Mark Gurman talks Watch

[Rogifan]

Mark Gurman was a guest on the http://www.resolvepodcast.com podcast talking about Watch. He's still skeptical how successful this product will be but he did share some interesting tidbits:

• There is a dedicated team inside Apple just working on Watch. They poached some iOS and Mac engineers but they're dedicated to the Watch. They've also hired a lot of people onto the team.
• Gurman was surprised at how much customization is available via the companion app. He also said that Apple went "all out" with the first generation waiting to release until they could get everything out at once. He says its a new product built from the ground up. He says it doesn't look like a product that took only 2-3 years to build it looks like something that took much longer (and probably would have had they used iPhone resources).
• Gurman thinks the heart rate sensor will be more accurate than other wearables on the market. He says its unprecedented in the industry how much work Apple put into the sensor. Definitely gives the impression that Apple isn't going to just throw a bunch of sensors into the device (ala Microsoft Band) whether they're very accurate or not. My guess is we'll get more sensors over time but only when Apple can guarantee a high level of accuracy.
• Apple was having lots of issues with battery life. The inductive charger was supposed to be plastic but they switched to metal. They had problems with how long the battery would last on a charge and how long it took to charge the device. I really hope they were able to solve for these issues by the time the device is released.
• Gurman also thinks there will be another event to launch the watch as there's so much Apple didn't talk about at the September event. He also thinks Apple would use the event to have 3rd party developers talk about what they've developed for the watch. The Mac Observer also posted a rumor about a possible HomeKit launch soon. Perhaps Apple would tie that into an Watch event.

I know there are a lot of skeptics and the device may not be a run away hit right away but I just have a feeling this device is going to be more impressive than people think.

 

[petvas]

Everytime when Apple launches something new, everybody says that it will be a failure. It happened with the iPod, even with the iPhone and of course it's happening with the Apple Watch.
I am getting one on day one. I just wish I knew when it will be available here in Germany.

 

[Rogifan]

One thing I forgot to mention is Gurman thinks the Sport watch should be cheaper and should be packaged and sold like an iPod. I disagree. I think that would immediately cheapen the device and make it more difficult to sell the higher end models. If there's a smaller price gap between the Sport and Watch collections it's easier to get people to upgrade. Also if the watch was packaged up like an iPod it would be difficult to try on and I think this definitely is something people will want to try on before the buy.

 

[matrix07]

I know there are a lot of skeptics and the device may not be a run away hit right away but I just have a feeling this device is going to be more impressive than people think.

The major skeptic I have is about the head of the watch product. Kevin Lynch from Adobe if I remember his name correctly. I would be more comfortable if it'd be someone more accustomed to Apple philosophy & tradition, like Tony Fadell perhaps.

 

[Vundu]

The major skeptic I have is about the head of the watch product. Kevin Lynch from Adobe if I remember his name correctly. I would be more comfortable if it'd be someone more accustomed to Apple philosophy & tradition, like Tony Fadell perhaps.

Doubt he would of got the gig if he did not get it.

 

[Tycho24]

The major skeptic I have is about the head of the watch product. Kevin Lynch from Adobe if I remember his name correctly. I would be more comfortable if it'd be someone more accustomed to Apple philosophy & tradition, like Tony Fadell perhaps.

Lol, well... Tony is currently working hard on the Google Glass project & will likely never work at Apple again.
& Kevin, who had a reputation of being well-liked by his peers at Adobe (to the extent that they had custom t-shirts made up & all wore them at a surprise going away party they threw for him), seems to be fitting in VERY well at Apple, & is clearly happily following the company line to the tee, as even his wife, who was in attendance at the event, was shocked... she had no idea he had been working on the Watch. He seems to have a history of staying with companies for quite some time, so I'd try to get over any "skeptic" (sic) you have about him. He is most likely the face of Watch at Apple from now forward.

One thing I forgot to mention is Gurman thinks the Sport watch should be cheaper and should be packaged and sold like an iPod. I disagree. I think that would immediately cheapen the device and make it more difficult to sell the higher end models. If there's a smaller price gap between the Sport and Watch collections it's easier to get people to upgrade. Also if the watch was packaged up like an iPod it would be difficult to try on and I think this definitely is something people will want to try on before the buy.

I agree!!!
I'm really, really hoping ss is $500. I could justify that!

 

[Rogifan]

The major skeptic I have is about the head of the watch product. Kevin Lynch from Adobe if I remember his name correctly. I would be more comfortable if it'd be someone more accustomed to Apple philosophy & tradition, like Tony Fadell perhaps.

Kevin Lynch is running software for Watch. I'm not sure he's the 'head' of the project. At the September event Jony Ive and Jeff Williams were called out by Tim Cook for their work on Watch.

 

[brendu]

Kevin Lynch is running software for Watch. I'm not sure he's the 'head' of the project. At the September event Jony Ive and Jeff Williams were called out by Tim Cook for their work on Watch.

