Apple Watch Chipmakers Said to Be Gearing Up Production

[Keirasplace]

I don't care what Cook "said", you evaluated, or what we've heard...
Apple usually brags about how their products are only Xmm "thin", but no such published spec exists. Kind of a change in posture.

It's starting to go into production, the fact that these basic specifications were/are not published is evidence that they may not be so attractive.

The SDK is expected to come out this month so it's decision time for us to start spending resources to develop apps for it.

Right.. .The fact that till now, Apple has always under promised and over performed on their battery front gives them no leeway at all?

The fact that :
- Basically they are the only ones who can create their own SOC (unlike others like Motorola which uses stock chips)
- Their CPU giving the highest performance despite the lowest clock. Which they can drive even lower for the watch.
- That their using 20nm (and probably 14nm finfet soon) (lower than others that last a day)
- They're the only one that can integrate their own software (besides Samsung with Tinzen)
- They have a precise narrow use case (they're not trying to do everything, and especially not high use tech like GPS and cell and wifi)
- They're using the lowest power screen tech
- That Cook said that about the small sized model too, which means the larger one would have at least 50% more battery
- That Apple must offer at least as much battery life as others (and ideally more) for a similar usage, from a marketing point of view

Doesn't give any leeway in your evaluation!!

Well, OK then...

 

[acslater017]

1998: iMac? No one's going to take this thing seriously. It's ugly, I thought Steve was gonna save Apple, not with this freakshow.

2001: iPod? Why would I pay $400 for an MP3 player? That's pointless, so is that iTunes thing. Steve Jobs failed on this one.
...
2014: Apple Watch? What a terrible idea! No way am I gonna spend even $350 for the base model. I have an iPhone for a reason, plus I hav worn a watch in years. How arbitrary.

YES. I'm always surprised how people - even the fans and early adopters on MacRumors - are so short-sighted close-minded. The same complaints are said every new product, and they're proven wrong every time.

-Day 1: They're too expensive. Year 2: Entry-level model is half the original price.
-Day 1: It's useless. Year 2: It's indispensable.
-Day 1: It's too shallow. Year 2: I can't believe my mother is enjoying it so much.
-Day 1: What a silly name. Year 2: I can't imagine calling it something else.

Etcetera etcetera. The price will drop, the features will expand, it'll get thinner and sleeker, mainstream audiences will pick it up after a year or two, the battery life will slowly get better (despite the whining, the iPhone's has doubled). Tech has always marched forward, but the leap to wearable tech is a unique step in the industry's history - potentially as big as the shift to mobile, IMO. Let's keep our eyes open and see!

 

[ProfessorHenry]

The price will drop, the features will expand, it'll get thinner and sleeker, mainstream audiences will pick it up after a year or two, the battery life will slowly get better (despite the whining, the iPhone's has doubled). Tech has always marched forward, but the leap to wearable tech is a unique step in the industry's history - potentially as big as the shift to mobile, IMO. Let's keep our eyes open and see!

You forget one major thing - it's a watch! Who wears a watch in the 21st century???

 

[itr81]

I'm going buy one once the second or third gen hits. Hopefully the price will come down as well.

 

[Sasparilla]

Right, but opinion of potential sales has to have some factual basis, not pulled from thin air. Imagine going into a board meeting and saying I think Widget X is going to be a flop because I say so. Sure, you shared your opinion, but its of no intellectual value. Sorry, you can't have a meaningful conversation based on "I think that thing sucks."

Actually I wasn't the person you responded to originally (I didn't say I thought it sucked).

I think alot of the talk was about whether the watch could make the "leaked" 30-40 million sales in the 1st year...what do you think of those numbers based on what we know of the watch at this point?

 

[AppleScruff1]

I'm going buy one once the second or third gen hits. Hopefully the price will come down as well.

What Apple products have come down in price on version 2 or 3?

 

[DeathChill]

What Apple products have come down in price on version 2 or 3?

I could be wrong but didn't the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina both come down in price on the second or third version?

 

[AppleScruff1]

I could be wrong but didn't the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro Retina both come down in price on the second or third version?

I'm pretty sure that the Retina Pro came down a bit, but didn't they cut the RAM from 8GB to 4 GB? I don't remember if the MBA came down in price. Apple's usually holds the same price points but upgrades the product, ie, iPhone, iPad, MBP, etc. lowering the price is not their norm.

