Apple Watch Marketing Page Updated With 'Timekeeping', 'New Ways to Connect', 'Health and Fitness' Pages

[filmantopia]

I just want to let some of you guys know, who aren't sure about the success of this device, that it's going to sell buttloads in the first year. Predictions are pointing to more than 30 million devices sold in the first year. I think 30-40m sounds about right.

Compare this to the iPad, where even the most optimistic predictions were around 7 to 8 million in Y1 (most predictions were between 1-5m). It ended up selling 15 million the first year, blowing all predictions out of the water.

Don't go by the **** people are slinging at this device online. That happens with every new first gen Apple product-- especially the iPad, my god. Apple Watch will be insanely, insanely popular.

There will indeed be lines. Boy will there be!

 

[ksuyen]

The communication stuff is really interesting. It's so early even Apple can't see the device's future uses (and we can see even less) but that's a part of it. New modes of communicating.

You can see it paving the way to a standalone cellular Apple Watch once battery life allows. Years down the road.

(Plus, just not talking my beastly phablet out of my pocket for ALL communications would be nice!)

The main reason I will get this is for the tactical communication. I am a man of less words more action, a simple touch is enough to say hi to the beloved one.

 

[filmantopia]

The main reason I will get this is for the tactical communication. I am a man of less words more action, a simple touch is enough to say hi to the beloved one.

Yeah. This and the other touch communications will be used a lot between myself and my girlfriend.

 

[2010mini]

I wish I had a white hipster friend like the girl in this post.

Come visit Brooklyn, NY. They are a dime a dozen.

 

[luigi408]

Yeah, no thanks. Maybe the second generation if Apple adds GPS and better fitness features. I'm not going to be taking my iPhone 6 Plus + watch just to work out. Fitbit Surge is what I'm waiting for. I want a fitness watch plus some smart watch functionality, not the other way around. Tried MS Band but too uncomfortable.

 

[s1m]

- Awful battery life: check
- Must be tethered to an iPhone: check
- Doesn't really solve an existing problem for me: check

Sir, welcome to smartwatch... please wait in the queue until the store open. Please remember you are the 89,678,920th in the queue.

You know not everyone is the same. For a start what is the problem with the battery life that is as yet unspecified. I have to charge my computer EVERY day - sometimes if I am using it all day I have to keep it plugged in all day. The only info we have on battery life is assumptions that it will need to be charged every night. So it will be on charge exactly at the time I don't need it.

Tethering to an iPhone - oh the horror for those hundreds of millions of iPhone users. The only time I am not a meters away from my iPhone is when I am diving or swimming. Pretty much any time I would want or need a smart watch I will have my iPhone with me. So I get the functionality of a pwerful device in the form of a not powerful device. It is a bit like a citrix desktop box - no power itself but access to all of the applications I need.

I added "for me" in the quote as this might solve problems that other people have. Similarly I could bag out the Mac pro as it doesn't solve a problem for me. This will enrichen my day to day. Phones can be in the pocket in meetings and I can still get notifications without having to constantly look at my phone. I can turn notifications off on the ipad so when giving a business presentation I don't get a pop up saying saying someone quoted one of my hilarious posts on Macrumors. In a busy shopping centre I can have the phone volume turned on but still not hear a call or notice an sms. The notification on my wrist will let me know there is a call or sms from my wife.

I hope some of the messaging features will translate to iOS as well as the watch as not everyone will want to wear a watch like this but it would be good still to share the sketch function.

I also think with the move to phablets now with the iPhone 6 - the less I have to haul that brick out of my pocket the better.

I think the V1 will be great but V2 (I will skip) and V3 (might be in the plan) will have better battery life, be waterproof and be slimmer.

 

[filmantopia]

Yeah, no thanks. Maybe the second generation if Apple adds GPS and better fitness features. I'm not going to be taking my iPhone 6 Plus + watch just to work out. Fitbit Surge is what I'm waiting for. I want a fitness watch plus some smart watch functionality, not the other way around. Tried MS Band but too uncomfortable.

It'll still use the heart-rate monitor, accelerometer and gyro to track your exercises without the phone. That's a lot of information.

 

[CFreymarc]

I wish I had a white hipster friend like the girl in this post.

Move out to Silicon Valley. They are all over. I'd consider her style a bit more goth and punk than hipster.

----------

Phones can be in the pocket in meetings and I can still get notifications without having to constantly look at my phone.

