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The Apple (AAPL) rumor mill is in full swing: 1) Bloomberg and The Verge report Apple is hoping...
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Tuesday, March 5, 9:12 AM ETThe Apple (AAPL) rumor mill is in full swing: 1) Bloomberg and The Verge report Apple is hoping to release an iWatch this year. Sources tell The Verge Jony Ive is spearheading the project, that a modified version of iOS will be used, and that battery life remains a challenge. Bloomberg reports the device will allow users to make calls and feature health sensors, while pointing out the watch industry is worth $60B and has a 60% gross margin. 2) iMore reports an iPhone 5S with a design similar to the iPhone 5 is slated for August, and a 5th-gen regular iPad might arrive in April.
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Still holding out hope that the cycle is broken and we get some version of an a la carte system so I can stop paying so much for what I use so little of....
Much better idea than a iTV if you ask me. This is what you expect from Apple, to surprise us all with something we will all want, even if we don't know it yet.
I want one!!
Might be another large problem for NFLX and somewhat smaller for AMZN.
What they need are full new revenue categories, where there is a problem to solve and where there is value left on the table (the TV market) or with discretionary dollars and high growth (health care could be an area), even if they rebrand that. At this point I think the company is worth more if they break it up to focus on separate market segments. it would solve the capitalization issue and allow investors to buy the pieces they believe in more.
Don't need a dial, load it via iTunes and speak your commands thru the bluetooth. Call home
Ya gotta love 60% margins, but of course that's the old paradigm; no radio transmitter or ic chip in the old watches. Can the 60% margins be maintained ? Hmmm
Ferrari - Yugo
Wrong comparison, kid.
If you are buying an Apple watch because of a "retina display", you've got your own problems.
Rolex can command a higher price because they make watches, they are known for watches and they are exclusive. Apple will set a higher price because there are enough fan boys who will pony up a pretty penny for it. There is a difference.
Watches in today's world are part of the jewelry business, not technological devices.
Besides, I am going to predict that the iWatch will be a disappointment for the same reason that the iPhone has lost much of its traction: Information transfer -- what people actually use notebooks, tablets and smartphones for -- is a visual experience, so it's a contest between portability and visibility. That's why the larger smartphones ("phablets") are doing so well
It is interesting to note though that a rumored new AAPL product entering an existing market is compared against the "best" in the that industry.
I wonder if a rumored Samsung watch would have been compared to Rolex. I doubt it.
The point was that the "watch" market isn't the real market, so that $60B is fiction. That $60B market is the fashion accessory market, which is what watches are, now, and what iWatch won't be.
Apple's entering another, basically unknown, market, as Jobs often did. It's just that the current crew isn't Steve Jobs.
Tack: I agree with that 60B being fiction. But until there is concrete evidence that such a watch exists and we know its' specifications and purpose, I just don't understand people writing it off.
Also, the screen size wars going on in the phone market isn't valid. You can't really push the limits of screen size for watches as phablets have for phones without them becoming extremely uncomfortable to wear.
I am going to guess that the watch will be half the size of your 4" iPhone 5 screen. 2" screen is already what you get for reading texts with the keyboard visible on the iPhone 5.
Also, we know that Jobs probably had a hand in steering and designing most of the products that will be released this year and next. AAPL has a very very long time from idea inception to deployment.
And, it hasn't hit bottom yet... you don't see Apple buying it yet!
Few years ago I remember seeing a documentary on discovery channel that talked about a german company making watch like devices for kids to help them track. When the kid goes beyond the boundary set by the parent it sends an e-mail and text to parent. This may sound ridiculous but with all the horrifying murder and kidnap stories we hear any device to keep an eye on the kids certainly give a peace of mind to parents.
Now lets come to AAPL, they have similar feature like track my idevices. now its a matter of adding another device to the list and its a watch.
I would also be capable of touch screen, iPod, facetime, Phone and some other apps. Being a parent, just the thought that I can buy a watch for my kid and check them on my browser gives a lot of comfort.
A platform where all these things come together makes a lot more sense. You can not deny that apple does not have the resources or capabilities to do this.
It would not be hip but kids would wear it so that they can listen to music and do facetime with their friends.
I am not claiming to be a visionary but when I bought my first iPhone I said to myself man if these guys can make it bigger then it would eat kindle and nook market share, I don't have to tell you what happen next.
How about companies sending adds to the watch owner every time they walk by a certain store or mall....
sure its conspiracy talk but it's possible... just some random thoughts.
Search for GPS watch for kids and see the demand for yourself.
Regarding adds, I have been hearing this for past 5 years so far I did not see either GOOG or any other to get into this business. Its a good model I am not saying it won't be done in the future.
The products do not sell based on what the criminal would do, it sells on a hope of a parent that its better to have some tracking devices vs nothing at all.
Its the hope that drives the business, investment, and as a matter of fact life. Everyone knows that they are going to die but that does not stop them from hoping to live for another day. Hope my friend, that there will be a tomorrow
I am not here to convince you but show a possibility and if you take a moment and think from a parents perspective then it sure is a good product to have.
Also on my way home I see a billboard with a criminals name and photo already, it does not do an audio enunciation yet but imagine how far we are from that technology.
When you look closely at different things, scifi like minority report, eagle eye all seems to be coming to reality
So I think we both agree the market for a watch that can be tracked remotely is pretty small.
I will or may have these features
iPod, facetime, clock, calendar, memo recorder, siri search, pedometer, and few portable apps, and many more
integration to iphone,
The market is not just to track kids, its one of the feature along with many portable apple apps.
with these features can you see the market reaching out to a wider audiences ?? or do you still think it is a small market?
I think there is a market for some of those features, I just think that battery life and screen size will be to much of an inconvenience for people or an annoyance if you will.
Who knows maybe they'll put a small projector into it so you can project stuff on any surface close to you that would be neat.
just saw an nbc story with blood glucose and eeg apps! very cool
My hat's off to the Apple creative people if they pull this off and come out with a watch that becomes a hit because I don't think it will be the next big thing.
They are called apps
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Good one! iLaugh too. The likelihood of bringing to market an iWatch that no-one in their right mind will buy rather than producing a relatively inexpensive iPhone to sell to potential billions of international customers is ludicrous. Innovative? ... probably. Profitable? ... probably not.
Who wears a watch these days for any reason other than as a fashion accessory?
If Apple is behind any of these rumors of an iWatch, I'd guess it's a feint to distract from an iTV.
You could walk in your house. Tell Siri to "turn it on, turn to channel whatever, volume at this" or set it from your iphone on the way home. Have whatever movie you want (if they could make some netflix like deals). Change the tv to a computer screen, use your ipad as the keyboard on and on and on
Sooooo many possiblities.