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If I was Apple I'd encourage 3rd Party bands.

More customisation = more attractive = more Watch sales
 
Apple can't stop 3rd party bands. It is impossible to prevent Chinese imports.
It's impossible to stop them all, yes. If someone tries to smuggle illegal merchandise in small quantities, they have a good chance of succeeding.

If the quantities are large enough to attract notice, the risk goes up. It's not legal to import patent-violating contraband into countries that respect patent law. If customs catches the shipment, they can simply seize the items and destroy them. Whoever owns the merchandise doesn't get any compensation.

If you're buying from someone sleazy enough to ignore patents and try to import contraband, do you think they'll happily give you a refund if they can't deliver the goods because the shipment was seized by customs? The odds of a small importer getting caught are low, but the end buyer takes the risk.

If you buy from through Amazon or eBay or some other semi-reputable organization, you might eventually get your money back. But they don't want the risk either, which is why they tend to cancel the most blatant offerings of forged goods. They also probably don't want the wrath of Apple. If Apple can establish a pattern of negligent and repeated offerings of contraband on eBay (for example), they might have a strong case for reaching into eBay's pockets for big chunks of money.

None of the 3rd-party band offerings I've seen offer evan a hint that they have Apple's permission. If they were authorized, they'd very likely say so on the web page. If they were using Apple's product images with permission, they'd say so. They are clearly encroaching on Apple's patents. If they are doing it without permission, the only protection they have is being too small for Apple to bother with. (The alternative, challenging Apple's patents in court, is likely far too expensive for these fly-by-night outfits to consider.)
 
I douby Apple will be able to control 3rd party bands popping up but I'm skeptical we'll see high quality, good looking bands for cheap, at least not at the outset. I think the initial 3rd party bands that come out will be crap.
 
I douby Apple will be able to control 3rd party bands popping up but I'm skeptical we'll see high quality, good looking bands for cheap, at least not at the outset. I think the initial 3rd party bands that come out will be crap.

I agree. And, I doubt Apple wants unauthorized 3rd party bands to begin with. They carefully orchestrate a wearable and why would they want people not to know it was an Apple Watch? ;)

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If I was Apple I'd encourage 3rd Party bands.

More customisation = more attractive = more Watch sales

I'm sure they'll ecebtually encourage high-quality 3rd party bands. I just doubt they'll encorage the free for all we see with iPhone cases.
 
From Verge review:
expect to see tons of third-party Watch bands; Apple says it has no problem with that.
(My emphasis.)
...So that's that, as far as 3rd party bands go. Maybe now people can start obsessing about the next thing instead, whatever that may be. Gods, the 24th can't come fast enough! ;)
 
I'm getting the space gray sport model. I'd love to see some third party bands that match that finish on the buckle. I'm sure they'll arrive but I plan to go with the sport band until I see what comes out.
 
I'm surprised there's not way more about third party bands and adaptors too. If the Verge are telling the truth, you'd expect a total free for all.
 
I'm surprised there's not way more about third party bands and adaptors too. If the Verge are telling the truth, you'd expect a total free for all.

Why are you surprised. Third party accessories and add ins always take time and usually appears weeks even months after Apple has released the product. Apple is always secretive about its products and doesn't typically divulge and specifications or other info before release. Third parties typically have to wait until after launch when they can get their hands on the actual product before being able to come up with compatible designs.
 
Why are you surprised. Third party accessories and add ins always take time and usually appears weeks even months after Apple has released the product. Apple is always secretive about its products and doesn't typically divulge and specifications or other info before release. Third parties typically have to wait until after launch when they can get their hands on the actual product before being able to come up with compatible designs.

Well we're seeing cases being announced from Spigen etc, you'd expect them to be in on the bands or adaptors action.
 
Well we're seeing cases being announced from Spigen etc, you'd expect them to be in on the bands or adaptors action.

The point is there are very few announced accessories and those that are either haven't been finalised or are based on guess work or the limited information available in the public domain. It's been the same with iPads and iPhones where a lot of the third party products were announced and/or available after launch.
 
Ahhhh okay now it makes much more sense. I see the little metal insert. Thanks guys
 
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