Apple Watch Goes on Display in Milan, Phil Schiller and Marc Newson on Hand

[GuitarDTO]

Of course I would!

My point is I refuse to be sucked into the whole marketing spin of making out like its a luxury watch as I just don't think it is. It's a $350 smart watch. As for the Edition, how does the saying go....... "You can gold plate a turd, but it's still a turd", now I'm not saying it's a turd, I've ordered a Sport myself (at 2am no less), but making a $350 watch out of Gold does not make it luxury, it just becomes a $350 gold smart watch. I mean Sir Jony made a big thing about how it's a highly accurate precision time piece - it's a digital watch for god sake, it's not hard to make it accurate unlike a real luxury hand made Swiss movement, my $10 Casio no doubt keeps better time than my $2k Tag, big deal.

Also the rubber bands in this photo, they are just that, rubber. Parading round with them on a tray like they are equisite works of art - they are pieces of cheap rubber in different colours yet Apple has got half the world obsessing over these "luxury" bands - if any other company tried pulling that stunt they'd be laughed at. I truly am in awe of the Apple Marketing Machine, they are geniuses. I'm excited for the launch, really I am, but just getting tired of this marketing bull trying to spin it as a high end, luxury watch - it just isn't, it's a piece of tech for your arm.

Like my analogy earlier, making a solid gold Ford Fusion might make it as rare and more expensive than a Ferrari, but I know which one I'd choose. But I guess those opinions are why I work offshore and am not a multi millionaire Apple executive who's company has 200bn on the bank #

Agree completely. I posted in another thread about the marketing and how it is actually turning me off from wanting to buy one. Like you said, it's a piece of tech for your arm. Stop treating it like so much more. The celebrity/fashion/exclusive design displays are comical and cringe worthy. The $5 (selling for $50) piece of silicone bands sitting in a glass tray are the epitome of this debacle.

 

[ginkobiloba]

Of course I would!

My point is I refuse to be sucked into the whole marketing spin of making out like its a luxury watch as I just don't think it is. It's a $350 smart watch. As for the Edition, how does the saying go....... "You can gold plate a turd, but it's still a turd", now I'm not saying it's a turd, I've ordered a Sport myself (at 2am no less), but making a $350 watch out of Gold does not make it luxury, it just becomes a $350 gold smart watch. I mean Sir Jony made a big thing about how it's a highly accurate precision time piece - it's a digital watch for god sake, it's not hard to make it accurate unlike a real luxury hand made Swiss movement, my $10 Casio no doubt keeps better time than my $2k Tag, big deal.

Also the rubber bands in this photo, they are just that, rubber. Parading round with them on a tray like they are equisite works of art - they are pieces of cheap rubber in different colours yet Apple has got half the world obsessing over these "luxury" bands - if any other company tried pulling that stunt they'd be laughed at. I truly am in awe of the Apple Marketing Machine, they are geniuses. I'm excited for the launch, really I am, but just getting tired of this marketing bull trying to spin it as a high end, luxury watch - it just isn't, it's a piece of tech for your arm.

Like my analogy earlier, making a solid gold Ford Fusion might make it as rare and more expensive than a Ferrari, but I know which one I'd choose. But I guess those opinions are why I work offshore and am not a multi millionaire Apple executive who's company has 200bn on the bank ��

I agree...but partially. The thing is, this is really a new category, the mix between a traditional luxury watch and a piece of tech. There haven't been any before. There have been normal smartwatches before, yes. There have been traditional normal and luxury traditional watches before, yes. There have never a combination of both yet, until the Apple one.

If you try to judge it purely as a traditional luxury watch, then I agree. It has some elements of that category, but it just doesn't compare with the best hand made swiss watches out there, and the whole "highly accurate precision time piece" argument on the website makes me smile. Like you said, a 10$ Casio watch is also a "highly accurate precision time piece"...

But as a combination of both worlds, it is unique, and the image they are building for it is not completely out of place, although maybe a bit exagerated yes..

 

[JoshAlfie]

I totally understand why many "Fashion" items do this.
As they are inherently useless, even not that well made, and they simply need to do this type of thing, to generate hype over what it in reality a weak product if you looked at it with a critical eye.

Apple should not feel so uncertain about THEIR product.

I don't think they needed to do any of this, and many would have far more respect for them if they focused on what they are good at, making great products, and not stooping down low like they are.

They should be proud of what they have made, not have to resort to gimmicky tricks to hope and pray they can make themselves look cool.

I honestly don't think they need any of this, and if smacks of weakness and uncertainty in yourself to feel you have to do any of this.

