What to Expect at Apple's 'Spring Forward' Media Event

[riverfreak]

Until a smartwatch can act as a smartphone I don't get why anyone would find it a need.

Currently the apple watch requires an iphone on your person why wouldn't I just pull my smartphone out of my pocket to do the same function?

Because it's rude to constantly be pulling your phone out to check your messages -- and because your phone instantly assails you with many other non critical notifications.

Or because your phone is in your briefcase and you are in a crowded train. Or your phone is in your office and you are in the conference room next door?

My sense (since I don't have an apple watch yet) is that it would provide notification of only the most critical of messages, letting you forget the rest until you have time or inclination to deal with them. That would be my hope at least.

 

[Gameboy70]

What I question , is why would an accessory to the iPhone , that otherwise completely depends on it for most of its functionality will cost more than the actual phone ?

For starters, it's unsubsidized.

 

[Rogifan]

i hope it flops, hard. at least the more expensive editions.

i'd really love to have a nice smartwatch, but i'm not going to buy the aluminium/plastic version that's going to put me in a lower class than those who can afford or want to shell out more for the steel version with better looking bands (don't get me started on the "crazy dictator"-gold-edition) and i'm also not going to spend hundreds more for a nicer casing for a 1st generation-throwaway-iphone accessoire.

sure, there will be some people willing to pay premium for a status symbol - i just hope they won't be enough to make it worth for apple.

a luxury edition is lightyears away from the "computer for the masses" dogma from 1984, and while it fits the lifestyle and mindset of some of apple's designers ( just read this: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/23/shape-things-come ), it deserves every sh**storm it is hopefully going to get.

The technology in the gold watch is no different than what's in the aluminum watch. Why do you care if someone wants and can afford a gold Watch and Apple sells them one? To me that's just snobbery but in the reverse direction.

 

[technosix]

Price is one thing, if perceived as high it will elevate expectations.

Much like I expected my iPhone's 6 and 6 Plus to operate better than they do. Every new iPhone I've owned has only had the relatively few small bugs any new software does. Nothing like the crash prone experience I'm having with iOS 8.1.3.

If Apple's done their best work on the watch, I have no doubt it's going to be an excellent, stable and fun experience.

Further proving they've been distracted with other things instead of delivering a good... Notice I said_good_ not perfect, OS for the iPhone.

I do hope Apple enjoys great success as usual, with the watch. I still have loads of Apple stock.

 

[Rogifan]

Revisionist? You seem to forget the four-month window between the iPad's announcement and its release. Allow the Engadget staff to refresh your memory on how the announcement was received:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/

This is great. And really highlights some of the revisionist history at present. And if you go back and watch the iPad event, only the first 10 minutes or so were interesting. The rest of it was quite boring.

 

[ke-iron]

I don't think the Apple Watch will be a hit, which should be expected as other watches had the same fate. The watch is just for fashion, that's it.

I can understand its use if it had health capabilities but there aren't any. And it takes way too long to do one simple thing on the watch where you can just easily take your phone out of your pocket.

...and how does one update that thing anyways? And its dependent on your phone too, so you can't just leave your phone at home or something. Watches like these just aren't ready for primetime.

It's a watch not a replacement of your phone. Does your current analog or digital watch replace your phone? No! It's a watch that can do fitness fitness tracking and other things, it's a wrist worn companion not a replacement of your smart phone. Apple creates a new device and tells us what it will do but that's not enough you want it to do something entirely different from what the creators intended it to. If the watch doesn't meet your needs don't buy one buy something that will and don't bother to post your garbage on this thread. You make zero valid points.

 

[AndyUnderscoreR]

Well, if we're all making wild predictions...

Everyone's wrong about Sport being the cheap model (30% lighter is something Apple will charge you for).

The sport will also have more memory than the non-sport model (for use as an ipod replacement when you're away from your phone doing sports) and come with Beats branded wireless headphones.

Everyone's also wrong about the elastomer strap being the cheap option (look at the Edition page - 2 of the 6 in the range have elastomer straps, none of them have metal straps). $349 gets you the simple leather strap.

 

[goobot]

Because it's rude to constantly be pulling your phone out to check your messages -- and because your phone instantly assails you with many other non critical notifications.

Or because your phone is in your briefcase and you are in a crowded train. Or your phone is in your office and you are in the conference room next door?

