Mass Production of Apple Watch Reportedly Slated for January 2015

[flur]

A person who spent only $2000 on a Swiss watch wouldn't be showing it off at a party, they'd be hiding their head in shame.

I own a very nice Tag that I paid less than 2k for, and I certainly don't hang my head in shame when I wear it. I take my compliments with a smile on my face, thank you very much.

If you really believe I should be embarrassed for having a nice watch that isn't a Rolex or Panerai, maybe it's you that should be embarrassed for your snobbishness.

 

[ladeer]

[deleted]

 

[Rogifan]

So it appears that Apple is going to have a Q1 keynote again. I think that's a good idea. Going 6-8 months without any product intros is a mistake.

 

[tattooedyuppie]

Meanwhile iOS 8 is a ****ing mess.

 

[iolinux333]

I've been using a 6th gen iPod Nano as a watch (w/Lunatik band) for the past few weeks. Battery life has been quite good (4-5 days), and doesn't drop significantly when playing a few podcast episodes an hour of music a day. Nike+ works well.

I agree with you that if the aWatch becomes a standalone device (with longer than 1 day battery life when using it simply as a watch) then I'll be very interested in it.

Samsung already has one out running TizenOS (in which right now I have ZERO interest) and LG is supposed to let one out the door soon too. (They tried in 2011 but there was zero interest then).

I really think only Apple could really pull off a GSM standalone smart watch that becomes as popular as smartphones, especially if it worked so well that people could actually get through their day without a phone in the pocket at all. And I would guess that there's a team at Apple working hard at it right now. But then Google/Moto might be able to pull it off too - I think it would be harder for it to catch on with Goog/Moto though. We'll see.

Such a thing should certainly happen within 10 years, probably within 3. I think a lot of us were hoping it would happen this year but oh well.

 

[ladeer]

[deleted]

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Yes man!

 

[mdlooker]

You won't even have to navigate through the apps to use Apple Pay. With the iPhone 6 you just hold your phone near the NFC and touch your finger. With the apple watch you just tap your watch at the NFC station.

Okay but that's only one aspect of mushroom of things the watch will be able to do. It just seems that there will have to be a lot of turning a dial to find what you want when just pulling the phone out of your pocket will be faster.

I think it's a beautiful idea to have the watch but I don't see it streamlining daily tasks as of yet. Maybe when it comes out and I see it, I can see a difference.

 

[weezor]

It's a new product. Takes some imagination to finally grasp how much of an impact this thing is going to have on many peoples lives. I'm damn sure there are going to be flaws in generation one and pretty much xy-gates on every generation to come.

I for one am excited about the possibilities this thing brings to many of my favourite activities. Juggling, golf, badminton, using this crown for winding back my podcasts and playing Wii like games on the next apple tv.

 

[tattooedyuppie]

A person who spent only $2000 on a Swiss watch wouldn't be showing it off at a party, they'd be hiding their head in shame.

Easily one of the DUMBEST comments on MR I've ever seen. "ONLY" $2,000? That's a lot of money for a piece of jewelry (because that's what watches are).

I guess when you have all Panerai and Rolex like yourself you can get delusional... but I wear all my watches with my head up, from G-Shock to Rolex.

 

[StyxMaker]

See the words that don't go together.

Mass Production - Which we know Apple does well.

Gold Expensive Designer Business Leaders and high flyers special items.

I still don't see why those is their own private jets want to show off a $350 watch and then say, yeah I know it's exactly the same as the one you have, but my one has a thin gold case round the outside.

I don't really think Apple is targeting owners of private jets with the Watch.

 

[Fenez]

So, the person spending $2000 on a Gold Apple Watch to show off at a party is NOT the same market as a person spending $2000 on a Swiss Watch to show off at a party? Yeah, right.

Not even close... No one who is a watch person will like the idea of every other person wearing what they have on their wrist and as far as it being competition, it will just go down in value as every iteration will make the last obsolete while the swiss watch will increase in value be cause its not a tech gadget... Not the same market

 

[kemal]

Don't Tase Me Bro!

Instead of sending a heartbeat, why not send a shock? Yeah it would drain the battery.

 

[flur]

A Swiss watch at $2,000 is a low end toy. people who like watches spend as much money as sports car collection.

So...congrats on being a snob?

