Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

mig1985

macrumors newbie
Sep 5, 2013
9
0
Frankfurt (DE)
hi all,

do you think it is possible to geht another loop (e.g. leather) for the apple watch sport edition out of the box?

apple homepage says that apple watch sport edition is available in 10 different versions. but all have the same loop.

br,
michael
 

Julien

macrumors G4
Jun 30, 2007
11,847
5,441
Atlanta
hi all,

do you think it is possible to geht another loop (e.g. leather) for the apple watch sport edition out of the box?

apple homepage says that apple watch sport edition is available in 10 different versions. but all have the same loop.

br,
michael

No, (all but certain) the Sport will only come with the fluoroelastomer band.
 

JerTheGeek

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 15, 2014
1,993
487
No, (all but certain) the Sport will only come with the fluoroelastomer band.

Do you think the combinations on Apple's website are the only bands you can buy in the box with the Sport; and then afterwards you can buy other bands such as the Milanese loop? I wonder if the other bands aren't compatible, or if it's just you have to buy them separately.
 

Julien

macrumors G4
Jun 30, 2007
11,847
5,441
Atlanta
Do you think the combinations on Apple's website are the only bands you can buy in the box with the Sport; and then afterwards you can buy other bands such as the Milanese loop? I wonder if the other bands aren't compatible, or if it's just you have to buy them separately.
You seem to keep asking the same question.

What is shown on the Apple site is almost certainly the SKU ("in the box") combinations that you can buy.

All bands will be sold individually and can be used on any watch that is the same size. If you have a 38mm aWatch then you buy a 38mm band. Same for the 42mm.

There will also be dozens or maybe 100s of 3ed party bands available on launch day.
 

Tycho24

Suspended
Aug 29, 2014
2,071
1,396
Florida
You seem to keep asking the same question.

What is shown on the Apple site is almost certainly the SKU ("in the box") combinations that you can buy.

All bands will be sold individually and can be used on any watch that is the same size. If you have a 38mm aWatch then you buy a 38mm band. Same for the 42mm.

There will also be dozens or maybe 100s of 3ed party bands available on launch day.

I second this!!!
I hope the OP can quit worrying... :)
In the video Jony is quite clear about the bands.
In my opinion, just as they kept the 30 pin around for a long time to encourage large 3rd party accessory support, I believe they will keep this exact mechanism in play as many iterations as possible, so if someone ends up with say... a dozen bands, they can use them for years and years with each of their new :apple:Watch "main units". That's a GREAT way to get people further invested in your ecosystem! I personally, have looked at the side views many times imagining it the inevitable 50% as thick... & it appears to me that the band's will still work marvelously.
 

JerTheGeek

macrumors 68000
Original poster
May 15, 2014
1,993
487
I second this!!!
I hope the OP can quit worrying... :)
In the video Jony is quite clear about the bands.
In my opinion, just as they kept the 30 pin around for a long time to encourage large 3rd party accessory support, I believe they will keep this exact mechanism in play as many iterations as possible, so if someone ends up with say... a dozen bands, they can use them for years and years with each of their new :apple:Watch "main units". That's a GREAT way to get people further invested in your ecosystem! I personally, have looked at the side views many times imagining it the inevitable 50% as thick... & it appears to me that the band's will still work marvelously.

Sweet! I'll definitely be getting the Milanese loop then. What about the leather loop being waterproof, do you guys think it will be able to withstand some water like from hand washing or rain?
 

rocknblogger

macrumors 68020
Apr 2, 2011
2,346
481
New Jersey
I second this!!!
I hope the OP can quit worrying... :)
In the video Jony is quite clear about the bands.
In my opinion, just as they kept the 30 pin around for a long time to encourage large 3rd party accessory support, I believe they will keep this exact mechanism in play as many iterations as possible, so if someone ends up with say... a dozen bands, they can use them for years and years with each of their new :apple:Watch "main units". That's a GREAT way to get people further invested in your ecosystem! I personally, have looked at the side views many times imagining it the inevitable 50% as thick... & it appears to me that the band's will still work marvelously.

