I don't really know much about watches but having looked at the link bracelet in the Apple website, it states that links can be removed to create a more comfortable fit.
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Link removal from link bracelet?
- Thread starter virginblue4
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It will be a lot easier than having to change the links on a normal watch. I'm assuming that all the bands will be adjustable otherwise it would cause a headache for Apple.
You push the little "buttons" on the back side of each link, and they slide out to the side. Very similar to the mechanism they use to attach the bands to the watch.
If I remember correctly there is a little animation showing the links coming out on one of the videos. If I have time I will try to find it.
EDIT: Quickly scrubbing through the videos, I couldn't find the part I was thinking of, so I may have just made it up...
If I remember correctly there is a little animation showing the links coming out on one of the videos. If I have time I will try to find it.
EDIT: Quickly scrubbing through the videos, I couldn't find the part I was thinking of, so I may have just made it up...
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....but it does sound plausible.
It's the internet, so sounding plausible is all that matters...
I have seen one video with a little info about adjusting the link bracelet. It was from one of the "hands-on" reviewers when the watches were demonstrated after the keynote. The Apple employees let the reviewers wear watches, and some details about the bands and clasps were shown. I saw the sport band, the modern buckle, and the link bracelet in various videos.
An Apple person adjusted the size of the link bracelet for one reviewer, and part of the process was caught on camera. Alas, I can't find that video at the moment.
Edit: found some videos...
Apple demonstrating a watch with the link bracelet, but no link adjustment shown:
http://techcrunch.com/video/hands-on-with-the-apple-watch/518408779/
Leather Loop hands-on video:
http://www.engadget.com/2014/09/09/iwatch-hands-on/
Milanese Loop hands-on video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2SHnvtAtxs
Leather Loop and Milanese Loop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_IhocpSCK8
Sport Band on Sport Watch, with and excellent view of the clasp:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yj3_2mZOf3k
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This could be a very important point for those with small wrists.
I think you really need to actually try the watch strap on your own wrist before buying.
Looking at the magnetic leather strap, it looks like it could be too long, and no way to shorted it, unlike the metal linked strap.
Really worth trying one before you buy
I think you really need to actually try the watch strap on your own wrist before buying.
Looking at the magnetic leather strap, it looks like it could be too long, and no way to shorted it, unlike the metal linked strap.
Really worth trying one before you buy
Then you have the link bracelet. Did you know that the entire thing is sizable with just your own hands, no tools required? All you have to do it press on the center link from the rear of the bracelet and a link pops right out. It reminds me a little bit of how IWC's Aquatimer straps attach to the case, with a center release button, but here it's for every single link. Additionally, the deployant (did you notice Jony Ive called it a "deployment" buckle in the video? Cute.) is again so slick, where it actually folds over itself to be far thinner than a traditional bracelet clasp.
Source: http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hodinkee-apple-watch-review
Source: http://www.hodinkee.com/blog/hodinkee-apple-watch-review
I saw that video during the September reveal. So you definitely didn't make it up. It might have been on the Verge.
It's a nice design, but also I am aware it could very well be classed as over engineered.
There are many times, when many products are too engineered for their own good.
And, odd as it may seem, years later you find things are much more simplified as companies find out there is a more basic simple solution to the one they 1st thought up, and no one really needs the complexity in the original.
Not THAT uncommon when you come to physical things at time goes on.
You start with something complex and over engineered and time teaches you something simple that does the job is in reality the more logical item.
There are many times, when many products are too engineered for their own good.
And, odd as it may seem, years later you find things are much more simplified as companies find out there is a more basic simple solution to the one they 1st thought up, and no one really needs the complexity in the original.
Not THAT uncommon when you come to physical things at time goes on.
You start with something complex and over engineered and time teaches you something simple that does the job is in reality the more logical item.
Haha so now the link bracelet for Watch is over engineered? Why, because they made it easy for you to adjust yourself and made it so it was as slim on your wrist as possible?
No.
I am simply saying, it's not uncommon for an initial design to be very clever and very complex and very intricately engineered to solve a problem.
That, in time, is realised that, for various reasons it was in fact over engineered and a more simple and basic answer to a problem was all that was needed.
