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Apple Watch Demand Slides Significantly in June as Launch Momentum Wanes
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Looking at the big picture, watch sales are nearly irrelevant to Apple's annual revenue. Oh sure, strong sales allows them to brag and posture, and it does increase the amount of revenue, but at the end of the day they are successful no matter what happens with the watch. They knew that going into this project and went ahead from a position of strength. Apple knows exactly what they are doing, they've got years of experience.
I don't think this is about revenue...the iPhone is always going to be the bell cow. It's the product with the largest customer base and device with the shortest lifespan. People are conditioned to upgrade their phone every 1-3 years. Most people usually don't upgrade their laptop or tablet nearly as frequently.
The Apple Watch was the first new product line under Tim Cook. There was the question if Apple could create the same magic and marketing buzz for a new product with Steve Jobs. If it's considered a dud, people will start to question if Apple can still innovate....or will they just keep issuing thinner and lighter phones, laptops and tablets and cash in.
Indeed.
And every day that goes by is looking more and more as though Mr. Cook has spoiled the broth, despite there only being one of him.
Asking Tim Cook to be like Steve Jobs is like asking some CEO of Microsoft to be more like Bill Gates. There is something special about a company's founder, especially someone who started the PC revolution (among others) like Steve Jobs. Expecting Apple to be as innovative and disruptive while being the worlds largest company run by a non founder CEO is a tall order.
I think Tim Cook has done a good job and the Apple watch is, while not a game changing device, has potential to be one in later iterations.
I just hope all the other things that make buying Apple products a pleasant experience don't go down the toilet (the retail store experience, the customer service, quality and bugginess of the OS, etc).
I think Tim Cook has done a good job and the Apple watch is, while not a game changing device, has potential to be one in later iterations.
I just hope all the other things that make buying Apple products a pleasant experience don't go down the toilet (the retail store experience, the customer service, quality and bugginess of the OS, etc).
Here is why I think the Apple Watch is important to Apple. Yes, the Iphone is its main product, and everything else is secondary . But do to the success of the iPhone, the company has also been able to capitalize of it, other product lines have been able attach themselves to its success or vice versa . A person might buy an Iphone, will like the Apple experience, and may decide to try a Mac, or an Ipad, or another product based on the success of the Iphone.
To me, my first apple Product was an Ipod, I really liked it, this lead me to look at the Ipad, because I needed something to read PDF's. I had a Kindle, but was thinking of getting a tablet, I could have bought an Android tablet, but the fact I like the experience of the Ipod, made me look at the Ipad. Which I choose in the end. I was satisfied with the experience, so then when I needed to upgrade my laptop, I thought of getting a Mac. So I got one, and liked it too. Then later, I got the iPhone.
Can you see a pattern, I bought of one experience another gadget from the same company, on and on. I wouldn't consider myself an Apple fanboy, that would get anything that has an apple logo. Before the watch came out, I was intrigued, but the way Apple sold it, like a fashion item, also the price structure threw me off. Here is the thing, I was interested in the watch, before it came out, but the way they sold it, price, look, User Interface design looks kind Android-ish, meaning probably less simple than it could be(I don't even hate Android, but I find IOS is more simple and stable). I just feel, that Apple success, is not based of just one product line. Is based on every product, enticing you to another product.
If the Watch fails, I think this takes the momentum from other product lines. There will too much pressure on the iPhone to carry the company. The watch can help, the momentum.
To me, my first apple Product was an Ipod, I really liked it, this lead me to look at the Ipad, because I needed something to read PDF's. I had a Kindle, but was thinking of getting a tablet, I could have bought an Android tablet, but the fact I like the experience of the Ipod, made me look at the Ipad. Which I choose in the end. I was satisfied with the experience, so then when I needed to upgrade my laptop, I thought of getting a Mac. So I got one, and liked it too. Then later, I got the iPhone.
