“In line with our report from a couple of weeks ago, Apple has just debuted an official program for third-party accessory developers to design and launch bands for the Apple Watch,” Mark Gurman reports for 9to5Mac.
“Like the MFi program for iPhone, iPads, and iPod accessories, this new program is called ‘Made for Apple Watch,'” Gurman reports. “One of the device’s marquee features is its ability to connect to different straps by way of a standard connector on either side of the Watch, and now, much like with iPhones and iPads, accessory makers will be able to make good use of the product.”
“The guidelines do not mention the hidden diagnostic port that some accessory makers hope to leverage,” Gurman reports. “Today’s announcement additionally does not provide official specifications for developing charging accessories.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Beware any bands claiming to contain external batteries, as use of that 6-pin contact on Apple Watch is not supported by Apple.
Give it a rest already, this product is going NOWHERE fast.
I can’t think of a single product in the last 4-decades that was less useful and less interesting than the Apple Watch. As a long time Apple user, I am embarrassed for Apple for having the nerve to release this pointless product.
It costs 80 bucks to make but they still charge you a grand for the stainless steel version.
It’s the only $17,000 gold watch in the world that uses about $300 of actual gold, lol.
I’ve worn a watch for the last 4 decades. I’m so embarrassed to realize the damn thing only does one thing. Tell time…..
I should just assume that you’re a troll, but just in case you’re serious…
The $80 cost is the total cost of the materials in the watch. It does not include…
— R&D
— Manufacturing
— Logistics (shipping the materials, shipping the watch, etc.)
…and possibly more expenses I’m not able to think of. If you think that the Apple Watch is a $100 product, you’re a fool.
——RM
Oh, he is a troll.
A sad troll, living small with his droid copycat phone.
Don’t be mad at him. Feel sorry for him.
You’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re wrong. You could name any Apple product, and it would be pointless to some people. The iPad mini is pointless to iPhone 6 Plus owners. The MacBook Pro is pointless to MacBook owners. I have had an Apple Watch for 12 days, and I have found a lot of uses for it. It has not been “pointless”. Anyway… why would you care about what the rest of us spend our money on?
Because his name, “orandy”, rhymes with “Troll Randy”.
I’d like to address this comment: “I can’t think of a single product in the last 4-decades that was less useful and less interesting than the Apple Watch.”
Four decades ago, April 1975 the pet rock was released, about 1.5 million of them were sold until discontinued in Feb 1976.
You are certainly open to have your opinion that the watch is less useful and less interesting but I do think that you will be in the majority.
I do believe that Apple will sell more watches than pet rocks if they haven’t already. I believe that the watch will last longer than Feb. 2016.
The pet rock sold for $4 at the time, and I think that the markup is a lot more than that of the watch.
Perhaps you should have stopped while you were ahead and simply stated: “”I can’t think.”
Apple will make a pretty nice sum from the watch.
Correction: You are certainly open to have your opinion that the watch is less useful and less interesting than a pet rock but I do think that you will be in the minority.
Are you an Amish fanboy?
Different random name, orandy, but the same anonymous troll trying to bait the MDN crowd. Begone!
This unregistered, pseudonymous coward’s comments raise only one major question here: How come we can’t block certain posters?