You brought up a very important UI issue. While your mobile device is mostly seen by yourself. A watch face is almost 50 / 50 view by yourself and others right around. Many wear those north of $1000 watches for others to see and not just yourself.

I keep on thinking what social significance the Apple Watch will create. Google totally blew it with the PR of Google Glass and the infamous "Gl*******" term.

Not having a camera on the Apple Watch IMO is a feature where it cannot be used clandestinely. Thus, it becomes more of a social device than Google Glass and the Samsung smart-watches.

 

[lobbyist]

Move out to Silicon Valley. They are all over. I'd consider her style a bit more goth and punk than hipster.
----------

True. Kind of punkish. Fixie/BMX rider.

 

[edenwaith]

Watch Faces

I was browsing through high-end jewelry and watch stores yesterday, wondering if it would be possible to create custom watch faces for the Apple Watch. Nothing so far seems to indicate that custom 3rd-party watch faces will be possible, but I wouldn't rule it out at some point in the future. If anything, custom watch faces might be a nice bit of marketing for other high-end watch makers.

One other odd thing I noticed: All of the watches I saw that used Roman numerals display the number 4 as "IIII", not as "IV". Anyone have an idea why?

 

[goobot]

I just want to let some of you guys know, who aren't sure about the success of this device, that it's going to sell buttloads in the first year. Predictions are pointing to more than 30 million devices sold in the first year. I think 30-40m sounds about right.

Compare this to the iPad, where even the most optimistic predictions were around 7 to 8 million in Y1 (most predictions were between 1-5m). It ended up selling 15 million the first year, blowing all predictions out of the water.

Don't go by the **** people are slinging at this device online. That happens with every new first gen Apple product-- especially the iPad, my god. Apple Watch will be insanely, insanely popular.

There will indeed be lines. Boy will there be!

Oh please, your comparison is such a stretch it is ridiculous. The original iPad sold for what half people expected it to. The apple watch cost twice what people expect. The iPad had no competition and was a new catergory, not only does the apple watch have competition many would rather have a watch which holds its value for life rather than a year. Because one device Apple sold right off the bat was a success all will be after? That's beyond terrible reasoning. And please don't try to bring somthing like the iPhone into the debate, it sold not so great the first year even after Apple slahed it's price and doubled the storage. Apple has released hundreds of products in its life time and many were failures.

 

[filmantopia]

Oh please, your comparison is such a stretch it is ridiculous. The original iPad sold for what half people expected it to. The apple watch cost twice what people expect. The iPad had no competition and was a new catergory, not only does the apple watch have competition many would rather have a watch which holds it's value for life rather than a year. Because one device Apple sold right off the bat was a success all with be after? That's beyond terrible reasoning. And please don't try to bring somthing like the iPhone into the debate, it sold not so great the first year even after Apple slahed it's price and doubled the storage. Apple has released hundreds of products in its life time and many were failures.

People trashed the iPad in flocks AFTER the device and price were announced, and many still complained it was too expensive for what it did. "Not a productivity tool... doesn't do anything your iPhone and laptop don't... not revolutionary, just a big iPod Touch... etc etc etc." So many vocal people (and many articles) were doubtful and unsure about it's success.

The competition to the Apple Watch right now is there, but it might as well not be because nothing has hit mainstream adoption. How many Moto 360's sold? We don't know because all they want to say is it "sold out" which tells us nothing. Once the Apple Watch is released we're going to forget there was even competition to begin with because many facets of this device establish a paradigm for what a smartwatch should be: fashion-forward uni-sex appeal, UI with Force Touch, Digital Crown, the launcher, taptic feedback-- all seem frivolous to many now but they'll be what puts it way ahead of anything else in usability.

iPhone outsold it's target in the first year, and yes, many were predicting it would be an iFlop. But it's pretty clear since 2001 Apple knows what standards it needs to meet to have a winning product. It's obvious that this device is going to be the first smartwatch that captures real people's (not just tech-heads') attention.

 

[Aragornii]

When the Apple Watch was first announced I thought, well not bad but not for me. Now that I see more about it I'll probably be picking up the space grey aluminum with a black rubber strap as soon as they're available. I have several different watches that I wear. I don't think I'd wear this to work with a suit but would probably be my favorite watch to wear on a saturday.

