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Once we start seeing smuggled pics of production pieces show up we will know that production has started. It will then be a couple of months.

This is a tangent best discussed in another thread, but... Apple could be assembling these bad boys in a more secure location than China, especially for the higher end models (Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition).
 
This is a tangent best discussed in another thread, but... Apple could be assembling these bad boys in a more secure location than China, especially for the higher end models (Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition).

Yeah I think Apple might have something up their sleeve in this regard. We get iPhone leaks months before the product is released. We have yet to see one component leak for Watch. Perhaps that's because we've already seen it so leaks aren't that important. I still think it's quite possible that the higher end Watch models aren't assembled in China.
 
We we start seeing leaks than we have an idea of when it's releasing.

I had a scary feeling it won't be coming out for quite a while still, though I would line up the release around middle of a financial quarter.
 
This is a tangent best discussed in another thread, but... Apple could be assembling these bad boys in a more secure location than China, especially for the higher end models (Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition).

Quanta Computer is the compony making the :apple:Watch and most of their factories are in China. Most of the components will be manufactured in China by many different companies. So there is no way to have a "secure location" since the components will be manufactured at many locations by different companies.

Once components go into full production we WILL see pics. It is inevitable.
 
Quanta Computer is the compony making the :apple:Watch and most of their factories are in China. Most of the components will be manufactured in China by many different companies. So there is no way to have a "secure location" since the components will be manufactured at many locations by different companies.

Once components go into full production we WILL see pics. It is inevitable.

Do we know this for sure? Or is it just supply chain rumors from DigiTimes and the like?
 
Do we know this for sure? Or is it just supply chain rumors from DigiTimes and the like?
It is over 99% certain. Quanta Computer does a lot of final assembly of Apple products and has for years. Quanta Computer has been rumored as the final assembler since before the :apple:Watch was announced. Here and here are a couple rumors from June.

Here are some reputable links.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/11/apple-watch-yield-issues-solved-january-production/

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industri...s-production-apple-smartwatch-in-july-source/

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/taiwans-quanta-start-mass-production-190347389.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/19/us-apple-smartwatch-idUSKBN0EU2AU20140619
 
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It is over 99% certain. Quanta Computer does a lot of final assembly of Apple products and has for years. Quanta Computer has been rumored as the final assembler since before the :apple:Watch was announced. Here is a rumor from June.

Here are some reputable links.

https://www.macrumors.com/2014/12/11/apple-watch-yield-issues-solved-january-production/

http://www.foxbusiness.com/industri...s-production-apple-smartwatch-in-july-source/

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/taiwans-quanta-start-mass-production-190347389.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/06/19/us-apple-smartwatch-idUSKBN0EU2AU20140619

And 99% certain for Watch Edition? If Apple can assemble the Mac Pro outside of China certainly the could do the same for the most expensive Watch, no?
 
And 99% certain for Watch Edition? If Apple can assemble the Mac Pro outside of China certainly the could do the same for the most expensive Watch, no?

They could but we have not heard anything to suggest this and it is getting late in the game. However Quanta Computer does have facilities in Tennessee and California, so there is a chance.
 
And 99% certain for Watch Edition? If Apple can assemble the Mac Pro outside of China certainly the could do the same for the most expensive Watch, no?

It's funny really when you think about it.

Would that be better or worse?

Would you trust a team say of Americans to assemble something better or worse than a team of say Japanese workers?

In theory it should not matter.

I'd for example expect German engineers to be more craftsman like over something mechanical/physical over say Americans or English workers, simply as those skills are a more respected profession there.

But I know in theory it should not matter, but there will be a general mental work ethic / quality / way of performing that will be different between cultures.

We used to joke to look for Make in Japan, if it said Make in the UK for electronics then don't touch it.
 
It is over 99% certain. Quanta Computer does a lot of final assembly of Apple products and has for years. Quanta Computer has been rumored as the final assembler since before the :apple:Watch was announced. Here and here are a couple rumors from June.

I'm sure the electronic components are made in China, which is fine since China has been the manufacturing hub for the tech industry for years. I wonder if the leather and steel bands are manufactured elsewhere, though. It would be easy enough to source bands from Europe or North America, particularly if they are planning to charge $1,000 or more for the stainless steel link band version and perhaps $5,000 for the gold version. It's a perception thing. The site says that the leather comes from tanneries in France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Final assembly could be anywhere, but if they could get a "Made in France/Italy/Netherlands" imprint on the band itself for not much more that what it would cost to finish assembly in China, they just might do it. It isn't as if Quanta has experience making watch bands.
 
I'm sure the electronic components are made in China, which is fine since China has been the manufacturing hub for the tech industry for years. I wonder if the leather and steel bands are manufactured elsewhere, though. It would be easy enough to source bands from Europe or North America, particularly if they are planning to charge $1,000 or more for the stainless steel link band version and perhaps $5,000 for the gold version. It's a perception thing. The site says that the leather comes from tanneries in France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Final assembly could be anywhere, but if they could get a "Made in France/Italy/Netherlands" imprint on the band itself for not much more that what it would cost to finish assembly in China, they just might do it. It isn't as if Quanta has experience making watch bands.

Yes. If Apple wants to sell really expensive Watches having Assembles in China on the device won't be a great selling point.
 
Yes. If Apple wants to sell really expensive Watches having Assembles in China on the device won't be a great selling point.

Really depends on your perception.

In the UK Cars from the US are generally a joke.
Can't handle, Can't corner, Horse Cart suspension, Tacky plastic trim inside.
Just a low tech BIG engine, that's very inefficient, all very horse and cart and poor finish.

