“Apple is continuing to tweak its Apple Watch showroom experience within Apple Stores,” Mark Gurman reports for 9to5Mac. “Upon the initial rollout of the Apple Watch in April, Apple Stores installed large glass tables as a showcase for the different Apple Watch variations. Customers could test drive the Apple Watch via a demo unit connected to an iPad mini or try it on at a series of try-on stations.”
Gurman reports, “Following a pilot program across select Apple Stores across the world, Apple has now begun a widespread rollout of a new Apple Watch testing program called Mobile Try-On, according to Apple Retail employees.”
“Mobile Try-On allows retail employees to walk around the store with an Apple Watch demo unit on their wrist paired to an iPhone with the Apple Watch Companion application,” Gurman reports. “Unlike with the Apple Watches in the try-on section, these devices are fully operational, and unlike the units attached to iPads around the store, these can actually be worn and fully used.”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple WatchThe closer Apple gets to letting customers really try the Apple Watch naturally, as it actually works, the more units they will sell. As we wrote back in July:
With Apple Watch, as with the Mac, it’s the whole experience. It’s indescribable, yet indescribably better with an Apple Watch on your wrist than without it.
A list of benefits simply doesn’t do it justice – and that list is different for everyone. You really have to set up an Apple Watch and use it yourself in order to understand. It’s Apple’s most personal device ever, after all. Without integrating it into your daily life, you just can’t fathom how useful it is.
To the vast majority of current Apple Watch naysayers: You don’t get it, yet.
But that’s okay, you will.
You’ll be wearing an Apple Watch (or, for the irrational anti-Apple types, some bad, patent-infringing knockoff that you wrongly and laughably claim is “as good as” the real thing) sooner than later. Watch and see.
This is not a trivial undertaking. Refining the program before rolling it out is essential. If successful, however, it takes in-store customer service for wearables to a very high level.
Based on what? You’re a stupid coward who has to resort to cheap shots because that’s all you’ve got. Mind you, I don’t own an Apple watch and have no interest in buying one. But your comment is pitiful.
In trying on the Watch, would it be a good idea to wear a long-sleeved shirt with cuffs to see whether the Watch works with your current wardrobe? Perhaps it’s not a problem?
MDN Take – “It’s Apple’s most personal device ever, after all. Without integrating it into your daily life, you just can’t fathom how useful it is.” My Take – Then Apple will go and discontinue it just like they do with much of their software because ohhh, its been around three minutes, we’d better move on. Leaving millions of users in the lurch as usual. Think Aperture and many more.
You may vote me down with your “Apple can do no wrong” attitudes, but just wait until Apple royally screws you. At the end of the day, it’s a money-making machine that really doesn’t care about you, the user.
This is not a trivial undertaking. Refining the program before rolling it out is essential. If successful, however, it takes in-store customer service for wearables to a very high level.
This is a bold move. Kudos to Ahrendts.
You say “bold”, I say desperate.
I say you’re irrelevant.
I say you’re a lemming.
I know you are, but what am I?
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.” – A. Lincoln
I’ve read that before. Hmmm. Where was it? Oh yeh… Fred on MDN.
Do you have ANYTHING original to say?
Thanks for your astounding business wisdom, Fred.
Based on what? You’re a stupid coward who has to resort to cheap shots because that’s all you’ve got. Mind you, I don’t own an Apple watch and have no interest in buying one. But your comment is pitiful.
Meh. I’d rather spend my cash on a new iPhone, new iPad, and/or new Cinema Display.
Good for you. We don’t care.
In trying on the Watch, would it be a good idea to wear a long-sleeved shirt with cuffs to see whether the Watch works with your current wardrobe? Perhaps it’s not a problem?
They’ve been doing this in Stores since the FIRST day they were in store. Nothing new here.
MDN Take – “It’s Apple’s most personal device ever, after all. Without integrating it into your daily life, you just can’t fathom how useful it is.” My Take – Then Apple will go and discontinue it just like they do with much of their software because ohhh, its been around three minutes, we’d better move on. Leaving millions of users in the lurch as usual. Think Aperture and many more.
You may vote me down with your “Apple can do no wrong” attitudes, but just wait until Apple royally screws you. At the end of the day, it’s a money-making machine that really doesn’t care about you, the user.