probably not -- they have a very specific curvature that matches the thickness and roundness of the current design's case.
I think it would be a bad decision for Apple to not make the bands compatible with future Watchs*. There are many people who have spent a small fortune on them -- in my case, I've spent about the same amount on bands as I have my SS watch itself -- and Apple would not be stupid enough to compromise that revenue stream. Part of my band purchases was based on the expectation (I'll admit that it was only my expectation, not something that Apple has ever hinted at) that Apple would make their Watchs forward-compatible with the current banks.
I'll wager that Apple will make the bands compatible.
*Given that it's a proper noun, what is the correct plural for Watch?!
The plural is "Watches."
I imagine that Apple would not gratuitously make new watches incompatible with prior bands, but I don't think they'll hesitate to make a change if the design of the device requires it. A lot of people buy iPhone cases, and those things pretty much have to change with each upgrade. A few of the bands can get a lot more expensive, though, and I'm sure they don't want to lose sales on new devices because customers are attached to their $450 link bracelet band.
I imagine that Apple would not gratuitously make new watches incompatible with prior bands, but I don't think they'll hesitate to make a change if the design of the device requires it. A lot of people buy iPhone cases, and those things pretty much have to change with each upgrade. A few of the bands can get a lot more expensive, though, and I'm sure they don't want to lose sales on new devices because customers are attached to their $450 link bracelet band.
They won't. People will just buy a second watch, and start a whole new band collection with it. Unless people need whatever new feature Apple adds to the new watch all the time, it's sort of the best of both worlds -- the old watch continues to function just as it always did, and offers yet another change up along with the bands, with the new watch too. One can also sell the original watch along with all the bands, and likely not lose much of the investment. And the leather bands, like the Hermes especially, will be swappable to the new lugs. So those won't be lost at all. The Sport bands, are no more expensive than phone cases, often less, so that's not a huge loss anyway in upgrading -- people are already doing it with iPhones. The biggest loss will be the link bands, but the good news there is, they are also the most desirable and durable of all the bands, so they should hold their value well for resale. And who knows, some third party may come up with an easy way to replace the lugs on the link bands as well. But here's the thing about the link band anyway -- if Apple changes the design substantially enough to achieve a different look such that it requires a different bracelet, then it's going to be similar to traditional link bracelet watches today -- the band is part of the design, and shouldn't really be swapped around. Apple has designed the link band to complement the look of the watch, and it may not match the new watch as well, even if the lugs can be made to fit. But then that's a taste thing, and not everybody sees things the same way Jony Ive does.
An s version absolutely makes sense in the Watch, just as it does in the iPhone line. A change in the Watch case has a big effect on just about every component in the Watch. The current Watch lacks somewhat in performance so faster SoC will come. It's easier for Apple to change that than it is to change the case. More storage, more RAM, yes, just as in the iPhone. Given the constraints of the Watch, I can see where newer versions might not be as frequent as the iPhone, but I think that will depend on the adoption rate.
If and when Apple can make the Watch thinner, they will. That's a given. How much, how soon? Apple is probably working on prototypes of different models now, just as they've don with the iPhone and iPad. We will never see some of them. That's Apple. If battery and screen tech are refined to the point of getting the Watch significantly thinner, the lugs will have to change eventually. Apple is both famous and infamous for changing connectors, and the Watch will be no different. Some people will whine otherwise, but Apple won't capriciously change lugs. They will have their reasons. Just as some people believed there was no valid reason to go from 30-pin to Lightning, when the lugs change people will call it a cash grab. So be it.
Apple is designing the Watch equally as both a functional device and a fashion piece. So there will obviously be aesthetic changes based on the direction Apple feels it should go, with respect to current tech limitations at the time. I don't think there will be multiple versions of the Watch as there are from other manufacturers, but just as the iPhone changed over versions the Watch will, also. As the Watch is an extension of the phone, we may not see a round Watch but just the evolution of the current shape.
Lastly, just as it's Mac and not MAC, watch people call the aforementioned Rolex the Submariner, not Sub-Mariner.
It maybe interesting the 1st gen Watch will sell even better after the 2nd gen appears. I know many phones who refuse to buy a smartwatch over $200. If the price drops to $150, more people would buy. If they make the watch OS able to use without the iPhone, it will sell 2-3x more. A lot of people don't like carrying the iPhone if the watch can get text and read emails.
Comments
I imagine that Apple would not gratuitously make new watches incompatible with prior bands, but I don't think they'll hesitate to make a change if the design of the device requires it. A lot of people buy iPhone cases, and those things pretty much have to change with each upgrade. A few of the bands can get a lot more expensive, though, and I'm sure they don't want to lose sales on new devices because customers are attached to their $450 link bracelet band.
If and when Apple can make the Watch thinner, they will. That's a given. How much, how soon? Apple is probably working on prototypes of different models now, just as they've don with the iPhone and iPad. We will never see some of them. That's Apple. If battery and screen tech are refined to the point of getting the Watch significantly thinner, the lugs will have to change eventually. Apple is both famous and infamous for changing connectors, and the Watch will be no different. Some people will whine otherwise, but Apple won't capriciously change lugs. They will have their reasons. Just as some people believed there was no valid reason to go from 30-pin to Lightning, when the lugs change people will call it a cash grab. So be it.
Apple is designing the Watch equally as both a functional device and a fashion piece. So there will obviously be aesthetic changes based on the direction Apple feels it should go, with respect to current tech limitations at the time. I don't think there will be multiple versions of the Watch as there are from other manufacturers, but just as the iPhone changed over versions the Watch will, also. As the Watch is an extension of the phone, we may not see a round Watch but just the evolution of the current shape.
Lastly, just as it's Mac and not MAC, watch people call the aforementioned Rolex the Submariner, not Sub-Mariner.