There is a huge difference between thinking that Apple will release a 2nd generation Apple Watch this year, and thinking they will update the Apple Watch annually. I don't expect Apple to update the Apple Watch this year, but I see no plausible reason they wouldn't release an updated Apple Watch next year with a faster, more efficient processor, etc. Apple doesn't care about your vain uproar, they care about selling people great products.
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Apple Watch 2 sooner than you think?
- Thread starter Mad Mac Maniac
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Yeah but this one actually makes some sense and seems plausible. I've always felt the bands are where Apple could make serious money. People would be more inclined to buy new bands than a completely new watch every year. And Apple didn't hire all these people from the medical field for nothing.
I could see it if it greatly improved battery life. But is there a reason the processor needs to be faster? Are apps still really slow with watchOS 2?
Maybe because people don't expect to buy a new watch every year. Apple does call it a watch after all. I certainly won't be surprised if we get a new Watch next year but I also wouldn't be surprised if what's new is bands with additional functionality. And then a redesigned watch in 2017. Considering the price of some of these bands I could see a lot of angry customers if they were only good for one generation of the Watch. And if the second gen looks just like the first gen there's less incentive for people to upgrade. These things aren't bought on installment plans like many iPhones are.
If the second gen looks just like the first gen then there's absolutely no incentive for those of us who aren't that keen on the looks of the current Apple Watch to buy one.
First update is expected either in April 2016 or September / October 2016. My guess is on autumn 2016.
I still don't understand some people's sense of entitlement... "Pitchorks and torches"? Really? How dare Apple continue to upgrade their products... No one is forcing you upgrade. Your Apple Watch will continue to work just fine after the 2nd Gen is released.
My Macbook is powerful enough to last me a few years so there is clearly no reason for Apple to keep releasing more powerful hardware until mine can't handle the most basic tasks.
Does anyone remember how large a jump the processor was from iPad 1 to iPad 2? iPad 1 lasted like 2 years and the iPad 2 is still alive and kicking here over 4 years later. And it's not just about processing improvements. It's battery life improvments (both from processor efficiency and making parts smaller for a larger battery), all kinds of new sensors. It just seems ludicrious to imagine that Apple won't update annually (give or take a couple months).
Now I agree that it's doubtful that an update will be released this sept/oct, but more for the reasons of constrained availability, on-going world-wide rollout, and getting back R&D investment on this model. But I still think an intriguing possibility (which is why I created this thread). I have no doubt that the watch will be on an annual cycle. In fact, if a new watch (internals) isn't released by next Holiday season (2016) I'll give everyone in this thread $100.
Do not think that I will forget this.
I don't know about cellular, but certainly not GPS. The RipTide Surf GPS gets 10 hours of active GPS on a single charge. That's better than the 4 hour talk time, and 6 hours of music. If GPS is a user choice, and only accessed when given permission to do so, I don't see any significant reason why it has to kill battery life. Especially for those who don't use it.
Are you guys forgetting the iPad 3? I bought mine in August, about 3 month after its release, and in October Apple killed it and began selling the "new iPad" with lightening connector.
The worst part is they actually upgraded the baseband chip as well. So my iPad bought 3 months into its life cycle was instantaneously outdated. And I can't use airdrop or handoff features because of the chip thing.
Apple has no issue at all doing this kind of moves.
Although this case it would benefit me as I returned my Apple watch to wait for the next version. If it has gps for sports tracking I'm buying instantly.
The worst part is they actually upgraded the baseband chip as well. So my iPad bought 3 months into its life cycle was instantaneously outdated. And I can't use airdrop or handoff features because of the chip thing.
Apple has no issue at all doing this kind of moves.
Although this case it would benefit me as I returned my Apple watch to wait for the next version. If it has gps for sports tracking I'm buying instantly.
Exactly. You would only use it with the sports tracking app for example. The rest of the time it can remain off to save battery.
What in the world does any "sense of entitlement" have to do anything?
A watch is a completely different animal from a phone or a tablet. It's not something you are going to be upgrading constantly. Many people, including myself, would be rightly pissed off if Apple was to release a better version a few months after they had spent $350-$1,100+ on one. Of course Apple is going to update it at some point, but 6-8 months after release? No way.