My sense (since I don't have an apple watch yet) is that it would provide notification of only the most critical of messages, letting you forget the rest until you have time or inclination to deal with them. That would be my hope at least.

The Apple watch sends you all your notifications, it's just as rude to stare at your watch and I'd suggest investing in pairs of pants with pockets.

 

[dugbug]

Gruber talks himself right out of his own argument. The strategy in pricing in tiers is to induce up-selling. Considering this reality, a $400 premium for the stainless steel watch with the sport band make no sense. Nobody will in induced to spend that much more just to get steel. More like $100-150 makes a lot more sense. Apple already does this all across their model lines. Why Gruber thinks they will take a radically different approach with Apple Watch is beyond me, and unless I missed some deep thinking, I don't see where he's articulated any argument for it.

Edit: Read Gruber again looking for evidence of deep thinking. None found. His argument for the huge gap between the Sport and Apple Watch models is based on something he calls "operational efficiency." What the hell is that? He doesn't say, but he does say it should be convincing. Sorry, no sale.

I don't understand your sarcasm. It takes 9 hours to produce one steel link band including the by hand finishing. These are high end bands. You think that's the same as a plastic mold? That is nanutacturing efficiency. It's low and high cost. These things just cost more to produce at this quality

 

[ke-iron]

Well, if we're all making wild predictions...

Everyone's wrong about Sport being the cheap model (30% lighter is something Apple will charge you for).

The sport will also have more memory than the non-sport model (for use as an ipod replacement when you're away from your phone doing sports) and come with Beats branded wireless headphones.

Everyone's also wrong about the elastomer strap being the cheap option (look at the Edition page - 2 of the 6 in the range have elastomer straps, none of them have metal straps). $349 gets you the simple leather strap.

Good speculation but I think all the watches will have the same amount of memory simply because there will be too many models to keep track of. In addition to different watches, finishes and sizes we'll have storage options too? Nah too complicated.

 

[rowspaxe]

Revisionist? You seem to forget the four-month window between the iPad's announcement and its release. Allow the Engadget staff to refresh your memory on how the announcement was received:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/

I guess engaget totally missed the call; Walt Mossberg--a preeminant tech reviewer at the time--was enthusiastic and more characteristic of the press response
http://allthingsd.com/20100331/apple-ipad-review/

 

[Rogifan]

One God thing about Watch is it draws out the nutters.

http://www.brianshall.com/my-name-is-jony-ive-designer-your-physical-laws-frighten-and-confuse-me/

 

[NavySEAL6]

Sport 38/42 - 349/379
Stainless - 449/479
Edition - Starting at 999/1049

My Edition pricing may be a little low, but this is half what I think and half what I hope! Each watch will have different bands bundled for a small premium.

Sport band - 49
Leather - 79
All others - 99

Hoping to grab either a sport in space grey or SS in space black, black sport band, white sport band, and possibly a Milanese loop. Admittedly I want all the bands except the modern buckle

 

[IJ Reilly]

Placing some of the models high end doesn't limit the reach so long as they still provide a model that is substantially similar at a lower price. Marketing to the high end may be necessary to overcome the geek appeal that current smart-watches suffer from.

The Edition is already at the high end. Marketing is needed to sell anything.

----------

Because they took out a 12 page ad in Vogue? I don't think that qualifies but some might. The minute I see Apple ads in The Robb Report then I know they've jumped the shark.

Granted they are trying to extend their fashion cred, but Vogue is hardly haute couture anymore, if it ever was.

----------

Revisionist? You seem to forget the four-month window between the iPad's announcement and its release. Allow the Engadget staff to refresh your memory on how the announcement was received:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/27/editorial-engadget-on-the-ipad/

A feeling of deja vu all over again. It's really telling that Engadget declared the iPad to be "unimaginative" when it's more like they were were the party lacking in imagination.

 

[technosix]

It will be interesting to see how many here continue to complain that Tim Cook isn't as exciting as the late Steve Jobs was in presentations. Sometimes I seriously wondering why they fail to understand Tim Cook has his own style, and just because he doesn't hype products with the wild claims Jobs made, doesn't mean Cook is a failure.

I happen to appreciate all Cook has done, and yes, he's done a lot. The numbers prove it.

