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Apple's iWatch Pegged for 2015 Debut in Two Sizes With 8 GB Storage, Multiple Material Options

H.Finch said:
This product will replace the iPod category. And its about time...
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I think it certainly has that potential. The accessory market for my old nano is drying up and I need something waterproof to run with. I'm open to trying a watch with Bluetooth headphones, and distance/heart tracking is a bonus.

But if it can't operate independent of a phone, forget it. This is the first rumour we've had suggesting on-board storage, which is promising. Especially if you can store music and not just apps.
 
AdonisSMU said:
So far every iwatch I've seen looks like its trying to find a solution to a problem that doesnt exist.
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Close. Apple are masters of creating a solution to a problem you never thought you had...... until the product announcement that is.

Also, I have a feeling that all these "iWatch" concepts are on par with this for comparison to what the actual product will end up being

ma-bell-iphone-131004.jpg
 
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spatial said:
Close. Apple are masters of creating a solution to a problem you never thought you had...... until the product announcement that is.
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And isn't that exactly the point? Pretty much all of these concepts are lame because they assume the market is the small number of people who get off on geek jewelry. At least some of us give Apple more credit for creativity and imagination.
 
I'm still hoping they use a round face. Not digging all these square faces, and the new Samsung look hideous on the wrist. It's way too bulky.
 
IJ Reilly said:
Exactly, and that raises questions about the form Apple's device will take. After waffling for the last week or so, MR now appears to be totally convinced that it's a "wristwatch." Especially after seeing so many lame concepts and failed attempts by others to sell high-tech watches, the "wristwatch" form and primary purpose for Apple's product seems to be the least likely possibility.

Yet, the beat goes on...
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Maybe it'll be a time clock like watch that you clip to your belt or something with a chain....but then that would defeat the purpose wouldn't it?
 
TWSS37 said:
If you follow the pattern of the Moto 360, the first 'smartwatch' that people are actually excited about form and function, it took about 3 months from it being announced and a SDK released to an anticipated launch later this month (we'll find out later today). So to speculate a similar 3 month run up from announcement to shipping, that definitely can push to early 2015, so I don't think it's so far fetched to think that, and not because nothing has been "heard" about it. Plenty has been heard, including Ive's comments in the thread right below this one...
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No Moto 360 today. Apparently we had the preview and press brief at google IO months ago, and today were are getting a private press event. No launch. WTF
 
For all the speculators, here's his roadmap from 2013.

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/01/1...nes-retina-ipad-mini-all-retina-macbook-pros/

Something I found particularly interesting-

- iPod touch: Apple will reportedly discontinue the fourth-generation iPod touch, which is currently being sold alongside the new fifth-generation models. In order to fill the gap, Kuo believes that Apple will introduce a scaled-back fifth-generation model with 8 GB of storage and no rear camera at $199.
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Practically spot on.
 
AdonisSMU said:
Maybe it'll be a time clock like watch that you clip to your belt or something with a chain....but then that would defeat the purpose wouldn't it?
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Assuming we know the purpose, and I'm not sure we can say that we do with any sort of confidence. One thing for certain: Apple isn't going to release a revolutionary new way to tell time. Consequently, these watch-like concepts and references to wristwatches don't make a lot of sense, no matter what the device is designed to do, or how or where it is worn.
 
Aluminum and gold models? I don't think so.

Apple has been hinting at something big since the beginning of this year. To me it feels like they're confident that they have something unique that will be hard to copy.

The elephant in the room is liquidmetal, but nobody wants to bet on it because we've been disappointed before from speculation about future iPhone shell materials. But it would make sense for them to start with something smaller. (And if the iPhone 6 logo is indeed made of liquidmetal, it could be a way for them to ramp up production in anticipation of the iWatch).

I suggest reading the following article which gives a very informative insight into Apple's liquidmetal patents.

http://www.techinsighter.com/blog/2014/1/29/apple-will-use-liquidmetal-for-manifold-reasons

Liquidmetal has characteristics that go beyond making a nice looking durable watch body. It could be used as a completely new way to manufacture small electronics, where the liquidmetal casing would serve several purposes (heat dissipation, EMI shielding and guiding, component mounting). It could probably enable Apple to make a smartwatch that is half as thick as any competitors could.
 
IJ Reilly said:
It does, which raises the question of why so many are not expecting to be surprised by Apple's next move. They are either not paying attention, or have poor memories, or both.
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Some of us have memories of Apple sans Steve Jobs, when they stagnated while trying to emulate their competitors. Even Apple's most innovative products of the era, like the Newton, fell short of capturing the public's imagination.

