“The biggest issue around the Apple Watch is less about the software and more around the hardware,” Ewan Spence writes for Forbes. “Specifically, what happens when new hardware is released?”
“The expectation of the geekerati is that Tim Cook is going to announce ‘Apple Watch 2’ in March 2016,” Spence writes. “How can Apple sell this watch outside of the geekerati who would buy anything, and give the consumer market the confidence to make the purchase?”
“If Apple could work out a ‘carrier like’ model for the Apple Watch, it would be in a much better place to profit from the smartwatch revolution, as well as taking the lion’s share of the profits from the market – just as it does with smartphones,” Spence writes. “Translate [Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program] model to the Apple Watch. Instead of purchasing the new Apple Watch outright, you could sign up to the Apple Watch Upgrade Program. Every year, when the new model is released, the option is there to trade in the old Apple Watch for the new Apple Watch. The cost stays hidden, users have the confidence to buy into Apple Watch confident they will never be left behind, and Apple has command of the luxury smartwatch space.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: An Apple Watch Upgrade Program would likely be a very successful service for Apple and Apple Watch. While we’ll be keeping our original Apple Watches (just like we have our original Macs, iPods and iPhones), it’d be mighty tempting for many to sign up for smooth and easy annual Apple Watch upgrades.
The Apple Watch “leasing model” has possibilities however at a much lower price point then the iPhone I feel companines like Gazelle and other resellers will benefit. Ultimately though I believe the “pass down effect” to kids and friends option will reign supreme.
Give the kids the old Watch and let them get a few different bands for it and you will be off and running while mom and dad get Watch2 for themselves…….
Just my .02….
Translation: “I can’t afford an Apple Watch and I’m super bitter about that.”
“The Problem With Apple Watch… Is the very fact that it exists at all. ”
Says someone who obviously doesn’t have one.
“and Apple has command of the luxury smartwatch space.”
Apple ALREADY has command of the luxury smartwatch space. They would simply have a lock on it forever this way…
Biggest issue with the Apple Watch from the company’s standpoint may be the “leasing” issue but from a consumer standpoint it is the battery. For the true health monitoring benefits of the product it has to be able to remain on overnight.
I wear my watch to bed every night. I charge it before bed, then again in the morning after my workout while I’m getting cleaned up. This works fine for me. I’m not sure why so many people think this is an issue.
I wear my watch ever night to bed. I have the 38mm model.
Apple Watch may be great, but it is boxy and bulky and not streamlined like an Apple-Ive product should be…if you want teenagers on board, then streamline the case. Samsung’s watch has major issues and too big and rectangular, but is at least halfway modern looking. With the Apple watch, you’ve got 40 yr olds designing a watch for 40 yr olds. Keep the crown, but thin and streamline version 2…then, I will buy it. Hate me if you want, but it is currently a thick box on your wrist with rounded corners. Jobs would not approve the form factor.
You don’t know what you’re are talking about.
It’s crazy of me to think that telling someone that doesn’t know what they are talking about…that they will “get it”. You can’t, won’t, don’t.
“Streamline”. How specific. Are you an engineer? You think apple was weighing “streamline” vs “boxy” and bulky” and went with the latter? Like Apple doesn’t know that? Have you watched the evolution of ANY of their product lines???
You know what Steve would and wouldn’t like?
It’s ok to think your little “thoughts”; refrain from posting them…
It doesn’t appear as bulky in person. One of the Best Buy associates had both a steel Apple Watch and Moto Watch on his wrist. The Moto looked ginormous and out of place compared to the Apple Watch. I also scoped out the new Samsung round smartwatch. It fits good, but the build quality is plastic and cheap looking up close. Next, the dozens of Fitbits adorned on the rack looked square, bulky and ugly. And finnally, there were a few younger people in the store walking around with the black Apple Watch and the thing just looked cool.
Well my daughter who is 21 loves it and a friend of my son who is 20 just bought his and loves it.
They like fine on their wrist.
Ewan Spence is a notorious link-baiter.
“Forbes” — about as much credibility as “analysts”.
Apple Watch is doomed, and by that I mean the expectaion omongst the fanboys is disproprtionate to the amount of traction this product will get.
All wearable products by their definition are accessories to some main product, i.e. a phone or computer. This will be this way for a long time as the category evolves.
But in its present state, a smart device must carry a large pricetag to survive. Most people do not want to spend $350 and up for an accessory. And Apple being Apple, no one wants $500 watch bands. This is a giveaway about how strong the mrket really is. Prices have to be kept high for the accessories of an accessory to make money and create the illusion that there’s a viable ecosystem at work.