 

[IJ Reilly]

I don't understand your sarcasm. It takes 9 hours to produce one steel link band including the by hand finishing. These are high end bands. You think that's the same as a plastic mold? That is nanutacturing efficiency. It's low and high cost. These things just cost more to produce at this quality

I did not mention the steel link band at all, so I don't understand your question.

 

[rowspaxe]

a luxury edition is lightyears away from the "computer for the masses" dogma from 1984, and while it fits the lifestyle and mindset of some of apple's designers ( just read this: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/23/shape-things-come ), it deserves every sh**storm it is hopefully going to get.

You have an intuition here that I strongly agree with--the watch as luxury or fashion item undermines apple brand purpose--which is simplified and better designed tech selling at a premium price. I think a lot of millennials will be holding their noses when they pass the gold apple watch at the apple store.
Apple is endangering enrhusiastic brand participation as it becomes "their father's oldsmobile".

 

[kingofwale]

Was the first iPad speculated at $1000? Gruber is no different compared to an average poster in this blog. Apple must be crazy to price it at $750 unless they want no sale. Even me, i want one but would remove myself out if it is more than $500 for stainless steel version.

was first iPad speculated at 1000 dollars?? YES

but first iPad was also rumored to be running OSX not iOS.

 

[IJ Reilly]

One God thing about Watch is it draws out the nutters.

http://www.brianshall.com/my-name-is-jony-ive-designer-your-physical-laws-frighten-and-confuse-me/

We can stop reading at:

This is Jony Ive’s final year at Apple. I have predicted this for a year now.

 

[doelcm82]

I guess engaget totally missed the call; Walt Mossberg--a preeminant tech reviewer at the time--was enthusiastic and more characteristic of the press response
http://allthingsd.com/20100331/apple-ipad-review/

Mossberg's review is a full two months after Engadget's editorial, and he had an actual unit to test. Engadget's staff was speaking with no real hands-on experience, like practically all of us here.

So we can forgive Engadget, and ourselves, for not being a very reliable predictor of how useful the Apple Watch will be, and how well it will be received when it's an actual product.

 

[IJ Reilly]

was first iPad speculated at 1000 dollars?? YES

but first iPad was also rumored to be running OSX not iOS.

Yes, and that was wrong too.

 

[AndyUnderscoreR]

Good speculation but I think all the watches will have the same amount of memory simply because there will be too many models to keep track of. In addition to different watches, finishes and sizes we'll have storage options too? Nah too complicated.

I agree, but if all base models have small storage, while sport and edition have large storage, that doesn't actually make the range bigger, it just adds a differentiator to the higher ranges.

 

[xaqt93]

was first iPad speculated at 1000 dollars?? YES

but first iPad was also rumored to be running OSX not iOS.

The Apple Watch is already going to start at $349. The first iPad was speculated to start at $1000 but didn't. We also didn't know exactly what the iPad was until it was released. The Apple Watch will be expensive. That much is clear

 

[rowspaxe]

This is great. And really highlights some of the revisionist history at present. And if you go back and watch the iPad event, only the first 10 minutes or so were interesting. The rest of it was quite boring.

Uncle Steve surfing the web in an easy chair gave notice that a page had been turned. Nothing else was important

 

[Keirasplace]

I don't think he is wrong on this one...Apple has a huge fan base and I am also one of their hugest fans, the only problem is, people with the base knowledge for Apple products aren't going to want to pay that much money for a watch. We don't even know the life span of these things yet...if they last 5+ years, then maybe the price Apple is asking for the Apple Watch will be worth it, but with such a high price point that we have been hearing, I don't see it taking off. But We will see tomorrow!

Life span is whatever one you want it to be. I still use a 3GS daily, many still use 10 year old Ipods. So, that's almost 6 years for a "disposable" phone. Considering the use case of a watch. It will easily be useful for what you bought it for a lot longer than that (and probably more once native apps come in).

Will it be able to do the exact same thing as the new model. Probably not, and so what? If that bothers you that you don't have the latest wizz bang thing, then its on you, not Apple. Tech has always moved forward and this is no different.

BTW, if spending $120 a year (say replacing,selling the watch every say 3 years), on a device you use extensively is too much. Maybe you shouldn't have bought it in the first place... Many people spend 12 times more than that on coffee a year; I'm sure they can manage it.