I think this has been Jony's pet project since soon after Steve passed. This is his baby the same as the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod were Steve's babies.

 

[Night Spring]

Also if the watch was packaged up like an iPod it would be difficult to try on and I think this definitely is something people will want to try on before the buy.

Huh??? What does the packaging matter to how easy or difficult it is to try it on? It's not like stores are going to let people pop open wrapped boxes to try the watch -- they'll have display models for people to try.

 

[extricated]

Thanks for sharing!
Even if it is the biggest flop (doubtful) I will be one of the first to buy one.

 

[Technodynamic]

I think it will be more impressive than people think too.

When they unveiled it it was exactly what I had hoped it would be. The watch is the perfect supplement to the phone to make both products a better experience. I never imagined it as a separate device, but one that augments the use of your phone.

I think people in the wild start seeing friends using it and how it makes daily functions a notch easier on many levels they'll want one too.

 

[Rogifan]

I think this has been Jony's pet project since soon after Steve passed. This is his baby the same as the Mac, iPhone, iPad, and iPod were Steve's babies.

Actually I think this is Tim Cook's baby. On the earnings call he said he uses it every day and couldn't live without it. No way this project gets green-lighted and this many resources put on it if Cook wasn't heavily invested in it himself.

 

[nfl46]

Maybe someone knows...but I have a question.

For example:
38mm Sport starts at $349
Watch and Edition prices are unknown.

Sooo, if 38mm Watch is $499, what justifies the prices? I thought the Sport/Watch both have the same case...is the band on the Watch really worth $150 more? If so, that's crazy. Couldn't I just get the Sport, buy a Watch band and then I essentially have a Watch?

 

[OllyW]

I thought the Sport/Watch both have the same case...

The Sport has an aluminium case, with toughened glass display and composite (plastic) back.

The Watch has a stainless steel case, sapphire crystal display and ceramic back so expectation is it will cost more.

 

[Night Spring]

Maybe someone knows...but I have a question.

For example:
38mm Sport starts at $349
Watch and Edition prices are unknown.

Sooo, if 38mm Watch is $499, what justifies the prices? I thought the Sport/Watch both have the same case...is the band on the Watch really worth $150 more? If so, that's crazy. Couldn't I just get the Sport, buy a Watch band and then I essentially have a Watch?

Sport is aluminum with gorilla glass. Watch is stainless steel, with sapphire crystal.

 

[jst1nt]

Maybe someone knows...but I have a question.

For example:
38mm Sport starts at $349
Watch and Edition prices are unknown.

Sooo, if 38mm Watch is $499, what justifies the prices? I thought the Sport/Watch both have the same case...is the band on the Watch really worth $150 more? If so, that's crazy. Couldn't I just get the Sport, buy a Watch band and then I essentially have a Watch?

I think the price difference from the sport to the edition is also factoring in the watch band.... i.e. milanese loop and leather v. silicone .... add the band to the stainless steel case instead of aluminum is the justification for the $150 increase.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I think the price difference from the sport to the edition is also factoring in the watch band.... i.e. milanese loop and leather v. silicone .... add the band to the stainless steel case instead of aluminum is the justification for the $150 increase.

Well I can pretty much guarantee you that the stainless steel version will have multiple price points depending on the band. Stainless steel with the sport band will be probably be $500, but stainless steel with the Milanese loop or link bracelet will probably be closer to $700

 

[Piggie]

Well I can pretty much guarantee you that the stainless steel version will have multiple price points depending on the band. Stainless steel with the sport band will be probably be $500, but stainless steel with the Milanese loop or link bracelet will probably be closer to $700

Well, it should not be shown that way on the Order Web Site.

Say that Sports watch is shown as $349 with the rubber strap.

Then the Stainless model should be X amount more with the same strap.

It will just be the optional extra straps (like adding a case to your iPhone order) that THEN causes the "Grand Total" to start increasing.

I would hope to see no more than $150 between the two models with the same strap. That would be plenty, and I'd hope it was $100 really.

Some are expecting it to be vastly more difference than that I know.

 

[Rogifan]

Well, it should not be shown that way on the Order Web Site.

Say that Sports watch is shown as $349 with the rubber strap.

Then the Stainless model should be X amount more with the same strap.

It will just be the optional extra straps (like adding a case to your iPhone order) that THEN causes the "Grand Total" to start increasing.

I would hope to see no more than $150 between the two models with the same strap. That would be plenty, and I'd hope it was $100 really.

Some are expecting it to be vastly more difference than that I know.

What do you mean by optional? No one will be buying the watch without a band. But different models will have different prices. For instance, SS with sport band will be cheaper than SS with link bracelet. It could be as simple as Apple showing the 18 different models and the price next to each. Then you select which one you want.

 

[nfl46]

The Sport has an aluminium case, with toughened glass display and composite (plastic) back.

The Watch has a stainless steel case, sapphire crystal display and ceramic back so expectation is it will cost more.