I would not bet on that. We all know from day one that the next version of each watch will be designed to be thinner. If you believe that then you also have to believe that the slide mechanism will have to be made smaller each time to accommodate the thickness of the watch case. So it makes sense to assume that the band ends that slide into the watch case will have to be a different size also.

I wouldn't go nuts buying bands until you see how that part of the design changes iteration to iteration.
 

Julien

macrumors G4
Jun 30, 2007
11,847
5,441
Atlanta
I would not bet on that. We all know from day one that the next version of each watch will be designed to be thinner. If you believe that then you also have to believe that the slide mechanism will have to be made smaller each time to accommodate the thickness of the watch case. So it makes sense to assume that the band ends that slide into the watch case will have to be a different size also.

I wouldn't go nuts buying bands until you see how that part of the design changes iteration to iteration.

Apple put a lot of R&D in the band design. There is no doubt it will be with us for a few gens at least. There are a few things you are not considering.

1) Battery life and enhanced feature sets will take priorities over thinness for a while. We are just plain hampered by battery technology with no clear relief in sight.

2) Apple can reduce the thickness by making the sensor back flush from about 12.5mm to 10.6mm (42mm). That is over 16% reduction in thickness.

3) Apple can redesign by moving the mount higher in the case (towards the top) by at least 1.5mm. This could reduce the case thickness by about another 3mm.

Doing 2&3 could result in a aWatch well under 8mm thick. That is 45% thinner while retaining the current band mount.

ScreenShot2014-12-11at71036AM_zps7a2702a5.jpg
 
Last edited:

Tycho24

Suspended
Aug 29, 2014
2,071
1,396
Florida
Apple put a lot of R&D in the band...

...could result in a aWatch well under 8mm thick. That is 45% thinner while retaining the current band mount.

Image

I concur.
Not changing up accessories has added immensely to the success of the iPhone brand. It's why you can find many hundreds of iPhone cases for every single choice for a flagship Android that came out at the same time. The case manufacturers know that they have two full years of devices that will fit (4, if you count the year that it goes to $99 & the year it goes to free on contract).
I saw how much work they put into these... it was obvious, Jony spent as much time talking them up as he did the Apple Watch itself. I think it is silly to assume that they'd accept the costs of retooling all of those each year.
This is Apple... globally famous for economies of scale by using same parts across product lines.
 

MarcoCapa

macrumors regular
Jun 16, 2013
222
7
Apple put a lot of R&D in the band design. There is no doubt it will be with us for a few gens at least. There are a few things you are not considering.

1) Battery life and enhanced feature sets will take priorities over thinness for a while. We are just plain hampered by battery technology with no clear relief in sight.

2) Apple can reduce the thickness by making the sensor back flush from about 12.5mm to 10.6mm (42mm). That is over 16% reduction in thickness.

3) Apple can redesign by moving the mount higher in the case (towards the top) by at least 1.5mm. This could reduce the case thickness by about another 3mm.

Doing 2&3 could result in a aWatch well under 8mm thick. That is 45% thinner while retaining the current band mount.

Image

Great analysis
 

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,723
32,183
I concur.
Not changing up accessories has added immensely to the success of the iPhone brand. It's why you can find many hundreds of iPhone cases for every single choice for a flagship Android that came out at the same time. The case manufacturers know that they have two full years of devices that will fit (4, if you count the year that it goes to $99 & the year it goes to free on contract).
I saw how much work they put into these... it was obvious, Jony spent as much time talking them up as he did the Apple Watch itself. I think it is silly to assume that they'd accept the costs of retooling all of those each year.
This is Apple... globally famous for economies of scale by using same parts across product lines.

Apple's Watch site says it takes 9 hours to produce just one link bracelet. I hope they haven't designed something so difficult to mass produce that people are waiting 1-2 months for their watch to ship.
 

