Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Be interesting how apple will control all these 3rd party bands, do they get a cut, do they legally threaten them. Surly apple would want to patent this and licence the system
 
Be interesting how apple will control all these 3rd party bands, do they get a cut, do they legally threaten them. Surly apple would want to patent this and licence the system


You and I have talked about this before (I think), but I'm firmly convinced Apple will. Look how much R&D they've spent making these bracelets and bands. Don't think there's any way in hell they AREN'T going to defend this tooth and nail.
 
And get ready for Apple not supporting you if you "void your warranty w/ a 3rd party adapter".

I'm pretty sure there has been some consideration given to the band design with regards to optimal contact for the heart rate monitor against the wrist.

Yes, a band is a band is a band. But - I can't see Apple supporting claims where the band is a non-Apple product. Time will tell.
 
so what i'm wondering is…. how are these people getting specs for the band adapters, when the damn watch isn't out yet.
same goes for those charging stand as well.
 
Hilarious. Seems like a smart/cheap way to get a metal band without paying almost a thousand dollars. If this works well, why would anyone get anything beyond the sport model and buy a new band?
 
Millions and millions. And you, eventually.

Kinda doubt that for myself. #1, I have never seen any reason for ANY watch. #2, I'll probably get a Fitbit to track health stuff, if I ever get anything for that. They'll need to add A LOT for me to ever consider it. This is coming from someone that's had every iPhone generation (no 5C/regular 6), multiple Macs, and even bought a few iPads I knew I'd never use just to see if I could find a use for them. I just don't see any reason at all to buy one. They're pretty and all, just nothing I need/want.
 
Funded the stainless steel Adappt. Hope the pin is good. Either way, a very fair price to add some customization options. Given how customizable the face is, it would be nice to match that with a wide range of bands.
 
But you can get equivalent bands for far cheaper with this attachment? I don't understand your logic. Just because apple makes it and sets a high price tag doesn't mean it's the best.

Seeing the hideous watch bands they've used in these examples makes me really appreciate the watch bands Apple designed.


----------

Defend what? They don't have a leg to stand on first of all. And why is it that competition with other companies is good but the moment there's competition with apple (even though there isn't any competition as it doesn't compete with anything apple makes) you fanboys deem it evil and wrong.

I own many Apple products. You are being ridiculous and insane.

You and I have talked about this before (I think), but I'm firmly convinced Apple will. Look how much R&D they've spent making these bracelets and bands. Don't think there's any way in hell they AREN'T going to defend this tooth and nail.


----------

It would be feasible actually. All you need is a magnetic strip to go across the charging port.

Would be cool but I doubt it would be feasible.
 
Believe it or not, there is a HUGE aftermarket, expensive strap market out there for watches. Current high-end, luxury watches of course (namely Panerai), where you can pay $200-$500 for a leather strap to customize your watch. So, for the people not familiar with the "watch world", there is a huge demand for customizable straps. I have a friend who makes a living (a very nice living...able to afford those $5000+ watches that he makes straps for) doing nothing but making aftermarket straps for Panerai, Rolex, any watch you send him specs for, really.

I know people will want to use aftermarket straps and bracelets. But, as I mentioned, at the higher end I think people will mostly get bands made for the Apple Watch -- no adapter needed. At the lower-end, well, people interested in that probably aren't buying a lot of Apple Watches in the first place.
 
You and I have talked about this before (I think), but I'm firmly convinced Apple will. Look how much R&D they've spent making these bracelets and bands. Don't think there's any way in hell they AREN'T going to defend this tooth and nail.

I agree with you, and so they should. There will be good money to be made in the aftermarket strap business.

Most important for me would be to have the metal of the casing and the strap match, going to be interesting.

Would love to try some panerai style aftermarket leather bands with the SS watch. The apple leather straps are kinda boring for me.
 
Thunderbolt is much faster than USB, yet there's still quite a lot of adapters.
Why ? Well, because there's a lot of USB devices, and they're much cheaper.
It's exactly the same here

If the Watch is a success there will soon be a lot of 3rd-party Watch compatible bands on the market, too.
 
I love it! This is all about style. Apple's won the "it's not a wrist computer, it's jewelry" battle before it even hits the streets. Two sizes, six cases per size, plus 24 band styles in multiple sizes... and it's not enough! It's, "I want to show it off, and when I do, I want it to express my tastes and personality."

And before you think I'm a cynic... Yes, I'm getting one. Might not even spend the bare minimum - I've liked the look of a Milanese mesh strap for a long time.

Would Apple be foolish enough to shut the third parties down when the more options there are available to the public, the more watches (and "accessory" iPhones) they'll sell? Sure, Apple'll make noise, noting that ill-fitting bands will not deliver the solid watch-to-flesh contact that's required for proper functioning, (Say it, Tim! "You're not wearing it right!"). But this is not the stuff of major lawsuits. A few cease and desists here, a few MFI licensing payments there, and that'll be the end of the headlines.

Sure, plenty of people would rather pay $75 for a link bracelet than $400 for Apple's - accessories like this will sell. The more cheap bands the are sold, the more likely others will spend extra just to boast it's genuine Apple. A few will spend $50,000 on diamond-and-platimum Cartier bracelets (how much you wanna bet that the Rodeo Drive jewelers will be loaning these out to celebrities at next year's Oscars?)

I'm also willing to bet that some of those Swiss watchmakers will give up on making their own smart watches (imagine, Rolex being accused of making knock-offs) and start selling watch bands - there's probably better mark-up in the bands than the mechanics, anyway.

Note that the same TAG Heuer exec who previously badmouthed Apple Watch has lately been saying nice things. Perhaps his parent company, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy) is negotiating to have a Louis Vuitton Edition? Would Apple turn that down? If they can put a no-name leather strap on a $17,000 watch, how much could they charge for a Gucci, Prada, Fendi, or Coach Edition?

I can imagine the day when Apple's sweetheart deal with Ireland ends, and they relocate the international headquarters to Paris.
 
Fantastic

I think this is a great idea. I backed them. I actually switched to a more expensive thing. I mean, they wanted $30,000. They already have over that. Good for them. I am excited to get my two adapters. I believe in them. Why not?
 
You and I have talked about this before (I think), but I'm firmly convinced Apple will. Look how much R&D they've spent making these bracelets and bands. Don't think there's any way in hell they AREN'T going to defend this tooth and nail.

No they aren't. No more than they would stop 3rd party iPhone case makers.

----------

btw, are these adapters legal ?

because the design belongs to Apple...

No, the watch band it patented. The adapters are fine, as well as all 3rd party bands as long as they done duplicate the Entire apple band.

Patents are public record, research it.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.