 

[Patriot24]

If this rumor is true, perhaps Valentine's Day is still a realistic target?

 

[whiteboytrash]

It's a new product. Takes some imagination to finally grasp how much of an impact this thing is going to have on many peoples lives. I'm damn sure there are going to be flaws in generation one and pretty much xy-gates on every generation to come.

I for one am excited about the possibilities this thing brings to many of my favourite activities. Juggling, golf, badminton, using this crown for winding back my podcasts and playing Wii like games on the next apple tv.

I look forward to the day that people will stop walking into me looking at their phones and they’ll be able to glance at their watch to read a text instead.

 

[Piggie]

I don't really think Apple is targeting owners of private jets with the Watch.

I know that.
You know that.

Some here are so blinded by Apple that they think it's going to be up to $10,000 or $20,000 for the gold one that only the most wealth will be able to brandish such luxury and us poor peasants will only have Aluminium or if we are only semi peasants, stainless steel

And look up in awe at those lucky enough to afford Gold.

 

[Fenez]

I know that.
You know that.

Some here are so blinded by Apple that they think it's going to be up to $10,000 or $20,000 for the gold one that only the most wealth will be able to brandish such luxury and us poor peasants will only have Aluminium or if we are only semi peasants, stainless steel

And look up in awe at those lucky enough to afford Gold.

Who would buy a $10000 watch that would be obsolete in a year or 2? Apple is a mass market company, this will be marketed to tens of millions not just a few. That's apples core market.
You have it right

 

[Thunderhawks]

How are people on MacRumors so "meh" about the Watch? I'm betting on *much* more hype and marketing before the actual release/pre-order, so I'll also wager that all the "meh"s we're seeing now will flip soon enough.

Problem is at this minute there is not enough info (or imagination) what to use this contraption for.

My simple mind says: My iPhone can do all of what the watch does, but I may have to pull the phone out of my pant pockets.

For the price the watch costs and having to carry and charge etc. another thing, I'll gladly do that.

Instead of :

ONE MORE THING

for me it's:

ONE LESS THING

 

[wigby]

My unsolicited opinion - the Apple Watch will be a technological and design marvel, that will not sell well at that price point, because (1) it doesn't solve any current needs, and (2) Apple has been unsuccessful in creating a new need.

I think you're right if we're looking at it through Apple critics' eyes. Even if Apple sells 40 million of these, they will still say it failed because it will always be overshadowed by iPhone sales. But if Apple sells 5 million of these first gen watches, I would qualify that as a success especially compared to everyone else in the watch space.

Much like the iPhone, I think there will be a price lowering and mass adoption of the 2nd gen. watch in 2015 or 2016. But I'm still excited to get this day one for me and my wife. I think they have positioned it as the perfect his and hers Valentine's Day gifts for techies in a way that women will actually appreciate and desire it too.

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Not even close... No one who is a watch person will like the idea of every other person wearing what they have on their wrist and as far as it being competition, it will just go down in value as every iteration will make the last obsolete while the swiss watch will increase in value be cause its not a tech gadget... Not the same market

They're not the same markets but there's also no reason to believe that Apple won't consume or merge both. Watch people have many watches. An expensive, gold Apple Watch is just another watch for their collection that they can show off to their wealthy friends. And why would they care if the technology is obsolete in a few years? They have the money to buy one/year for the rest of their life. People already recognize the Apple Watch's design as elegant and beautiful so when you add the ability to see texts, pictures, emojis, apps, emails, etc., that only makes it more desirable to any watch afficianado.

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If Apple sells as many watches as they seem to think they will sell, there is no way it would not impact Switzerland.

No one is choosing Apple Watch over an expensive timepiece. They are buying both so I don't see how it would ever affect the high end. Now the mid and low end watch buyers might be a different story. They will weigh pros and cons comparing Apple Watch to design of regular watches and also to the functionality of other smart watches. They will be only purchasing one watch so Apple needs to get in there to be the one in 2015.

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Watches are jewelry, it's not something that will appeal to everyone as we all have different styles. I was excited for the watch until they unveiled it. Other than the bands and how easily they are changed/configured for right and left handed people. I think the watch looks terrible. I also think the wide bands on the iPhone 6 look tacky. However I bought the iPhone 6 because it's still a great phone.

