Jony Ive Reveals Exclusive Apple Watch Sport Bands at Milan Design Week

[TallManNY]

I think this will make a lot of people here happy. They want and applaud an Apple dominated world. The larger Apple gets, the harder it is for anyone else to compete. It won't matter if another company comes up with a good idea, people won't buy it. The Apple marketing machine is far above any other companies. They make good products and they have the brand recognition. IMO, if any other company made this exact same watch there would hardly be any buzz about it. Bands in multiple colors would be a gimmick, etc. etc.

Agree on some level. But I also don't think any other company would even attempt this. I had a demo and I have to say the random Apple dude giving me the demo was highly professional and poised. The other companies don't have the infrastructure to train their sellers in this way, I think.

The other companies certainly wouldn't have tried solid gold for their watches or even SS, I think. Samsung might go for it. But they haven't in their prior wearables. Their bands were after thoughts, for example.

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So Apple's going to start selling the $49 Sport band for $1,000? In what universe? How about a much simpler explanation...Apple will be adding color choices to the Sport band and it was something they planned to do all along.

Well probably right. Of course they tried every color. Changing the color is probably a fairly trivial manufacturing process when dealing with low volumes.

But now that those colors exist, they might be used. I think unique colors at a high price would sell. But Apple has already pushed this issue to the extreme with their $17,000 watch. So I doubt they will sell these other bands. You are right there. But an English sports start got a special red version from Ivy. Karl Lagerfeld got a special gold link version. I see opportunities here that the major media hasn't fully realized. So I think Apple special color bands are going to be traded for buzz from celebrities.

 

[dec.]

Good catch. Now we know what Newson contributed to the project.

I think it looks neater than it works, though. A traditional tang buckle clasp is more secure, which might matter for a "Sport" watch.

Have you worn either - and at which point does either give you the feel of not being secure enough?

 

[AppleScruff1]

Agree on some level. But I also don't think any other company would even attempt this. I had a demo and I have to say the random Apple dude giving me the demo was highly professional and poised. The other companies don't have the infrastructure to train their sellers in this way, I think.

The other companies certainly wouldn't have tried solid gold for their watches or even SS, I think. Samsung might go for it. But they haven't in their prior wearables. Their bands were after thoughts, for example.

I don't think anyone else would attempt this either. Apple is the only one that could do it on this scale and sell it to the public. I agree about the Apple store experiences too, top notch. And not just regarding the watch. The Apple store provides a good customer experience. And I agree about the bands. Apple did a good job on the various bands, something to appeal to just about everyone where the others are all the same.

The more dominant Apple becomes, the harder it is for another company, especially a smaller one, to get established. I think this will stifle competition to a degree. No matter what someone else can do, Apple can do it on a larger scale, plus they have the reputation and service to back it up. This is Microsoft and Windows again, only on a larger scale.

 

[dec.]

You know, I look at this, how they are seeking to court and involve part of the design and fashion world, and whatever one might think of it, I don't think Samsung is or would be doing this, or even could. I don't think they would consider it, or even be taken seriously. Maybe Apple is the only tech company that can even realistically seek to expand and involve like this.

They definitely are including different marketing channels and I'm not surprised. The Smart Watch market so far has been a total joke with the lousy pebble and Samsung Gear/Android Wear sales. Of course Apple has to try to appeal to a wider audience than the wannabe-geeks who didn't seem to care about smart watches in first place (assuming that our residential "Android Fans" are correct and all Android users are super geeks :-D )).

 

[ddkkpp]

This is slightly O/T, but I find it interesting how Apple condemns Indiana for the law it passed, while Italy is a dangerous, hostile place for people who are openly gay. I have friends who moved from Italy to the US, and the situation in some parts of Italy is worse than in the South of the US. There is real violence toward gay people in Italy. Same sex marriage is legal in Indiana. Italy does not even recognize civil unions between gay couples. Indiana gets condemned and Milan gets a fashion show. I want to be very clear that I did not support the Indian bill, but people tend to have universal beliefs about Europe that aren't true. Italy is an outlier in a number of ways including LGBT rights.

really well put - exemplifies a point made in the documentary "The Corporation" that says corporations are psychopathic - there's no such thing as hypocrasy in a corporation.

 

[RockSpider]

You appear to be clueless in general.

Again, I'll try to keep it as simple as necessary: Why wouldn't MacRumors report about Apple's newest product?

Your posts show that you don't like the watch, you don't like anything about it, but you have to get over the fact that you're irrelevant.