 

[DeathChill]

I'm pretty sure that the Retina Pro came down a bit, but didn't they cut the RAM from 8GB to 4 GB? I don't remember if the MBA came down in price. Apple's usually holds the same price points but upgrades the product, ie, iPhone, iPad, MBP, etc. lowering the price is not their norm.

Yes the MBA started at $1799 I believe so it dropped by quite a bit.

However, I agree that price drops are not the norm for Apple.

 

[Col4bin]

When did Apple say you have to upgrade every two years? We know nothing about this device except that the cheapest model will start at $349.

So unlike every Apple iDevice in existence, I guess the new watches will just be a magical smart device that never needs upgrading?

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YES. I'm always surprised how people - even the fans and early adopters on MacRumors - are so short-sighted close-minded. The same complaints are said every new product, and they're proven wrong every time.

-Day 1: They're too expensive. Year 2: Entry-level model is half the original price.
-Day 1: It's useless. Year 2: It's indispensable.
-Day 1: It's too shallow. Year 2: I can't believe my mother is enjoying it so much.
-Day 1: What a silly name. Year 2: I can't imagine calling it something else.

Etcetera etcetera. The price will drop, the features will expand, it'll get thinner and sleeker, mainstream audiences will pick it up after a year or two, the battery life will slowly get better (despite the whining, the iPhone's has doubled). Tech has always marched forward, but the leap to wearable tech is a unique step in the industry's history - potentially as big as the shift to mobile, IMO. Let's keep our eyes open and see!

Or, it's ugly and won't spend that kind of $$ on it.

----------

Yes, we get it. But you and others with similar sentiments are not the market for this watch. Millions will be sold in spite of you, just as Chevy sells millions of cars and trucks in spite of me.

To each his own, I guess.

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Most people around the world pay $650 or more for an iPhone every time they upgrade, since most carriers don't subsidize the price like they do in the U.S.

Also, like others have said, we know nothing about this device yet. It could be completely upgradeable, the stainless and sapphire could start at $349 as well, they may not release a new gen every two years, etc, etc.

I just can't see spending that kind of money on a gimmicky watch that only tracks your steps and calories burned. Perhaps it's also that I don't really care for the look of the thing either.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Yes the MBA started at $1799 I believe so it dropped by quite a bit.

However, I agree that price drops are not the norm for Apple.

To be honest, I completely forgot about the original MBA, I was thinking of the last couple with the Intel i processors, not back in the Core 2 Duo days. The point I was trying to make was Apple usually keeps updating and upgrading while holding the same price points.

 

[Carlanga]

Based on what hard market data? Somehow you think Cook and the rest of the Apple exec and BODs is willing blow up the company with these estimate in the tens of millions of sales. I submit they have done endless market research and they would have treated Apple Watch as the first Apple TV, not iPhone, if they didn't think they had a big seller on hand. There is simple too much hype and money at risk to think otherwise.

As far a I can tell you are nothing more than a couch surfing analyst with nothing more to go on than your gut hunch based only on your circle of friends habits.

You just describe every apple "analyst" in your last paragraph. Anyways thanks for the hateroade comment. Glad to know there are experts on a nonofficial mac forum policing opinions of people because they think they know they are right. Good job (as far as I can tell)
Btw there isn't that much hype once you step outside the geek world and money is not something apple is worried too much about currently to test new waters. I'm going to label you as far as I can tell from your post, a couch surfing applelogetic.

 

[Born Again]

You have no clue what I own or my income. NOBODY CARES that you don't plan to buy a watch.

Tell us

 

[Mtmspa]

Tell us

Nobody cares about that, either.

 

[Born Again]

Nobody cares about that, either.

I care

Let's hear what he has to say...

 

[Born Again]

I took a non scientific poll at my department at work - engineers and managers - and only one of 12 expressed interest but not committed. These are people that can afford an apple watch. Curious on what phones they use? 10 of 12 of them use iPhones.

There just isn't that excitement. People don't know why they want one.

 

[DeathChill]

To be honest, I completely forgot about the original MBA, I was thinking of the last couple with the Intel i processors, not back in the Core 2 Duo days. The point I was trying to make was Apple usually keeps updating and upgrading while holding the same price points.