Ealy adapters will defend their purchase. That’s great.
But ultimately, smart watches will not be mass market smash successes. There’s just not enough interested wrists to make the product ubiquitous.
For some it’s a tool to streamline social/work flow and for others it’s a way to stay fit, but It’s also a fashion statement. This accessory is not a snazzy necklace to sparkle an ensemble. It’s like buying a pair of Nike’s. Kids can get a $25 pair of sneakers from the thrift shop, but their swag points will be severely deducted. If you show up to class wearing a Fitbit or a Swatch you will look like a dork, but if you flash an Apple Watch then you nonchalantly ignore messages while bumping booties with the Kardashian.
Yeah.., that’s true, but also very sad.
>Most people do not want to spend $350 and up for an accessory.
By all accounts the first Apple Watch is selling much better than the first iPhone and first iPad did, and ridiculously better than the first iPod did. Any company on earth would love to have such a “failure” on their hands.
The Apple Watch hasn’t even been out for a year. Have people grown so impatient that they were expecting the first generation of a new product line to sell 50 million units in 9 months?
Sorry Doc… you’re confusing Success with ubiquity! It’s been suggested that as of October 2015, the Apple Watch garnered Apple more than $3 billion in revenue! That’s $3,000,000,000 .. in just 6 months, April to October. Most honest observers would say that’s quite a success already, and it’s just getting started.
Sorry Doc… you’re confusing Success with ubiquity! It’s been suggested that as of October 2015, the Apple Watch garnered Apple more than $3 billion in revenue! That’s $3,000,000,000 .. in just 6 months, April to October. Most honest observers would say that’s quite a success already, and it’s just getting started.
apple watch cost too much, the design is no show stopper, kill it and be done.
if apple can make the bracelet like device, concept designed by others when imaging the iWatch, then try again. anybody can a rectangular or circular device and straps and put it on a wrist.
this is do able
>this is do able
And ridiculously impractical. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but people’s wrists aren’t perfectly round. These round plastic bands things would hang away from from your wrist like a tacky woman’s bracelet from the 1980s. Not to mention that these concepts look like something they put on people who are under house arrest.
Let’s see…. and bracelets have been around since when? I recall watching a prehistoric movie and the troglodytes were all wearing BRACELETS!
If the Apple watch had looked more modern, like these artists renders, I would’ve considered purchasing one.
But the watch design looks dated, is overpriced and needs an iPhone (and THE NEWEST iPhone, at that!) for its full functionality.
Plus, it is an app driven device first and a timepiece second.
Look at Pebble Smart watches instead.
Half the price. Great looking modern and traditional style watches, Great quality materials.
The watch’s OS works on any iDevice running iOS 8 or later (except the iPad 2). Not just tye latest greatest iPhone only models.
Pebble makes their smartwatches with time driven apps first and other apps second.
Easy OS. Much more simplified operation.
Pebble has been in the smartwatch business longer than Apple.
Apple Watch is fully functional with iPhone 5 from 2012. No missing features at all. The watch can do Apple Pay even though the iPhone 5 can’t. You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about.
Ha haha ha
I am looking for a watch, plain and simple. The kind of watch that you wear on your wrist, that helps you get places on time. Of all the new connected watches, Apple watch is the only interesting one. Notifications of phone calls, texts and emails are additional advantages, but not the main reason I want one.
@Chase
Boxy is still boxy, bulky is still bulky, and old school watch-like is still old school watch-like.
I am no engineer, but even Ford can make a car that is streamlined.
Flame me on, but Steve would have thrown it out the window!
I know because I have been an Apple guy since ’92, and history says that Steve wouldn’t like the design…to average and too status quo.
Apple Watch 1 will likely see a $100 price drop when Watch 2 is released. This will be the new entry level watch. Watch 2 will likely look very much like Watch 1, something like the iPhone S models. Augmenting Watch 1 via custom bands with more sensors will keep it up to date.
Apples watch is a rip off, and people are now realizing it. Convenient in some ways, annoying in others. Like the rest of their products its not worth the price, and they see the reviews showing this so theyre trying to figure out how to ensure people buy their product.
Apple still hasn’t released sales data for Apple Watch and no one outside Apple’s inner sanctum has a clue how many Apple Watches are sold day by day. Of course, Apple fanboys will exaggerate their assumptions, guesses, and imaginations as gospel truth without a shred of hard, incontrovertible evidence. Perpetuate the myth fanboys.