Why is Apple over hyping this watch more than the iPhone?

[CrimsonKnight]

It's a new product, a new category for Apple. Lots of people are interested how Apple is going to take the industry in the smart wear. I personally have not been impressed or tempted to buy the Apple Watch, and everything the Apple Watch offers I am able to do on my iPhone. Plus this is generation one, will just have to wait and see because it could get a whole lot better.

 

[uid15]

I'm making a quiet mental note in my mind, of all the pointless threads which are Apple watch-centric, and setting a subconscious parse/regex in my brain to ignore anything Apple watch-based from MR, and instead, seeking decent sources of data such as TwiT/MacBreak Weekly, etc - this could quite well become pretty inane and overwhelming, if you let it.

 

[Glideslope]

Apple needs to hype it as excessively-hard as they are, because it's nothing but a cash-grab. I say that because I haven't seen anything to convince me that the cheapest Watch won't perform equally with the most expensive Watch.

Precisely. The 34 Million Dollar ad Campaign so far is unprecedented to an Apple Singularity. Apple is nervous. Once we get past a few million sales buy the end of the summer that will be it for the Apple watch.

It's nothing more that an overpriced Cash Grab for a device that implements nothing other than putting your iPhone on your wrist. I have no interest in being Dick Tracy.

There are millions who will initially purchase the AW. By the end of Summer the focus will once again be on other products, and the AW will begin it's "slow" decent into the abyss.

Remember, this is simply my opinion. No need to attack me personally, eh?
It is tough however to be convinced when I go into my local Brick and Mortar on a Saturday afternoon and no one is at the AW Try On Station.

Selling plenty of phones, Macs, and Laptops. I guess every has ordered one, therefore they have no need to even look at one in house?

----------

I'm making a quiet mental note in my mind, of all the pointless threads which are Apple watch-centric, and setting a subconscious parse/regex in my brain to ignore anything Apple watch-based from MR, and instead, seeking decent sources of data such as TwiT/MacBreak Weekly, etc - this could quite well become pretty inane and overwhelming, if you let it.

Well, I'd keep some of those notes in there. You know, just in case?

 

[uid15]

Precisely. The 34 Million Dollar ad Campaign so far is unprecedented to an Apple Singularity. Apple is nervous. Once we get past a few million sales buy the end of the summer that will be it for the Apple watch.

It's nothing more that an overpriced Cash Grab for a device that implements nothing other than putting your iPhone on your wrist. I have no interest in being Dick Tracy.

There are millions who will initially purchase the AW. By the end of Summer the focus will once again be on the products, and the AW will begin it's "slow" decent into the abyss.

Remember, this is simply my opinion. No need to attack me personally, eh?
It is tough however to be convinced when I go into my local Brick and Mortar on a Saturday afternoon and no one is at the AW Try On Station.

Selling plenty of phones, Macs, and Laptops. I guess every has ordered one, therefore they have no need to even look at one in house?

I don't know of many companies who are confident enough to spend tens of BILLIONS of dollars launching a product, who would be "nervous" about it. Quite the contrary - Apple are VERY confident, and as always, have put their money where their mouth is. Even for a company as wealthy as Apple, tens of billions is not by ANY means, insignificant. They KNOW what they're doing, they're no fools, they didn't sit in a locked room for 5 years with no advisors or counsel, they are extremely tuned in, and light years ahead of the rest of the pack.

As for a 34M USD ad campaign - that is chicken feed to Apple, that's not even worth a mention.

Seriously, "nervous"? No chance, not at all.

 

[apolloa]

The iPhone was truly a revolutionary device that did A LOT more than any other cell phone/device did for it's time

Actually you are TOTALLY wrong with that statement! And it was one of the reasons people didn't care about the iPhone at the time of it's launch unless you were a geek or total Apple fan.
The first iPhone was way way way way way way behind the competition in spec terms. Nokia was the all conquering giant whose phones had specs that crushed the iPhone at the time.

Apple had to make the iPhone fashionable and show off it's touchscreen interface to make it sell, then came the app store. It had to work hard to make it the success and the device it is today.

With the Apple Watch, I have no idea? I guess it's the price of it? I mean this time everyone knows Apple and the smart watch market, whilst it's been going for a good few years, has only recently been pushed by the manufacturers.

I know people who have no need for the watch but will buy one cause they love their iPhones.

 

[cababah]

Seems like everyone is involved in iPhone launches. People all over know when the new ones are coming out and the people getting them make it widely known. With the Watch, however, nobody seems to care and I don't personally know anyone who is planning to buy one.

A smartphone is something most people need and can find useful in daily life but a watch isn't a necessity. Apple has an uphill battle convincing the general public that they need a smart watch...especially one that starts at $350 and is another gadget that requires daily charging. In the end, it's just an expensive iPhone accessory and horribly ugly from a fashion standpoint IMO.

