Apple Watch Makes Reality TV Debut on 'The Voice' Judge Pharrell Williams' Wrist

[SgtPepper12]

All this iWatch hype feels incredibly forced and cheesy. I'm sure there is a demographic out there that will respond to it, but wow. RIP Dignity. #$oul

I've been thinking about this, because it also feels really forced and obvious to me. I think the reason why this is, might be that I'm visiting a website that informs me about every little marketing move they make. Most people would never notice these things.

 

[nikaru]

Few fashin magazin covers and one singer were spoted wearing the Apple Watch so Apple is clearly not pressuring this. If you take into account the kind of money they have, they could probably put the iWatch on full cover page of every single newspaper and magazine in the US and still be left with tons of cash for marketing on day 1 and further.

p.s. I think this guys wears the Rose Gold model, not the stainless steal.

 

[MH01]

And yet here you are, spending time reading (and even commenting) about it.

Be a very quite place if people on MR actually owned the products they commented on

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Apple is in markerting overdrive, all the best to them, in my opinion this is a first product for a very long time they are going to have to push to convience people, not cause its bad , just that they actually need it.

 

[mw360]

That's the thing... It's not just a gadget. It's an item of clothing. You're wearing it. It has to be considered fashionable to get worn. And there's no objective notion of "good fashion" there are only trends.

This is exactly it. The nerds aren't getting it, and probably won't for a year or two. Selling a fashion item is nothing like selling a laptop.

 

[the8thark]

Apple is not choosing the celebrities it gives the Apple Watches to very well. If this was a non Apple product seeing this person wearing one would make me not want to buy it. Just having it on his hand would cost them my sale. He has zero fashion sense.

But because of Apple's good track record, I've moved from the probably will one day get an Apple watch to, I am really not sure anymore because of this. I am aware the Apple watch is more fashion and less function. And the idea is to put this watch in the hands of cool people or people that are respectable. Apple failed to do this and gave the watch to someone who many people find quite the opposite of respectable.

Bad move Apple, bad move. Ron Johnson would not have made this rookie mistake. he knew how to set up stores and advertise products well.

 

[mw360]

I've been thinking about this, because it also feels really forced and obvious to me. I think the reason why this is, might be that I'm visiting a website that informs me about every little marketing move they make. Most people would never notice these things.

Precisely.

Most people would go 'ooh look, he's got a iWatch! (sic)' and that would be the end of it.

A dry and analytical article on a website like this puts a very different emphasis on it. Too many people here confuse what they read in the click-hungry tech press, with what Apple are actually 'putting out'.

 

[beanbaguk]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!

No really.....ZZZZZzzzzzzzz

This has to be the most boring thing to come from Apple in ages.

Now tell me more about the new Apple TV and 6S.

 

[mw360]

Not that I'd really be surprised by the existence of such thing, but the idea of a sewing machine forum/website made me laugh so hard.

http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=92

Take a look. The thread titles look strangely familiar...

 

[krspkbl]

i like the idea of the apple watch but i wouldn't buy one anytime soon. i'll wait for the 3rd or 4th revision. i know it has to have a large screen (for something that fits on your wrist) but the design itself looks too big. also the battery life will probably be something stupid/useless.

look at the first iphone/ipad and compare them to the iphone 6/ipad air2, mini 3. i'm waiting for that to happen to the watch before i get one.

 

[the8thark]

Apple is in markerting overdrive, all the best to them, in my opinion this is a first product for a very long time they are going to have to push to convience people, not cause its bad , just that they actually need it.

Apple is basically giving the watch to any celebrity with 5 seconds of media time. Apple don't really care how respectable the celebrity is or how much fashion sense they have. it's just "get as many eyeballs seeing the product as possible".
This article proves this correct. If you're only giving the product to respectable celebrities with a fashion sense, this Williams guy would never get an Apple watch to advertise.

When I see him with an Apple watch, I don't see "cool guy with a cool product I also want to own". What I do see is "Apple becoming desperate and allowing any zero-rate celebrity with zero respectability to wear the product just so it has some media air time"

That hurts Apple as a brand in my eyes. It's not showing Apple products as something classy that the respectable people of this would want and we should want also. It's showing Apple as putting out overpriced junk that any overpaid zero-rate celebrity just buys because they have too much money.

 

[OllyW]

Apple is not choosing the celebrities it gives the Apple Watches to very well. If this was a non Apple product seeing this person wearing one would make me not want to buy it. Just having it on his hand would cost them my sale. He has zero fashion sense.

