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Why is the Watch several weeks away?
- Thread starter kmj2318
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virginblue4
macrumors 68020
twisted-pixel
macrumors 6502a
On A Blog to Watch, the speculation was that they wanted this before a major watch conference next week in Switzerland. Another reason is that they are still finalizing the software and/or retail sales processes, but wanted to get the information out so that they can begin to build up buzz.
It's longer in between for new product lines. For example, the original iPad was given release date on March 5, 2010 and streeted on April 3rd.
nwlondonlad
macrumors 65816
As others have said it's pretty much cos its a new product and there is no other models currently out in the market by Apple
When the next gen is released it will be about a week from announcement to pre order
When the next gen is released it will be about a week from announcement to pre order
Newtons Apple
Suspended
I would think the reason is that they are not ready yet. Likely getting a last minute software update and going to packaging.
If they were you can bet Apple would be selling them. Same for the new Macbook
If they were you can bet Apple would be selling them. Same for the new Macbook
Chupa Chupa
macrumors G5
My guess is s/w is the bottle neck taking us to end of April. Certainly a release a weeks after Easter and month away from Memorial Day is NOT the "early" part of the the year by any credible definition. So it's safe to conclude there was a hitch somewhere.
Two week pre-order window is probably to help gauge production allocation for an all-new product with 42! unique SKUs. The extra week also helps to lower shipping costs because Apple won't have to drop ship as many from the factory.
Two week pre-order window is probably to help gauge production allocation for an all-new product with 42! unique SKUs. The extra week also helps to lower shipping costs because Apple won't have to drop ship as many from the factory.
1. To give us time to save up the cash. (One month).
2. To give them time to judge how much to ship from China April 10th -> 24th.
2. To give them time to judge how much to ship from China April 10th -> 24th.
Pug72
macrumors 68040
I think it was partly because of the new Pebble Time.
The fund day where they take the money for your pledge is before the preorder date of the Apple Watch. (March 28th, April 10th being Apple Watch preorder day.)
They wanted the price/launch day info out there before that date to reduce loss of sales to Pebble.
I myself am considering cancelling my pledge. I currently use a Pebble for work (don't feel it's smart enough for regular use) and it's got a little tatty. I was going to get the Pebble Time to replace it as my work watch but I'm thinking about using the Apple Watch with a sport band and a sweat band over the top.
Then put the stainless steel bracelet back on for normal wear.
The fund day where they take the money for your pledge is before the preorder date of the Apple Watch. (March 28th, April 10th being Apple Watch preorder day.)
They wanted the price/launch day info out there before that date to reduce loss of sales to Pebble.
I myself am considering cancelling my pledge. I currently use a Pebble for work (don't feel it's smart enough for regular use) and it's got a little tatty. I was going to get the Pebble Time to replace it as my work watch but I'm thinking about using the Apple Watch with a sport band and a sweat band over the top.
Then put the stainless steel bracelet back on for normal wear.
mattopotamus
macrumors Pentium
reminds me of steve jobs talking about the original iphone. During their keynote he did not even think it would work right b.c up to that point it had not.
Newtons Apple
Suspended
That had to be a scarey time for sure!
The need to announce can be a pressure cooker for the people behind the curtain.
KauaiBruce
macrumors 65816
I've never preordered from Apple before because it is easier to just get the phones from AT&T. Will early preorders be shipped from a big stash that has made it into the US or will they all ship directly from China like they do once things are in regular production?
I turned over a few different reasons.
I don't think its about supply. I think Apple can easily satisfy the demand. This will sell much less than the iPhone 6. Apple doesnt even have problems with the iPad supply. I think the apple watch will be well supplied. Of course, people are going to think this means low demand. Unless Apple wanted to announce the Watch before the supply chain started leaking it. Oh wait, there already was an event before. They're not getting in front of any supply constrains here
There still working on the OS. Which is obvious. They'll be working on it from now till release. But it might be that because it's a brand new product, so they chose to give it more time. That doesn't make sense. I'm wondering why the event was so far ahead of the release. They could have planned a later event and worked as much on the OS and release it on the 24th either way.
Time to educate employees. I think this is the big one. This would push the event up because inevitably the new info would leak from employee training. Your not going to keep that leak plugged. So you need to get the information out before it all leaks on someone else's terms. Employee training takes a lot of time for a new product, but hardly any for the fourth iteration. This is what the event was getting in front of in my opinion.
I don't think its about supply. I think Apple can easily satisfy the demand. This will sell much less than the iPhone 6. Apple doesnt even have problems with the iPad supply. I think the apple watch will be well supplied. Of course, people are going to think this means low demand. Unless Apple wanted to announce the Watch before the supply chain started leaking it. Oh wait, there already was an event before. They're not getting in front of any supply constrains here
There still working on the OS. Which is obvious. They'll be working on it from now till release. But it might be that because it's a brand new product, so they chose to give it more time. That doesn't make sense. I'm wondering why the event was so far ahead of the release. They could have planned a later event and worked as much on the OS and release it on the 24th either way.
Time to educate employees. I think this is the big one. This would push the event up because inevitably the new info would leak from employee training. Your not going to keep that leak plugged. So you need to get the information out before it all leaks on someone else's terms. Employee training takes a lot of time for a new product, but hardly any for the fourth iteration. This is what the event was getting in front of in my opinion.
I have a theory about this long delay. I do not think the watch is ready. I kept thinking during the presentation that a lot of the demo's were simulated they were not real. This is nothing new for Apple they admitted that with the first iphone it definitely was not ready and they faked most of the presentation. I suspect they have not yet finished the software or have many bugs they are still working on and expect to have most resolved by release date.
However, I would not be surprised to see the product released with lots of software bugs.
Cashmonee
macrumors 65832
This. I also think that the Spring Forward event, was not an
Watch event, but rather a MacBook event. The watch was almost an afterthought, and nothing new was really presented, aside from price and availability.