Smart watches have not caught on with the public. it does not matter what label you put on it.
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Tim Cook Says Apple Watch Set New Sales Record in First Holiday Shopping Week
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And I just found this on the US version of Variety :
A trifecta of bad news for smartwatches means that it’s time for the consumer electronics industry to face reality: There’s simply no sizeable market for watches with apps on them, and users don’t want to have yet another screen nagging them about unread emails.
The latest evidence for this comes to us courtesy of IDC, which estimated Monday that Apple Watchshipments were down 71 percent during Q3 of 2016. The company only shipped 1.1 million units during that quarter, compared to 3.9 million a year ago, according to IDC, which estimate that Apple’s share of the wearables market has fallen from 17.5 percent to 4.9 percent.
A trifecta of bad news for smartwatches means that it’s time for the consumer electronics industry to face reality: There’s simply no sizeable market for watches with apps on them, and users don’t want to have yet another screen nagging them about unread emails.
The latest evidence for this comes to us courtesy of IDC, which estimated Monday that Apple Watchshipments were down 71 percent during Q3 of 2016. The company only shipped 1.1 million units during that quarter, compared to 3.9 million a year ago, according to IDC, which estimate that Apple’s share of the wearables market has fallen from 17.5 percent to 4.9 percent.
Actually, he can't lie about such things and not open himself and apple up to major shareholder lawsuits.
If he says it is selling at best pace ever, you can believe it.
In fairness, though, most models aren't shipping until after xmas. I doubt that's due to creating an artificial paucity. Probably are selling well.
It may be well made but it's not in the least bit stylish, just a box. You see a photo of someone wearing one and your eye's drawn to it, not in a good way. Price. Tied to iOS users, not a surprising thing but I've an Android phone. No compelling apps or uses unless vaguely correct fitness figures are you thing.
Don't you realise that IDC numbers where for the July through September quarter and Cook's remarks where about the last week of November? Or do you simply prefer to pretend that numbers that you don't like are made up?
It's a vague comment. Just like when he said MacBook Pro 2016 is the most ordered online laptop ever.
But then - buying online was the only way to buy the laptop - so while then statement may be true - the sale figures may not be that great overall if historical laptop sales have been slower via online sales than in store.
His statement is ambiguous- 'one of the most popular holiday gifts'.
In what category - Apple smart watch category? It's a loose statement.
On the day IDC reveal data show Apple Watch sales are slowing down -'and Timmy comes out with this statement - is this damage limitation ?
But then - buying online was the only way to buy the laptop - so while then statement may be true - the sale figures may not be that great overall if historical laptop sales have been slower via online sales than in store.
His statement is ambiguous- 'one of the most popular holiday gifts'.
In what category - Apple smart watch category? It's a loose statement.
On the day IDC reveal data show Apple Watch sales are slowing down -'and Timmy comes out with this statement - is this damage limitation ?
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The ONLY reason I bought one now is because BestBuy offered $50 off the retail price. Otherwise I'd be watchless.
Apple, price, price, price.
90% of us don't need the health features which adds to the costs, it's time for an Apple Watch Lite for $99. Notifications and handoff would satisfy most users.
Apple, price, price, price.
90% of us don't need the health features which adds to the costs, it's time for an Apple Watch Lite for $99. Notifications and handoff would satisfy most users.
How do you make "sales bigger than they are"? It's not possible without lying. He's not going to do that and open himself up to SEC investigation and sanctions.
If reports are accurate, that apple's share of the wearables market has declined, and Tims assertion of record sell through rated is correct, then it means the market has expanded faster than apple's share of it. (Kinda like what happened with the tablet market. Probably also true like in tablets that most of those wearables are sitting in drawers.)
Where do they even get their numbers from? Why don't they tell us specifically how they determined sales figures when Apple doesn't supply them? Even if places like Best Buy are giving them data (which we don't know for sure) that still wouldn't include Apple B&M and online store sales. So does IDC just estimate there? And why should we trust their estimation? It's not like there's consequences if they're wrong. In 2011 they predicted Windows Phone would over take iOS in market share by now. Why should we give any credibility to their numbers?
