Apple Watch Chipmakers Said to Be Gearing Up Production

[MacRumors]

Chip suppliers within the Apple Watch supply chain have begun "gearing up" to start production for Apple's new device, according to a new report from Digitimes. Chip orders are estimated to be around 30 - 40 million units for a debut in early 2015.

Digitimes had previously reported, prior to Apple's September 9 event, that the device was at the engineering verification test stage and needed to complete product verification testing before entering mass production. It appears that the Apple Watch has now passed that milestone and is beginning to enter mass production for its debut in early 2015.

Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores Angela Ahrendts had previously revealed that the device would debut in Spring 2015, with several reports indicating that Apple was aiming for Valentine's Day 2015 as a potential launch date. Apple Watch pricing will start at $350 for the aluminum version, while the stainless steel and gold editions will reportedly retail for prices starting at $500 and $4,000 respectively.

Article Link: Apple Watch Chipmakers Said to Be Gearing Up Production

 

[farewelwilliams]

i saw "digitimes" in the corner of my eye and i stopped reading.

 

[Sonmi451]

If true this could be the best valentines ever.

 

[thelonelylimo]

“Gearing up.” #

 

[proline]

Shocker

Hard to believe that Apple is trying to produce a product that they've announced they are trying to produce. MR brings great insight.

 

[surfingarbo]

I'm very excited for this.

 

[samiznaetekto]

“Gearing up.” #

Gear S-ing up. LOL

 

[inscrewtable]

I'd like to see one with a digital 'grand complication' face.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

30-40 millions. Wow that's an ambitious goal. I am still on the fence myself as I am not sure if it really adds value for me. The design I find ok but not great.

 

[smitm272]

And the bands?

I hope they will at least produce the detachable bands in advance. Imagine waiting so long for the watch, only to discover that your preferred band is sold out. They better build that inventory well in advance.

 

[Pakaku]

30-40 millions. Wow that's an ambitious goal. I am still on the fence myself as I am not sure if it really adds value for me. The design I find ok but not great.

I see zero value in owning one, except for 'owning one'. If you do end up finding a decent reason, please let me know.

 

[Keirasplace]

30-40 millions. Wow that's an ambitious goal. I am still on the fence myself as I am not sure if it really adds value for me. The design I find ok but not great.

Its less than 5-7% of Iphones out there, so if they make it compelling enough there's a big chance that this will take off.

 

[Born Again]

cellphone makers - are just trying for dear life to create a new category that nobody cares for.

Steve jobs once said not to chase the trends but to create them

Apple has failed

 

[Mtmspa]

cellphone makers - are just trying for dear life to create a new category that nobody cares for.

Steve jobs once said not to chase the trends but to create them

Apple has failed

I care so your claim is false.

 

[goobot]

30-40 millions. Wow that's an ambitious goal. I am still on the fence myself as I am not sure if it really adds value for me. The design I find ok but not great.

These things are beyond overpriced, that's the main reason why i have no interest in them.

 

[ugcop]

cellphone makers - are just trying for dear life to create a new category that nobody cares for.

Steve jobs once said not to chase the trends but to create them

Apple has failed

I am in the boat with you.

I haven't worn a watch in years and this doesn't interest me at all.

They will sell a few but it isn't the next Iphone, iPod or iPad.

Build a better iPad mini and I am in line.

 

[WardC]

I thought it said "30-40 trillion" units

"The sporty new Apple Watch will feature a variance Core chip, the i4 running at 16MHz, just enough to power the calculator.app"

 

[macduke]

30-40 million is…optimistic. Oh wait, Digitimes. Disregard this whole story.

 

[appleguy123]

40 million units? That seems like really excessive.

If they sold that many in a year it would be 3x as many iPads as were sold in their first year.

 

[HyperZboy]

Put me in for the $4000 watch as long as it doesn't come with the buggy Yosemite like my $5000 Mac Pro!

 

[WardC]

40 million units? That seems like really excessive.

If they sold that many in a year it would be 3x as many iPads as were sold in their first year.

Walmart? Target? Sam's Club? -- Just think, with a product like this, they will put them in every department store and jewelry store in America...more units being produced for more store coverage.

 

[saintforlife]

Does it make sense for the Gold Edition buyers to be on the 'S' upgrade cycle? If you are plopping down $4K every two years, you might as well get the model that has the more refined internals.

 

[WardC]

Put me in for the $4000 watch as long as it doesn't come with the buggy Yosemite like my $5000 Mac Pro!

Your Mac Pro can run Mavericks...they haven't designed them to exclusively only be able to run 10.10 or later yet. All 2013-2014 Mac Pros will run Mavericks.

 

[frankk]

Just had my card details stolen (don't know how) and have been defrauded $2.5k. I'll get the money back but not having the card for a week and the temporary reduced balance is a hassle.

The price of the Watch at $350 is justified for me solely for Pay, especially as I do not want to upgrade my iPhone 5S. Pity there is no news of Pay rollout here in Australia. We are ready! 90% of my payments are already 'tap and go'.

 

[macduke]

30-40 millions. Wow that's an ambitious goal. I am still on the fence myself as I am not sure if it really adds value for me. The design I find ok but not great.

This pretty much exactly sums up how I feel. It would be neat, but worth it? I'm a pretty hardcore Apple user too. Of course I wouldn't get the cruddy sport edition which is aluminum with a more regular glass. That thing would get scratched to crap and has lame bands. Have to at least get the stainless steel, and $500 seems like a conservative number to me. It's especially bad if I have to constantly charge the thing, and I wish it was waterproof to at least a shallow depth of a few feet and not just water resistant. It also doesn't seem like it has many sensors, but maybe they will tell us more early next year?

I really want something like a wider band that goes on my arm. Not a lot wider, and also a curved screen. Would be neat to have a low power display mode that could keep the colors on the band at all times like a fancy wrist wallpaper. That's probably something that we won't see for a long time though.