At the very least, the Bellamy is not in Apple's market nor a competitor.
I think that's fairly obvious. The ?Watch seems positioned to be all things to all people and makes various compromises to achieve that, price being one of those. But Apple is still building a market for their product. There are plenty of people who aren't interested in a smartwatch with all the capabilities the ?Watch offers, and that leaves the door wide open for everybody else. So I'm not so sure it isn't a competitor to Apple who is selling their watch everywhere from the most exclusive boutiques in the world to Target -- yet they all do exactly the same thing. However, considering all the things the ?Watch can do, I see single function hybrid solutions like this as a companion/substitute to the ?Watch which offers so much more. For those who don't yet know they may need all the features of the ?Watch, or willing to spend the money for the one or two things they do want, it seems like a competitor. When Apple gets the price down on the watch in the same way they have with the iPhones, then it will be less clear whether these single function products will be able to compete on anything more than style choice, something which is likely to have more staying power than any of us tech geeks who frequent these forums probably anticipate -- but I'll bet Apple does.
The Watch is expressly not competing with the design and function of other high end brands, and is rather redefining a large segment of the market which largely looks at expensive watches as status and visual adornment.
I'm not sure this is really an accurate statement. How does the watch "expressly" not compete? Sure someone who expressly wants a mechanical watch won't be buying any smartwatch. But someone who is willing to replace their $17,000 Rolex can do so with an equally pricey $17,000 ?Watch. And now that the ?Watch directly competes with Hermes own Cape Cod watch designs sold in their own stores with a luxury price tag, and the fact that such a watch is being sold strictly as a visual adornment to those who were not even interested in the ?Watch until it was branded with Hermes, I'd say it implicitly competes with luxury and fashion watches, everything else being equal.
Oh stop with the "looking like a wanker" nonsense. You don't have to like the design, but many do and it is impeccably and precisely crafted. Virtually everyone who sees mine comes away much more impressed that their negative or ambivalent feelings prior.
The Watch is expressly not competing with the design and function of other high end brands, and is rather redefining a large segment of the market which largely looks at expensive watches as status and visual adornment.
You may not. But I look a bit wankish when I wear the Apple Watch in the evenings out. But then again, I also do when I wear jeans.
I think that's fairly obvious. The ?Watch seems positioned to be all things to all people and makes various compromises to achieve that, price being one of those. But Apple is still building a market for their product. There are plenty of people who aren't interested in a smartwatch with all the capabilities the ?Watch offers, and that leaves the door wide open for everybody else. So I'm not so sure it isn't a competitor to Apple who is selling their watch everywhere from the most exclusive boutiques in the world to Target -- yet they all do exactly the same thing. However, considering all the things the ?Watch can do, I see single function hybrid solutions like this as a companion/substitute to the ?Watch which offers so much more. For those who don't yet know they may need all the features of the ?Watch, or willing to spend the money for the one or two things they do want, it seems like a competitor. When Apple gets the price down on the watch in the same way they have with the iPhones, then it will be less clear whether these single function products will be able to compete on anything more than style choice, something which is likely to have more staying power than any of us tech geeks who frequent these forums probably anticipate -- but I'll bet Apple does.
What?
It is or isn't a competitor? You're saying both things.
Based on functionality, design, and leverage of the Apple ecosystem, the Watch and Swatch aren't in the same hemisphere.
Secondly, what are you referring to about getting the price of the Watch down like they did with the iPhone? iPhone pricing has remained consistent for years, and the Apple Watch with a sport band is affordable for many people. Apple doesn't design and sell products to be affordable for everyone, or there were be far too many compromises. You get what you pay for.
And as to looking wankerish, I dare say that you'll look much better wearing what's pictured here.
Yes, that is why I used the Omega as the evening wear. I also look wankish wearing a Swatch, but on holidays I don't care anymore. I even wear shorts when on holidays (during the day).
You may not. But I look like a w***** when I wear the Apple Watch in the evenings out. But then again, I also do when I wear jeans.
I still don't understand what part of it is wanker-like
I have a stainless steel band, a black leather, and white sport band and freely change them depending upon what I'm doing. And often change the face. More versatile than statice analog designs. And I have those to, though no longer wear them. Even my wife's is now at a 70/30 ratio in favor of her Watch vs her Rolex, and she is in the NY fashion industry.
My perspective is long term, not the current limitations in the UK.
The multi-functionality of the watch, driven by App development and on top of the great core features Apple already provides with the Watch, categorize these one off, limited-scope products as superficial and, long term, unsatisfyng.