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Hmm...I assumed that was the reason Watch didn't have it...battery life concerns. It seems odd to me that Apple would purposely leave it out since there aren't a lot of other places where they skimped on this device.
I thought it was to pass FCC regs, which takes about six months.
It would have been just like the iPhone's original release. Apple knew that the FCC certification process can't keep a secret. Better to beat the copycats to the punch.
What I don't like about my Garmin's GPS is that I have to manually turn it on and off. If it stays on, it eats the battery, although still not as bad as it would with cellular.
If (when?) Apple puts it in the Watch, they would have to choose whether to make it a user-accessible setting (giving non-techie users the chance to mistakenly burn down their batteries) or automatically reserve it for certain apps (but, at which point can third parties access GPS?).
I think Apple may follow the same new product cycle for their Watch as the fashion industry does for stuff like high-end women's handbags. What's that cycle like? Seasonal, annual, or less often?
It's weird - there are always two types of people when you start talking about updates.
First, the group that thinks a new product means they HAVE to buy it... spoiler, you don't. If we're being honest, most of the phone upgrades we do are unnecessary as well.
Second, the group that feels they are entitled to having the newest/flashiest model for a full calendar year - like a company OWES them this guarantee. Funny. Apple will release a product when it's ready, and they want to. And that's good. All they (or any company) owes the consumer is the product that they purchase to work as advertised.
I'm intrigued by the possibility of specialized smart bands - I think that could be big. I still think most of this year's and next's progress with the watch will be software based. There will be an upgrade at some point, I'm sure, but my argument is that the "wish lists" and update predictions I see from people are predicated on them wanting the watch to do and be something that I don't think Apple ever intended (or intends) - namely, to become a standalone device, independent from the iPhone.
First, the group that thinks a new product means they HAVE to buy it... spoiler, you don't. If we're being honest, most of the phone upgrades we do are unnecessary as well.
Second, the group that feels they are entitled to having the newest/flashiest model for a full calendar year - like a company OWES them this guarantee. Funny. Apple will release a product when it's ready, and they want to. And that's good. All they (or any company) owes the consumer is the product that they purchase to work as advertised.
I'm intrigued by the possibility of specialized smart bands - I think that could be big. I still think most of this year's and next's progress with the watch will be software based. There will be an upgrade at some point, I'm sure, but my argument is that the "wish lists" and update predictions I see from people are predicated on them wanting the watch to do and be something that I don't think Apple ever intended (or intends) - namely, to become a standalone device, independent from the iPhone.
I don't feel entitled that apple needs to keep this model for a full calendar year, but I do think its a poor business and marketing decision to have such a long build up for this model, to then go and release a newer model a mere handful of months later. To me that could only represent a colossal failure in the initial design. Apple spent years on this product and to have it replaced so soon would imply that they didn't get it right the first time.
I do expect apple to upgrade and improve the watch but I have no idea of when that will be. With that said, I don't think it will be at a time when they're still rolling out the gen 1 model to the world.
I agree here, and I don't see it happening for this watch. I actually think it was announced when it was strictly out of pressure to enter a new market - I believe that, if they had it their way, they would've introduced the Watch in March.
Anyway, that was a general description of "those" people, and I know you know what I mean - they pop up for EVERY product, when the update rumors start. You hear them... like Apple "owes" them something, or "should offer a trade-in" program if they update something. No. If there are problems, then yes - replace them. Just a newer version? Nah.
As far as updating the design, you're right - as much as Tim and Jony went on and on about the years that went into its design, that would seem odd. I don't see any physical updates until 2017 at the earliest.
Indeed. And Apple's been selling pretty much the same $80 in-ear headphones since 2008. Lesson: Make a good product from the outset and you don't need to replace it every year.
Those headphones, just like the watch IMHO, are a premium accessory to your phone. I've replaced my iPhone three or four times, but I still have the same set of in-ears I bought back in 2008.
Admittedly, I don't use them much now - but they still work just like they did back in 2008. I could easily argue they work even better now, because my newer, improved iPhone is able to send much more varied content to them.
Anyway, getting back to the premise of the thread: I'm expecting the new apple watch 2 to arrive sometime in 2023, but I’ll concede it may arrive a tad earlier, say 2020?
(Only half-joking there)
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