Of course Apple is different now since it's still run by most of the "A players" Jobs put together at Next and then Apple. Unfortunately there was a talent drain after Jobs' death, and we really don't know how Ive and Cook will operate without The Steve's oversight. These upcoming products represent the first post-Jobs Apple creations, so we're about to find out how vital he was to Apple's innovations.
 
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samcraig said:
The first rule about iWatch is that there is no iWatch
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Haha love the movie and the comment.

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jafingi said:
I think it is because of two factors:
1) It is not yet being mass produced. Only place it is made is behind Apple's locked doors. They have all the machines to make the prototypes themself. No need to send drawings to China ;-)

2) Maybe it will be made in the US like the nMP
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Ah you raise a good point, my friend. I didn't think about the lack of mass production. Which points even more heavily towards the quoted January release.
 
SandboxGeneral said:
I'm liking the sound of an iWatch more and more and look forward to seeing it introduced.
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Same here. With the benefit of looking back at all the months of speculation, hype and predictions, I think we're going to have a massive collective lightbulb moment after we fully grasp the conveniences this new 'iWatch' can bring to the masses, and I'm all but certain that not long after its introduction, and the ironing out of a few hiccups, we'll wonder how we got by without it for so long.

What's not to appreciate about all the future potential of a partially hands-free, virtual, wrist-worn assistant a-la-scifi movies, that syncs back in real time to a master device such as an iPhone, which will hold more of the bulkier technologies, and which mostly remains safely tucked away elsewhere on our person, out of harms way. No more fumbling with the actual iPhone for many day-to-day functions, while getting out car keys, juggling groceries, or whatever, and by extension fewer dropped iPhones, or stolen ones for that matter.

Once we get used to the idea of wearing a small device on our wrist again, there will be no going back, and most of the die-hard nay-sayers out there will warm up to, and embrace this coming logical extension of the way we communicate and use technology in the 21st century. Wearing a 'watch' will probably become 'cool' again.

And with HealthKit Apps in addition to a multitude of other specifically designed and optimized Apps that are certain to follow in no time at all, the rumored sapphire display, as well as Ive's well established reputation for immaculate designs, I believe sales of this 'companion' device will be unprecedented.
 
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macs4nw said:
Same here. With the benefit of looking back at all the months of speculation, hype and predictions, I think we're going to have a massive collective lightbulb moment after we fully grasp the conveniences this new 'iWatch' can bring to the masses, and I'm all but certain that not long after its introduction, and the ironing out of a few hiccups, we'll wonder how we got by without it for so long.

What's not to appreciate about all the future potential of a partially hands-free, virtual, wrist-worn assistant a-la-scifi movies, that syncs back in real time to a master device such as an iPhone that'll hold more of the bulkier technologies, and which mostly remains safely tucked away elsewhere on our person, out of harms way. No more fumbling with the actual iPhone for many day-to-day functions, while getting out car keys, juggling groceries, or whatever, and by extension fewer dropped iPhones, or stolen ones for that matter.

Once we get used to the idea of wearing a small device on our wrist again, there will be no going back, and most of the die-hard nay-sayers out there will warm up to, and embrace this coming logical extension of the way we communicate and use technology in the 21st century.

And with HealthKit Apps in addition to a multitude of other specifically designed and optimized Apps that are certain to follow in no time at all, the rumored sapphire display, as well as Ive's well established reputation for immaculate designs, sales of this 'companion' device will be unprecedented.
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Ahhh we do live in an amazing era don't we...
 
rGiskard said:
Some of us have memories of Apple sans Steve Jobs, when they stagnated while trying to emulate their competitors. Even Apple's most innovative products of the era, like the Newton, fell short of capturing the public's imagination.

Of course Apple is different now since it's still run by most of the "A players" Jobs put together at Next and then Apple. Unfortunately there was a talent drain after Jobs' death, and we really don't know how Ive and Cook will operate without The Steve's oversight. These upcoming products represent the first post-Jobs Apple creations, so we're about to find out how vital he was to Apple's innovations.
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The importance Steve's leadership at Apple, at least over the last several years of his life, is overrated. His ability to lead was impaired due to his illness and frequent absences (during which time Tim Cook was the person actually running Apple). At some point leadership matters less than corporate culture. Steve's real contribution to Apple was more about creating a culture within Apple than any particular products. For better or worse, corporate cultures tend to be durable. Without a productive corporate culture, all the leadership in the world isn't going to make a whole lot of difference.

All that being said, we can bet the farm that the media spin on next week's product announcements will no doubt be around this being the first big new thing from Apple in the post-Steve era. We can write the headlines today since we know already what the media will report no matter what Apple announces.

Apple Newest Gadget is Cool, but Can they Sell it Without Steve?
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