 

[FieldingMellish]

I object to Apple arriving at hardware and software that nobody needs, specifically a watch computer and the need to track stuff like fitness.

 

[goobot]

People trashed the iPad in flocks AFTER the device and price were announced, and many still complained it was too expensive for what it did. "Not a productivity tool... doesn't do anything your iPhone and laptop don't... not revolutionary, just a big iPod Touch... etc etc etc." So many vocal people (and many articles) were doubtful and unsure about it's success.

People trashed the iPad for its name and just for the sake of trashing it. And I'm sure some are always going to be in that boat. But those people who say the iPad is not a productivity tool were and still are right. Steve Jobs advertised it and a consumption device and that's what it still is. It's why the iPad in its current form will never replace computers and those people are still right.

The competition to the Apple Watch right now is there, but it might as well not be because nothing has hit mainstream adoption. How many Moto 360's sold? We don't know because all they want to say is it "sold out" which tells us nothing. Once the Apple Watch is released we're going to forget there was even competition to begin with because many facets of this device establish a paradigm for what a smartwatch should be: fashion-forward uni-sex appeal, UI with Force Touch, Digital Crown, the launcher, taptic feedback-- all seem frivolous to many now but they'll be what puts it way ahead of anything else in usability.

Yes all smart watches are curently garbage, I agree. Still doesn't change the fact many don't want to spend 500$ on a watch which will loose all its value in a few years. So they will choose those garbage options if they really want a smart watch or buy a normal watch.

iPhone outsold it's target in the first year, and yes, many were predicting it would be an iFlop. But it's pretty clear since 2001 Apple knows what standards it needs to meet to have a winning product. It's obvious that this device is going to be the first smartwatch that captures real people's (not just tech-heads') attention.

Apple may know how to make the best products but as the original iPhone has shown no one is going to buy it if it's overpriced.

 

[MacSince1990]

I wish I had a white hipster friend like the girl in this post.

I'm not even sure what she is, but she's *really* strange looking, somehow familiar, and kind of creeping me out.

Aren't all hipsters pretty much white though?

----------

The only thing interesting is the girl in the picture (although she might have hairy arms).

Gross. She looks about 12..

 

[filmantopia]

People trashed the iPad for its name and just for the sake of trashing it. And I'm sure some are always going to be in that boat. But those people who say the iPad is not a productivity tool were and still are right. Steve Jobs advertised it and a consumption device and that's what it still is. It's why the iPad in its current form will never replace computers and those people are still right.

Many people thought it would fail right off the bat.

"It's a big iPod touch."

"Doesn't do anything your iPhone and laptop don't already."

"This thing will be destroyed by the HP Slate."

"Name sounds like a feminine hygiene product."

"For consumption only, not productivity."

"Just an extra gadget to carry around and charge. You need a man-bag to carry it."

"Oversized bezel."

"Unappealing price points."

"No multitasking."

"Lame 4:3 ratio."

"No camera."

"Where's a stylus?"

"No GPS..."

"No iChat camera, immensely disappointing."

"Hoping Apple would break free from AT&T."

"Not revolutionary, was hoping for more."

Actual quotes:

"utter garbage. 64gb, 1gHz, no camera, massive bezel, nothing new at all, for $829???"
"sticking it to buyers again with no expansion or an SD card slot which pretty much every other damned device in the same concept/class has had for years. Want more space? PAY US FOR IT. Pretty lame, Apple...
Lackluster at best, for me. Been using tablets for well over a decade and I had higher hopes for this... I'll chalk it up to being a 1.0 version and see what transpires."

"Just an oversized Ipod Touch. This will not sell well no need for this device. Will not be good for reading books neither not using the ink technology."
"heres your big iPod really. no usb, no print capabilities, nothing."

"It looks like the tablet that everyone outside of Apple would have created if they were trying to be Apple-esque.
Apple has not been in itself for a while, the same company that made the Mac with drag and drop, or the first iterations of Mac OS X or the iPhone. The iPhone seems to be the last great thing Apple did."

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/854974/

Articles:
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/te...ad-will-fail-to-win-significant-market-share/

http://www.infoworld.com/article/26...ple-s-rumored-itablet-will-fail-big-time.html

http://venturebeat.com/2010/01/04/2010-predictions-tablet/

http://www.wired.com/2010/01/ten-things-missing-from-the-ipad/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/187962/apples_ipad_mistakes.html

And many, many more.
These things were bitched about to no end. The hate was full force with the iPad.

