I wouldn't call the iPhone a luxury. By luxury, I mean anything that is too unaffordable for the potential market for the iPhone. The iPhone is something of an anomaly as—like the iPad—it is the best a man can get. In most markets, the best is far out of reach of the common man. Hence $400,000 Ferraris and $1,000,000 watches.
But this article is about a $400 wrist-worn CE, not $400,000.
Indeed! But other posters made a reference to high-end watches and yourself a reference to the iPhone as a luxury item.
Ultimately, the question is: how many people will want to buy the iWatch at $400 and how often will they want a new one? I own an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac. Would I want to buy an iWatch every three years or so? Dunno. Maybe I’ll find out on 9th.
I find it hard to see a vital need for a wearable device at the moment. Apple may win me over. I used to wear a watch, and may start to wear my current one again; need to get the battery changed. I like not having anything on my arms now, though; it's liberating. Going from glasses to contacts was great; I'd never go back unless I had to.
Anyway, I'm excited to see what's coming; hope that Apple do a live feed like they did for WWDC.
[quote name="Benjamin Frost" url="/t/182031/apple-has-discussed-charging-around-400-for-its-wearable-iwatch-report#post_2586926"]Ultimately, the question is: how many people will want to buy the iWatch at $400 and how often will they want a new one? I own an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac. Would I want to buy an iWatch every three years or so? Dunno. Maybe I’ll find out on 9th. [/QUOTE]
If CE adoption has taught us anything we do seem to purchase new ones to get the faster and better experience.
[QUOTE]I find it hard to see a vital need for a wearable device at the moment.[/QUOTE]
Is any CE really [I]vital[/I]?
[QUOTE]I like not having anything on my arms now, though; it's liberating.[/QUOTE]
I liked not wearing a watch after I got a cellphone because it was redundant, but my vision of a wrist-worn device from Apple does a plethora of things that an iPhone or iPad can't possible do. For this reason I would love to put a useful device on my wrist.
All I know is that in inclined to want one. I don't know what its going to do or how its going to look, but Apple has a history of not putting out junk... I haven't worn a watch for 20 years, but if this keynote hits just a few notes, I'll be early adopting!
People will only pay $400 if the $249 version just isn't cool enough for them.
Exactly. There will be a product line, not simply a single product. I would not be surprised if the iPod Nano and Shuffle went away, and were replaced by a $99 wearable/music-player with limited tracking ability. This would smash to bits the current $99-$125 low-end Fitbits and Jawbones.
Low end: starting at $99
Mid end: starting at $199 or $249
high end: starting at $349 or $399 and featuring the most tracking, sapphire, iPhone control, etc....
I think this is just a provocation—hoping for the usual suspects to go into foam-flecked paroxysms of rage, like they did about the thousand-dollar iPad ("And that's just to start! You just know that anything anybody actually wants will be at least $1500! Who does Apple think they are?! This is the greatest outrage in the history of civilization! I won't stand for it! This far and no farther!!!!")
I strongly believe Apple will create a single iWatch with numerous options for bands. I believe that Apple discontinued the wildly popular iPod nano 6th generation due to the development of the iWatch.
I believe another option is a PAN of devices similar to offerings from Polar; activity monitor, heart rate monitor, watch - each an independent device augmenting a personal area network of the quantified self.
In my opinion, Apple could simply add a few features to create the most compelling "smart watch" to augment the accelerometer in the iPod nano 6th generation Bluetooth 4.0 altimeter ambient light barometer GPS gyroscope heart rate monitor magnetometer
The iPod nano 6th generation was already a compelling device in its time.
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That sounds about right.
Remember this was the same crew that said the Apple Tablet would start at $800 and go as high as $1000 and be wifi only.
That said, I think $400 or rather $399 could be the price point on one model. A 'high end' looking one. With perhaps a more 'low end' model that is $299. Think a similar gambit as the iPhone S and iPhone C. Sporty looking v luxury looking.
I doubt there will be any difference in internals especially since it's not likely to do anything without a phone so it doesn't need massive storage or even that much RAM. Even the sensor data could be meant to be synced to a device every day so something like 4GB could be enough.
Just to wander, most don't care for a smart watch, so why create a watch that is double an iPhone at base value(or 2/3rds off contract) while an IPad mini comes at same price, based on suspected hardware it could be $200, if it does come Saphire, etc. I still would expect it to be around $330, I guess it's possible but an android one that comes 1/2 or 1/3 the price can sound a lot more compelling.
Comments
Indeed! But other posters made a reference to high-end watches and yourself a reference to the iPhone as a luxury item.