Agreed. I think the difference of when Apple drops prices is when they can't produce it for lower and they need time and production to bring the costs down. I don't think the watch will benefit from that. I think it'll only lower if it doesn't sell.

 

[Mtmspa]

I took a poll at work too. Over 75 percent said they would most likely buy one. I am talking about people that make 500k and up Wall Street white collar workers.

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I took a non scientific poll at my department at work - engineers and managers - and only one of 12 expressed interest but not committed. These are people that can afford an apple watch. Curious on what phones they use? 10 of 12 of them use iPhones.

There just isn't that excitement. People don't know why they want one.

How much does Samesuck pay you per year?

 

[bugelrex]

I took a poll at work too. Over 75 percent said they would most likely buy one. I am talking about people that make 500k and up Wall Street white collar workers

This income range is probably the top 0.5% in the country, a $500 watch is like buying a box of candy to them (buying it just for fun). This income bracket is not going to drive the millions of sales needed.

 

[Born Again]

I took a poll at work too. Over 75 percent said they would most likely buy one. I am talking about people that make 500k and up Wall Street white collar workers.

----------



How much does Samesuck pay you per year?

Congrats on the Wall Street job.

Doubtful that your fake Wall Street friends will put down their rolexes for Apple watches

 

[Mtmspa]

Congrats on the Wall Street job.

Doubtful that your fake Wall Street friends will put down their rolexes for Apple watches

Oh, I am just the janitor there.

 

[Born Again]

Oh, I am just the janitor there.

I have a feeling we're going to be good friends

Do you own a watch?

 

[Mtmspa]

I have a feeling we're going to be good friends

Do you own a watch?

Yeah, Company watch for 15 years of service. It needs a new battery. I wish I could just plug it in at night.

 

[Born Again]

Yeah, Company watch for 15 years of service. It needs a new battery. I wish I could just plug it in at night.

Congrats

Would you really though?

I have a watch that works off my movement. It's a omega sea master.

Some people prefer their watches that way.

I want to be exited for the apple watch. I truly do but given its lack of Gps nor ant+ , daily recharges, etc puts it in a very compromising category only meant for the hardcore fans.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Actually I wasn't the person you responded to originally (I didn't say I thought it sucked).

I think alot of the talk was about whether the watch could make the "leaked" 30-40 million sales in the 1st year...what do you think of those numbers based on what we know of the watch at this point?

Given the huge publicity push of the watch, especially by Apple's most high profile executives its definitely not setting the bar for the original Apple TV "it's a hobby" sales numbers. There have been several Wall Street analysts that have set their own sales expectations at minimum 10m units in 2015 and Apple has never done anything to lower those expectations. Ive and Cook keep rolling along very publicly exalting how great the launch is going to be.

They could be playing a game of liar's poker in an effort to get 10M+ sales they don't think they really can get. But the reality is this: they way they have publicly pushed the watch as a mainstream Apple centerpiece produce, if its a bust its on them and their go their careers. Cook will be seen for sure as "no Jobs," Ive will be viewed as an undisciplined genius w/o Jobs to reign him in, and Apple will be view as done, unable to capture the consumer's imagination any longer.

OTOH if Cook had done a quiet introduction of the watch, if it failed no one would care. So, yes, it will sell in the 10m's b/c I don't think Apple execs are suicidal.

You just describe every apple "analyst" in your last paragraph. Anyways thanks for the hateroade comment. Glad to know there are experts on a nonofficial mac forum policing opinions of people because they think they know they are right. Good job (as far as I can tell)
Btw there isn't that much hype once you step outside the geek world and money is not something apple is worried too much about currently to test new waters. I'm going to label you as far as I can tell from your post, a couch surfing applelogetic.

Ha ha. Step back and read your post and then decide who is drinking the "haterade." My point was only that one can't say Product X is going to fail w/o also giving an intellectual reason. I merely said that Apple execs have everything to lose if Apple Watch failed because they are giving it such a high profile. These are some of the smartest people on the planet, much smarter than you and me. They've done their homework here, surely focus groups, etc.

What data do the "its going to fail" folks have? None that I've seen to date. No one can say why its going to fail other than some banal statement like "no one wears watches," or "I can take my phone out of my pocket."