Tim just confirmed marketshare. Further, Apple Watch sold as well as it did because it was one deep discount in many places. That should signal Apple to realize that within the wearables market - there is/may be a place for them, but not at their current price point.
Lots of analysts believe they had the highest market share, and they usually have a very high margin, so it would be surprising if they weren't #1 on revenue.
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I'd love them to have the stainless steel only, and start it at £200. Probably a pipe dream :')
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This isn't deflection. The argument here is if a company doesn't release sales figures for a product that means the product is a flop. So using that logic then the Kindle and Echo are flops as Amazon has never released sales figures for either product. Do you really believe that to be the case? If I had my way Apple wouldn't release sales figures at all for any of their products. I would only release what the SEC requires. Honestly since Apple is organized functionally and not around product lines I would stop reporting revenue figures by product. I would have a revenue figure for hardware and one for software & services. Quit with the minutia of sell-in, sell-through and channel inventory. Let the overall numbers speak for themselves rather than sell side analysts going nuts because they predicted Apple would sell 50M iPhones and Apple only sold 49.9M.
Don't ever expect a surprise from the product line at least until Apple brings all its manufacturing in-house.
After all, aren't there dozens if not hundreds of people out there searching the dumpsters all over China for signs of new devices with an Apple brand or serial number on them?
The great god 'Kuo' (sic) will have just as many paid for informants inside the factories that make Apple kit.
He makes a living from forcasting all sorts of things. Make enough predictions and he can say with glee 'I told you so'.
sure, some of the detail will be a surprise but in general... we know pretty well all we need to know before Tim Cook etc get up on stage and announce it.
Get used to it. That is a fact of life these days.
Seems to me that's just changing the subject. Cook is basically saying don't believe evething you read. Of course he's said this before on earnings calls. Yet every time an outfit like IDC comes out with a report like this it's all over rumor and tech sites rarely ever being questioned for accuracy. Of course there's no way to confirm IDC figures and no penalty for IDC if they're wrong. One reason I hate when Cook uses data points from them (or other firms like them).
The point here is that Amazon does not release sales figures for anything.....And apple only releases sales figures for the products that do really well. So comparing the watch figures to amazon figures is deflection in my opinion.
What does it matter what the competition does? Lets keep them out of this and focus on what apple does, lets be honest, "hobby" products don't do no where as well as idevices in the apple ecosystem
It is NOT about making money. It is about making the target margin. There is a big difference.
around 20 years ago my group was making money. Lots of it but we all got canned because our margin was not what was wanted by the PHB's in Texas. Our customers complained and the company relented but it was too late. In one country the Government was so peed off with us that they issued an edict to the major businesses not to but anything from the company again.
I don't care about IDC really. I know several people who only bought an Apple Watch over the past 2 or so weeks because of the heavy discount. They could afford an Apple Watch (easily) at full price but were not interested. Anecdotal, for sure. I also know several of them that are returning them and going back to their fitbits and other simpler devices.
That's why neither of us run Apple.
Apple is clearly entering the autonomous, self-driving car market. Under such a business model, there is less reason to want to own a car, so having a physical car to sell makes little sense.
Electric cars are probably in a transitional stage like netbooks. Little surprise Apple has chosen not to enter that market.
I'm still not sure why anybody cares. Smartwatches and fitness wearables are two different products IMO. Apple Watch was not the new iPod. iPod had little competition and was "free standing". Apple Watch or Samsung gear are tied to a bigger ecosystem.
This was never going to be a blockbuster category. Fitbit probably does fitness better but isn't full featured and their products are not without their own issues.
Apple Watch gives Apple credible space in wearable and makes a profit. What else matters.
I am more concerned that MBP are too freaking expensive and the iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro are like neglected step children.
This was never going to be a blockbuster category. Fitbit probably does fitness better but isn't full featured and their products are not without their own issues.
Apple Watch gives Apple credible space in wearable and makes a profit. What else matters.
I am more concerned that MBP are too freaking expensive and the iMac, Mac Mini and Mac Pro are like neglected step children.
Does it? I thought call forwarding worked when your iPhone + other device were both on WiFi, even if they weren't the same wifi network.
Even so, I agree Apple Watch should be much more independent.