“This week, rumors from Chinese site Commercial Times (via 9to5Mac) said that early production of a next generation Apple Watch was beginning at supplier Quanta later this month,” Matthew Panzarino reports for TechCrunch. “Late last year, 9to5Mac projected that a new Watch could appear at a March 2016 event.”
“I’m not so sure that we’ll be seeing it that early. Several things that I’ve heard (from several sources) indicate to me that we won’t see a major new hardware model of the Apple Watch in March,” Panzarino reports. “Design partnerships, accessories, that kind of thing maybe but not a “Watch 2.0” with a bunch of new hardware features.”
“I’ve now heard a bit more that suggests that Apple might ship a minor revision of the Apple Watch that includes a FaceTime camera and not much else — but still that it would not be a full ‘Watch 2.0’ with casing changes and major improvements,” Panzarino reports. “I spoke to Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin, who says that supply chain checks are showing no movement that would indicate a new Watch model in production as of yet.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple Smartbands for Apple Watch in March, Apple Watch 2 in September. How’s that sound?
All to the good allowing them to “make more” by September avoiding initial demand issues. Personally I’ll be fine with my current Apple Watch unless they build in time travel or something equally as desirable in Apple Watch 2.
I’m willing to bet they introduce an identical model in the summer with a modest hardware upgrade that allows it to use 5GHz WiFi independently of the iPhone, slightly better battery life, and a really low-res FaceTime camera (maybe).
They’ll also announce trade-in credit for upgrades:
$1000+(?) for the “Edition”
$100 for the Stainless Steel
$0 for the Sport
Could be. I’m more than happy with mine for some time to come. Maybe an upgrade in summer or fall 2017.
Independent wifi and better battery life don’t go hand-in-hand. FaceTime from the watch means either you have to continuously hold your arm up (not good), or you’re sending a live video of looking up your nose (really not good).
I expect that the better battery life will only be within the context of a bluetooth connection to the phone. Nose-hairs will not be an impediment to getting the FaceTime camera on the watch. Have you ever used it on the phone? Then you know you have to hold it upright, straight out at arms length to avoid looking like you have triple chins 😉
No one knows ….
Apple Watch 1s ??
FATwatch!
I think it is likely to follow the path set by other Apple products like ATV and Mac Pro etc. No minor update every year.
Please don’t follow the path of Mac Pro!
“MacDailyNews Take: Apple Smartbands for Apple Watch in March, Apple Watch 2 in September. How’s that sound?”
Does sound viable, since there are already leaks about new bands.. (Black Milanese) and not much on the actual Watch 2 yet.
It seems to me that this rumor could be associated with a component supplier making engineering units for test and evaluation. There is a long chain of events that has to happen before a new iPhone can be released in the September timeframe, from component design, manufacture, and testing, to subassembly and assembly activities, to prototypes for test and verification, to commercial production buildup and quality control.
The iPhone may be small, but it is a complex device that requires a lot of hardware and software engineering resources and time in addition to supply chain management, marketing, etc.
… and this has what to do with the watch though?
However back to the watch. Seems odd to me that both phones and watches will be launched in the same period not exactly smoothing supply and demand issues between or within the different products and leaves a lot of time for the markets to throttle up their present fears to jumping off ledges level..
Apple just let it go.
People who just bought an Apple Watch would feel like they were conned into needing a replacement this soon. Frankly, I understand people who refuse to buy Apple products because they are declared obsolete before you leave the store.
That is just not true, actually the opposite is. Every single other smartphone maker launches newer models every few months. No matter when you buy their phone, it will become obsolete in at most four months. At least with Apple, you know they won’t replace the current model with the next one for a whole year. In addition, the old model continues to hold value much better and longer than the competition.
In other words, you are always much better off buying Apple than pretty much any other maker. Lasts longer before new model comes out, holds its value better over the years.
Exactly, I like the fact that I know when the new model will be out. once a year.
Android… every month there is a new (lackluster) phone launch.
Anyone else reminded of the Onion movie about the Bates 5000?
“Throw your old 4000 away. It’s a piece of shit!”
Yeah they wait a few months change the colour, replace a few letters and numerals in its product code and call it a new phone. Seems that those looking for a ‘latest model phone’ are fooled by its launch date while others don’t even notice the scam.
What would you prefer, Tflint? A new model every two years? Every three years? Your argument really doesn’t make sense.
Some people complain because Apple does not produce new models of its products quickly enough. Others complain because once a year is too fast. Fortunately, Apple does not listen to the babble.
So when you buy a new car are you feeling conned into buying the new one next year?
Apple should rush to open couple stores in Iran, since the sanction has been lifted.
Yeah, they can use them in roadside bombs.
“Siri, blow up this infidel coming down the road!”
Not really a great topic for humor, considering the history of IEDs.
IED’s 1000
SDFB Millions and Millions.
I think the Super Duper Flying Bombs dropped by super duper shine planes costing a super duper pretty penny that people gladly cheer on and hero worship in popular TV talk shows wins by a mile.
MLK was a fire and brimstone preacher. He spoke against fornicators and homosexuality. Now his libraies have beem wiped clean of all politically incorrect speeches so he will be embraced by tgose that he spoke out and called sin…. Amazing