But because of Apple's good track record, I've moved from the probably will one day get an Apple watch to, I am really not sure anymore because of this. I am aware the Apple watch is more fashion and less function. And the idea is to put this watch in the hands of cool people or people that are respectable. Apple failed to do this and gave the watch to someone who many people find quite the opposite of respectable.

Bad move Apple, bad move. Ron Johnson would not have made this rookie mistake. he knew how to set up stores and advertise products well.

It could be you are not part of the audience Apple are targeting this product at. It's a new market they are moving into and fashion is very fickle. It could backfire on Apple as something that's highly desirable and in fashion this year can become old hat and unwanted a year later.

 

[the8thark]

Precisely.

Most people would go 'ooh look, he's got a iWatch! (sic)' and that would be the end of it.

A dry and analytical article on a website like this puts a very different emphasis on it. Too many people here confuse what they read in the click-hungry tech press, with what Apple are actually 'putting out'.

Actually no. Most people I know would go:

"What is that loser wearing on his wrist? It's an Apple Watch? Wow has Apple really sunk that low?"

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It could be you are not part of the audience Apple are targeting this product at. It's a new market they are moving into and fashion is very fickle. It could backfire on Apple as something that's highly desirable and in fashion this year can become old hat and unwanted a year later.

That's exactly why you chose celebrities that never go out of fashion. That will get sales of the version 1 watch happening. And then they can sell version 2 using the sales of version 1 as a starting point.

Also why only choose young celebrities to advertise the Apple watch on? Pick some celebrities who are older to advertise it too. Like the over 50 ones too. There are a lot of very rich over 50 people in the world who want to be surrounded by the best tech available and they care about the fashion sense of it too. These people really don't care how many pop singers wear the watch. But if they think it'll be a conversation point at a meeting or just the thing to go with their tuxedo or dress for that gala ball they will get one.

Apple also should have done a deal to get it on Daniel Craig's wrist in the new James Bond movie.

 

[ichii]

The Apple watch is thicker than a LG G watch right? I been wearing that and it seems too big for my wrist. So don't know how comfortable the Apple watch would be.

 

[Piggie]

Great. I'll take your advice.

I have no interest in sewing machines so I think I'll find a sewing machine forum/website to let people know I'm not interested in whatever latest sewing machine model is being talked about in that world.

On second thought... Nah. You "non-interested, yet reading/commenting about it" folks just keep on with what you're doing.

I'll stick to spending my time on stuff I'm interested in.

Well this is a good point.
And you are right it would not generally matter.

The difference here is that Apple screw up and ruin the WHOLE industry.
If no one else took any notice whatsoever of what they did, and totally disregarded Apple then, like your sewing machine analogy, it would not matter.

The problem is, other companies/managers/CO's do take notice.
Then other products by other brands get wrecked as a by product of what Apple does.

THAT'S the problem, and why some get annoyed.

 

[m4v3r1ck]

Apple paid GOLD for letting him even wear it!

 

[malexandria]

I HATE Myself

But I'm starting to convince myself that I want this stupid thing.

 

[Kiwi 99]

http://www.thesewingforum.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=92

Take a look. The thread titles look strangely familiar...

I had a look, it's great. There's questions like "which sewing machine should I buy?", and people chime in with their own experiences and preferences. No-one seems to insult anyone. It's quite astonishing really.

And I agree with an earlier poster, I think it's a 42mm in the picture. (Same as the previous poster, I'm a similar size to Pharrell, and my cardboard cutout looks like that on my wrist)

 

[MH01]

Apple is basically giving the watch to any celebrity with 5 seconds of media time. Apple don't really care how respectable the celebrity is or how much fashion sense they have. it's just "get as many eyeballs seeing the product as possible".
This article proves this correct. If you're only giving the product to respectable celebrities with a fashion sense, this Williams guy would never get an Apple watch to advertise.

When I see him with an Apple watch, I don't see "cool guy with a cool product I also want to own". What I do see is "Apple becoming desperate and allowing any zero-rate celebrity with zero respectability to wear the product just so it has some media air time"

That hurts Apple as a brand in my eyes. It's not showing Apple products as something classy that the respectable people of this would want and we should want also. It's showing Apple as putting out overpriced junk that any overpaid zero-rate celebrity just buys because they have too much money.

In this case I see the effect of Apple buying BEATS. As with yourself, this is one form of cool that Apple does not need, it was already cool to own Apple products in their own right, this in someways feels cheap. This is the way Beats does its marketing, and its seem Apple is going that route.

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That's exactly why you chose celebrities that never go out of fashion. That will get sales of the version 1 watch happening. And then they can sell version 2 using the sales of version 1 as a starting point.

