Sport loop

[Fireball Dragon]

I just wore my Apple Watch after a very long time! (1st gen) I usually wear my Garmin.

Impressed with all the new features, may take some getting used to again.

Digressing, but I want to pick-up a sports loops but not in stock online. Do you think they will be available in-store on Friday?

 

[44267547]

I just wore my Apple Watch after a very long time! (1st gen) I usually wear my Garmin.

Impressed with all the new features, may take some getting used to again.

Digressing, but I want to pick-up a sports loops but not in stock online. Do you think they will be available in-store on Friday?

Apple Stores should have some available stock of the Sport Loop, pending location. I think it will vary though on how much actual stock they have.

 

[Brookzy]

No. For three good reasons:

• It's backordered for a long time online.
• Sport Loop production will be prioritised for Apple Watch sales, so only surplus manufacture will go to standalone sales.
• No bands except the new white Nike Sport Band are embargoed. The new Sport Band colours arrived in stores last Thursday. No Sport Loops did. So the lack of in-store stock is due to a stock shortage rather than an imposed release date.

N.B. The above reasoning is only applicable to the UK for the OP. I'm not sure about the stock situation in the rest of the world.

 

[profets]

I was checking these out this morning, and suddenly noticed that shipping dates were all over the place.

The bright coloured one for example is 2 months away (including in store pickup):

Edit: Actually for the 38mm almost every single one is available today for pickup. Weird.

 

[Fireball Dragon]

Thanks, guys. It does state October 19th for in-store pick-up and 3-4 weeks shipping. Truly sucks.

Not needed urgently and can wait, but would have been nice to get it early as it is the kind of band I would like to wear a lot.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Yep my black sport loop is not to arrive till 10-10 so I also doubt we will be seeing them at the store. I wear nothing but the leather loops on my Apple watches and am looking forward to trying this

 

[profets]

Thanks, guys. It does state October 19th for in-store pick-up and 3-4 weeks shipping. Truly sucks.

Not needed urgently and can wait, but would have been nice to get it early as it is the kind of band I would like to wear a lot.

Maybe doesn't hurt to order for in store pickup. they won't charge you until it's ready to be picked up. I remember last year with some of the new bands, similar thing happened. They showed a long wait, but then suddenly within days to a week were ready at the store (way early than initially estimated).

 

[Brookzy]

I was checking these out this morning, and suddenly noticed that shipping dates were all over the place.

The bright coloured one for example is 2 months away (including in store pickup):

View attachment 719394

Edit: Actually for the 38mm almost every single one is available today for pickup. Weird.

The availability is much better in the US it seems. Some stores even have the 42mm Flash Sport Loop in stock.

Thanks, guys. It does state October 19th for in-store pick-up and 3-4 weeks shipping. Truly sucks.

Not needed urgently and can wait, but would have been nice to get it early as it is the kind of band I would like to wear a lot.

It will be a lot quicker than 3-4 weeks. I personally wouldn't order for in-store pickup online while it is out of stock because if the store receives their own stock before your particular order is due to arrive - which is quite likely! - they will not fulfil your order sooner because of the silly and complicated ways Apple's fulfilment system works.

 

[profets]

The availability is much better in the US it seems. Some stores even have the 42mm Flash Sport Loop in stock.


It will be a lot quicker than 3-4 weeks. I personally wouldn't order for in-store pickup online while it is out of stock because if the store receives their own stock before your particular order is due to arrive - which is quite likely! - they will not fulfil your order sooner because of the silly and complicated ways Apple's fulfilment system works.

I was checking other stores where I am (Canada, outside of Toronto). Bigger stores have it available for pickup today, while others 30 minutes away or so show Nov 17.

 

[Brookzy]

I was checking other stores where I am (Canada, outside of Toronto). Bigger stores have it available for pickup today, while others 30 minutes away or so show Nov 17.

Ah! I saw $ and immediately thought US.

 

[Fireball Dragon]

I think I'll just order for home delivery and hope it turns up sooner.

On another note, just realised that the AirPower Mat will only charge series 3, which is something I was hugely looking forward to. I was thinking of upgrading to series 3 anyway, but with buying new straps, am concerned if the shape changes with series 4, will current bands be made redundant?

I know no one can answer this for me, but something worth thinking about...

 

[Brookzy]

I know no one can answer this for me, but something worth thinking about...

I love how we've had iPhones that have been broadly the same shape forever, iPads that have been the same shape forever, Macs that have been the same shape forever, and yet every year people start panicking that the Watch is going to significantly change and lose compatibility with existing bands.

If you look at how Apple develops products, the mantra is clear, tried, and tested. They start with the core product. The next few generations add the main big things, at the expense of weight and thickness. The iPhone for example got thicker as 3G was added. The iPad got thicker and heavier as it got Retina. The Watch got thicker as it became waterproof and faster and had GPS added.