Can you see a pattern, I bought of one experience another gadget from the same company, on and on. I wouldn't consider myself an Apple fanboy, that would get anything that has an apple logo. Before the watch came out, I was intrigued, but the way Apple sold it, like a fashion item, also the price structure threw me off. Here is the thing, I was interested in the watch, before it came out, but the way they sold it, price, look, User Interface design looks kind Android-ish, meaning probably less simple than it could be(I don't even hate Android, but I find IOS is more simple and stable). I just feel, that Apple success, is not based of just one product line. Is based on every product, enticing you to another product.
If the Watch fails, I think this takes the momentum from other product lines. There will too much pressure on the iPhone to carry the company. The watch can help, the momentum.
Apple Watch No Flop
http://watchaware.com/post/14024/the-apple-watch-is-no-flop
I suppose we tend to forget how the iPhone took some time to get rolling as well.
http://watchaware.com/post/14024/the-apple-watch-is-no-flop
I suppose we tend to forget how the iPhone took some time to get rolling as well.
It's too bad the article's author was too lazy to even look up Slice's methodology.
That said, he's right that the iPhone wasn't an immediate mass hit. It took a price cut and added features to do that. Such would obviously help the Apple Watch as well.
I also think it needs more case materials (and shapes). I think it was a fashion mistake to make the gold color only available in a hugely expensive version, just because Jon Ive wanted to have a high end watch on his resume. Many, many people wear gold colored jewelry in part because it matches their complexion or taste. Certainly more than wear black or silver.
For those people Apple might actually add a gold coloured aluminium watch in the future. I can absolutely see that happening, if only for reasons of symmetry with the iPhone, iPad and MacBook lines
The sample size is awesome. Over two million people. The data itself is incredible accurate, down to the model and accessories bought. And it's timely, with information constantly pouring in by the hour. Beats the heck out of cold calling a few hundred people with a purchasing survey.
True, the users of apps that contribute this data tend to be people who like to shop. So they might show a higher rate of purchase than other people. One assumes that Slice is smart enough to try to compensate for this when calculating country-wide estimates from such firm data, however. It is, after all, their business.
True, the number of online orders would lower. But it's still useful to gauge interest:
For example, if online purchases settle in at a steady 10K a day, but suddenly change (because of say, a sale, or new wristband color), that's very useful info.
Overall, in the case of the Apple Watch, which was unique in being only available online for a long time, it did provide an interesting insight into how much higher first weekend online sales can be, than in the following weeks.
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The information is no doubt useful, but it would by no means paint a full and accurate picture. I am reminded of the parable of the 4 blind men who each felt a separate part of an elephant and then proceeded to describe its appearance erroneously.
At best, Slice can conclude that fewer people are ordering online (and even then, it could be because the participants who wanted one had already bought one online earlier). This by no means suggests that fewer people are buying the Apple Watch overall.
A watch that you have to charge for hours every single day just to tell time?
"Sorry I was late for work again guys, my watch was charging."
Quite.
Most reports around the earth say that the Apple Watch tables are deserted.
Nuff said.
Yep, it stands just fine for a watch if you like the looks. How many times does your phone go dead because you forget to charge it? Do you run out of gas because you forget to fill the tank?
At the stores in my area, the iPhone and Macs have had the most action when I have been there or looked inside. The watch table is usually empty or one person looking.
Sure. I went to an Apple Store once to check them out and ordered two online.
The iPhone didn't take off until they started offering subsidies.
Initial iPod sales were low probably due to the fact they could only be used with macs with firewire ports, no windows support.
I was in Glasgow Buchanan Street Apple Store yesterday and I was upstairs waiting on the Genius Bar looking down on the watch table. I think about 3 people had a look and just a quick look.
I had a look on my way out however I think not being able to touch the watches probably has a reason why the tables are so quiet.
I don't think the watch was supposed to be some great example of innovation. It seems like they just released it because of all the rumors that existed for years.
By creating the watch they killed to birds with one stone: they killed the rumor mill, while at the same time they gave the people (some people, the ones who own one now) what they wanted.
More damaged would have been done if they had not released something. I don't think anyone thought it was going to be the next iPad. If it's considered a dud, I (and most people) will not start to question if Apple can innovate.