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Apple Watch Launching in 'Spring' According to Apple Retail Chief Angela Ahrendts

Thermonuclear said:
And for only US$20, you'll be able to get one of any number of counterfeit versions which are soon to appear. Each will look very much like an Apple Watch, just like there are closely faked Rolex watches which cost a tiny fraction of the real thing.

Illegal? Sure, if they have fake Apple labels or are falsely sold as real Apple merchandise.

But illegality hasn't stopped fakes of many different expensive watch brands, and it won't stop Apple fakes either.

Would I buy one? Of course not. But I've no doubt that they are plenty of less scrupulous people who won't hesitate to hand over a little money to get a fake watch to help provide a fake presentation of themselves.

The result? Having a real Apple Watch to show off how hip or how wealthy you are just won't work that well if any bum can get a fake which looks the same.
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Meh, I prefer my Rotary watch. It looks really nice, way nicer than the  watch, and I get lots of compliments for it. Every smart watch today looks geeky, or if there's one that doesn't, it's Motorola's. My Rotary was approx. $60 instead of some crazy high price because it's not "designer" (and isn't a fake of one).

Speaking of form vs function, I'll bet the second Apple watch will make the first one about as valuable as one of those non-functional fakes.
 
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What a horrible device. In my book, the functionality is mediocre, and even Apple admits that the battery life will be rather poor. If it can't even act as a watch for more than 24 hours, I just don't see the point. I'm not recharging that clunky piece of junk every day.

In the end, it's each to his own, but I think I'll pass for the moment. :)
 
peterdevries said:
I was in Beijing last year where they have specialized malls for counterfitting. I have seen Rolexes, Pateks and anything else you could think up that were extremely convincing (even containing sapphire glass!!!). They sold them at an entry price of $800! I wasn't interested in buying so left the store and they came after me to negotiate. I didn't even say a word and the price was already down to $20. Still didn't buy. In my group about 10 people bought a watch and only one was still running after a week (it still is). They did look very very real though...

The Breitlings they had were so exquisitely made that you could only tell from the font they used for the dial, which was just a littlebit off.
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My experience is different - I regularly buy fake watches from China (I have to travel there quite a lot). The purchases are from roadside flea market... I normally buy from the same guy and he knows me for about 5 years now, so there is a bit of a trust built now...

I normally buy about 6 watches at a time (Tommy Hilfigers, Porsche, CK1, Brietlings, any designer brand which looks good)... The most I pay for these watches is about $ 50 for the lot... Over years, I must have had more then 50 watches from the market, some I wear, some I give away to friends (who know they are cheap chinese fakes)

They one that has lasted me the shortest is about 5 months, and I have a few going strong after nearly 5 years !!! Only thing they need is battery change and straps, which don't cost much money.

I use the cheap watches for my travels to Africa (Nigeria mostly) for obvious reasons and I have lost a few watches there...

Having said that I still have my original Aviator watch (3 years) as well as original Japanese Citizen time piece (nearly 20 years now), which run fantastically well..

I will most certainly be getting an Apple Watch, when it graces our shores, which unfortunately is quite low down on Apple's food chain.....
 
when apple announced the quarter earnings last week they said that the first quarter 2015 will not see watch earnings ;)

so it will go on sale not before april :apple:
 
Kaibelf said:
Agreed. I very much prefer the superior and equally functional watch you designed. What was it called again? :rolleyes:
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Logical ... So if he can't comment on the design, what gives you the right? I presume you actually have designed a smart watch your self.
 
Good. Only launch when it's ready. On that topic: I hope Apple stops with the yearly iOS and OS X updates: it's too fast with too many bugs.
 
himanshumodi said:
I can not imagine what segment of users will buy this. For folks who wear watches as an accessory... they aren't going to move away from their Rolexes. For folks who want health related stuff tracked, there are cheaper options available. There simply can't be a value that the watch will provide being a part of an ecosystem that's worth 350 bucks.

Edit - But then hey... Apple knows what I want better than I do I guess
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what wristband will track my heart rate all day and sync to healthkit?
 
I think Angela needs an editor. this paragraph is kind of a mess. :eek:

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As far as the watch goes this is the advantage Apple has that others don't - their own retail stores where you can come in and try on the watch, swap out bands and just get a much better hands on experience before you buy.
 