Yes, long-term you may be right. But when you want to make money, you have to do it now. And right now, I believe there is a market for a waterproof, sporty, cheap, watch with an embedded chip with which one can make limited payments. I can even imagine hat many people who got used to paying with their Apple Watch will buy one of these Swatches, for when they can't wear the Apple Watch.
But they wont be around for long, maybe a couple of years, like the Ski Pass Swatches in the 90s.
I still don't understand what part of it is wanker-like
I have a stainless steel band, a black leather, and white sport band and freely change them depending upon what I'm doing. And often change the face. More versatile than statice analog designs. And I have those to, though no longer wear them. Even my wife's is now at a 70/30 ratio in favor of her Watch vs her Rolex, and she is in the NY fashion industry.
This is a mindset issue.
I wear my Apple watch 100% of the time at work. But when you go out to something more than just a pizza, you should scrub up. I am sure your wife does. Apple watch is the workhorse (like your black wing tips, or the blue suit), so you should wear something a bit more juicy at night. But I would love to have "some" of the Apple Watch's functionality at night, so an Omega with VIP notifications would be perfect.
I think that's fairly obvious. The ?Watch seems positioned to be all things to all people and makes various compromises to achieve that, price being one of those. But Apple is still building a market for their product. There are plenty of people who aren't interested in a smartwatch with all the capabilities the ?Watch offers, and that leaves the door wide open for everybody else. So I'm not so sure it isn't a competitor to Apple who is selling their watch everywhere from the most exclusive boutiques in the world to Target -- yet they all do exactly the same thing. However, considering all the things the ?Watch can do, I see single function hybrid solutions like this as a companion/substitute to the ?Watch which offers so much more. For those who don't yet know they may need all the features of the ?Watch, or willing to spend the money for the one or two things they do want, it seems like a competitor. When Apple gets the price down on the watch in the same way they have with the iPhones, then it will be less clear whether these single function products will be able to compete on anything more than style choice, something which is likely to have more staying power than any of us tech geeks who frequent these forums probably anticipate -- but I'll bet Apple does.
I'm not sure this is really an accurate statement. How does the watch "expressly" not compete? Sure someone who expressly wants a mechanical watch won't be buying any smartwatch. But someone who is willing to replace their $17,000 Rolex can do so with an equally pricey $17,000 ?Watch. And now that the ?Watch directly competes with Hermes own Cape Cod watch designs sold in their own stores with a luxury price tag, and the fact that such a watch is being sold strictly as a visual adornment to those who were not even interested in the ?Watch until it was branded with Hermes, I'd say it implicitly competes with luxury and fashion watches, everything else being equal.
There is a style element (it has to look nice, and you need variation based on personal taste and budget, primarily in bands), but they are not competing on a price basis...people who want a 17,000 Rolex aren't evaluating a gold Apple Watch simply because it's priced the same.
The purpose of the Apple Watch is fundamentally different than the purpose of a Rolex. For a time, people will own both. At one point, it will become clear which one matters more.
Most people don't use a feature on their complicated analog watches, not that they do a lot. It is visual adornment or status, or some combination. Bands on the Apple Watch provide visual adornment, but not at the expense or obfuscation of the enormously better functionality, which is where Apples wants the consideration in the buyers mind.
I still don't understand what part of it is wanker-like
I have a stainless steel band, a black leather, and white sport band and freely change them depending upon what I'm doing. And often change the face. More versatile than statice analog designs. And I have those to, though no longer wear them. Even my wife's is now at a 70/30 ratio in favor of her Watch vs her Rolex, and she is in the NY fashion industry.
This is a mindset issue.
I have a beautiful Baume et Mercier that my wife gave my last Christmas. I wore it every day until I got my Watch. Now, I rarely do, and when I do, I wear it on my right hand as a second watch, effectively as an ornamental device.*
Breaks my heart.... :-/
*Interestingly, few people notice that I am wearing two watches! Could be starting a (somewhat dorky) fashion trend here...
It is or isn't a competitor? You're saying both things.
Based on functionality, design, and leverage of the Apple ecosystem, the Watch and Swatch aren't in the same hemisphere.
Secondly, what are you referring to about getting the price of the Watch down like they did with the iPhone? iPhone pricing has remained consistent for years, and the Apple Watch with a sport band is affordable for many people. Apple doesn't design and sell products to be affordable for everyone, or there were be far too many compromises. You get what you pay for.