Yes all smart watches are curently garbage, I agree. Still doesn't change the fact many don't want to spend 500$ on a watch which will loose all its value in a few years. So they will choose those garbage options if they really want a smart watch or buy a normal watch.

People will just replace their watches like their phones. It won't because because their current ones are unappealing-- it'll be because the new ones are so frickin' cool. Apple products don't lose their value at the drop of a hat. They'll sell just fine on craigslist like any other Apple product over 2-3 years.

Apple may know how to make the best products but as the original iPhone has shown no one is going to buy it if it's overpriced.

It's so not overpriced. It's actually an amazing price compared to what else you can get for $350 on the watch market. In a year the price will drop by $100 or something when the new one comes out making it accessible to even more people. For the level of functionality and the added bonus of it being a hot customizable fashion forward item will make this thing a huge hit.

 

[osaga]

Before it came out I thought it must do something we haven't thought of, but then we learned it doesn't. On top of that it's kinda ugly. The whole thing feels forced and un-apple like. What a waste of time. I sincerely hope the TV product is not this pointless.

 

[teslo]

I'm not even sure what she is, but she's *really* strange looking, somehow familiar, and kind of creeping me out.

Aren't all hipsters pretty much white though?

----------



Gross. She looks about 12..

anyone with a modicum of style is called a 'hipster' by internet tech geeks. that girl would barely overlap anything in a venn diagram of the hipster universe.

 

[filmantopia]

anyone with a modicum of style is called a 'hipster' by internet tech geeks. that girl would barely overlap anything in a venn diagram of the hipster universe.

Exactly, just remember that when people judge this device for its looks. The Watch is fashion forward. Tech-heads are notoriously fashion-backwards.

 

[dannyyankou]

The original iPad sold for what half people expected it to.

Not sure where you're getting this from, but it was predicted to sell 8-10 million in 2010. It sold 15 million.

Edit: Whoops, misread that. Never mind.

 

[Jon-Erich]

I think the idea of interacting with a watch, as if doing that is less distracting in a meeting than looking at your phone, or frankly easier than doing so on your phone, is where Apple is wrong about the value proposition of the watch.

Sure, I'll look at my watch a few times a day, but there is zero interaction, because I use an automatic watch that requires no interaction. I see the time, maybe the date, which is what I need to see. I Know I'm just one potential use case, but unless you are sending one line emails or texts, I don't know how it could possibly be of any use for reading or writing messages.

And the fact that you really have to have your iPhone with you for the watch to work, then it becomes just a small redundant screen on your wrist.

I've got a lot of Apple stuff, but the watch will need to do more than it is now before I'll think twice about giving up my Seiko automatic.

A lot of people complain about the phone requirements, but think of it this way. How often does anybody in today's society walk around without their phone?

 

[ttss6]

This is he first first gen product Apple has made where it is a pretty compelling sell. Sure it lacks complete independence from another device, is a bit thick, doesn't have a FaceTime camera, a micro Touch ID on the Digital Crown, or in house GPS, but those will come with time. Its also worth mentioning the anouncement that the watch will be capable of running its own apps later in 2015. Waiting always brings better choices, but that means you have to go longer without it entirely. I for one can't wait to be one of the first to get one.

 

[filmantopia]

This is he first first gen product Apple has made where it is a pretty compelling sell. Sure it lacks complete independence from another device, is a bit thick, doesn't have a FaceTime camera, a micro Touch ID on the Digital Crown, or in house GPS, but those will come with time. Its also worth mentioning the anouncement that the watch will be capable of running its own apps later in 2015. Waiting always brings better choices, but that means you have to go longer without it entirely. I for one can't wait to be one of the first to get one.

I'm glad Apple decided to bring it in at this stage of development rather than wait. Now developers get to grow an ecosystem and user adoption will help Apple figure out where to take this thing in the future. What I'm most excited about is what I don't know yet. What crazy features might Apple come up with for this thing?

I mean, in 2007 we weren't thinking about a gyroscope, siri, FaceTime, touch ID/applepay...

 

[fjfjfjfj]

A timepiece. A communicator. A fitness tracker.
A timepiece. A communicator. A fitness tracker.
A timepiece. A communicator. A fitness tracker.

Are you getting it? These are not three separate devices. This is one device.

This really made me laugh. Nice. Very nice.