Downside of the Apple Watch (Sport Model)

[DravenGSX]

All valid points but let me clarify:

-he wrote the training keynote for our market about the Apple Watch. He was instructed to do so per area leadership after his Apple Watch training

-he is not just a random apple retail employee. He's someone I worked with for 2 yrs and consider a good friend. Actually he finds this thread hilarious.

-Where are the pics anywhere of an Apple Watch (SPORT) with a metal or leather band??

Earlier I said that I didn't think /you/ were making it up... this post changes my opinion. We've seen this same post over and over again on this site. Somebody who's full of it comes on here talking about what their retail employee friend/cousin/lover/cousin's lover/friend of mom's friend's of cousin's lover told them some piece of information about a yet to be released product that they can't possibly have. Then, when it's questioned, this super defensive "He owns Apple!" type of post comes up.

If, you're telling the truth then congratulations, you've just had your friend fired. My guess though is that this "friend" is safe. We'll see this again around the iPhone6S (or whatever it's called) launch.

While there isn't a picture of a sport case with a metal band on the apple.com website, there is a picture of an SS case with a sport band. Since we can safely assume that they mount in the same way, we can also assume then that the metal band will work on the sport case. This has been presented multiple times in this thread.

To answer the question about whether it's likely that Apple will sell the bands separately at launch, we only need to reference the last several iPhone launches with the multiple cases available at launch. It is an Apple signature move to design a couple of accessories and provide them as an upsell at launch. I am confident that will happen again. Since silicone and leather cases don't really apply to watches, the bands make sense. My guess (nothing to back this one up) - florolastemer bands: $50, Metal and Leather bands: $99

 

[lewisd25]

I can post whatever I want just like anyone else can. Juli and I have emailed several times after I posted that discussing the watch. Maybe you should chill and drink some water.

I'm not questioning your ability or freedom to post, simply the logic in overanalyzing an opinion of someone who is not in a position of knowledge or influence at Apple. And my statement still stands. Everyone, not just you, needs to relax and let things play out.

 

[applegeek01]

I'm not questioning your ability or freedom to post, simply the logic in overanalyzing an opinion of someone who is not in a position of knowledge or influence at Apple. And my statement still stands. Everyone, not just you, needs to relax and let things play out.

I'm not trying to be rude and I'm sure you aren't either. However, 75% of all the posts in every thread on this website is filled with overanalyzation of people's opinions. That's just the way it is. I appreciate your opinion and views just like I do everyone else, but telling people to tell out isn't the way to go about things. This is why people post in these forums, to share ideas and analyze them over and over again.

 

[Bengy66]

Earlier I said that I didn't think /you/ were making it up... this post changes my opinion. We've seen this same post over and over again on this site. Somebody who's full of it comes on here talking about what their retail employee friend/cousin/lover/cousin's lover/friend of mom's friend's of cousin's lover told them some piece of information about a yet to be released product that they can't possibly have. Then, when it's questioned, this super defensive "He owns Apple!" type of post comes up.

If, you're telling the truth then congratulations, you've just had your friend fired. My guess though is that this "friend" is safe. We'll see this again around the iPhone6S (or whatever it's called) launch.

While there isn't a picture of a sport case with a metal band on the apple.com website, there is a picture of an SS case with a sport band. Since we can safely assume that they mount in the same way, we can also assume then that the metal band will work on the sport case. This has been presented multiple times in this thread.

To answer the question about whether it's likely that Apple will sell the bands separately at launch, we only need to reference the last several iPhone launches with the multiple cases available at launch. It is an Apple signature move to design a couple of accessories and provide them as an upsell at launch. I am confident that will happen again. Since silicone and leather cases don't really apply to watches, the bands make sense. My guess (nothing to back this one up) - florolastemer bands: $50, Metal and Leather bands: $99

I have no reason to lie about the material that is on a consumer electronic device. When my friend shared this information with me, we were in the middle of the Apple Store with his manager standing within 5 feet from us. I doubt he would have been this open with this "double secret" information if he was going to get canned over it.

How would you like your crow served come April sautéed, fried, or grilled?

 

[Rogifan]

Metal bands for only $99? Maybe add $100 to that and it's believable. And just because the fluoroelastomer bands are shown to be compatible with the stainless steel watch doesn't mean the aluminum watch will be compatible with the stainless steel bands. We won't know for sure until the product is out.

