Apple Watch - February 19th Release Date?

[KPOM]

Yes, it's a Thursday, but this is why I think it could well be the date the Apple Watch becomes available. It's the first day of Chinese New Year. Consider the following:

• Liu Wen is the first to publicly model the watch.
• The first major spread is in Vogue China.
• The 18kt gold Edition is available in yellow gold and rose gold, which match well with Asian complexion.
• Gold is a popular gift in China, particularly when matched with red.
• Chinese New Year is a big gift giving holiday, like Christmas in the West.

I would not be surprised if most of the supply of the Edition goes to China, and that the "early 2015" release date is in part to make sure that they have as much time as they need to get whatever regulatory approvals they need in order to include China in the initial launch wave.

OTOH Android fans will be quick to point out that 2015 in the Chinese Zodiac is the year of the sheep.

 

[Julien]

Yes, it's a Thursday, but this is why I think it could well be the date the Apple Watch becomes available. It's the first day of Chinese New Year...

Timing a product release in China is problematic. With all the bureaucracy and corruption involved. Look at the iPhone 6. It was scheduled to be released day/date with the US but was held up at the last minute. Even for a company as experienced as Apple you can't predicted what 'tricks' Chinese bureaucrats will 'pull' at any given time.

 

[betabeta]

Rumor is they really want it in stores on February 6, (before Valentines day) but that's 50/50, and now with this whole GT debacle I would push it into March for sure, most likely closer to spring.

I would rather it be finished "right" and come in March, not forced out the door with bugs, but hey that's the new Apple way now, get it out, fix it later

 

[dannyyankou]

Rumor is they really want it in stores on February 6, (before Valentines day) but that's 50/50, and now with this whole GT debacle I would push it into March for sure, most likely closer to spring.

I would rather it be finished "right" and come in March, not forced out the door with bugs, but hey that's the new Apple way now, get it out, fix it later

Apple has been like that for a long time.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/09/10/08/apple_releases_iphone_os_3_1_2_with_glitch_crash_fixes

http://appleinsider.com/articles/10/02/02/apple_releases_iphone_os_3_1_3_with_battery_reporting_fix

https://gigaom.com/2011/03/25/apple-releases-ios-4-3-1-with-multiple-bug-fixes/

http://www.cultofmac.com/90318/apple-releases-ios-4-3-2-with-bug-fixes-– jailbreakers-beware/

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/05/04/apple-releases-ios-4-3-3-with-location-tracking-bug-fixes/

http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/10/apple-releases-ios-5-0-1-battery-woes-be-damned/

http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/7/3005078/apple-releases-ios-5-1-1

http://www.macworld.com/article/2013393/apple-releases-ios-6-0-1-with-bug-fixes-improvements.html

http://www.zdnet.com/apple-releases...ge-bug-lock-screen-bug-still-open-7000011510/

https://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/1...scode-bug-fix-and-japanese-maps-enhancements/

http://9to5mac.com/2013/11/14/apple-releases-ios-7-0-4-with-bug-fixes-improvements-facetime-fix/

http://www.cultofmac.com/267399/apple-releases-ios-7-0-6/

http://www.zdnet.com/apple-releases-ios-7-1-for-iphone-ipad-7000027146/

 

[rkuo]

Launching the watch in China around Chinese New Year is tough. There won't be anyone around to make them ...

 

[Julien]

Add in the $500,0000,000 GT sapphire fiasco and there may be a delay or limited supply of the Watch and Edition models due to the limited supply of sapphire production.

Just think how much the Watch and Edition's would cost if Apple was to amortized this into the price.

 

[capitanbuzo]

Add in the $500,0000,000 GT sapphire fiasco and there may be a delay or limited supply of the Watch and Edition models due to the limited supply of sapphire production.

Just think how much the Watch and Edition's would cost if Apple was to amortized this into the price.

They won't amortize it into the price. It will just be a bad debt write off.

 

[Julien]

They won't amortize it into the price. It will just be a bad debt write off.

You must have missed think, if and . Guess I should add [sarcasm] tags next time.

 

[Cashmonee]

I would imagine Apple doesn't even know the release date yet. I am sure they have a target date, but I also think the watch is much further from complete than many people think. If I had to place a bet, my money would be on March.

 

[jbromer]

You lost me at:

• The 18kt gold Edition is available in yellow gold and rose gold, which match well with Asian complexion.

But seriously, the entire country shuts done for like 2 weeks at this time. We are talking 100's of miles of traffic jams due to travel. Many articles have been written about how there is no business or any shipping that happens in China for the 2 weeks around Chinese New Years. So unless the watch is being manufactured outside of Asia, this is very unlikely.

 

[KPOM]

You lost me at:



But seriously, the entire country shuts done for like 2 weeks at this time. We are talking 100's of miles of traffic jams due to travel. Many articles have been written about how there is no business or any shipping that happens in China for the 2 weeks around Chinese New Years. So unless the watch is being manufactured outside of Asia, this is very unlikely.

Ask a jeweler. White gold, silver, and platinum match better with fair complexion, which is why they are popular in the US. Yellow and rose gold match better with darker complexion.

 

[Dan70]

Yes, it's a Thursday, but this is why I think it could well be the date the Apple Watch becomes available. It's the first day of Chinese New Year. Consider the following:

• Liu Wen is the first to publicly model the watch.
• The first major spread is in Vogue China.
• The 18kt gold Edition is available in yellow gold and rose gold, which match well with Asian complexion.
• Gold is a popular gift in China, particularly when matched with red.
• Chinese New Year is a big gift giving holiday, like Christmas in the West.

I would not be surprised if most of the supply of the Edition goes to China, and that the "early 2015" release date is in part to make sure that they have as much time as they need to get whatever regulatory approvals they need in order to include China in the initial launch wave.

OTOH Android fans will be quick to point out that 2015 in the Chinese Zodiac is the year of the sheep.

From the points you've mentioned, it really doesn't seem like it's likely. The colour of the watch matching Asian completion seems irrelevant to me. As well as the gift giving season. It might be a great time in Asia, but for the rest of the world it's pretty random.

I highly doubt it.

 

[KPOM]

From the points you've mentioned, it really doesn't seem like it's likely. The colour of the watch matching Asian completion seems irrelevant to me. As well as the gift giving season. It might be a great time in Asia, but for the rest of the world it's pretty random.

I highly doubt it.

I'm not saying that China will be "first" (time zone issues aside), but that they are going to want to make it available by the time Chinese New Year rolls around. I'm sure that if it were ready now, they'd release it now, since Christmas is right around the corner, but it isn't ready, so that's the next best thing. If they get it out a week before it could also be in time for Valentine's Day. I think they'll want China included in the initial launch alongside the US, UK, Canada, and Australia and other typical "Day 1" markets.