“Apple has been secretive in the past about new products. Rumors about what’s ahead usually originate in Asia from checks with Apple suppliers, but recent rumors about iWatch were a departure from the past,” Nigam Arora writes for Forbes. “They did not appear as usual in Asia but almost simultaneously in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. The information on iWatch in the two venerable publications came just before Apple CEO Tim Cook was to speak at Goldman Sachs Technology conference.”
“One theory is that Apple is acting out of desperation. Tim Cook has been talking about innovation but not many seem to believe him. At Goldman’s conference, Tim Cook said that innovation culture at Apple has never been stronger,” Arora writes. “Perhaps Apple leaked details of iWatch to put some meat on the statement by Cook.”
Arora writes, “The other theory is that Apple found out about a watch-like product that Samsung is working on… If Apple felt that it was behind Samsung in introducing a watch like device, the leaks from Apple were simply designed to preempt any momentum that Samsung may gain.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Related articles:
Patents may point the way towards Apple iWatch – February 19, 2013
Samsung trying to beat Apple to market with ‘iWatch’ rival? – February 15, 2013
What if an Apple iWatch replaced most of the iPhone’s functions? – February 13, 2013
Apple ‘iWatch’ beyond ‘experimentation phase,’ sources say – February 13, 2013
Features that would make Apple’s iWatch a killer product – February 12, 2013
7 reasons why Apple’s unannounced ‘iWatch’ won’t fly – February 12, 2013
Patent application reveals Apple secretly developing wearable computing platform – February 12, 2013
Morgan Stanley: Apple iWatch, iTV could generate additional $80 billion annually – February 12, 2013
With ‘iWatch,’ Apple could turn wearable devices into next big thing – February 12, 2013
Why Apple is working on ‘iWatch,’ not ‘iGlasses’ – February 11, 2013
WSJ: Apple testing ‘iWatch’ device – February 11, 2013
iWatch: Apple developing curved-glass smart watch, sources say – February 11, 2013
Tog: The iWatch will fill a gaping hole in the Apple ecosystem – February 7, 2013
Why Apple should hang-up on the iPhone, iWear is next – January 6, 2013
Analyst sees wearable computers from Apple as future replacement for iPhone – January 2, 2013
Apple and Intel secretly building Bluetooth smartwatch that connects to your iOS devices, say sources – December 27, 2012
Apple patent application details display-integrated cellular antennas – May 6, 2012
Apple patent app details next-gen microstrip cellular antenna for future MacBooks, iWatch and beyond – October 25, 2011
We’ll just have to WATCH out for more clues.
or simply ‘WATCH this space?’
I would hardly characterize Apple as desperate.
So there are two options…either Apple is desperate, or Apple feels like it is behind Samsung and desperately seeking to quell any potential momentum on the part of its rival.
This is the desperate action of a writer without a story seeking to make some money from fiction. I have no doubt that Apple has performed R&D on a range of wearable electronic devices, including a watch. If Apple believes that an “iWatch” is viable, then it will release such a product in its own good time.
I used to like Apple rumors, but they just aren’t as much fun anymore.
Apple does not follow the puck…
it predicts where the puck shall be played.
The recent news that Apple was hacked…
the dirty deed was hired by Samsung.
…or maybe there is no watch and this all just made up bullshit.
Please let this statement be true. =)
“One theory is that Apple is acting out of desperation.”
The other theory is that Apple found out about a watch-like product that Samsung is working on”
The third theory is that Nigam Arora can’t tell his butt from a hole in the ground.
There is scarcely any data to back up the first two, and nearly absolute proof to support the third.
Arora is a hack. No proof, just needed words.
Both theories point to a desperate act on Apple part …
Apple does not need to prove anything to Wall Street; If investors are not interested in Apple – don’t be then. Their lose.
The real truth is that Forbes were talking about iWatch last December and seem to have forgotten about previously breaking the story themselves, but are now claiming that it’s a story that Apple planted recently.
Look at my posting on the second page of replies to see the details.
Odd thing is, I would be ok with an under designed watch. Just a world watch function, with bluetooth connection and a way for developers to add calculators etc.
Hugh
im not really interested in a Watch from Apple, however, it will be cool nevertheless
My aren’t we full of theories Mr. Arora? “One theory is….The other theory is….”
You write as though you have been privileged in attending a meeting of Apple inc. philosophers!
Who’s theories are these? Are they yours? Or you posing them as though there is a body that is appointed to theorize on NASDAQ business?
Be a man and take ownership of what you write if you think you are indeed right!
This watch thing is getting old now. Let’s create next week’s rumor: a Star Trek comm badge. Apple-shaped, of course.
They may need to license the chirp, and their universal translator needs work
Apple is in business believe it or not. They don’t go to work every day just so fanboys can gush and fawn all over them. They go to work to make money. It’s very competitive out there in the business world. Apple is the biggest. They have real competition now and their share price has gone straight down for five months. So to say this man’s article is wrong is just plain stupid. Either or both points could be valid. Apple is in business to make a profit. They’ll do whatever they have to do to meet that end. And why wouldn’t they? Why wouldn’t they leak information to the press regardless of its accuracy? What better way to make Tim Cook’s presentation stronger? What better way to trip up your competitor at the starting line? It wouldn’t surprise me at all if these were programmed leaks. If so, it’s just good business sense.
That could be how it is at Apple.
But it’s not.
Product teams review component costs all throughout design, shaving a nickel here and a few pennies there when possible, all with the goal of meeting the product margin expectations for a product.
But they only get to that point because a team has come up with a wonderful product that they’d be proud to recommend to their family members.
Don’t put the cart before the horse. It may be a small distinction but it’s central to understanding Apple.
A truly great product that hasn’t met it’s margin contribution won’t get released. But they keep working at it until they can find a way to get the component costs down.