Ohhhhh! Thanks guys! I was like, why wouldn't most buy the $349 watch and just buy a different band for it, lol. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Piggie]

What do you mean by optional? No one will be buying the watch without a band. But different models will have different prices. For instance, SS with sport band will be cheaper than SS with link bracelet. It could be as simple as Apple showing the 18 different models and the price next to each. Then you select which one you want.

You misunderstood.

I wrote:

It will just be the optional extra straps (like adding a case to your iPhone order) that THEN causes the "Grand Total" to start increasing.

I meant that the Extra Straps, the more expensive ones, will be optional extra's which will bump up the price.

Selecting the standard rubber strap, same as the sports model, would mean the only price difference was the Watch Body.

 

[phantomsd]

What do you mean by optional? No one will be buying the watch without a band. But different models will have different prices. For instance, SS with sport band will be cheaper than SS with link bracelet. It could be as simple as Apple showing the 18 different models and the price next to each. Then you select which one you want.

I've been wondering about this, too. It doesn't seem very Apple-like to show every single AW combination and varying price points. Too messy.

All AWs could possibly come STANDARD with the sport band included (also to push/drive the usage of the fitness and health apps). All other bands are optional, like @Piggie mentioned, and offered on the next page (Accessories) in the ordering process.

I mocked up something real quick for fun. There are going to be so many SKUs!

Assuming Sport Band is bundled with every Apple Watch as a "starter/gateway band", some observations from the Apple's site:

- (Apple Watch Sport) Option to pick any of the 5 Sport Band colors
- (Apple Watch) Apple states only Black and White option for Sport Band
- (Apple Watch Edition) Special Black or White Sport Band with gold closure pin. This model is interesting because the Digital Crown "button" is color-matched to each band... leading me to believe the Digital Crown is detachable and customizable.
- The Digital Crown "button" for Apple Watch is black... for Apple Watch Sport it is color-matched to the body.

 

[lirn8]

I've been wondering about this, too. It doesn't seem very Apple-like to show every single AW combination and varying price points. Too messy.

All AWs could possibly come STANDARD with the sport band included (also to push/drive the usage of the fitness and health apps). All other bands are optional, like @Piggie mentioned, and offered on the next page (Accessories) in the ordering process.

I mocked up something real quick for fun. There are going to be so many SKUs!

Assuming Sport Band is bundled with every Apple Watch as a "starter/gateway band", some observations from the Apple's site:

- (Apple Watch Sport) Option to pick any of the 5 Sport Band colors
- (Apple Watch) Apple states only Black and White option for Sport Band
- (Apple Watch Edition) Special Black or White Sport Band with gold closure pin. This model is interesting because the Digital Crown "button" is color-matched to each band... leading me to believe the Digital Crown is detachable and customizable.
- The Digital Crown "button" for Apple Watch is black... for Apple Watch Sport it is color-matched to the body.

looks nice man

 

[Rogifan]

I've been wondering about this, too. It doesn't seem very Apple-like to show every single AW combination and varying price points. Too messy.

All AWs could possibly come STANDARD with the sport band included (also to push/drive the usage of the fitness and health apps). All other bands are optional, like @Piggie mentioned, and offered on the next page (Accessories) in the ordering process.

I mocked up something real quick for fun. There are going to be so many SKUs!

Assuming Sport Band is bundled with every Apple Watch as a "starter/gateway band", some observations from the Apple's site:

- (Apple Watch Sport) Option to pick any of the 5 Sport Band colors
- (Apple Watch) Apple states only Black and White option for Sport Band
- (Apple Watch Edition) Special Black or White Sport Band with gold closure pin. This model is interesting because the Digital Crown "button" is color-matched to each band... leading me to believe the Digital Crown is detachable and customizable.
- The Digital Crown "button" for Apple Watch is black... for Apple Watch Sport it is color-matched to the body.

I can see one ordering it this way, I'm just not convinced every SS and Edition watch will come with a sport band. The gateway to this product is the Sport collection. I think you chose the collection you want, choose the finish, choose a size and then choose the band you want. And once you've made all those selections you'll be quoted a price.

 

[Night Spring]

I can see one ordering it this way, I'm just not convinced every SS and Edition watch will come with a sport band. The gateway to this product is the Sport collection. I think you chose the collection you want, choose the finish, choose a size and then choose the band you want. And once you've made all those selections you'll be quoted a price.

That will work with online orders, but how would it work in retail stores? Say you walk into BestBuy. According to the Apple website gallery, you have 18 different stainless steel watch/band combinations to pick from. Is BestBuy going to stock all 18 different combos? What if the combo you want is out of stock? You go home without a watch?

On the other hand, if the watch and band come in separate boxes, then a not very knowledgable sales associate could let a customer walk out with only a watch and no band.

Logistically, the simplest way to ensure that every watch is sold with a band, AND that a customer doesn't walk away empty handed if their preferred band/watch combo is out of stock, is to bundle the cheapest band with the watch, and tell the customer they can use that band for now until their preferred band comes in.