To be clear ... If you want a smartwatch, only other smartwatches will compete with the ?Watch. A $100 Fitbit does not. For a customer who wants a mechanical watch, there is no competition. For a customer who doesn't care about all the other things an ?Watch can do, but likes its fitness capabilities but doesn't want to pay that much just for a fitness tracker, then yes, it's in competition. That will change as the price on the watch falls, and it will. I fully expect the first generation of the watch to drop by $100 when the gen 2 watch comes out next year, just like the iPhones and iPads. Yes iPhone pricing has remained constant for years, but there are now three tiers, with the lowest being "free" for some subsidized customers. If you don't think that had a major hand in expanding the iPhone customer base, then we're at an impasse. Likewise, when the ?Watch is more affordable, more people are going to chose it over a single function product like this swatch, or a Fitbit. People have no problem getting what they pay for, especially when they don't know they need it. But you can't tell me that Apple doesn't care if they lose out on a sale to a fitbit, because the customer got what they paid for. I'm sure Apple would rather sell another ?Watch to help secure their ecosystem to someone who only knows they want a fitness band, than to lose that sale because it's too expensive. That's why we have "free" iPhones, and three year old Apple products still being sold as new. When they start giving ?Watch Sports away for free with purchase of a top of the line iPhone, then they will absolutely be in competition with these other limited devices.
I wear my Apple watch 100% of the time at work. But when you go out to something more than just a pizza, you should scrub up. I am sure your wife does. Apple watch is the workhorse (like your black wing tips, or the blue suit), so you should wear something a bit more juicy at night. But I would love to have "some" of the Apple Watch's functionality at night, so an Omega with VIP notifications would be perfect.
Personally, I don't see it, the only thing I want juicy at night is my aged porterhouse.
I'm not inhibited in wearing the Watch in any environment, nor do I have any sense of inferiority (or concern of any such opinions of others). Especially with the visual changes you can make with bands and face, I retain the high functionality of the Watch with a variation in visual look.
I'd rather spend $20k on a 4K projector, or put it toward the new 7-series than simply invest in adornment. But that's just me.
I have a beautiful Baume et Mercier that my wife gave my last Christmas. I wore it every day until I got my Watch. Now, I rarely do, and when I do, I wear it on my right hand as a second watch, effectively as an ornamental device.*
Breaks my heart.... :-/
*Interestingly, few people notice that I am wearing two watches! Could be starting a (somewhat dorky) fashion trend here...
My Baume has been spinning dutifully in a watch winder since July, patiently waiting for me...
To be clear ... If you want a smartwatch, only other smartwatches will compete with the ?Watch. A $100 Fitbit does not. For a customer who wants a mechanical watch, there is no competition. For a customer who doesn't care about all the other things an ?Watch can do, but likes its fitness capabilities but doesn't want to pay that much just for a fitness tracker, then yes, it's in competition. That will change as the price on the watch falls, and it will. I fully expect the first generation of the watch to drop by $100 when the gen 2 watch comes out next year, just like the iPhones and iPads. Yes iPhone pricing has remained constant for years, but there are now three tiers, with the lowest being "free" for some subsidized customers. If you don't think that had a major hand in expanding the iPhone customer base, then we're at an impasse. Likewise, when the ?Watch is more affordable, more people are going to chose it over a single function product like this swatch, or a Fitbit. People have no problem getting what they pay for, especially when they don't know they need it. But you can't tell me that Apple doesn't care if they lose out on a sale to a fitbit, because the customer got what they paid for. I'm sure Apple would rather sell another ?Watch to help secure their ecosystem to someone who only knows they want a fitness band, than to lose that sale because it's too expensive. That's why we have "free" iPhones, and three year old Apple products still being sold as new. When they start giving ?Watch Sports away for free with purchase of a top of the line iPhone, then they will absolutely be in competition with these other limited devices.
I have a beautiful Baume et Mercier that my wife gave my last Christmas. I wore it every day until I got my Watch. Now, I rarely do, and when I do, I wear it on my right hand as a second watch, effectively as an ornamental device.*
Breaks my heart.... :-/
*Interestingly, few people notice that I am wearing two watches! Could be starting a (somewhat dorky) fashion trend here...
Exactly. You want to wear the ornament sometimes, but you don't want to miss the functionality of the AW. So what is the key functionality you don't want to miss when you wear your B&M? Uber? Health, Siri? Stopwatch? If the B&M had notifications (even just a vibration), would that be enough? What else would you miss? I am really interested.
Exactly. You want to wear the ornament sometimes, but you don't want to miss the functionality of the AW. So what is the key functionality you don't want to miss when you wear your B&M? Uber? Health, Siri? Stopwatch? If the B&M had notifications (even just a vibration), would that be enough? What else would you miss? I am really interested.
Personally, I would miss among other things...
- glances/notifications/response, for Messages, Mail, Calendar, weather, stocks. I reach the phone far less, so ironically, a new high tech piece lets me disengage more from technology. I'm use prebuilt response or Siri often for answering.
