Apple Watch Series 3 Prototype May Show Contacts for Potential 'Smart Bands'

[Khedron]

The next Apple Watch needs to have magnetic watch bands. Obviously they need to be strong enough to not fall off but it would be so much easier to swap out different bands.

IMO forcing all bands to be magnetic would cause more problems than it solves.

On the other hand making all previous bands obsolete would make more money so Tim might go for it.

 

[lk400]

Fair, but how about a battery that lasts a full day?

My Series 4 is coming up on 3 years old - I still easily get one day and one night, including exercise, music, etc. when new I would comfortable get 2 days and 1 night.

The series 3 and launch day original Apple Watch before it all easily cleared one day.

So you got your wish already!

 

[chucker23n1]

The next Apple Watch needs to have magnetic watch bands. Obviously they need to be strong enough to not fall off but it would be so much easier to swap out different bands.

Why? Swapping Apple Watch bands is already surprisingly easy. Show it to someone and they'll think it's a magic trick.

 

[Kilibee]

if it is indeed a prototype, Apple WILL find out how it got into their hands and will follow-up on that I bet ...
and if it is indeed a prototype, it is Apple's property and they have the right and the law on their side ...

KL7-A7-e is lasered onto the device… so I'm pretty certain that Apple can track that item down.

However, given the explanation that these were display models used in the stores I doubt that they will invest a lot of resources to get it back.

 

[orev]

Former Apple Retail employee here - early Apple Watches were "imaged" via a hardwired connection through those ports. The tool was black plastic with pins that matched up with what is shown in the photo. These were used for the watches in the display table table - the ones not touched by customers.

Do you mean the standard diagnostic port (in the middle) or the extra contacts on each side? I would expect that the center diagnostic port would already be capable of imaging a device, since that's what it's used for when an update goes bad over bluetooth. Once you can already load an image through the center port, there would be no need for the additional contacts on either side (since the display table OS image would be an image like any other). Those contacts would need to be there for some kind of additional functionality (possibly power ports for the display table?).

 

[thomas040]

A smart band with a camera would be great. It's the only thing keeping me from leaving my phone at home while jogging etc.

Same. Sometimes you just want to snap a pic for the sake of it: not because it has to be great photography.

 

[groove-agent]

Same. Sometimes you just want to snap a pic for the sake of it: not because it has to be great photography.

Also being able to take a random pictures can be useful for safety. If someone hits you while you're cycling etc.