Rumor: 'Aggressive' plans for second-gen Apple Watch could ship 2M per month
A new report from the Far East claims that Apple and its suppliers are now gearing up to launch a second-generation Apple Watch, with orders for the new wearable device said to be higher than the supply chain expected.
Citing its usual supply chain sources, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday that orders for the new Apple Watch have been "rather aggressive." With its current pace of orders, suppliers believe Apple could be looking to ship as many as 2 million units per month.
Apple is said to be buying chips and components for the new wearable device, and shipments are expected to begin in the third quarter of the year, which runs from July through September.
If accurate, that would put the device on track to launch by this fall, or about a year and a half after the first-generation model became available. While DigiTimes has an inconsistent track record in predicting Apple's future product plans, it does have sources in the company's supply chain that catch advance word of component orders.
Externally, the new Apple Watch is expected to look largely the same as the current model, with Apple instead focusing on internal improvements, such as a larger battery and a display with improved outdoor visibility. It's also been rumored that the new Apple Watch will gain cellular connectivity for data on the go without being tethered to an iPhone.
Apple gave its first-generation wearable device a $50 price cut in March, with the 38-millimeter Apple Watch Sport now starting at $299. The larger 42-millimeter version can be had for $349.
The current Apple Watch will also see a software overhaul this fall with the launch of watchOS 3, adding new features like an app dock for quickly accessing preferred and recent applications. The update also places an emphasis on speed, keeping apps in a paused state that will allow them to reopen more promptly.
Citing its usual supply chain sources, DigiTimes reported on Wednesday that orders for the new Apple Watch have been "rather aggressive." With its current pace of orders, suppliers believe Apple could be looking to ship as many as 2 million units per month.
Apple is said to be buying chips and components for the new wearable device, and shipments are expected to begin in the third quarter of the year, which runs from July through September.
If accurate, that would put the device on track to launch by this fall, or about a year and a half after the first-generation model became available. While DigiTimes has an inconsistent track record in predicting Apple's future product plans, it does have sources in the company's supply chain that catch advance word of component orders.
Externally, the new Apple Watch is expected to look largely the same as the current model, with Apple instead focusing on internal improvements, such as a larger battery and a display with improved outdoor visibility. It's also been rumored that the new Apple Watch will gain cellular connectivity for data on the go without being tethered to an iPhone.
Apple gave its first-generation wearable device a $50 price cut in March, with the 38-millimeter Apple Watch Sport now starting at $299. The larger 42-millimeter version can be had for $349.
The current Apple Watch will also see a software overhaul this fall with the launch of watchOS 3, adding new features like an app dock for quickly accessing preferred and recent applications. The update also places an emphasis on speed, keeping apps in a paused state that will allow them to reopen more promptly.
Comments
my concern is that Apple has done that for the first gen model, but will go back to the old pricing for the 2nd model. It would likely be best if they retain the new pricing. I'm seeing more of them as time goes on, and most all are the sports models. Just yesterday, on the subway here in NYC I saw a young woman, across from me, wearing the smaller model.
im really interested in the 2nd gen model. I want the black SS version. I'm wondering whether we will see an additional case in Liquidmetal at a slightly higher price than the SS versions. While Liquidmetal is too expensive for most of their products, it's perfect for a watch for which they can charge more, as that's a fairly small amount of material. If they do that, I could be interested, depending on the price, including metal band.
Why do this? Four related points:
1. If they don't, Edition is dead.
2. Many people view watches as keepsakes. Apple Watch cannot compete in that market if people are throwing them out and/or recycling them every two years.
3. It reinforces the view of Apple employees as craftsmen, and Apple products as valuable things, not disposable things
4. It can be pitched as environmentally friendly -- people aren't discarding, they're re-using.
I'm not predicting they'll do this... just hoping that they will.
At this point, a 32 bit processor in the performance range of the A4 would be *plenty* for the Watch. Also maybe a bit more RAM and/or 3d XPoint and/or faster flash to help with speed in launching/switching apps.
I doubt the 2nd gen will have cellular. If it does I'd put money on Apple running the service. Similar to an Amazon Kindle with 3G, except instead of the 3G included with the price, Apple charges you $3-$10 a month. More for notifications and small stuff, less for streaming Apple music (I doubt the battery could take much streaming over 3G anyway).
At the very least a new watch coming out right about then would make it easier to substantiate the watchOS 3 being faster claim. You know, if watchOS 3 were in a faster watch it would be faster at opening apps. Right now it doesn't seem any faster at all on built-in apps and generally slightly slower on third party. It is insignificant really and, seemingly, random between opening the same speed and opening slightly slower. I did have slightly higher hopes than normal that things would be snappy. So far it's just the same.
ive got several expensive mechanical watches. The newest purchase was over 10 years ago. Since I've bought those, the manufacturers have discontinued some of the case styles, added newer models with better movements, and added versions with more complications. Are mine obsolete? Well, yes, and no. Do I expect them to be upgraded with new movements? Uh, no. That would be a good joke within the watch industry. They don't really intend you to keep their watches forever. That's an advertising thing to make the prices seem worthwhile.
(I await all the stupid down-votes...)
If they don't do some incentive, I too think the Edition is probably dead to all but the most vain people. I would even argue that the Watch might suffer a small but significant decline as well.
In the longer run, I would expect the watch to go 64 bits. Maybe the next model after this one. Not because it's going to be needed, at least, not for some time, but for the simple purpose of getting all software to the same code base of 64 bits. That makes development easier, and the apps more transportable across devices, and data types compatible.
downvoted. and not stupid for doing so.
In in my mind this version is a proof of concept much like the first iPads and iPhones. The fact that the watch was implemented on somewhat older technology processes highlights this.
As as for LiquidMetal that is likely a very cheap way to make a watch. Machining SS is expensive. Injection molded processes are pretty cheap once perfected.
I'm a buyer regardless what they put out as it will be an improvement over gen 1 which was okay, but not great.
The problem here is that it is a 64 bit world. Further going 64 bit doesn't add hugely to the transistor budget, most of Apple SoC only have a tiny amount of space dedicated to each CPU. As for die space I think I'd like to see them do one of two things for RAM. Either build it on the same die, to save a huge amount of power or go to stacked technology. The thing here is that Apple has two demands from customers to contend with. One is longer run times and the other is better performance. Of course people don't play Infinity Blade on Watch (at least not yet) but they do want better performance to run apps better. In any event Apple will gain hugely by going to a latest generation semiconductor process node, there is likely to be space for a lot of features.