Basically that are admitting, we think this will fail, unless we do all of this.
That's a bad sign to give off.

There is nothing inherently "weak" or "low" or "uncertain" about fashion items.

I resent your opinion because you're degrading something that other's care a lot about to being nothing more than "useless". Just because you may not understand or "get" fashion doesn't meant that it is meaningless. The world doesn't revolve around you.

I for one love the fact that Apple is marketing this as a fashion device. Makes me want to wear it more for that reason alone than any other feature that is has.

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Of course I would!

My point is I refuse to be sucked into the whole marketing spin of making out like its a luxury watch as I just don't think it is. It's a $350 smart watch. As for the Edition, how does the saying go....... "You can gold plate a turd, but it's still a turd", now I'm not saying it's a turd, I've ordered a Sport myself (at 2am no less), but making a $350 watch out of Gold does not make it luxury, it just becomes a $350 gold smart watch. I mean Sir Jony made a big thing about how it's a highly accurate precision time piece - it's a digital watch for god sake, it's not hard to make it accurate unlike a real luxury hand made Swiss movement, my $10 Casio no doubt keeps better time than my $2k Tag, big deal.

Also the rubber bands in this photo, they are just that, rubber. Parading round with them on a tray like they are equisite works of art - they are pieces of cheap rubber in different colours yet Apple has got half the world obsessing over these "luxury" bands - if any other company tried pulling that stunt they'd be laughed at. I truly am in awe of the Apple Marketing Machine, they are geniuses. I'm excited for the launch, really I am, but just getting tired of this marketing bull trying to spin it as a high end, luxury watch - it just isn't, it's a piece of tech for your arm.

Like my analogy earlier, making a solid gold Ford Fusion might make it as rare and more expensive than a Ferrari, but I know which one I'd choose. But I guess those opinions are why I work offshore and am not a multi millionaire Apple executive who's company has 200bn on the bank #

It's not a $350 smartwatch made out of gold because it is...made out of gold. The value of gold matters.

It might have the functional value of a $350 watch but a Rolex has the same functional value of a $50 analogue watch too. One of the major value difference comes from materials. Gold for some matters a lot and is in fact more valuable than than "functional value" of the device.

Build material represents emotional value. I happen to like stainless steel so that's why I spent more and got the stainless steel version. To me it is worth more than the aluminium so that's why I'm willing to pay more.

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but people aren't going to wear it on their bodies all of the time. you have to take it off and charge it every day because of its battery, which is one of the inherent problems of smartwatches. it's not something you wear and forget about. like a smartphone, it's something you have to charge everyday. it's another object to have to remember to charge and monitor daily and care for its battery life.

it's an extraneous accessory. and that's where the challenge is in successfully pushing them. you have to prove that the extra inconvenience is a necessity, or enough of a fashion statement to make the extra inconvenience worth it.

Most people take their watches off at night.

It takes the same amount of energy to take your analogue watch off and put it on the dresser than it does taking the Apple Watch off and putting it on charge.

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iphone's sell themselves these days. people want them before apple starts advertising them. they sell like hotcakes and there's never any doubt that they'll sell a record number every year.

with the apple watch, it feels like they're trying hard to convince people of their relevancy. i'm not exactly sure going for the fashion angle is the right way to sell it, but when you think about it, that's really the only way they're going to have a chance.

the sheer convenience of smartphones these days is why devices like smartwatches haven't taken off. they're not required, they're not an evolutionary step in technology. they're a side-step. the future of human technology is not the smartwatch.

so because of this, it seems like apple is going above and beyond simply marketing the device. they have to convince people that they need or want an extraneous device when they already have smartphones and tablets.

They are bringing attention to the device. This means that more people will know about them initially.

In the long run they will only succeed if the product makes people's lives better. However, this doesn't mean that they shouldn't make as much noise as possible right now.

Smartwatches haven't taken off because up until now they have been absolute rubbish. They have had no mainstream fashion appeal nor have they had a decent operating system.

Make no mistake. Apple is playing this perfectly.

 

[HenryDJP]

Of course I would!

My point is I refuse to be sucked into the whole marketing spin of making out like its a luxury watch as I just don't think it is. It's a $350 smart watch. As for the Edition, how does the saying go....... "You can gold plate a turd, but it's still a turd", now I'm not saying it's a turd, I've ordered a Sport myself (at 2am no less), but making a $350 watch out of Gold does not make it luxury, it just becomes a $350 gold smart watch. I mean Sir Jony made a big thing about how it's a highly accurate precision time piece - it's a digital watch for god sake, it's not hard to make it accurate unlike a real luxury hand made Swiss movement, my $10 Casio no doubt keeps better time than my $2k Tag, big deal.