- Convenince/immediacy of Apple Pay from the wrist, even if you've left the phone in the car or at home.
- activity monitoring
- direction notification via Maps (visual/audible/haptic)
- phone calls when iPhone is not in hand
- Siri lookups
- remote control of my entire home theater, family room, and kitchen entertainment systems, lighting, fans, etc. from my wrist
Comments
I'm not sure this is really an accurate statement. How does the watch "expressly" not compete? Sure someone who expressly wants a mechanical watch won't be buying any smartwatch. But someone who is willing to replace their $17,000 Rolex can do so with an equally pricey $17,000 ?Watch. And now that the ?Watch directly competes with Hermes own Cape Cod watch designs sold in their own stores with a luxury price tag, and the fact that such a watch is being sold strictly as a visual adornment to those who were not even interested in the ?Watch until it was branded with Hermes, I'd say it implicitly competes with luxury and fashion watches, everything else being equal.
What a ridiculous product.
How to confirm a purchase if there is no display?
How do you know if a transaction went through?
How would you know if you actually paid something TWICE?
Pure stupidity.
This is like having a television without a screen.
Credit cards don't have a display and have non of those issues.
Oh stop with the "looking like a wanker" nonsense. You don't have to like the design, but many do and it is impeccably and precisely crafted. Virtually everyone who sees mine comes away much more impressed that their negative or ambivalent feelings prior.
The Watch is expressly not competing with the design and function of other high end brands, and is rather redefining a large segment of the market which largely looks at expensive watches as status and visual adornment.
You may not. But I look a bit wankish when I wear the Apple Watch in the evenings out. But then again, I also do when I wear jeans.
What?
It is or isn't a competitor? You're saying both things.
Based on functionality, design, and leverage of the Apple ecosystem, the Watch and Swatch aren't in the same hemisphere.
Secondly, what are you referring to about getting the price of the Watch down like they did with the iPhone? iPhone pricing has remained consistent for years, and the Apple Watch with a sport band is affordable for many people. Apple doesn't design and sell products to be affordable for everyone, or there were be far too many compromises. You get what you pay for.
And as to looking wankerish, I dare say that you'll look much better wearing what's pictured here.
Yes, that is why I used the Omega as the evening wear. I also look wankish wearing a Swatch, but on holidays I don't care anymore. I even wear shorts when on holidays (during the day).
I still don't understand what part of it is wanker-like
I have a stainless steel band, a black leather, and white sport band and freely change them depending upon what I'm doing. And often change the face. More versatile than statice analog designs. And I have those to, though no longer wear them. Even my wife's is now at a 70/30 ratio in favor of her Watch vs her Rolex, and she is in the NY fashion industry.
This is a mindset issue.
My perspective is long term, not the current limitations in the UK.
The multi-functionality of the watch, driven by App development and on top of the great core features Apple already provides with the Watch, categorize these one off, limited-scope products as superficial and, long term, unsatisfyng.
Yes, long-term you may be right. But when you want to make money, you have to do it now. And right now, I believe there is a market for a waterproof, sporty, cheap, watch with an embedded chip with which one can make limited payments. I can even imagine hat many people who got used to paying with their Apple Watch will buy one of these Swatches, for when they can't wear the Apple Watch.
But they wont be around for long, maybe a couple of years, like the Ski Pass Swatches in the 90s.
I still don't understand what part of it is wanker-like
I have a stainless steel band, a black leather, and white sport band and freely change them depending upon what I'm doing. And often change the face. More versatile than statice analog designs. And I have those to, though no longer wear them. Even my wife's is now at a 70/30 ratio in favor of her Watch vs her Rolex, and she is in the NY fashion industry.
This is a mindset issue.
I wear my Apple watch 100% of the time at work. But when you go out to something more than just a pizza, you should scrub up. I am sure your wife does. Apple watch is the workhorse (like your black wing tips, or the blue suit), so you should wear something a bit more juicy at night. But I would love to have "some" of the Apple Watch's functionality at night, so an Omega with VIP notifications would be perfect.
There is a style element (it has to look nice, and you need variation based on personal taste and budget, primarily in bands), but they are not competing on a price basis...people who want a 17,000 Rolex aren't evaluating a gold Apple Watch simply because it's priced the same.
The purpose of the Apple Watch is fundamentally different than the purpose of a Rolex. For a time, people will own both. At one point, it will become clear which one matters more.
Most people don't use a feature on their complicated analog watches, not that they do a lot. It is visual adornment or status, or some combination. Bands on the Apple Watch provide visual adornment, but not at the expense or obfuscation of the enormously better functionality, which is where Apples wants the consideration in the buyers mind.
