile run.
 
There is a difference between features that would be nice and features that are "necessary". The sports functionality could definitely be improved. However, I have diabetes type 2, and I can tell you that if they got their sensors to sense the sugar in the blood (which they were talking about before they released the first version), that almost every diabetic would buy the thing. Read an article last week that stated that 50% of Americans are either diabetic, or pre-diabetic. Diabetes is just one of the medical issues that could be addressed....
 
th3r3ds0x said:
Certainly won't be buying a new 400$ watch every year.
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I'm really hoping it ends up being like a Rolex than a cell phone - pay more than a watch should cost, then every 4-5 years send it in and get all the insides updated (fresh, stronger battery, newer/faster 'processor-on-chip' with all the current radios, more ram) - for like $150-$200 - then get your original case / crystal / band / 'outside' parts back with a 'watch vN+2' on the inside. It isn't cheap, but you get an awesome watch that 'lasts' forever.

I got a Tag Heuer in 2001 - it's 14 years old now. I've had the band buffed out a few times, the battery replaced several times, and the bezel has some scuffs, but the original sapphire crystal doesn't have a mark on it - even after wearing it daily for well over a decade - and it runs just fine. What a waste if the Apple watch is built to last 20 years (hell - the sapphire crystal and hardened case should last centuries) just to get retired in 3-4 years even though it still looks like new, just because now we're all on bluetooth v6 and it can't keep up with WatchOSv5. If I had a Rolex I'd think it would be cool to pass it on to my (eventual) grandkids - it would be great to do the same with an Apple watch. Somehow passing on my iPhone doesn't seem quite the same, but maybe someday it could be. It would be a definite sign we've outgrown our throw-away culture.

Also - I'm waiting for v2 of the watch as well - hoping for a replay of iPhone v2, iPad v2, MacBook Air v2... Apple has a long trend of really great improvements in their second attempts, if one just has the patience to hang on that long.
 
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This it the one I will consider, hopefully it will have a bunch of sensors that are relevant to me. I lift weights and an Apple watch is pretty much useless for me.
 
chappel said:
I'm really hoping it ends up being like a Rolex than a cell phone - pay more than a watch should cost, then every 4-5 years send it in and get all the insides updated (fresh, stronger battery, newer/faster 'processor-on-chip' with all the current radios, more ram) - for like $150-$200 - then get your original case / crystal / band / 'outside' parts back with a 'watch vN+2' on the inside. It isn't cheap, but you get an awesome watch that 'lasts' forever.

I got a Tag Heuer in 2001 - it's 14 years old now. I've had the band buffed out a few times, the battery replaced several times, and the bezel has some scuffs, but the original sapphire crystal doesn't have a mark on it - even after wearing it daily for well over a decade - and it runs just fine. What a waste if the Apple watch is built to last 20 years (hell - the sapphire crystal and hardened case should last centuries) just to get retired in 3-4 years even though it still looks like new, just because now we're all on bluetooth v6 and it can't keep up with WatchOSv5. If I had a Rolex I'd think it would be cool to pass it on to my (eventual) grandkids - it would be great to do the same with an Apple watch. Somehow passing on my iPhone doesn't seem quite the same, but maybe someday it could be. It would be a definite sign we've outgrown our throw-away culture.

Also - I'm waiting for v2 of the watch as well - hoping for a replay of iPhone v2, iPad v2, MacBook Air v2... Apple has a long trend of really great improvements in their second attempts, if one just has the patience to hang on that long.
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That's a great point. It would definitely be neat if they support the first gen for years to come.
 
Risco said:
This it the one I will consider, hopefully it will have a bunch of sensors that are relevant to me. I lift weights and an Apple watch is pretty much useless for me.
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What sensor(s) you want to make it relevant to you?
 
Predictions:

Thinner, sapphire on all models, new colours for Sport, new materials for Watch tier
Faster S2 processor
Same 1+ day battery
3D Touch (Force touch discontinued)
New health sensors (blood oxygenation and sugar measurements, EMG for measuring muscle activation*)
Dual lens camera hidden under curved glass. One pointing up for FaceTime, the other pointing forward for photos
WPS (instead of GPS) and open WiFi network. Will only work in select cities, maybe partnered with Starbucks
Open Lightning port for MFi certified 3rd party accessories
New branded bracelet and Watch face partners
A trade in program for Edition models

Wildcard: If iPhone 7 ditches the Home button for Touch ID embedded in the screen, we might see this first revealed in AppleWatch in the same way as it was used to debut Force Touch and the Taptic Engine. I expect that the AppleWatch will be at the forefront of Apple's state of the art technology going forward.

*An EMG sensor might come as a Lightning port accessory. One band on the watch and another on the opposite wrist. Measuring electrical current can determine muscle activation which is important data for all types of exercise. Weight lifters will appreciate the automatic rep count and intensity measurements, runners will get new more accurate data on calorie burn.
 
