Apple Watch 2 Said to Feature FaceTime Camera, Expanded Wi-Fi Capabilities and New Models

[JeffyTheQuik]

Why is it obsolete? Why does someone else having something newer or better make your watch any less useful?

People seem to want Apple to make something and never improve any future versions so that they can feel like they have the latest and greatest.

Because, in a lot of peoples' minds, they make themselves obsolete with what something can do in the future, rather than what something does do now.

I was a Microsoft Partner, and it was interesting how that old O/S that was the best thing since sliced bread, sucked when the new one came out. XP was when the customers started pushing back big time.

 

[JoePa2624]

None of these rumors make gen2 any more appealing to wait. GPS is needed, I don't care about a camera in a watch.

 

[unplugme71]

LOL, I laughed so hard I almost pooped. Yep, Apple's M.O is, "Let's reduce our customer's out of pocket cost every year".

haha awesome! Nothing like providing humor to MR audience

 

[CFreymarc]

Make an LTE model, full independence from the phone.

Doubt if there is enough battery for and LTE module on the Watch.

 

[Trius]

I wouldn't necessarily call it "Beating the System". Anyone who has been a long-term Apple customer knows that first edition products by Apple either have bugs that end up being fixed in the next generation or will have less features that people were looking for that end up being in the next generation. History is proof of this.

This isn't exclusive to 2nd gen products. It happens EVERY SINGLE TIME they come out with a new product. That being said, I do not regret ANY of my first gen Apple products. This way of thinking is really flawed.

Live for today.

 

[01silver4]

I don't believe these are the people buying the Edition watch.

Well Lebron James just bought all is teammates Apple watches as a gift during he NBA finals.

 

[perealb]

The current apple watch hardware already has wifi capabilities, but the current watchOS version doesn't fully take advantage of it. Apple has already announced at the WWDC that they will implement these features in watchOS 2.

 

[Zwhaler]

I think this is a mistake. What about those people who spent $10K on the first generation Apple Watch? They get obsolete just like that?

Yes.

 

[BigHam]

If they update their watch line every year I'm out.

 

[peterdevries]

IDK what makes you think this. I personally know about a dozen people, including myself, that upgrade every year.

I didn't say no one does it. Overall, most people upgrade every two years due to the way mobile contracts are structured. It is common knowledge.

 

[Nuvi]

If they update their watch line every year I'm out.

Why? They are updating almost every single product at least once a year so why should Apple Watch be any different. Since Apple Watch is part of such a new product category I would imagine Apple is very eager to update it at least once a year. If you want to by a watch that can stand the test of times then smart watches in general are not the right products for you.

 

[Abazigal]

Actually, they would care. Because the handful of ultra-wealthy people I know didn't get wealthy by buying $10k Apple watches, nor would they waste their money on such a useless vanity item. The people who did buy it aren't as rich as you think they are, and will probably be quite pissed off at how short of lifespan Apple Watch will have.

If it is one thing I learnt surfing websites like Ablogtowatch, it's that there's a world of obscenely rich people out there who don't bat an eye about blowing the equivalent of a decade's wages for many of us on luxury goods. Reading about their lifestyles, I can't even begin to fathom how they can just flush away money like water, but these people exist.

Wasn't there the news of the son of China's richest man who posted a photo of his dog wearing 2 Apple watches? You think he cares that his Apple Watch(es) is obsolete in a year? He can afford to get one every day!

A watch company made 8 watches, each costing $200,000. A sheik bought 3 of them, just like that. Without batting an eyelid. These are probably going to be given out to friends or stored in some safe somewhere, to be taken out only for display purposes.

First-class air tickets cost over $20,000 - the price of 2 Apple watches, and they are "obsolete" in a couple of hours.

I am sure your friends are doing very well for themselves, but if they need to think before spending $10,000 on a watch, then they are probably not "rich" rich.

 

[bniu]

ridiculous idea. facetime camera? dumb so you'll have video of yourself looking up your nose and if you hold your arm up to do a call your arm is gonna cramp. they can keep that.

FaceTime on the watch is still something I'd like to have, mostly for convenience, especially if I know the call will be really short and I don't want to dig out my cell phone. For longer calls, there's better devices out there.

I'd also like to see VoLTE voice calls to be available on my iPad without needing an iPhone around. It's not always about what's the most practical, it's just that sometimes, the best device is the one in your hand and it's nice to be able to do something real quick without having to constantly switch devices.

 

[peterdevries]

Yes.

You and those people here that talk about obsolescence should look up the meaning, because Apple introducing a new model even 1 day after the previous one doesn't have anything to do with obsolescence.

 

[Gregintosh]

I'll definitely buy revision 2. Glad I won't have to wait two years or longer for it.

 

[splogue]

Tungsten! What an interesting choice. It can't really be machined - it is more likely that they would press it in powder form under great pressure to form a case. An extremely heavy one.

I shudder to think at how much this would cost, however. I suspect that if they release one, we will all look upon it from afar.

Titanium would work just fine. It is far more difficult to machine than stainless or aluminum, but it can be produced using conventional techniques. That one is probably more within reach.

All that said? If I buy another one, I might just go for the cheapest material possible. If I'm going to want to upgrade frequently, it makes little sense to invest in long-lasting materials that end up in a drawer a year or two later.

Just my three cents.

 

[Zwhaler]

You and those people here that talk about obsolescence should look up the meaning, because Apple introducing a new model even 1 day after the previous one doesn't have anything to do with obsolescence.

I meant perceived obsolescence. Given the laggy performance of the watch that I've experienced in testing it out, I'd say that isn't far off though.

 

[AleXXXa]

Looks like folks who waited for Gen 2 of the Apple Watch made the right decision.