 

[Julien]

I have no reason to lie about the material that is on a consumer electronic device. When my friend shared this information with me, we were in the middle of the Apple Store with his manager standing within 5 feet from us. I doubt he would have been this open with this "double secret" information if he was going to get canned over it.

How would you like your crow served come April sautéed, fried, or grilled?

Sorry, but count me in as a "this doesn't sound plausible in any way" camp. I have saved the thread and will come back for my share of crow (I prefer it in a pie) if wrong. I firmly believe that Jony Ive told the truth when he said "...a [as in one] mechanism that makes the straps easily interchangeable...."

I guess Jony doesn't know what he is talking about and will have to eat crow pie with me.

 

[Bengy66]

Sorry, but count me in as a "this doesn't sound plausible in any way" camp. I have saved the thread and will come back for my share of crow (I prefer it in a pie) if wrong. I firmly believe that Jony Ive told the truth when he said "...a [as in one] mechanism that makes the straps easily interchangeable...."

I guess Jony doesn't know what he is talking about and will have to eat crow pie with me.

I am ok with people having a different opinion on the matter, but for someone to basically accuse me of lying about an issue so mundane is a little ridiculous. I started the thread originally because I thought people would find this information helpful leading up to the product release. Never thought it would cause people to call out my integrity if you will. I find it funny though.

 

[UltimateSyn]

It's pretty clear that all three models use the same connection, and the point of the bands is to be able to swap them out easily.

 

[Tycho24]

I am ok with people having a different opinion on the matter, but for someone to basically accuse me of lying about an issue so mundane is a little ridiculous. I started the thread originally because I thought people would find this information helpful leading up to the product release. Never thought it would cause people to call out my integrity if you will. I find it funny though.

I also have this page bookmarked & genuinely believe you and your friend are completely full of it.

I actually DO think you're lying (or your "friend" is...).
I will profusely apologize if your buddy & you are the only people on the planet to be privy to this info though... (that no amount of Google scouring can find even a single person to corroborate your claim), and you decided to share it with us!

Lol, as time goes on it gets less & less believable...
If this info were available to all the (must be numbering in the thousands by now...) employees that have taken the training, and (as you claim) is NOT secret & management has no qualms about this info being revealed... why do you still remain the SOLE source to share this shocking news that surely would have glaringly stood out to each and every person who heard it??

Edit:
And, for the record... I'm glad you and your friend find this thread so funny. I think the rest of us who don't believe this very specific & unsubstantiated claim find it equally amusing.

 

[roadbloc]

The downside of the Watch is the one day battery life. Seriously, am I the only one who's bothered about this? One day battery life for a watch is nothing short of pathetic.

 

[leenak]

Actually now the downside (based on the front page article) is it actually have no sports features. Although I think that puts it out of my interest range at this time if the health features aren't there.

 

[OllyW]

Aluminium sports watch with metal strap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AysdS_Bz5Fk

From a very high end Watch Maker - Cost = $31,000

I appreciate Apple is nowhere near in the class of watch, but it shows you can have an Aluminium metal strap with an Aluminium body so Apple could easily offer such a strap to match the sports model.

Image

Image

They had to change the material of that watch from aluminium to titanium because of manufacturing issues.

More interesting is the material used to produce the Sport collection watches. The F.P. Journe Octa Sport watch as reviewed is produced from aluminum. Before I continue, it is important to say that, due to manufacturing issues and the difficulty in working with aluminum, the F.P. Journe Octa Sport collection will now be produced from titanium.

There's also an interesting comment at the end of the review...

Worst characteristic of watch: Aluminum case material is theoretically delicate for "sporty" situations.

 

[Rogifan]

Actually now the downside (based on the front page article) is it actually have no sports features. Although I think that puts it out of my interest range at this time if the health features aren't there.

What health features were you expecting that the watch doesn't have? None of those advanced sensors that the WSJ is referring to were announced at the event last year.

 

[leenak]

What health features were you expecting that the watch doesn't have? None of those advanced sensors that the WSJ is referring to were announced at the event last year.

Heart rate monitoring would be a big one and that was announced? Also, impedance is a good one that something like the upcoming Up3 will have. The idea was there were going to be sensors that could tell you all sorts of stuff but now it seems like a pedometer.