Like you said though. Maybe when the watch is on display in the stores I'll change my opinion on it. But there is a lot we still don't know about it. Sending emoji's is not something that appeals to me. The phone already is a pedometer and comes with Apple Pay. Only thing that the watch does different is a heart monitor.

You sound a little like the dismissive people when he first iPhone was introduced. Remember there was no app store for over a year after it was released. The Apple Watch already has apps and developers are going to be offering thousands of apps day one of release. To me, that sells it's functionality alone. Add the styling which I like (it's a little thick but so was the first iPhone) and you have a form and function winner for me.

 

[BvizioN]

What do find to be exciting and a must have outlook about it?

I wouldn't go that far and say it must have but certainly better then all smarwatches out there in my opinion. With developers work it will only get better. I would rather get this then an analogue one that only tells you the time. And yes, it looks great in my opinion. The Motorola one looks great too just don't like the idea of circular display for anything else then displaying analog time.

 

[Piggie]

The problem is:

Apple have created a new device, that, in all honestly very few really want, and even less need.

They have invested a LOT of money in this project.

They have 6 months to throw money in all directions, self promotion, displays in fancy places, getting celebrities to be seen wearing it.

A massive drive to try and create a need / want that at the moment does not exist.

You can't really spend money in attempts to make people want something they don't really want.

You'll have limited success short term, many will just be swept along with it all, eyes will glaze over and they will follow the engineered path, but it may well be short term.

You can buy temporary success, but people will work out for themselves if it's amazing and they can't live without it, or, like some did with the iPad, simply realize after a while they don't really have a use for it.

Other firms have tried this, and the public, whilst interested, are not swarming forwards, you get some customers taking a few bites, and a few get hooked, but the net is not coming up with a big catch.

Being Apple, and with Apple's money driving the products profile HARD with a big H over the next 6 months, they are going to do everything they can to persuade people they NEED to have one.

We shall see. Short term, it'll be a hit for sure, there will be an initial wave and some excitement, and as it's Apple the wave will have some body to it.

But You can't make people need something they just don't need.

Again, IF it was a stand along product, it would have more strength as you could leave the phone, and use the watch whilst out and about. That COULD work for some.

With this 1st attempt, having to have the phone on your person, and only 2 or 3 seconds from being in your hands, it's a tough one.

Why struggle to use the watch interface, when literally in 2 or 3 seconds the phone is in your hand and you can do everything the watch can do and more 100x easier?

For most people, in everyday scenario's.
If it's super easy to just use the phone, you have on you anyway, why struggle to use the watch?

It's a tough one to picture this right now, as it's not really answering a need people have.

I'd almost have preferred Apple to have gone super slim, very classy looking, and just of made it a fitness/health tracker, message notifications, and a nice looking timepiece.

Not do what they have done, which is to try and make a tiny iPod Touch for your wrist to do things worse than the phone you are carrying anyway can.

We'll see, but it's going to take a year or 2 or 3 until we look back at this and go wow, what a revolution this has been amazing, or we look back on the biggest most expensive flop Apple has had on it's hands in years as they could not buy their way into being wanted when no one REALLY wanted.

 

[buzz0]

I will buy it.
But the biggest concern is battery. Still one day?

 

[B4U]

My current watch meets all the need that I expected from it.
The Apple watch don't even have one of the most crucial part that I love my current watch...

It is solar powered. It also syncs to the atomic clock daily.

They will need to make it solar powered before I even would take a look at it.

 

[itjw]

I proudly wear my Omega Seamaster.

If it's good enough for James Bond, I think it might barely meet my standards...

I also have a lower end Datejust (in 18K at least), and an older Speedmaster (the first watch on the moon! ), that I wear depending on the occasion.

There's no price point where a watch becomes a status symbol, it either is or it isn't. If Kobe Bryant suddenly started wearing a Skagen, it would become a big deal to a lot of people.

Swiss watches have been worn by the elite for over 100 years now. Apple isn't going to supplant that unless they can convince the elite to disregard their preferred brand for status, and come to a cheap (in comparison) electronic gizmo.

It is what it is, but it ain't happening anytime soon.

I know it seems obvious to people with half a brain about things like this, but it's worth pointing out since Ive thinks Switzerland is shaking in their finely crafted boots for some reason. They aren't.