I still don't understand what part of it is wanker-like
I have a stainless steel band, a black leather, and white sport band and freely change them depending upon what I'm doing. And often change the face. More versatile than statice analog designs. And I have those to, though no longer wear them. Even my wife's is now at a 70/30 ratio in favor of her Watch vs her Rolex, and she is in the NY fashion industry.
This is a mindset issue.
I have a beautiful Baume et Mercier that my wife gave my last Christmas. I wore it every day until I got my Watch. Now, I rarely do, and when I do, I wear it on my right hand as a second watch, effectively as an ornamental device.*
Breaks my heart.... :-/
*Interestingly, few people notice that I am wearing two watches! Could be starting a (somewhat dorky) fashion trend here...
I have an entire lifetime of seeing watches before the Apple Watch arrived.
To be clear ... If you want a smartwatch, only other smartwatches will compete with the ?Watch. A $100 Fitbit does not. For a customer who wants a mechanical watch, there is no competition. For a customer who doesn't care about all the other things an ?Watch can do, but likes its fitness capabilities but doesn't want to pay that much just for a fitness tracker, then yes, it's in competition. That will change as the price on the watch falls, and it will. I fully expect the first generation of the watch to drop by $100 when the gen 2 watch comes out next year, just like the iPhones and iPads. Yes iPhone pricing has remained constant for years, but there are now three tiers, with the lowest being "free" for some subsidized customers. If you don't think that had a major hand in expanding the iPhone customer base, then we're at an impasse. Likewise, when the ?Watch is more affordable, more people are going to chose it over a single function product like this swatch, or a Fitbit. People have no problem getting what they pay for, especially when they don't know they need it. But you can't tell me that Apple doesn't care if they lose out on a sale to a fitbit, because the customer got what they paid for. I'm sure Apple would rather sell another ?Watch to help secure their ecosystem to someone who only knows they want a fitness band, than to lose that sale because it's too expensive. That's why we have "free" iPhones, and three year old Apple products still being sold as new. When they start giving ?Watch Sports away for free with purchase of a top of the line iPhone, then they will absolutely be in competition with these other limited devices.
Personally, I don't see it, the only thing I want juicy at night is my aged porterhouse.
I'm not inhibited in wearing the Watch in any environment, nor do I have any sense of inferiority (or concern of any such opinions of others). Especially with the visual changes you can make with bands and face, I retain the high functionality of the Watch with a variation in visual look.
I'd rather spend $20k on a 4K projector, or put it toward the new 7-series than simply invest in adornment. But that's just me.
My Baume has been spinning dutifully in a watch winder since July, patiently waiting for me...
Free iphones?
Give away Apple Watches?
Ok......
I have a beautiful Baume et Mercier that my wife gave my last Christmas. I wore it every day until I got my Watch. Now, I rarely do, and when I do, I wear it on my right hand as a second watch, effectively as an ornamental device.*
Breaks my heart.... :-/
*Interestingly, few people notice that I am wearing two watches! Could be starting a (somewhat dorky) fashion trend here...
Exactly. You want to wear the ornament sometimes, but you don't want to miss the functionality of the AW. So what is the key functionality you don't want to miss when you wear your B&M? Uber? Health, Siri? Stopwatch? If the B&M had notifications (even just a vibration), would that be enough? What else would you miss? I am really interested.
Personally, I would miss among other things...
- glances/notifications/response, for Messages, Mail, Calendar, weather, stocks. I reach the phone far less, so ironically, a new high tech piece lets me disengage more from technology. I'm use prebuilt response or Siri often for answering.
- Convenince/immediacy of Apple Pay from the wrist, even if you've left the phone in the car or at home.
- activity monitoring
- direction notification via Maps (visual/audible/haptic)
- phone calls when iPhone is not in hand
- Siri lookups
- remote control of my entire home theater, family room, and kitchen entertainment systems, lighting, fans, etc. from my wrist
Have you receive your swatch yet?
What a ridiculous product.
How to confirm a purchase if there is no display?
How do you know if a transaction went through?
How would you know if you actually paid something TWICE?
Pure stupidity.
This is like having a television without a screen.
Also no security of authentication either. Theft is more of an issue. Apple pay will not work without some form of good authentication.
What a ridiculous product.
How to confirm a purchase if there is no display?
How do you know if a transaction went through?
How would you know if you actually paid something TWICE?
Pure stupidity.
This is like having a television without a screen.
Not only that, but what if you use multiple cards. How would you be able to select a different card like you can in Apple Pay?