Ultimately, the question is: how many people will want to buy the iWatch at $400 and how often will they want a new one? I own an iPhone, an iPad and a Mac. Would I want to buy an iWatch every three years or so? Dunno. Maybe I’ll find out on 9th.
I find it hard to see a vital need for a wearable device at the moment. Apple may win me over. I used to wear a watch, and may start to wear my current one again; need to get the battery changed. I like not having anything on my arms now, though; it's liberating. Going from glasses to contacts was great; I'd never go back unless I had to.
Anyway, I'm excited to see what's coming; hope that Apple do a live feed like they did for WWDC.
I'm just about to pay another $300-400 for a new phone, so I don't really have $400 to spare for another accessory.
400? I will pass on that one.
Pass on what one?
You have no idea of what it is...
If CE adoption has taught us anything we do seem to purchase new ones to get the faster and better experience.
[QUOTE]I find it hard to see a vital need for a wearable device at the moment.[/QUOTE]
Is any CE really [I]vital[/I]?
[QUOTE]I like not having anything on my arms now, though; it's liberating.[/QUOTE]
I liked not wearing a watch after I got a cellphone because it was redundant, but my vision of a wrist-worn device from Apple does a plethora of things that an iPhone or iPad can't possible do. For this reason I would love to put a useful device on my wrist.
I don't know what its going to do or how its going to look, but Apple has a history of not putting out junk...
I haven't worn a watch for 20 years, but if this keynote hits just a few notes, I'll be early adopting!
People will only pay $400 if the $249 version just isn't cool enough for them.
Exactly. There will be a product line, not simply a single product. I would not be surprised if the iPod Nano and Shuffle went away, and were replaced by a $99 wearable/music-player with limited tracking ability. This would smash to bits the current $99-$125 low-end Fitbits and Jawbones.
Low end: starting at $99
Mid end: starting at $199 or $249
high end: starting at $349 or $399 and featuring the most tracking, sapphire, iPhone control, etc....
Nike+ Fuelband SE Gold - $149 sensors: ambient light, 3-axis accelerometer; battery life: 4 days
Jawbone UP24 - $149.99 sensors: 3-axis accelerometer; battery life: 7 days
LG G Watch - $229 sensors: 3-axis accelerometer, compass, gyroscope; battery life: 36 hours standby
Samsung Gear 2 $299 sensors: 3-axis accelerometer, gyroscope; battery life: 2-3 days (typical usage), 6 days (low usage)
Garmin tactix - $449.99 sensors: altimeter, barometer, 3-axis accelerometer, GPS, magnetometer; battery life: 50 hours (GPS mode); 3 weeks (sensor mode); 5 weeks (watch mode)
Polar V800 GPS Sports Watch - $519.95 sensors: altimeter, barometer, 3-axis accelerometer, GPS, heart rate monitor, temperature; battery life: 13 hours (training time), 50 hours (GPS low power mode)
I strongly believe Apple will create a single iWatch with numerous options for bands. I believe that Apple discontinued the wildly popular iPod nano 6th generation due to the development of the iWatch.
I believe another option is a PAN of devices similar to offerings from Polar; activity monitor, heart rate monitor, watch - each an independent device augmenting a personal area network of the quantified self.
In my opinion, Apple could simply add a few features to create the most compelling "smart watch" to augment the accelerometer in the iPod nano 6th generation
Bluetooth 4.0
altimeter
ambient light
barometer
GPS
gyroscope
heart rate monitor
magnetometer
The iPod nano 6th generation was already a compelling device in its time.
Apple's prices for new products is almost always $100 more than what everyone wants it to be. Yet they sell every device they make by the millions.
Seriously, the square iPod Nano has FM radio? I thought that came and went with the stick-of-gum Nano (Which I consider the greatest iPod ever.)
Rabble rabble rabble
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That sounds about right.
Remember this was the same crew that said the Apple Tablet would start at $800 and go as high as $1000 and be wifi only.
That said, I think $400 or rather $399 could be the price point on one model. A 'high end' looking one. With perhaps a more 'low end' model that is $299. Think a similar gambit as the iPhone S and iPhone C. Sporty looking v luxury looking.
I doubt there will be any difference in internals especially since it's not likely to do anything without a phone so it doesn't need massive storage or even that much RAM. Even the sensor data could be meant to be synced to a device every day so something like 4GB could be enough.
This thing better give lap dances for that price.
Not the iPad. The media predicted $1,000; Apple shocked everyone with $500.
Derp. My bad. 8-)