Mark Gurman talks Watch

[JayLenochiniMac]

If they don't hold another event they're nuts. Just posting this information on their website doesn't generate any press, any buzz. I would think they would want some high-profile developers on stage talking up Watch and showing off their apps.

You might be right. Anyone think it'll be in conjunction with the iPad Pro and 12" rMBA?

 

[saberahul]

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.

I don't think it will be a failure; I do think that like most other Apple products, they will miss out a lot on this version and get it right in 2nd gen. I expect all other gens after that to be just upgrades without much change in overall functionality.

 

[Rogifan]

You might be right. Anyone think it'll be in conjunction with the iPad Pro and 12" rMBA?

That's a good possibility. I doubt it would be a stand alone Watch event.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

That's a good possibility. I doubt it would be a stand alone Watch event.

I agree.

 

[Tanegashima]

Because you says wrong things...

English, please.

 

[splogue]

I have seen you make this type of comment a few times, and I really don't know why you keep making this point.

You seem to be implying that people who decide to shop in the Best Buy store are in some way inferior people.
That's a really bad attitude to have. Looking down upon a fellow human simply because of a store they happen to be in.

In the UK, it would be like someone shopping in Marks and Sensors or Waitrose for food, and them looking down on people shopping for food in Lidl or Aldi.

I've shopped in all types of stores for food and other products, and I've never felt this way. In fact the, what are seen as cheaper stores can have some far nicer items that are not for sale in the higher price stores.

Also, and this is the funny part, they often have the exact same products for less money. Why should I pay £5 for a box of cookies when the exact same branded box of them is £3 at a different store a few 100 yards away?

Because I would be deemed a less worth human being by you for being in such a establishment?

Again, I'm sorry to have to say this, but I think they way you brand best buy as a store that should not offer nice things to customers is bad and not needed.

I would like to think any store, if it wishes to, and feels it has customers that would be interested in such products, would be able to stock any of the Apple watches.

It's a mass produced little cheap wrist computer for gods sake, not the UK Queens grown jewels!

Dude, this is pretty harsh, and, frankly, extremely misinformed.

With all due respect, I don't think you understand branding or marketing. At all.

I'll give you an example. Ralph Lauren has several lines of fashion. The most recognized is the black label, which is probably what you have if you've got a Polo shirt hanging in your closet. You can buy those anywhere, including TJ Maxx and the Ralph Lauren outlets.

They also have the purple label, which is only sold in Ralph Lauren flagship stores, like the one in Manhattan. You won't find one of those in any other store, period. Not even a non-flagship Ralph Lauren store. That's because that line is high-end, and they limit distribution to protect the brand.

So, it has zero to do with what kind of people shop at Best Buy. You've completely misunderstood the entire concept.

That said, I think he's completely correct. I'd bet anything Apple chooses to sell the Edition version of their watch only in select stores. And, no, I don't think Best Buy will be one of them.

 

[splogue]

I don't disagree with you, buy how can Apple pull this off? They are the same except for the case. The stainless steel or Edition are no more collectible or special than the Sport really. Functionally, they are all the same, which is to say not special at all.

This whole high end luxury item concept is perplexing to me. Watch companies can charge what they do because of the mechanics, craftsmanship, and timelessness of the watch. I can't see Apple being able to do that. I think most that would spend that kind of money on a watch are looking for something that can be handed down, and something that appreciates. That is not the Watch.

The other thing that worries me is the last time Apple made a high-end item meant to compete with other high-end makers, the Apple HiFi. Watch Edition feels that way to me. Then again, Apple clearly is better at business than I am. I just keep feeling like there is something they haven't revealed that will make all of this make sense.

Incorrect. The Edition will be far more collectible than the other versions. This is because there won't be anywhere near as many of them due to the price. And, the fact that they are the first version of the watch will also help.

The collectible market is driven by two simple things. Availability and desirability. The Edition will have low availability with high desirability - the perfect combination for a high resale twenty years from now.

Will you do better buying Apple stock? Maybe! That's the risk inherent in the field. But, make no mistake, the Edition will be worth money in several years, especially if it is mint in box (never opened). The only question is how much.

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If they don't hold another event they're nuts. Just posting this information on their website doesn't generate any press, any buzz. I would think they would want some high-profile developers on stage talking up Watch and showing off their apps.

I agree. I also think they are holding something back. Some feature they haven't mentioned yet in order to make the announcement more interesting.

I could easily be wrong, but that's what I would do.

 

[Cashmonee]

Incorrect. The Edition will be far more collectible than the other versions. This is because there won't be anywhere near as many of them due to the price. And, the fact that they are the first version of the watch will also help.

The collectible market is driven by two simple things. Availability and desirability. The Edition will have low availability with high desirability - the perfect combination for a high resale twenty years from now.

Will you do better buying Apple stock? Maybe! That's the risk inherent in the field. But, make no mistake, the Edition will be worth money in several years, especially if it is mint in box (never opened). The only question is how much.

You have half the equation right, rare. No one ever said they are desirable. At this point we have no idea if anyone will want a first gen, edition watch in 2 years, much less 20. What's an Apple HiFi going for these days? Or better yet a 20th Anniversary Mac? Hint: There is a 20th Anniversary Mac on eBay right now with a Buy It Now of $3200. Original MSRP? $7500, in 1997 dollars! Rare does not equal valuable.

 

[rowspaxe]

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.

stillborn.

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I agree. I also think they are holding something back. Some feature they haven't mentioned yet in order to make the announcement more interesting.

I could easily be wrong, but that's what I would do.

Remember when ios 6 came out and everyone said "this is just a beta, applewill fix and enhance it before release". Why do people think like that? Because they are completely delusional. Please, name a product that received a major fix or enhancement between its announcement and distribution. What you see is what you get, and I see Apple's biggest miscue since the power pc or the pippen.

Tim Cook is not an idiot; why is he doing this? Because sometimes forces within the corporate structure bring to bear pressures that lead to lapses in judgement.

 

[dacreativeguy]

Apple is the most valuable public company on the planet. Therefore, the investors force them to grow bigger and bigger until someday they can't and the empire crumbles. Everyone wants to get rich quick and greed eventually kills a lot of good companies.

Whether the Apple watch is a success or not, it will always be a niche product. You can't compare it to an iPhone.... especially in this first version. A certain percentage of the population will never wear any kind of watch no matter what it can do. This includes a LOT of women who won't find it feminine enough. It also crosses into the jewelry space for women, and there is a LOT of competition trying to adorn only 2 wrists per person!

The Pebble, which has been the most successful smart watch to date, has only sold 1 Million units in 2 years! That includes a total of 7 units to women. The apple watch will be far and away more successful than that, but you'll never see it on every wrist like you do with the iPhone. Its just a different class of product.

stillborn.

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Remember when ios 6 came out and everyone said "this is just a beta, applewill fix and enhance it before release". Why do people think like that? Because they are completely delusional. Please, name a product that received a major fix or enhancement between its announcement and distribution. What you see is what you get, and I see Apple's biggest miscue since the power pc or the pippen.

Tim Cook is not an idiot; why is he doing this? Because sometimes forces within the corporate structure bring to bear pressures that lead to lapses in judgement.