Yet we regard say a European car, esp. a German one as light years ahead.

About 4x the power output from an engine half the size.
Latest cutting edge engineered to perfection.
Handles and corners like a dream.
Superb interior finish and crisp clean looks, amazing electronics.

That may not be fair, but that would be a general view still.

Old tech, heavy, poorly engineered, basic muscle car = American.
High tech, efficient, great handling, finish, quality etc. then steer 100 miles away from them.

Unfair perhaps, but I'd never personally want ANYTHING high tech/electronics with Make in America on it.

A bull dozer, Monster Truck, Motorhome or 16 wheeler truck then sure, but nothing actually very technical.

Perceptions ?
 
Saying it will be available in "early 2015" obviously was to leave themselves some wiggle room. I'd love to see it released tomorrow but won't be holding my breath. If we're simply dividing the year in half, early and late, I guess we can expect it any time before June 30th.
 
Saying it will be available in "early 2015" obviously was to leave themselves some wiggle room. I'd love to see it released tomorrow but won't be holding my breath. If we're simply dividing the year in half, early and late, I guess we can expect it any time before June 30th.

The UK page has now gone from "Early 2015" to "available 2015" so for some reason Apple have changed it back.
 
The UK page has now gone from "Early 2015" to "available 2015" so for some reason Apple have changed it back.

I would suspect that it was a mistake in the first place, when it switched to "Early 2015". An accidental error when updating the pages at some point. We probably read too much into these things. Now, if the US site all of the sudden says "Available 2015" then there will be something to really talk about.
 
I would suspect that it was a mistake in the first place, when it switched to "Early 2015". An accidental error when updating the pages at some point. We probably read too much into these things. Now, if the US site all of the sudden says "Available 2015" then there will be something to really talk about.

That is probably the case, I'm hoping it isn't delayed for us in the UK. I was kind of hoping for a Febuary - March release but I have a feeling that may just be wishful thinking.
 
In the UK, cars from the US are generally a joke.
Not just in the UK, this is known internationally.
(although their reputation is slowly changing as of late-2012)

Can't handle, Can't corner, Horse Cart suspension, Tacky plastic trim inside.
Just a low tech BIG engine, that's very inefficient, all very horse and cart and poor finish.

What's wrong with the cars from the US is the conception, not the production. This is very different from conceiving Apple Watches in California and producing these well-conceived Watches in China.
 
Not just in the UK, this is known internationally.
(although their reputation is slowly changing as of late-2012)



What's wrong with the cars from the US is the conception, not the production. This is very different from conceiving Apple Watches in California and producing these well-conceived Watches in China.

Well we have these things called "Corners" in Europe :p

Even when I was a teenager on my motorcycles (Japanese) the American bikes. Harley Davidsons were a total joke.

Shoddy build, Shoddy Electrics and could not go round a corner to save their life.

But I guess they are ok for long dry hot American Straight roads ?
 
Yeah, right...

Then go buy something else, because you don't need to buy from Apple.

Which aspect of what I said do you disagree with may I ask?

"Apple is in low cost, high volume, mass market, very limited choice."

Low Cost: You can buy their phone for less than most people pay for just their car insurance each year or their tablet for perhaps the same as the price of gas you put in your car just for a month

High Volume: They sell Tens of Millions of each item, you could not get any more high volume!

Mass Market: The leading company in the US for these type of products.

Limited Choice: 2 tablets, 2 phones, 2 iMacs, 1 Mac mini, 1 mac pro and what 3 or 4 laptops?

Not exactly a MASSIVE range for the richest? tech company in the world.

I feel all the points I made are totally valid.
Not saying any of them are BAD. Just they are Factually correct.

Apple is not, and has never been in the High End Luxury Goods market.
They want mass mass market.
 
Apple is not, and has never been in the High End Luxury Goods market.
They want mass mass market.

Yes, it is not.

But it's not a "low cost" brand.

"Low cost" almost always means "it sucks, that's why it's cheap" and/or "they'll milk you after that" and/or "made by children slaves".
 
Yes, it is not.

But it's not a "low cost" brand.

"Low cost" almost always means "it sucks, that's why it's cheap" and/or "they'll milk you after that" and/or "made by children slaves".

Remember, I never said low quality did I ?

And I never implied low cost = bad.

Apple HAS to be low cost in order to sell hundreds of millions of products every year.

The two simply don't go together if you think about it.

If Apple was a HIGH cost brand then most people would not be able to afford to buy their products.

Apple does make nice quality items. Sure I often do not agree with the designs, and what aspects they view as most important, and I will be happy to question many of their choices on design and materials.

But what they do make, they give it a lovely finish, and, to be fair so do many other brands of a similar price point.

I am simply pointing out that, whilst the finish may be nice, and they may be at the upper end price wise of a certain category of product.

The products they make, are made for and priced for the general consumer end of the mass market. Not the lowest price of course, but their aim is mass market.

High end products do not sell in high numbers.
In fact selling in high numbers is a negative point at the upper end.

Our whole concept of have's and have not's is based upon I have something you can't afford, so I feel special.
It's been that way for years.

The moment everyone has one (iPhone) that's destroyed.
No one can logically feel special and exclusive owning an iPhone.

It's true Apple may attempt to artificially inflate the price of a Gold Watch, vastly beyond it's cost to them.

Myself, I see problems in Apple slapping say $3500 of sheer profit on a $1500 watch. Simple because they are not that type of company, and, even if it is expensive ($1500) they are still going to want it buyable, at a push, by enough normal people.
 
Apple just announced their Q1 earnings call for January 27. Here's hoping for a keynote shortly before (or after) it.
 
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