Piggie

macrumors G3
Feb 23, 2010
9,182
4,112
Apple's Watch site says it takes 9 hours to produce just one link bracelet. I hope they haven't designed something so difficult to mass produce that people are waiting 1-2 months for their watch to ship.

Again, you need to understand what this means in reality of mass manufacturing terms.

It's not like there will be one watch strap plopping off the production line every 9 hours. There could be one every 30 seconds coming off.

A recent TV program here showed them making high quality shoes, and saying it took 2 weeks for a shoe to move thru the entire production process, but they were still making a lot of shoes.

I don't know thee details, but it could, for example take 2 hours to make the links, then it goes into a polishing tumble machine for 4 hours to be automatically polished, then it goes onto another line to have the ends fitted, then onto a laser or stamping machine etc...

The entire process if you stood there and watched it, could take 9 hours from start to finish for a strap to go from some raw wire on a 100m spool to being sealed in the shipping box for the customer.
That is very different to what it might appear to be.

I could have a factory making 10000 chocolate cookie bars a day, but the ingredients go in the mixer at 8am and they don't get to the final packing box until 5pm

I could then correctly say every choccie cookie bar takes 9 hours to make.
 

Runt888

macrumors 6502a
Nov 17, 2008
841
32
You seem to keep asking the same question.

What is shown on the Apple site is almost certainly the SKU ("in the box") combinations that you can buy.

All bands will be sold individually and can be used on any watch that is the same size. If you have a 38mm aWatch then you buy a 38mm band. Same for the 42mm.

There will also be dozens or maybe 100s of 3ed party bands available on launch day.

I'd be willing to bet that you could order any strap with any watch online (although maybe not right at launch depending on supply). They are pushing the idea that the watch is a personal style choice, and artificially limiting strap choice doesn't fit in with that.

I'd also guess that there won't be any third party straps at launch. Apple seems to be controlling the entire Apple Watch experience very tightly, I have a hard time imagining them giving out design specs so other companies could produce straps.
 

Julien

macrumors G4
Jun 30, 2007
11,847
5,441
Atlanta
I'd be willing to bet that you could order any strap with any watch online (although maybe not right at launch depending on supply). They are pushing the idea that the watch is a personal style choice, and artificially limiting strap choice doesn't fit in with that.

Doubt it since Apple is trying to differentiate each line. For instances the Sport will only have the fluoroelastomer Sport band. Apple wouldn't want to upgrade the Sport into the SS's territory since after all it IS the Sport aWatch. It would no longer be a Sport with a luxury band. And you certainly can't get a rose gold modern buckle or gold pin fluoroelastomer band on a SS model. That would be absurd for Apple to offer. Apple will be glad to sell you any band you want as an extra and do as you want. This means more sales and money for Apple with fewer SKUs to worry about. Also less returns because "I thought it would match and look good together" problems. And there is already almost too many SUKs shown on the Apple site as it is. You will be hard pressed to find ANY watch (and certainly NO smart watch) with as many SKUs as Apple is offering.

I'd also guess that there won't be any third party straps at launch. Apple seems to be controlling the entire Apple Watch experience very tightly, I have a hard time imagining them giving out design specs so other companies could produce straps.

Sorry to kill your guess but look here.:eek:
 
Last edited:

Runt888

macrumors 6502a
Nov 17, 2008
841
32
Doubt it since Apple is trying to differentiate each line. For instances the Sport will only have the fluoroelastomer Sport band. Apple wouldn't want to upgrade the Sport into the SS's territory since after all it IS the Sport aWatch. It would no longer be a Sport with a luxury band. And you certainly can't get a rose gold modern buckle or gold pin fluoroelastomer band on a SS model. That would be absurd for Apple to offer. Apple will be glad to sell you any band you want as an extra and do as you want. This means more sales and money for Apple with fewer SKUs to worry about. Also less returns because "I thought it would match and look good together" problems. And there is already almost too many SUKs shown on the Apple site as it is. You will be hard pressed to find ANY watch (and certainly NO smart watch) with as many SKUs as Apple is offering.
I agree, some combinations would look pretty ridiculous. But there are several bands that would look great with the sport watch, and I can see Apple offering different bands as build to order online options.