 

[Piggie]

You make a good point about the unsuitability of Aluminium for a sports watch.

I feel in reality, and most here would freak at the very notion of it.
Apple's sports watch should really be made from a very high grade plastic, with excellent durability and impact performance, and not Aluminium which as we know from phones, tablets and laptops is not the most robust material when knocked around.

I would be interested if anyone here had the balls to agree with a plastic apple sports watch

I suspect the usual fanboi gang will freak at the concept and rubbish any form of plastic as per usual

 

[applegeek01]

You make a good point about the unsuitability of Aluminium for a sports watch.

I feel in reality, and most here would freak at the very notion of it.
Apple's sports watch should really be made from a very high grade plastic, with excellent durability and impact performance, and not Aluminium which as we know from phones, tablets and laptops is not the most robust material when knocked around.

I would be interested if anyone here had the balls to agree with a plastic apple sports watch

I suspect the usual fanboi gang will freak at the concept and rubbish any form of plastic as per usual

I wouldn't buy one, but I can agree with you that other materials other than aluminum would be interesting concepts.

 

[OllyW]

I would be interested if anyone here had the balls to agree with a plastic apple sports watch

I would prefer it in plastic because my main interest in the Watch is for tracking and mapping while I'm out mountain biking.

It would hopefully be a bit cheaper too.

 

[Piggie]

I would not at all be surprised if, over the years, we see a wider range of materials be used for the Apple Watch.

The most obvious two that are currently left out being Titanium and Plastic.
I have also suggested a Gold Plated version could be another future consideration.

 

[applegeek01]

I would not at all be surprised if, over the years, we see a wider range of materials be used for the Apple Watch.

The most obvious two that are currently left out being Titanium and Plastic.
I have also suggested a Gold Plated version could be another future consideration.

I was thinking the other day that Apple could consider white gold plated casings. Yes, it would be similar to titanium and stainless steel in the way that it looks, however I do not like yellow gold. It just doesn't look right on my skin. And I think Apple would be crazy not to fashion white gold into their watches for the people who have the same opinions toward yellow gold as I do, but yet they could afford it and I couldn't.

 

[OllyW]

I have also suggested a Gold Plated version could be another future consideration.

Possibly, but I think we would need variations in the case designs before that happens. Otherwise it would look almost exactly the same as (and therefore cheapen) the Edition models if they bought out gold plated versions of the Stainless Steel watch.

 

[Night Spring]

Heart rate monitoring would be a big one and that was announced? Also, impedance is a good one that something like the upcoming Up3 will have. The idea was there were going to be sensors that could tell you all sorts of stuff but now it seems like a pedometer.

Yes, the Apple watch was announced as having heart rate monitoring, which is still there. The WSJ article was talking about other types of sensors that were considered during the planning stages but which were ultimately not included in the first gen Apple watch. So right now, the watch is a pedometer plus heart rate monitor. No other sensors were ever announced, so if that is disappointing to you, the WSJ article shouldn't cause you any new disappointments.

 

[leenak]

Yes, the Apple watch was announced as having heart rate monitoring, which is still there. The WSJ article was talking about other types of sensors that were considered during the planning stages but which were ultimately not included in the first gen Apple watch. So right now, the watch is a pedometer plus heart rate monitor. No other sensors were ever announced, so if that is disappointing to you, the WSJ article shouldn't cause you any new disappointments.

If it still has heart rate monitoring (somewhat continuous), then I'm still in. If it doesn't, I'm out until the 2.

 

[Night Spring]

If it still has heart rate monitoring (somewhat continuous), then I'm still in. If it doesn't, I'm out until the 2.

As I said, it does have heart rate monitoring -- no "if" about that. How long you can keep monitoring the heart rate without depleting the battery remains to be seen.

 

[NT1440]

I m sure this is by design as a metal band popped in and out of the aluminum casing will/could cause scratching over time.

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We are assuming the SS model doesn't have a Sport strap specifically designed for it.

It's abundantly clear that the latching mechanism onto the housing of the watch is exactly the same across all models.

Why would you take the word of an Apple Retail employee? They don't get in depth training until days before a product is launched.

 

[Julien]

If it still has heart rate monitoring (somewhat continuous), then I'm still in. If it doesn't, I'm out until the 2.

I wonder if it does have a HR monitor too? If only there was a way to find out.