GeorgeBMac

Ok, sigh...  Another article blows right by the substance and harps about tech features...

Anybody who really watched Jobs knows that, like any great IT/Tech guy, he knew that tech features and gadgets were merely a means to the end, but not the end themselves.   It is that realization and understanding that have made Apple (and IBM) great.

That is, ultimately it is not this feature or that feature that makes a product a success.  It's not the features and the gadget & gimmicks at all.  Instead, it's DOES IT IMPROVE THE CUSTOMER'S LIFE?   DOES IT MAKE IT BETTER?

As long as Apple can hold onto that understanding, they will do well.   When they lose it, they will devolve into another Microsoft or Google.

This article shows the author does not understand that and instead chatters on about which tech features and gadgets succeeded.

As I remember, from the start, Apple marketed the Mini not as a new form factor but as a cheaper version of the "Real" IPad.

Could it be that they don't feel they want to support 'cheaper versions' anymore?  That they are going for higher gross-margin products?
...  If so, SHAME on you Apple!

From day one, it was the product that made Apple successful -- not the gross margin on that product.  As mobile products (from the IPod to the MBP) become commoditized, Apple will be squeezing itself into an ever shrinking niche if it focuses primarily on the gross margin of its products by limiting itself to only high end, high gross-margin products.   Other manufacturers will just nibble away its foundation until it topples of its own weight.

LoneStar88 said:

GeorgeBMac said:

From reading running reviews of the Nike version of the Apple Watch, Nike should be focusing more on improving the functionality of its app rather than marketing advertisements.

The Apple Watch builds a foundation of a very capable fitness & exercise monitor and tracker -- but the Nike app seems to be directed primarily at casual exercisers rather than serious exercisers:  such as people who do serious workouts most every day and who take things like heart rate, pace, distance, energy consumed very seriously.   The Nike version of the Apple Watch won't make you great athlete.   But, serious athletes look for products that can make them better athletes.

I am concerned that Nike & Apple will mass market the Apple Watch Nike as a serious exercise tracker -- but then serious athletes will compare its functionality to gadgets such as Garmin produces and find it second rate -- NOT because of any deficiency in the Apple Watch, but because of the rather mediocre Nike app...

I love these armchair QBs who think they know better than Apple how to advertise/market their own products. As if these geniuses know best what its plans should be for its products.

Sorry -- but for serious athletes, the Apple Watch continues to be a joke.  Apple tried marketing the watch as a fashion accessory -- it resulted in an epic fail.   Now they are relying on Nike to move it into the sports arena -- but Nike and their app target casual athletes.   To serious athletes (and the media that read) the Apple Watch Nike remains a trinket that a serious athlete would be embarrassed to be seen with.  So that feeds the impression that the Apple Watch is not a viable product -- so the average Joe goes and buys a FitBit instead.

The Apple Watch has the potential to be a great product that changes people's lives.   So far it has not lived up to its potential due to confusion by Apple on who and what its target audience should be.  And, for Nike to suggest that the Apple Watch will make you a great athlete is an insult to a great product as well as its customer base

rogifan_new said:

I hope this is BS. Another year of mostly incremental changes to Apple Watch is no good. If all we're getting is a new SiP and watchOS 4 Apple might as well not release a new watch this year. 

This is one of the few times I disagree with you...
The introduction of the Apple Watch itself was revolutionary -- and that was only 2 years ago.  Since that time it has already seen significant improvement -- particularly by improvements to the OS.  But, while adding GPS & water proofing were more of a marketing improvement than a functional improvement, nonetheless, they were significant improvements.

Compare the Apple Watch to the IPhone.   Both have been following similar evolutionary changes since their introduction.  Actually a better comparison might be to the IPod -- which grew into the IPhone and then continued to progress into its own, independent and indispensable product.

What I see for the Apple Watch:
1)  Continued evolutionary hardware improvements leading towards increasing independence from the IPhone -- just as the IPhone became increasingly independent from ITunes running on Macs & PCs.

2)  Increasing strength and proliferation of 3rd Party apps will drive the dominance of the Apple Watch over its competitors (such as FitBit & Garmin) -- just as it did for the IPhone.

3)  Growth of the Apple Watch into health related fields -- both medical and fitness -- as sensors grow more powerful & sensitive and expand grow beyond simply measuring heart rate.  However, for that growth to happen I think the Apple Watch may be limited by not being able to use its separate removable band.  That was probably a technical mistake made by Apple leadership when they started the watch off as a fashion accessory.

doggone said:

Hey.  I have 3.1.1 queued up to install on my phone.  If I charge my watch tonight it will update.  I can't find a way to disable or remove the update on the phone?  Anyone got any ideas.  I may put the watch in airplane mode whilst charging.

Power down the phone overnight while the watch charges?