Sorry to kill your guess but look here.:eek:
None of those are products. The bands are just an indigogo project that never even got close to being funded. I don't see how any third party manufacturer could make a band that fits without the specs (which I doubt apple is giving away) or reverse engineering an actual device.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,859
8,039
None of those are products. The bands are just an indigogo project that never even got close to being funded. I don't see how any third party manufacturer could make a band that fits without the specs (which I doubt apple is giving away) or reverse engineering an actual device.

Exactly. I am also skeptical about third party bands being available at launch. Apple doesn't release product specs to accessory makers before launch, hence there is always a lag for iPhone / iPad cases whenever there's a design change. The lag is usually short for cases, but I think it'll take a bit longer for makers to reverse engineer the Apple watch band.
 

bransoj

macrumors 68000
Jul 31, 2013
1,562
739
I don't see how any third party manufacturer could make a band that fits without the specs (which I doubt apple is giving away) or reverse engineering an actual device.
Doesnt tend to stop case companies having cases available for pre order when new phones are launched.
 

Piggie

macrumors G3
Feb 23, 2010
9,182
4,112
Exactly. I am also skeptical about third party bands being available at launch. Apple doesn't release product specs to accessory makers before launch, hence there is always a lag for iPhone / iPad cases whenever there's a design change. The lag is usually short for cases, but I think it'll take a bit longer for makers to reverse engineer the Apple watch band.

1 or 2 weeks?

The straps are just straps, pick from any one of about 10 million already for sale.

It's just the narrow connector that has to be fixed to the end of the strap and slides into the watch body that has to be done, and that could be Cad'd up an onto a CNC by the end of the 1st day someone gets a watch body and strap to look at.
 

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,859
8,039
1 or 2 weeks?

The straps are just straps, pick from any one of about 10 million already for sale.

It's just the narrow connector that has to be fixed to the end of the strap and slides into the watch body that has to be done, and that could be Cad'd up an onto a CNC by the end of the 1st day someone gets a watch body and strap to look at.

Ok, 1-2 weeks sound about right. I just don't expect them on day one.
 

Piggie

macrumors G3
Feb 23, 2010
9,182
4,112
Ok, 1-2 weeks sound about right. I just don't expect them on day one.

I think it all depends if Apple releases the Watch to some 3rd party companies before the official public launch.

And/or Someone manages to get hold of an official body and take accurate measurements.
 

Runt888

macrumors 6502a
Nov 17, 2008
841
32
I think it all depends if Apple releases the Watch to some 3rd party companies before the official public launch.

And/or Someone manages to get hold of an official body and take accurate measurements.

I very much doubt Apple will just give the specs away. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they leak from one of the partner companies being used for manufacturing and assembly (similar to what we see from new iPhones).
 

Julien

macrumors G4
Jun 30, 2007
11,847
5,441
Atlanta
I very much doubt Apple will just give the specs away. However, I wouldn't be surprised if they leak from one of the partner companies being used for manufacturing and assembly (similar to what we see from new iPhones).

I bet Apple licenses it under MFi program but it may be after a set amount of time after launch. However once the cases (by the millions) show up at Quanta Computer there will be no way to control every single one of them. Keep in mind a worker can make a year's wages by selling smuggled aWatch parts to a potential supplier. It happens with all Apple products and WILL happen with the aWatch. We will be seeing actual pictures of production parts in January. For this reason I firmly believe there will be dozens of non MFi 'Chinese knockoffs' bands for sale on Amazon on launch day even if Apple holds off on MFi licensing.
 

dacreativeguy

macrumors 68020
Jan 27, 2007
2,033
224
I'd be willing to bet that you could order any strap with any watch online

This isn't likely. I'm sure the high end bands will be exclusive to the high end watches. Apple doesn't want people buying the cheap sport and putting a high end band on it, and they certainly don't want to see mismatched watch/band combinations in public tarnishing their design "excellence".
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.