And you’d be surprised how motivating it is for folks to work at a place that causes fanboys to fawn all over them.
Intentionally leak information to bolster Tim’s image or the image of the company? Not. Intentionally leak (internally though) some information to smoke out a leaker. You bet.
You have to remember how much control Apple likes over everything. Tim recently said they like to control the essential technology. Well, they also like (in the extreme) to control the message about their products. Leaking information lets the message get away from you.
Leak it like Ballmer in his vain attempt to freeze the market.
i saw some rumoured leak of the Samsung Watch… a monochromatic windows 8 piece of junk — Apple fears not.
Controlled leak Jim. Everyone does it. Companies, movie stars, athletes, governments etc..
“One theory is that Apple is acting out of desperation.”
The other theory is that Apple found out about a watch-like product that Samsung is working on”
—
Because Apple was SO scared when they found out Samsung was putting out “smart” TVs, that they rushed out and planted rumours about their own iTV that’s in the pipeline.
Those rumours have only been going for at least what, 2 years now?
It could be that Apple has planted some rumours to get the copyists out there spending their time and money chasing decoy iProducts and trying to beat Apple to market.
I don’t know about you but my iPhone is my portable computer/watch/game player/iPod/phone.
That’s all I really need.
That’s all you really need until Apple releases the next great thing. Just because we can’t imagine what it is doesn’t mean that Apple can’t make another thing we can’t live without. In the 1840’s a government official tried to close down the Patent Office because he felt that everything possible had already been invented.
The patent story is a great urban myth, but it’s not true. Yes, I know that it is quoted all over the place.
It morphed from the patent commissioner making a statement like “Some people say that everything that could be invented, has been invented…”
I thought that happened on the 1890’s!
Yup.
Complete BS! The only real act of desperation here is the author of this article. He needs to supply the proof or stop with the unfounded wild accusations. LoL
This theory only makes sense if Apple were the type of company that makes panic moves.
I find it hard to believe that anyone puts much stock in anything that comes from The Wall Street Journal or The New York Times after the worthless crap they have been printing the last few years.
I read in another thread that it will be 3D…..
Actually, by definition it would have to be 4D.
Maybe.
Time will tell….
its about time, its about space, its about time to slap this stupid analysts face!!!
It’s not a big surprise how this got started. Tog wrote an article about his ideas for a watch (see the link above), and for some reason everybody assumed it was about a future Apple product. The rumors didn’t have anything to do with Apple.
is it just me, or is this just one of a recent spate of FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) articles? and a crude one at that. i’m trying to figure how this plays into the bigger picture. have we all forgotten how many revenue engines apple has and how well they are all working? and what about google? all of a sudden it shoots up and apple drops . . . think about it.
Seems nobody except me wears a watch anymore and like to have one because it’s analog with dials and mechanical. The whole idea of an iWatch just screems wrong to me. A few nerds will like one, but with their short attention span they will soon get bored with it. If Apple leaked something it was for two reasons, get hold of internal/supplier leaks or to make Samsung waste even more money on this dead end track!
Seeing as Apple ALREADY had an “iWatch” in the form of the previous iPod Nano placed into an available strap for your wrist, I find all this obsessive hand-wring rumor garbage hilarious. BFD is Samsung has an ‘iWatch’. Apple already got their first, as per usual.
As a veteran Apple fanatic, user and expert, I’m really REALLY sick of all the converted masses of dumdums inflicting their dumdumminess into the previously intelligent Apple fanatic culture. It’s an invasion of stupid.
I note that I use the word ‘stupid’ a lot lately with regard to Apple rumors. Now I understand why. I also use the word ‘stupid’ a lot with regard to the influx of ignoramus comments here at MDN. Now I understand why…
are you looking at your own reflection?
Elsewhere on the site I wrote about increasing ignoramus posts here at MDN with the increase in Apple newbies. Apparently, this anonymous coward reply is an example. Let’s see what he says in reply to this insult.
Derek Currie : I remember you. You’re the “Apple expert” (your words genius) that said there would be no iPad mini. Fucking idiot!
This story qualifies as news only in the Apple news cycle. A familiar pattern.
1. Unconfirmed speculation about a new product.
2. Pre-supposed feature set of unconfirmed new product
3. Criticism of non-existent new product
4. Apple has lost its edge
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Why the hell should apple be worried about samedung?
It’s like why the hell should apple be worried about google retail stores?
Apple is apple – let those copycats and non innovators think that they are like apple and watch them crash and burn.
Bottom line is they aren’t apple, never will be regardless what products or services they bring out and how many billions they waste in trying to convince people.
Apples brad values and culture and DNA are in copiable.
And both theories suck ass.
The basic premise of this story is that a number of news organisations recently ran stories about a possible iWatch, so therefore the rumours must have been started by Apple.
Here is Fox News’ reporting on what Forbes published today.
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2013/02/20/apple-planted-iwatch-leak-forbes-says/
However if you go back to 28th Dec, Forbes themselves ran a story saying “The latest rumours coming out of the Chinese manufacturing centre of the planet is that Apple is going to grace us with something called the iWatch.”
So although Forbes themselves wrote an iWatch story last year, based on reports from China, today Forbes are claiming that the iWatch rumours were started by the WSJ and NYT simultaneously publishing stories this February.
Forbes only needs to look at what they have already published. The story was around long before the WSJ and NYT got on board.
I forgot to link to the original iWatch story from Forbes, published on 28th Dec 2012
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/12/28/links-28-dec-are-we-now-waiting-for-apples-iwatch/
Fuck You, Forbes. And there is a third option, you logic stunted dipshits: the iWatch rumors are bullshit.
Really, MDN. Stop linking to these fucking retards.