Kaibelf said:
Agreed. I very much prefer the superior and equally functional watch you designed. What was it called again? :rolleyes:
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Oh aren't you so clever and witty, people can't have an opinion unless they've also designed one :rolleyes:
 
BvizioN said:
I am sorry but how is this more specific? Apple said early next year and Angela says Spring (Spring is early to mid)!! If anything they are pushing the launch. If they were going to launch on lets say May or June 2015, I can't see how that can be early!!
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Jan-Mar - early
Apr-Sept - mid
Oct - Dec - late

The Spring in the USA starts on Fabruary 2nd, but since Angela is from UK for her, the Sping starts in March. So, in order to respect the deadline mentioned/promised by Tim, the Apple Watch should be released by the end of March. Apple should finish the hardware side by the end of January in order to start production in March and they have almost until the last minute to polish the software. My most optimistic prediction based on the rumors we are getting and the stage of development we saw in September, is release in April-May together with the new Macbook Air redesign and Apple TV update.
 
The fakes are coming...

The fakes are coming, whether Apple likes it or not. Indeed, I expect that the first set of fake watches have already been made and await only software modifications to match further imagery to be released by Apple.

Since the only moving piece in the crown, the fake Apple watches should be more reliable than fakes of purely mechanical watches. If an electronic fake runs once, it will probably keep running. The manufacturers will use the time saved on mechanical details to further perfect the appearance of the case and display.

I predict that the fakes will become widely available before Apple ships its watch. And I'll bet that most of the fakes will run for much longer between recharging than will the real thing.

Caveat emptor: Apple packaging can be faked as well; so avoid buying an Apple Watch from a third party even though the watch and the box appear authentic. No doubt that the online auction sites will be soon loaded with such offerings.

Maybe the fake Apple Watches will become a fad among school kids, just like fake designer sneakers. You could be sitting in your favorite coffee shop when a troop of teenagers wanders in, each with a $20 fake that looks identical to your $1,000 real Apple Design. You'll then have to pull out your iPhone 6/7/8/whatever to prove your social worth.
 
I'm having a hard time seeing why people want an Apple Watch... pay $350 so you don't have to take your phone out of your pocket? Is modern society really that lazy?

Until the Apple Watch can be used in place of an iPhone, I don't see the draw.

Make it so with the Apple Watch you can send texts by speaking the message into your watch, or be able to speak a destination to your watch and the gps navigation in the watch starts telling you directions with a map on the tiny screen... all without having to have it tethered to your iPhone... and now we are getting into something more useful.

Pedometer? Yawn...
 
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It. Will. Fail. Microsoft and Jabra already are way ahead regarding sensors, and this design is behind many smartwatches in design. Sorry Apple, you will have to work harder if you want this to become trendy and sell well. I am really disappointed with Apple on this one. I had expected the coolest looking, most amazing health-censoring device with of course the possibility of apps etc. And then they do this POS...
 
Simon R. said:
It. Will. Fail. Microsoft and Jabra already are way ahead regarding sensors, and this design is behind many smartwatches in design. Sorry Apple, you will have to work harder if you want this to become trendy and sell well. I am really disappointed with Apple on this one. I had expected the coolest looking, most amazing health-censoring device with of course the possibility of apps etc. And then they do this POS...
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Wow, you must be paid very much as a market research oracle.:rolleyes:

Why do you think the entire market will think the same as you do? Haven't you read all the blogs and many posts here about people geting ready to buy this?

I personally don't think it will be an equal hit as the iPad or iPhone, but considering the amount of thrust the entire smartwatch market is currently experiencing, you can bet Apple will be among the main profit earners (and thus smartwatch volume sellers) in the industry. Its ecosystem, marketing and retail strategy are best in class and will make sure this happens.

People keep talking about the product itself, which is of course essential, but forget that the marketing and retail strategy are equally important to get it in people's hands. Look at the Microsoft Band. It was put on the market without any fanfare. I think it is a very interesting device, which is echoed in most f the hands-on reviews on the internet. Yet, no lines at MS stores and only marginal sales on launch day. I think it is a missed opportunity by MS to grab market share. Even Samsung is better at this now than MS ever was. In the end Samsung will sell more of a less compelling and integrated product than MS, just because they know how to market their products.
 
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