Now you're starting to make me feel insecure.

 

[TallManNY]

I don't think anyone else would attempt this either. Apple is the only one that could do it on this scale and sell it to the public. I agree about the Apple store experiences too, top notch. And not just regarding the watch. The Apple store provides a good customer experience. And I agree about the bands. Apple did a good job on the various bands, something to appeal to just about everyone where the others are all the same.

The more dominant Apple becomes, the harder it is for another company, especially a smaller one, to get established. I think this will stifle competition to a degree. No matter what someone else can do, Apple can do it on a larger scale, plus they have the reputation and service to back it up. This is Microsoft and Windows again, only on a larger scale.

Yes, that is why I think when we say we are heading to the "post PC" era people are thinking tablets. Nope. I'm thinking we are moving to the post Windows era and Apple is getting ready to dominate this.

I'm a bit sad about the difficulty of competing with this hardware/software juggernaut. Even App developers must realize that if they come up with something really good, Apple will just incorporate it into their OS or their default Apps in iOS (and now make it work better with Apple Watch (and likely by the end of the year the home Hub Apple TV)) and you will be at a disadvantage even if your App is better. Apple's foray into Maps is a good example. They went up against the best in one its best products and really made a huge impact.

 

[dec.]

Now you're starting to make me feel insecure.

Again - give me one single reason why MacRumours should not be writing articles about Apple's current product.

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I don't think anyone else would attempt this either. Apple is the only one that could do it on this scale and sell it to the public. I agree about the Apple store experiences too, top notch. And not just regarding the watch. The Apple store provides a good customer experience. And I agree about the bands. Apple did a good job on the various bands, something to appeal to just about everyone where the others are all the same.

The more dominant Apple becomes, the harder it is for another company, especially a smaller one, to get established. I think this will stifle competition to a degree. No matter what someone else can do, Apple can do it on a larger scale, plus they have the reputation and service to back it up. This is Microsoft and Windows again, only on a larger scale.

And yet you always say that OS X, iOS aren't market leaders or big... and they aren't. So how can they limit others???

 

[AppleScruff1]

Yes, that is why I think when we say we are heading to the "post PC" era people are thinking tablets. Nope. I'm thinking we are moving to the post Windows era and Apple is getting ready to dominate this.

I'm a bit sad about the difficulty of competing with this hardware/software juggernaut. Even App developers must realize that if they come up with something really good, Apple will just incorporate it into their OS or their default Apps in iOS (and now make it work better with Apple Watch (and likely by the end of the year the home Hub Apple TV)) and you will be at a disadvantage even if your App is better. Apple's foray into Maps is a good example. They went up against the best in one its best products and really made a huge impact.

The little guy will probably get squashed, even the big guys are getting beaten. The trillion dollar Apple is here, how fast until it gets to 2 trillion? What effects will it have on the tech and business world in general? What happens when people are driving their Apple cars, having their homes loaded with Apple devices......by that time Apple can take over the cable and cellular industries too. 1984 was just 100 years early.

 

[Urban Joe]

I can't stop seeing condoms!

Obviously, you have issues...lol

 

[AppleScruff1]

And yet you always say that OS X, iOS aren't market leaders or big... and they aren't. So how can they limit others???

I have no idea where you got the idea that I said iOS isn't big. Apple can and will limit others, whether that is the plan or not. They are already a huge force to be reckoned and they are growing in leaps and bounds. All the good small tech companies are getting gobbled up and will continue to be. It's the combination of everything they are doing and will do. Not to mention in a few years or so when the iOS generation grows up. Apple will have a generation integrated into their eco system, and I believe that is part of their long term plan.

 

[roland.g]

Why not a clear one too?

 

[dec.]

I have no idea where you got the idea that I said iOS isn't big. Apple can and will limit others, whether that is the plan or not. They are already a huge force to be reckoned and they are growing in leaps and bounds. All the good small tech companies are getting gobbled up and will continue to be. It's the combination of everything they are doing and will do. Not to mention in a few years or so when the iOS generation grows up. Apple will have a generation integrated into their eco system, and I believe that is part of their long term plan.

How are they supposed to pull that plan through if they only own 10% of the market?

(and what are the owners of the left over 90% of the market doing different? Are they upsetting you just as much?)

And by gobbling up - do you mean things like "Google gobbles up Android" ?

 

[BvizioN]

Listen Macrumours if you don't stop doing stories about this stupid watch I swear I'm going to cancel my subscription, I know you'll miss me.