We have seen in in physical products since the dawn of time.
It just happens, esp. with new products, when you look at something from today, and look back to much much earlier versions how simple things have been made.
Perhaps it was not needed, perhaps it was too expensive, perhaps it was prone to mechanical failure, could be any reasons.
I'm not saying this is wrong at all. Simply pointing out this fact that this issue does exist and is not uncommon especially in the world of Apple actually when you look back at complex items that was made vastly more simple as revisions went on.
Not disagreeing or anything, but could you provide a couple of examples to make your point more valid?
Here's a simple obvious example:
http://www.bhansalimail.com/images/ipod_3rd_generation.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Ipod_5th_Generation_white_rotated.png
Taking more separate buttons/controls, removing them, and adding them to something else.
(some didn't, and still don't like this change)
But it simplified things, when Apple thought up a more simple, cheap? and less complicated way of doing the same thing.
That's an alright example, but the functionality doesn't change at all from the 3rd to the 5th generation iPod. The buttons are simply moved onto the click wheel. I can use this example against your argument re: the Apple Watch link bracelet. Now, instead of having to use external tools (and take your link bracelet to a watch expert at a mall retail store or something), all anyone has to do to resize their link bracelet is push a few links out manually (that is, by hand). With the iPod 3rd generation, one had to move their thumb or finger off of the click wheel in order to click Play/Pause, Seek, or Menu. With the 5th generation, moving a finger or thumb off the click wheel is not necessary.
Obviously, the Apple Watch situation is a bit different. The same concept applies though: enhanced convenience with the same functionality. With the 5th generation iPod, users experience convenience by not having to move their finger or thumb away from the click wheel. With the Apple Watch link bracelet, users experience convenience by not having to use external tools (or take it to a watch shop) to resize it.
As long as the link bracelet is durable, fool-proof to clasp and to resize, weighs not too much, and is thin enough, I predict it will be a very popular and well-reputed design. Apple has promised all of these things. I bet they're going to nail it.
After all, haven't there been link bracelets designed by others that include the same resizing functionality as Apple's? It seems ridiculous that no one else has ever designed such a bracelet.
I'm optimistic, mainly because I want a link bracelet with my Apple Watch (stainless steel). I doubt Apple will drop the ball on this one, though.
I'm sure it's lovely and very well made.
I never questioned that.
We don't know the price.
Given that it's one watch strap, and your arm probably does not change size.
Perhaps someone taking a couple of links out once.
Would just be more easy than a whole complex design that allowed you to keep adding and removing links every 5 mins.
Hence the idea of over engineering, when far simpler, cheaper, less complex methods have worked for many many many decades.
For example, if the watch was being shared between people (which we know it won't be) then this would be a great idea, as you can pop in and out links in a moment, brilliant.
But all that cost and engineering to do it once, moments after buying it and not touch it again for the next 5 or 10 years?
I never questioned that.
We don't know the price.
Given that it's one watch strap, and your arm probably does not change size.
Perhaps someone taking a couple of links out once.
Would just be more easy than a whole complex design that allowed you to keep adding and removing links every 5 mins.
Hence the idea of over engineering, when far simpler, cheaper, less complex methods have worked for many many many decades.
For example, if the watch was being shared between people (which we know it won't be) then this would be a great idea, as you can pop in and out links in a moment, brilliant.
But all that cost and engineering to do it once, moments after buying it and not touch it again for the next 5 or 10 years?
Look at it from Apple's perspective - they don't have to deal with resizing bands for millions of customers. The just design one band (well, two), and never have to deal with it again. That's worth a little extra engineering. And if it ends up costing the customer more, then they are fine with that too.
I knew I would eventually stumble on one of the videos showing adjustment of the link bracelet:
http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/09/09/first-look-hands-on-with-the-all-new-apple-watch
Scroll down to the third video on the page. It's slightly out of focus, alas.
This is very good news, we will be able to buy online without having to worry about strap or band sizes
is that the stainless steel link bracelet? That's one of the straps Im planning on getting.This is very good news, we will be able to buy online without having to worry about strap or band sizes
The video shows the Space Black Stainless Steel Apple Watch with the Space Black Stainless Steel Link Bracelet.