I don't mean to intentionally bash this product but it seems like a forced attempt from Apple to prove that they can still innovate in the post-Jobs era. A lot of reviews have noted that it lacks focus as a product and is quite convoluted in operation. The products launched under Jobs didn't have these issues...

 

[Sodner]

The Internet and press coverage has come a long way since the initial release of the iPhone. Now when Tim Cook changes his watch face the whole world knows about it.

 

[C DM]

Precisely. The 34 Million Dollar ad Campaign so far is unprecedented to an Apple Singularity. Apple is nervous. Once we get past a few million sales buy the end of the summer that will be it for the Apple watch.

It's nothing more that an overpriced Cash Grab for a device that implements nothing other than putting your iPhone on your wrist. I have no interest in being Dick Tracy.

There are millions who will initially purchase the AW. By the end of Summer the focus will once again be on other products, and the AW will begin it's "slow" decent into the abyss.

Remember, this is simply my opinion. No need to attack me personally, eh?
It is tough however to be convinced when I go into my local Brick and Mortar on a Saturday afternoon and no one is at the AW Try On Station.

Selling plenty of phones, Macs, and Laptops. I guess every has ordered one, therefore they have no need to even look at one in house?

----------



Well, I'd keep some of those notes in there. You know, just in case?

There are famous threads in the archives filled with doubt, doom, and gloom when it came to iPod launching. That sure held up well.

 

[Glideslope]

There are famous threads in the archives filled with doubt, doom, and gloom when it came to iPod launching. That sure held up well.

See you in Dec.

 

[doug in albq]

Steve Jobs had a silent confidence in the strength of the iPhone as a viable product.

He knew the iPhone, as all great products do, would virtually "sell itself."


Cook, Ive and the Watch...not so much, hence the 3-ring-circle-jerk.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

If the product fails, it can be judged to have been over-hyped. If it greatly exceeds even Apple's expectations (as I believe both iPod and iPhone had), then nobody will remember it as hype.

So, as always in this digital age, the debate will be binary in nature. Shades of gray (5, 50 or 5,000) need not apply.

It's no longer about just selling one more product. It is, and will continue to be, about the ecosystem. To maintain their positions, both Apple and Google have to ensure that new products will perpetuate and extend whatever positions they currently hold, or they risk losing it all to a new paradigm. Today, it's wearables, tomorrow, internals (implants).

Is it a coincidence that the number of Macs produced today is four times what it was when iPhone was introduced? No. Chances are, if the watch is a success, Apple's share of the smart phone and computer markets will also expand. So, if you believe that more Mac users is a good thing, and that more iPhone users are a good thing, pray that the watch is a success.

And external expectations are driving this as much as internals. After years of the "Apple is not innovating" drumbeat, what can anyone expect other than a loudly shouted, "Yes, we are!" Once, nobody believed Apple could establish new product categories, now, it's become mandatory and expected. Once, Apple could experiment and and if people didn't buy it, they'd keep working on it until it worked (Newton spawns iPhone). Once, there was no Samsung waiting in the wings to produce knock-offs in massive quantities. Now, failure is not an option.

Submitted for your approval/disapproval...

It’s the Apple watch, Apple dare not botch
It’s all connected, it’s geek perfected
It will dress your wrist, Samsung won’t be missed
Sapphire protected, your style projected

 

[nj-morris]

When the iPhone first came out..The whole world was surprised and never knew that such a device would be at the hands of millions of people.
But today...a watch with a digital screen is more hyped than anything and also over priced too.
The iPhone was truly a revolutionary device that did A LOT more than any other cell phone/device did for it's time and never even imagined by many people that such a thing could exist.
And Apple didn't really overhyped it at all like they are doing to the watch.
You can't take pictures with it
you can't call people with it
you can't really do much on it.

The iPhone is truly one of the most magical device on earth.
It deserves more love This whole Apple watch thing is making me jealous.

I agree. The Watch is far better than any smartwatch, but at the end of the day, all a smartwatch is is an accessory. And it is certainly not revolutionary. They are acting as if they have reinvented the smartwatch, like they did with the notebook (I'm not talking about the new MacBook) and the phone. It is overpriced (even the sport model) and not many people actually need it.

 

[smiddlehurst]

Go back and revisit the early days of the iPhone, you may be surprised at what you find. In terms of functionality it could actually do considerably *less* than the competition at launch. It was an incredibly cool device and the potential was obvious but if you evaluated it the way you're doing with the Watch... it would fall into the exact same category. Hell watch the announcement video again, EVERYONE missed the important bit. "Widescreen iPod with touch controls" - big applause. "Revolutionary mobile phone" - insanity reigns. "Internet communicator" - tumbleweeds.

As for the comments in this thread about "needing" a watch... get real folks, no-one really *needs* a smartphone either. Sure they make life a hell of a lot easier but a necessity? No, you can survive without one. Even if you really do need one for whatever reason you don't "need" an Apple phone, a basic £100 Android handset would meet your needs.