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Nozuka said:
Hopefully the battery is better. But who am i kidding, it's apple...

But i'll most likely buy one next year.
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I have NO idea ...no!, you have NO idea what you're talking about. The battery has been GREAT! I tend to charge every night, but if I forget, as I did last night, I can make it through 2 days of usage. Its almost 7PM and I have a little less than 10% available. That'll last me till sleepy-time. ...and its been a BUSY day!
 
ipedro said:
Predictions:

Thinner, sapphire on all models, new colours for Sport, new materials for Watch tier
Faster S2 processor
Same 1+ day battery
3D Touch (Force touch discontinued)
New health sensors (blood oxygenation and sugar measurements, EMG for measuring muscle activation*)
Dual lens camera hidden under curved glass. One pointing up for FaceTime, the other pointing forward for photos
WPS (instead of GPS) and open WiFi network. Will only work in select cities, maybe partnered with Starbucks
Open Lightning port for MFi certified 3rd party accessories
New branded bracelet and Watch face partners
A trade in program for Edition models

Wildcard: If iPhone 7 ditches the Home button for Touch ID embedded in the screen, we might see this first revealed in AppleWatch in the same way as it was used to debut Force Touch and the Taptic Engine. I expect that the AppleWatch will be at the forefront of Apple's state of the art technology going forward.

*An EMG sensor might come as a Lightning port accessory. One band on the watch and another on the opposite wrist. Measuring electrical current can determine muscle activation which is important data for all types of exercise. Weight lifters will appreciate the automatic rep count and intensity measurements, runners will get new more accurate data on calorie burn.
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I have to say, none of those make me want to buy a new Apple Watch. I use the phone to track my workouts, but I do them indoors and don't go running, so I don't need GPS on mine. The tracking it does do is fine for my needs, as I'm not a professional athlete nor training for anything, just staying in shape.

As for the rest, I imagine any camera that's small enough to fit on one of these watches will take photos akin to the iPhone 1 or 3G, I'd much rather use my phone which is almost always on me anyway. I'm not sure why "Force Touch" would be discontinued since it IS 3D Touch, unless you mean the name. The new health sensors wouldn't be enough to get me to upgrade. The only thing on that list that excites me at all is the possibility of opening up the diagnostic port for third party use, but then we'd need to see some or even ANY Made for Apple Watch accessories, and I'm still waiting for those now so I'm not holding my breath on manufacturers chomping at the bit.

And then of course the S2 processor which should hopefully allow better launching of apps/less delay time. But even then I could see myself waiting till the Apple Watch 3 or 4 before upgrading. While the watch has its uses, it's just not as essential to me as my phone, iPad, or Macbook. I'm sure in a few years Apple will put together a package that will wow me again and make me feel like it's worth the money to upgrade, but at this point I doubt I'll ever buy anything more than the space grey sport model.
 
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thekeyring said:
Same reason they left out a camera on the first iPad.
There's no point in releasing a polished turd. If the Watch was a flop, wifi or a faster chip or a few more hours of battery life wouldn't have saved it. But now they know it's a success they can polish it for Gen 2.
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You should study product development. Did Henry Ford put all the bells and whistles in his first mass-produce car. NO. Had he, the cost would have been much higher and doubters would have never bought. The same is true for TVs, microwaves, phones, medical devices,..you name it You have to "test" the market, and if it responds, then you tweek the product to meet the early-adopter demands and price-point. There are many examples of people who went to market with the "Cadillac" product that no one really wanted or could afford.
 
nostaws said:
I'm holding out for the Microsoft band 2 announcement in October.
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?...I can't tell if you're making a joke or being serious. If you're serious, ...are you telling me you are one of the 3% with a Windows phone? (LOL!!) Dude, come on! MS is king of the spreadsheet...decent on mail servers...and so-so on web servers, but their consumer-focused products have been off-key for over a decade. Their ability to target consumer-focused, personal devices is Zero.
 
dkar said:
?...I can't tell if you're making a joke or being serious. If you're serious, ...are you telling me you are one of the 3% with a Windows phone? (LOL!!) Dude, come on! MS is king of the spreadsheet...decent on mail servers...and so-so on web servers, but their consumer-focused products have been off-key for over a decade. Their ability to target consumer-focused, personal devices is Zero.
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Surface Pro 3 is an amazing product, and you can expect the Surface Pro 4 to be light-years ahead.

I'm excited about the possibility of an Apple Watch 2 and better sensors. This iteration wasn't enough for me to shell out $400. I need a more accurate monitor. :)
 
itbeme said:
Gen 1 is like a pre-release of the real thing, where the must-haves and latest and greatest geeks finance the real thing which always shows up in 2.0 or in some cases V3.
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Why do you sound so much like a guy who is rationalizing why he doesn't have an Apple Watch yet? You are already telling us you won't get the next gen either. Still waiting on that big promotion I see.
 
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