Of course. It's always a smart decision to wait for a 2nd gen. Look at iPad 2 vs iPad 1: cameras, slimmer, ligther, much better hardware (dual core, double the ram), iOS 9 (ipad 1 is stuck at iOS 5).

 

[sshambles]

Looks like folks who waited for Gen 2 of the Apple Watch made the right decision.

Yeah, we'll see about that.
(I will be a gen-1 buyer, later this year, despite this.)

 

[SHNXX]

If it is one thing I learnt surfing websites like Ablogtowatch, it's that there's a world of obscenely rich people out there who don't bat an eye about blowing the equivalent of a decade's wages for many of us on luxury goods. Reading about their lifestyles, I can't even begin to fathom how they can just flush away money like water, but these people exist.

Wasn't there the news of the son of China's richest man who posted a photo of his dog wearing 2 Apple watches? You think he cares that his Apple Watch(es) is obsolete in a year? He can afford to get one every day!

A watch company made 8 watches, each costing $200,000. A sheik bought 3 of them, just like that. Without batting an eyelid. These are probably going to be given out to friends or stored in some safe somewhere, to be taken out only for display purposes.

First-class air tickets cost over $20,000 - the price of 2 Apple watches, and they are "obsolete" in a couple of hours.

I am sure your friends are doing very well for themselves, but if they need to think before spending $10,000 on a watch, then they are probably not "rich" rich.

Yeah there was some billionaire's kid in China who posted two gold editions on his dog

Funny **** because median wages in China annually doesn't cover one apple watch.

With that said, I do think that the Apple watch edition probably targets a different demographic from the ablogtowatch readers.
Even for people with nice watches (let's say, above 20k-30k), it's hard to imagine spending 10k on a watch that will be nearly worthless two years from now.
First class booking is often available with miles so I'm not sure first class passengers are that rich either.

The types that buy the edition without blinking an eye should be either financially stupid or private jet types

 

[Mildredop]

Hmmm, yearly refreshes.... For a watch... Ugh Apple!

It's not a watch! It's a wrist computer. Same as the pocket computer, bag computer and desktop computer.

 

[Abazigal]

Yeah there was some billionaire's kid in China who posted two gold editions on his dog

Funny **** because median wages in China annually doesn't cover one apple watch.

With that said, I do think that the Apple watch edition probably targets a different demographic from the ablogtowatch readers.
Even for people with nice watches (let's say, above 20k-30k), it's hard to imagine spending 10k on a watch that will be nearly worthless two years from now.
First class booking is often available with miles so I'm not sure first class passengers are that rich either.

The types that buy the edition without blinking an eye should be either financially stupid or private jet types

Just wondering - do we have any reports on people who actually bought an Apple Watch edition because they felt there was value to it? Not those super-rich people who buy one for bragging rights or just because they can. But rather, someone who made a cold, calculated decision to get one over the cheaper models because of some genuine perceived benefit.

Because outside of unboxings and people crushing gold Apple Watches with magnets and the like, I don't think I have actually come across a "serious" gold Apple Watch owner.

As it stands, I agree with the general sentiment that if you do have to have an Apple Watch, get the cheapest one because it still does the same thing (though I suppose a case could be made for the stainless steel edition with sapphire glass being more durable?).

I can understand why Apple is trying to market the Apple Watch as a watch which does more (compared to a "dumb luxury watch"), rather than a smartwatch which "does less", and they certainly have the brand name to appeal to richer consumers. I just wonder how effective that message will be when the Apple Watch hasn't even been released in my country yet (confirmed to be released next week) and news of an improved 2nd generation are already hitting the forums.

 

[KJL3000]

Apple is also said to be exploring different Apple Watch variations beyond the Sport, Watch and Edition models currently available, in an effort to attract customers at price points between $1,000 and $10,000. The report claims it is possible, but not certain, that Apple may release new Apple Watch models based on metals such as titanium, tungsten, palladium or platinum.

Article Link: Apple Watch 2 Said to Feature FaceTime Camera, Expanded Wi-Fi Capabilities and New Models

I miss Apples effort to keep in touch with their customers who don't have between $1,000 and $10,000 to spend on a watch... Apple, please stop that luxury ****!

 

[SHNXX]

Just wondering - do we have any reports on people who actually bought an Apple Watch edition because they felt there was value to it? Not those super-rich people who buy one for bragging rights or just because they can. But rather, someone who made a cold, calculated decision to get one over the cheaper models because of some genuine perceived benefit.

Because outside of unboxings and people crushing gold Apple Watches with magnets and the like, I don't think I have actually come across a "serious" gold Apple Watch owner.

As it stands, I agree with the general sentiment that if you do have to have an Apple Watch, get the cheapest one because it still does the same thing (though I suppose a case could be made for the stainless steel edition with sapphire glass being more durable?).

I can understand why Apple is trying to market the Apple Watch as a watch which does more (compared to a "dumb luxury watch"), rather than a smartwatch which "does less", and they certainly have the brand name to appeal to richer consumers. I just wonder how effective that message will be when the Apple Watch hasn't even been released in my country yet (confirmed to be released next week) and news of an improved 2nd generation are already hitting the forums.

Now that would be an interesting report, wouldn't it?
I myself have bought watches more expensive than the Apple watch edition but would never consider buying the edition unless I had a few more zeroes at the end of my bank account.

 

[ds2000]

There needs to be a GPS chip inside the watch to enable it to be used as a fitness monitor without the need to be tethered by Bluetooth to an iPhone. That's the most glaring change they need to make.

Agree; until this happens, no purchase for me. I don't want to run with a great big dirty iPhone 6 strapped to me AND watch on my wrist.... which is why I'm a 5s user still hoping the 6S may have a 4.7 none gimped model