Also the rubber bands in this photo, they are just that, rubber. Parading round with them on a tray like they are equisite works of art - they are pieces of cheap rubber in different colours yet Apple has got half the world obsessing over these "luxury" bands - if any other company tried pulling that stunt they'd be laughed at. I truly am in awe of the Apple Marketing Machine, they are geniuses. I'm excited for the launch, really I am, but just getting tired of this marketing bull trying to spin it as a high end, luxury watch - it just isn't, it's a piece of tech for your arm.

Like my analogy earlier, making a solid gold Ford Fusion might make it as rare and more expensive than a Ferrari, but I know which one I'd choose. But I guess those opinions are why I work offshore and am not a multi millionaire Apple executive who's company has 200bn on the bank ��

Different stokes for different folks. The Edition is for "somebody", just not for you. Keep in mind, there are many others that think you're wasting money paying $350 on a smart watch (that will undoubtedly be outdated in a year or so) when they can buy a multifunction G-shock for under $100 that will last them for years.

 

[nando87]

He sure looks american. There is a saying here, if you want to look younger, dress like a young adult, not like an old teenager. Dressing like an old teenager you look like a redneck/fool. For god's sake, he works at Apple's PR...

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I have issues with this luxury term. Its a $349 Smartwatch in its basic form, to add no further functionality but just change the materials and add number of different colours and straps does not make it luxury, maybe it does if you throw millions of $$$ of marketing budget at it?

In my eyes taking a Ford Fusion, replacing all the materials its made of, charging 48x the price but yet offer nothing in the way of performance gains over a standard one would not make it luxury, its still a Ford Fusion.

Dont get me wrong, I have ordered one, I love the product from what I've seen, just charging $17k for the Edition doesn't make it luxury, just expensive.

I'll await the backlash..... but remember - it is just my opinion

Only... that already happens. Haven't you heard about the VW group, common platforms and engines from skoda to audi, and so on? Man, welcome to planet Earth 2015, where your full equip 60 000 € Audi A4 2.0 TDI S-Line has the same platform, engine, gearbox, transmission... than a 17 000 € Skoda.

You're focusing it the wrong way. It's the 349 USD the one which has the same internals as a 17 000 USD watch, you know...

 

[ginkobiloba]

Only... that already happens. Haven't you heard about the VW group, common platforms and engines from skoda to audi, and so on? Man, welcome to planet Earth 2015, where your full equip 60 000 € Audi A4 2.0 TDI S-Line has the same platform, engine, gearbox, transmission... than a 17 000 € Skoda.

You're focusing it the wrong way. It's the 349 USD the one which has the same internals as a 17 000 USD watch, you know...

Ironically, Apple's Watch is probably the most egalitarian product they have ever made. The guy/girl with the 17.000$ model has exactly the same technology as your 400$ model.

 

[ZMacintosh]

My God, I love Apple just as much as everyone else does but this is crazy. They're hyping up their watch like its a new miracle to man kind. I sure hope the watch doesn't flop for Apple's sake.

Not really, theyre promoting a new product that is a completely different element for them and they want people to experience it.

It looks like the Apple Watch is turning into a real hit, to the chagrin of all you naysayers.

It is and will continue to go that way, these people on these forums aren't the people Apple is targeting with this device...these people arent part of that crowd, they keyboard warriors and apple whiners.

 

[SeattleMoose]

Jury still out....still unclear as to what delta value the Apple watch brings to the table? But hey, if anyone can pull a rabbit out of a hat...it's Apple.

"I'll bide my time....Smithers...release the hounds"

 

[peppespizzapie]

macrumors turns into apple marketing

[url=http://cdn.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]

Yes, Macrumors. We GOT it! The watch, and all other apple products, is perfect. And we all should buy it. We know now! You can stop pushing.
Macrumors starts to look more and more like a apple marketing office.
The pro's you can read 30 times a day here first. The contra's you have to get from other website's.

 

[01silver4]

You would prefer they kept it a secret?

By getting it out there and branding it fashion, timepiece, fitness device, etc., they are marketing it in a way that will hopefully appeal to many different kinds of people. That's what they should be doing.

Exactly, if it where his company or product. He would be doing the same thing. People need to stop the hating, and congratulate sit back and take a few notes. Apple has come a long way, seeing that it was started in a garage. I use Apple along with other companies, successful individual. To remind and inspire my two girls, that anything is possible. If they work hard, and believe in there self, ideas etc.