“Sports sells gatorade, and sports sells sneakers, and sports sells clothing and hats and TV trays and bottle openers and anything that has enough surface area to hold a logo,” Darrell Etherington writes for Techcrunch. “But can sports sell the concept of the smartwatch? That’s what Apple might find out beginning in October, the rumored launch date of the iWatch, according to a new report from 9to5Mac. The blog’s sources say Apple is working with professional athletes to test the fitness tracking features of the upcoming device, and it’s only logical that if they’re helping inform product design, Apple should tap them for promotion, too.”
“Building wearables so far has proven a challenge, at least in terms of making something that sells with the kind of volume that makes them worthwhile for a company like Apple,” Etherington writes. “The top-selling smartwatches to date are the Samsung Gear line, and 2 million total smartwatch devices were sold last year according to Strategy Analytics, of which 1.2 million were Android powered.”
MacDailyNews Take: And 1.99 million of them were either promptly returned or sit in a drawer somewhere today, unused.
“Apple, by contrast, is shooting for first year sales of between 50 and 60 million units for its device alone, according to reports from media outlets including WSJ and Reuters,” Etherington writes. “To sell the devices, turning to the age-old marketing machine that is professional sports is a logical path. Apple is said to be packing a heap of sensors into this device (10 to be exact) and working with Nike on the fitness features… Apple hasn’t leaned too heavily on the celebrity angle for promoting its past products… But it has acquired a company recently that could help with this kind of market positioning: Beats.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Whatever it take to get the ignorati to adopt quality devices and quality platforms instead of half-assed, insecure knockoffs of original, revolutionary, paradigm-smashing devices and platforms.
If being slapped on Sharapova and Ronaldo wrists will do the trick, slap away, Apple.
Related articles:
Apple enlists MLB, NHL, and NBA pro athletes to test iWatch fitness capabilities – June 20, 2014
Kobe Bryant seen on Apple’s Campus reportedly meeting with Jony Ive about upcoming products – May 15, 2014
Apple’s iWatch awaits FDA approval; device to include blood glucose, sweat analysis sensors – June 20, 2014
Apple to begin mass production of 2.5-inch iWatch with wireless charging and pulse sensor in July, sources say – June 19, 2014
LG to supply Apple iWatch display in two sizes for late 2014 release, sources say – April 15, 2014
Apple’s iWatch said to come in two sizes, high-end model to cost several thousand dollars – April 10, 2014
Apple iWatch to sport 1.52-inch curved OLED, set for summer launch, report claims – January 20, 2014
Apple to make two iWatch models: 1.7-inch display for men, 1.3-inch for women, sources say – November 13, 2013
Now I understand why Eddy Cue said its the best product line in 25 years. They made a device that will save lives and be cool to wear. That was never done before and will be incredible for human history.
“…and will be incredible for human history.”
you are prone to hyperbole.
let me elucidate:
• Penicillin was “incredible for human history.”
• July, 1969 was “incredible for human history.”
• 1492 was “incredible for human history.”
• The conclusions of Copernicus were “incredible for human history.”
a digital watch is not “incredible for human history.”
We will have to wait and see.
Get back to us when it starts to save lives by warning of a possible oncoming heart attack.
okay.
The fact is that you have no idea what effect an IWatch could have and, given your awful choice of sports teams (“Gee, I’ll go with the team with the most money in a sport where income discrepancies are not balanced to assure competitive teams across the board, so that I think I’m a ‘winner'”), you likely wouldn’t be able to figure out iWatch’s potential impact even after you’ve seen it and had it explained to you.
you confuse professional athletic competition with socialism.
I’m just waiting for the “1492 started the enslavement of Native Americans” comment.
No? Not yet? Just wait…….
The federal government runs a large array of programs for the roughly 1 million American Indians who live on reservations. Many of the programs are housed within the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). These two agencies have about 9,000 employees and spend $2.9 billion annually.1
Since the 1970s, the federal government has promoted Indian “self-determination,” but tribes still receive federal subsidies and are burdened by layers of federal regulations. In addition, the government continues to oversee 55 million acres of land held in trust for Indians and tribes.2 Unfortunately, Indians who live on reservations are still very dependent on the federal government.
Yeah botvinnik. But let’s have some fun while we wait!
okay! Let’s watch the World Cup!
zzzzzzzzz.
Apple will prove once again with the iWatch it’s well thought-out execution from top to bottom plus real innovation & a real ecosystem that means everything.
Whoever is moderating MDN’s blog today arrived to work and is still sitting on a very high horse!
Apple inc. wraps everything they create, (well, until Steve Jobs died) in complete secrecy, thus making us all ignoranti’s as far as they are concerned and yes, that includes you Mr or Mrs. or Miss. or Mz. MDN moderator!
One more thing! I include myself in that viewpoint as well, I am as much an ignoranti as the next person as long as they don’t work at or for Apple inc.
MDN is obviously calling ignorati those who opt for Android phones, etc. when Apple iPhones are sitting right in front of their faces.
People like you, who try to invent something negative just to be able to feign outrage, are the problem with much of the world’s dysfunction today. You sound like a real moron, but at least you managed to include yourself among the ignorati (even if you can’t spell it).
MDN is the one being ignorant if it is calling Android users that name. Android for one is a better overall OS at the moment than IOS. Most flagship Android phones are better than the iPhone, even some second tier ones. Some people want a larger screen, or less expensive phone or prefer phones less prone to break or for many other reasons an iPhone does not meet there needs. This is not ignorant it is informed choice.
Many people buy iPhones for good reasons, but many also buy because they think they are getting the best phone, operating system or both, they indeed are the ignorant ones.
Colin, you ignorant slut.
If being able to make a point is being ignorant, then I am guilty. In real life if you cannot respond with a sensibly argued reply and just throw stupid insults because you are incapable or just know I am right, but do not want to admit it, then you are as ignorant as MDN.
A superior being who is a psychophant!?
Based on your need to excuse or explain the moderators thinking to the point where you correct my spelling while ignoring the moderators own error?!
I can only imagine you thinking of yourself as so superior that you are levitating at the same height as that high horse!
You have conjoined ‘ignorati’ and ‘rant’ into a new construction, ‘ignoranti’. Well done! Only an inspired polemicist can pull off something like that — take everyone to task (whilst humbly including oneself) who rant about matters of which they are innocent.
Thank you hjs, I confess to being aware and of looking forward to watching “Le fate ignoranti”.
Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer gives it a 74% rating whilst the audience gives it 89% 🙂
Sorry for my rant, I suspect that Superior Being is today’s moderator! How else can it know what is in the moderators mind?
I only hope that the device does not have a moisture sensor as most people sweat a lot when they work out. It would be nice if it was water proof and usable in the pool.
i might buy 8 iwatches and a large trenchcoat with snap back forearms
This all makes sense, now. Yesterday it was reported that professional athletes were testing the new iWatch. Today the report is that it’s a fashion accessory. They’re testing it to see if they can get laid while wearing it.
I want one!