MacRumors more or less will post stories that spark interest on the readers. Clearly enough there is interes on this product, even you commented on this article. And that's all MacRumors need so mission accomplished

 

[macs4nw]

Listen Macrumours if you don't stop doing stories about this stupid watch I swear I'm going to cancel my subscription, I know you'll miss me.

You're funny.....

 

[BvizioN]

I wonder if they have all of those colors patented so they can sue anyone who makes bands in similar colors?


Disclaimer: This post was intended to be humorous. Please don't go into cardiac arrest.

AppleScruff1 being as usual..... AppleScruff1.

You should make a team with Piggie and some other caracters in here. We may help you with the name for the team

 

[byke]

Does apple offer bands that come pre-stretched, Indiana blue and gold edition ?

 

[TheIntruder]

Have you worn either - and at which point does either give you the feel of not being secure enough?

I've tried the Apple watch.

The security of the strap relies entirely on the insertion of the exposed peg into the body of strap holding firm. There is no secondary security from being looped through a buckle, nor through an additional keeper or two.

Tucking the tail into the slot only keeps it out of the way; it won't prevent the band from falling open if the strap isn't pressed securely onto the button, either mistakenly, or as it loosens over time and usage.

Like I said, it's more stylish than functional.

If I'm spending $350/550, never mind thousands, on a piece, I wouldn't want to see it damaged because something as simple as the strap wasn't up to the task.

I'd have reservations about it even for a casual watch. More so for something that's meant to be worn during activity.

 

[diegogaja]

Then sell
Your stocks, Apple devices and stop coming to these sites. Problem solved

Exclusive! Silicone! Sport bands and fanny packs are all the rage in Milan!

How much are they paying these fashion people to fawn over this? I hope it's worth it for the sake of my stock and for the time I've wasted reading these fluff articles. I would have never thought Apple would have so many SKUs. There's going to be one or two colors that are in every store's clearance bin where you rarely see official Apple products. They should leave this market to the 3rd parties lest they lose their luster trying to fleece people for glorified rubber.

This just reeks of PR stunt. The thing isn't even out yet and the beautiful people are already getting new colors for their watches. The more I think about this the more it gets my goat.

 

[anomie]

Ouch. Maybe you should just stop visiting the site. Especially if this is your attitude towards the products of the company that MacRumors reports on.

Ouch. Maybe you should read a book about irony.

 

[Rogifan]

Well probably right. Of course they tried every color. Changing the color is probably a fairly trivial manufacturing process when dealing with low volumes.

But now that those colors exist, they might be used. I think unique colors at a high price would sell. But Apple has already pushed this issue to the extreme with their $17,000 watch. So I doubt they will sell these other bands. You are right there. But an English sports start got a special red version from Ivy. Karl Lagerfeld got a special gold link version. I see opportunities here that the major media hasn't fully realized. So I think Apple special color bands are going to be traded for buzz from celebrities.

Who says the SS with red band is a "special" version? It could be that he just got it before Apple starts selling it to the public. I guess that's technically special, but in my mind special is something that no one else will be able to buy. At this point I have a hard time believing these new band colors are only for famous people.

 

[Michael Scrip]

I would have never thought Apple would have so many SKUs. There's going to be one or two colors that are in every store's clearance bin where you rarely see official Apple products. They should leave this market to the 3rd parties lest they lose their luster trying to fleece people for glorified rubber. .

Why are people always so worried about Apple having too many SKUs?

You know they have computerized inventory systems, right?

I've heard the same thing about too many iPhone models... too many iPad models... etc.

If Kraft can maintain hundreds of brands and thousands of items... I think Apple can handle a few watch bands.

 

[Cole Slaw]

Waiting patiently for Apple underwear. Hopefully Ives have made it "thinner" and it's at least $2500 a pair.
Ooohh yeahhhh !!!!!

 

[TonyC28]

How do we know these are "exclusive"? Exclusive to who? It doesn't seem surprising at all that Apple would bring more colors to the Sport bands.

I think the headline of the article has something to do with it...

 

[Mollerade]

i don't enjoy seeing wealthy people being given more

Something about wealthy people getting preferential treatment from Apple and a free watch (in return for publicity) makes me sad. Whilst I recognise the fashion industry has parallels to Apple (perfectionism and total commitment to ones craft), the fashion industry also has a US and THEM quality, a noticeable class divide, which I dislike.