Also why only choose young celebrities to advertise the Apple watch on? Pick some celebrities who are older to advertise it too. Like the over 50 ones too. There are a lot of very rich over 50 people in the world who want to be surrounded by the best tech available and they care about the fashion sense of it too. These people really don't care how many pop singers wear the watch. But if they think it'll be a conversation point at a meeting or just the thing to go with their tuxedo or dress for that gala ball they will get one.

Apple also should have done a deal to get it on Daniel Craig's wrist in the new James Bond movie.

Good reply, aim for class, and your product will be associated with it.

I don't believe the Bond franchise will move away from Omega, an Apple watch does not belong on the wrist of 007.

 

[OllyW]

Apple also should have done a deal to get it on Daniel Craig's wrist in the new James Bond movie.

Omega have already have a long term deal for Bond movies.

Also why only choose young celebrities to advertise the Apple watch on? Pick some celebrities who are older to advertise it too. Like the over 50 ones too. There are a lot of very rich over 50 people in the world who want to be surrounded by the best tech available and they care about the fashion sense of it too. These people really don't care how many pop singers wear the watch.

That would then put off the youngsters who would think it's aimed at old people.

But if they think it'll be a conversation point at a meeting or just the thing to go with their tuxedo or dress for that gala ball they will get one.

Wearing a digital watch with a tuxedo? Wouldn't that be a fashion faux pas?

 

[richardmu]

And yet here you are, spending time reading (and even commenting) about it.

Me too! I find all the hype and buildup on MR for any new Apple product
compulsive reading being a huge fan of all things Apple.
However, I don't have an iPhone as I use a cell phone so little and so that makes an AW somewhat redundant. Still love the idea of buying one though!

 

[Macdick]

why not

And yet here you are, spending time reading (and even commenting) about it.

why not ?this is a democracy,freedom of speech we are not in Russia

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I don't believe the Bond franchise will move away from Omega, an Apple watch does not belong on the wrist of 007.

It moved away from Aston Martin so why not Omega? the only preference Bond and MI6 have is the highest bidder for product placement. If Apple wanted to be a Bond watch it has the money to make an irresistible offer.

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why not ?this is a democracy,freedom of speech we are not in Russia

Poster wasn't commening on RIGHT to read and post, just questioning why someone uninterested in the product would waste there time here doing so. Surely they have things that do interest them where time would be better utilized.

 

[gnasher729]

I like how Apple assumes everyone loves Pharrell Williams and will wear whatever he does.

I like how you come up with crazy ideas about what Apple assumes and post them, pretending they are facts.

That's the thing... It's not just a gadget. It's an item of clothing. You're wearing it. It has to be considered fashionable to get worn. And there's no objective notion of "good fashion" there are only trends.

On Slashdot this would be voted "+1 Insightful".

 

[the8thark]

Omega have already have a long term deal for Bond movies.

Yes but Apple need to ask around. You never know what Apple might be able to pull with it's influence in the movie industry. Maybe one movie or two.

That would then put off the youngsters who would think it's aimed at old people.

Yes but that's ok. You want to keep the people who actually have the $$ to but one.

Wearing a digital watch with a tuxedo? Wouldn't that be a fashion faux pas?

The times are changing. Someone has to start a trend for it to catch on. And the Apple middle and high end watches with a good band could fir those occasions. You just need someone to make it trendy to do so then the people will follow.

In this case I see the effect of Apple buying BEATS. As with yourself, this is one form of cool that Apple does not need, it was already cool to own Apple products in their own right, this in someways feels cheap. This is the way Beats does its marketing, and its seem Apple is going that route.

I agree 100%. This does feel Beats advertising like. And Beats have their reputation they have now because of it. Not a reputation Apple as a whole would want to have I would think.

Good reply, aim for class, and your product will be associated with it.

Well said. That's exactly what I meant. Glad you also get it.

I don't believe the Bond franchise will move away from Omega, an Apple watch does not belong on the wrist of 007.

Maybe you're right there. But you get my point, associate the watch with class and the product will be associated with it as you said above. And I feel the same goes for movie product placements also.

 

[AnthonyHarris]

Not even funny or clever. The battery will last much longer than 5 hours. And the charger is quite small. Do you get some pleasure out of telling outright lies? If you hate the watch so much, why do you even spend time in threads that discuss it. Show your disdain my pretending it doesn't exist and just go away.

Somebody has no clue about the existence of sarcasm.

The watch is pretty nice to look at but I have to say, its usefulness is lacking unless you exercise lots, consider being told to stand up a necessity, or want to be seen as 'fashionable. You can even spend 17 thousand dollars on a gold one if you're really desperate to be gawped at.

Its an extension of your iPhone which really isn't necessary in the grand scheme of things. Why so mad?