What happens after that stage is refinement: making things thinner and lighter. We saw that with the iPhone, iPad, and Macs.

This is the Apple way. Or at least, the Ive way.

For Apple Watch, we've just hit that refinement part. The core product is there. And there is plenty of scope to make the Apple Watch thinner, lighter, and more refined without changing the band mechanism.

Just my two cents.

 

[Fireball Dragon]

The iPad got thicker and heavier as it got Retina.

I belive the iPad was thinner once it got the retina display with the iPad 3? (well, compared with the iPad 1st gen which I had, and then I moved to the 3, so not sure if you are comparing it with the iPad 2).

I hope that is largely correct with reference to the watch. I am also of the opinion that the straps 'should' fit subsequent generations, as I am sure people have invested a lot of money into some of the more expensive bands, and it would be crazy to not make the forward compatible. Am sure if would put a lot of people off upgrading. However, the slight apprehension remains.

The most expensive band I have got is the leather loop. In fact, I only own that one and the sports band, along with a Belkin one (but I got that for review purposes, so didn't pay for it myself).

 

[Brookzy]

I belive the iPad was thinner once it got the retina display with the iPad 3? (well, compared with the iPad 1st gen which I had, and then I moved to the 3, so not sure if you are comparing it with the iPad 2).

No, the third generation iPad was the first with a Retina display and it was considerably thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 and ran much hotter, performed poorly and had mediocre battery life. This explained why it was swiftly replaced with a fourth gen iPad six months later, which was still thick and heavy but ran much better.

 

[profets]

My thought about the Apple Watch is that even if it does change at one point, they could definitely keep the shape of the lugs the same for the straps.

 

[kildraik]

Just bought mine in Dallas. Made a PSA thread.

 

[Fireball Dragon]

No, the third generation iPad was the first with a Retina display and it was considerably thicker and heavier than the iPad 2 and ran much hotter, performed poorly and had mediocre battery life. This explained why it was swiftly replaced with a fourth gen iPad six months later, which was still thick and heavy but ran much better.

Yup, that's exactly what I said. iPad 3 (3rd gen; first with retina) was thinner than 1st gen, but thicker than 2nd gen.

 

[Brookzy]

Yup, that's exactly what I said. iPad 3 (3rd gen; first with retina) was thinner than 1st gen, but thicker than 2nd gen.

Apologies, not paying attention.

 

[iamchris1990yal]

Ordered mine pretty much when it was announced and got it last night! now theres a 4 week wait!

 

[AlliFlowers]

One of the reasons I bought the Nike edition of the watch was for the sport loop. But I think I'll wait for knockoffs for more.

 

[CaptMarvel]

I ordered a Black 42mm Sport Loop last week with delivery estimated for October 10th, but found one at a local Apple Store for in store pick up earlier today!

I plan to order the S3 Nike + Apple Watch non LTE.

 

[Brookzy]

While we're on the subject, I might add that the Sport Loop was disappointing in my opinion. The black one I ordered arrived at the start of this week. It is quite thick, meaning the loop is very bulky, and won't fold flat unless you wear the strap really tight. Personally I prefer to wear it quite loose.

Velcro also seems distinctly un-Apple. I thought it would be magnetic.

I think it should have been implemented like the Leather Loop, which offsets the loop by folding it an inch or so away from the lug, nicely compensating for the comparatively bulky wraparound.

I may cancel a second colour that I still have on order.

 

[profets]

While we're on the subject, I might add that the Sport Loop was disappointing in my opinion. The black one I ordered arrived at the start of this week. It is quite thick, meaning the loop is very bulky, and won't fold flat unless you wear the strap really tight. Personally I prefer to wear it quite loose. Velcro also seems distinctly un-Apple. I thought it would be magnetic.

I think it should have been implemented like the Leather Loop, which offsets the loop by folding it an inch or so away from the lug, nicely compensating for the comparatively bulky wraparound.

I may cancel a second colour that I still have on order.

That’s interesting. Appreciate the feedback. What you describe would annoy me when wearing it.

 

[OneMike]

They have a lot of these available for pickup locally. I honestly hadn't even heard of these until when I saw them today. Somehow missed this. They look pretty good.

 

[CaptMarvel]

Doesn’t seem too bulky to me. Softness is unmatched. The look kind of reminds me of Nike’s flyknit material with the various hues of color present. It’s a keeper for me. Velcro isn’t bad at all considering it’s a “Sport Loop”. I didn’t have to unnecessarily tighten mine for a secure yet comfortable fit. My only question is how long will this material last AND since it’s for Sport is it machine washable if it gets smelly? Ha.