What you're actually talking about here is being able to justify a purchase and that's a very different thing. More importantly it's a very personal thing and is rarely based entirely on functionality. Now speaking just for myself I can justify the Watch because a) I want the fitness stuff and have been using a FuelBand for two years, b) there's a bunch of app stuff that will fit nicely into my life, c) it enables... no, sorry, it makes it easier to carry an iPhone 6+ and d) I love the design. Oh, and I'm naturally curious about new tech especially when it's well engineered.

None of that adds up to needing the device but it's more than enough to make me comfortable paying for it. For someone else they'll think I'm silly because none of that matters to them... and that, too, is a valid opinion about the Watch (or, indeed, any device). But please don't confuse that opinion as the *only* valid opinion.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Steve Jobs had a silent confidence in the strength of the iPhone as a viable product.

He knew the iPhone, as all great products do, would virtually "sell itself." :::snip:::

Steve Jobs, who approved the 1984 Superbowl ad? Steve Jobs, who rented auditoriums for his product announcements? Steve "Mister One More Thing" Jobs???

There have been countless great products that never got off the ground. I can't say for sure whether they were expected to sell themselves, but the last thing any successful entrepreneur does is leave the sales effort to chance. Without a doubt, Steve wanted Apple's products to be good enough that they could sell themselves. He was smart enough to know that, if you build a better mousetrap, you'd best make sure the public knows how to find your door.

 

[AFDoc]

When the iPhone first came out..The whole world was surprised and never knew that such a device would be at the hands of millions of people.
But today...a watch with a digital screen is more hyped than anything and also over priced too.
The iPhone was truly a revolutionary device that did A LOT more than any other cell phone/device did for it's time and never even imagined by many people that such a thing could exist.
And Apple didn't really overhyped it at all like they are doing to the watch.
You can't take pictures with it
you can't call people with it
you can't really do much on it.

The iPhone is truly one of the most magical device on earth.
It deserves more love This whole Apple watch thing is making me jealous.

Guess the bigger question is why you care so much? iPhone is nothing to you other than a communication device....... I'd say spend your time on more important things.

 

[C DM]

Steve Jobs had a silent confidence in the strength of the iPhone as a viable product.

He knew the iPhone, as all great products do, would virtually "sell itself."


Cook, Ive and the Watch...not so much, hence the 3-ring-circle-jerk.

Yeah, that's why there were no ads or marketing for the iPhone. Totally.

----------

I agree. The Watch is far better than any smartwatch, but at the end of the day, all a smartwatch is is an accessory. And it is certainly not revolutionary. They are acting as if they have reinvented the smartwatch, like they did with the notebook (I'm not talking about the new MacBook) and the phone. It is overpriced (even the sport model) and not many people actually need it.

They are acting like they reinvented the public perception of a smart watch to making more appealing and desirable to an average user...which they did, and which is what they do with many of their products.

 

[murray]

Over hyped?

Maybe.

All I know is, the hype train is leaving the station.

CHOO CHOO.

 

[dotnet]

He knew the iPhone, as all great products do, would virtually "sell itself."

And people just like yourself "knew" otherwise. It's been the same ritual over and over since 2003. It's starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

 

[RichiMac]

They have a lot more money to spend on the hype than they did for the iPhone....thanks to the iPhone.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

You think it's overhyped because you can't afford it.

 

[sterl320]

lol the iPhone was deff overhyped when it was first coming out.

 

[thejadedmonkey]

It's not. The iPhone was way more hyped, everywhere.

 

[BvizioN]

The iPhone was truly a revolutionary device that did A LOT more than any other cell phone/device did for it's time and never even imagined by many people that such a thing could exist.

You seem to forget one thing though. When iPhone first came out, it didn't do much stuff that other that other phones didn't do (apart from the multitouch) it just did things in a much better way.
The power of iPhone was unleashed later with the AppStore.

 

[eortizr]

because you don't need it, but Apple will make you think that you do.

 

[DirtySocks85]

When the first iPhone came out, it's not like Apple was an unknown or a small company, but the Mac user base in 2007 was still smaller (by market share) than it is today. Sure people had iPods, but most who owned an iPod didn't consider themselves an "Apple fan" or an "Apple user". Now look at what the iPhone DID for Apple - look at how many more homes are filled with Apple products than before 2007. The reason the Watch is so hyped and anticipated is BECAUSE of the iPhone. iPhone paved the way for Apple-mania by the masses.

Before 2007 the only Apple products I owned were a 1st generation iPod Shuffle and a 6th gen iPod Classic. Since then I have owned an iPhone 3G, iPhone 4, iPhone 5 and iPhone 6. Our house has 2 MacBook Pros and an iPad as well. My wife and I are both getting Apple Watches. I suspect we are not alone.