Flexibits released Fantastical 2.3 for the iPhone with support for Apple Watch on Wednesday, and Apple could take some cues from their efforts. The update brings the Calendar alternative to your wrist, complete with schedule views, notifications for upcoming events, and a Glance view that shows a quick overview of your day. Fantastical also plugs…
Apple Watch
Swatch Plans to Release Internet-Connected Smartwatch Late Summer
Swatch Group is the world's largest watch company. In addition to the budget Swatch brand, the holding company owns luxury brands such as Longines, Omega, and Tissot. Its two largest markets are the U.S. and China, one of which is likely the unspecified big country. Mr. Hayek was spare on details about the watch, but…
Pebble Time Ships, Apple Watch Comparisons Coming Soon
Pebble's new Time smartwatch is shipping now Pebble said the first 10,000 Pebble Time rewards will ship this week, and all Kickstarter backers should have their shipping notifications by mid June. Everyone else can place an order starting on June 22. Time is Pebble's newest smartwatch. It's about 20 percent thinner than the original Pebble…
HiRise Apple Watch Stand is Beautiful, Well Engineered
The HiRise Apple Watch stand from Twelve South, available now, elevates the Apple Watch beautifully, integrates the inductive charger, and showcases the smartwatch for charging overnight. It works with any model Apple Watch and bands and is a step above the ordinary in design. ______________________ When I saw that the HiRise, made of metal, comes…
Scratching the Surface: Sapphire vs Glass Apple Watch
It's a real guess at this point how quickly the Apple Watch will become obsolete in its first version. From the articles that have been published so far, the Apple Watch has an enormous amount of functionality. That considerable functionality isn't going to vanish, but the looks of the Apple Watch Sport could. Some rigorous…
Angela Ahrendts Explains Apple Watch Rollout in Employee Video
Angela Ahrendts – “This is not just a new product for us.” In the video, the former Burberry CEO said that the decision to limit initial sales to its online store “was not an easy one,” and that it was done to better meet initial demand. She stressed that it was due to “unique” circumstances,…
Watch This: My Apple Watch Try-On and Ordering Experience
Episode #119 Last Friday the long-awaited Apple Watch arrived in Apple retail stores, with online ordering commencing at midnight Pacific. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the Apple Watch is something completely different for Apple: a single product line with over 50 configurations. I mean, Apple hasn’t offered this many models in a product…
Watch This: My Try-On and Ordering Experience
Episode #119 Last Friday the long-awaited Apple Watch arrived in Apple retail stores, with online ordering commencing at midnight Pacific.I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that the Apple Watch is something completely different for Apple: a single product line with over 50 configurations. I mean, Apple hasn’t offered this many models in a product…
How to Pretend Apple Watch Is a Failure No Matter What
Apple Watch. Seems like Apple has a hit on its corporate hands. Or a preorder hit. The company sold a million Apple Watches in the first 24 hours—just in the U.S.—according to one piece of analysis. That would make it the most successful new product category launch in Apple's history—so what do you do if…
Raymond James Downgrades AAPL Because Apple Watch isn't Insanely Great
Apple Watch reviews spur Raymond James analyst to downgrade AAPL The general consensus from early reviews is that you'll want Apple Watch, but don't need it. That, coincidentally, is exactly what can be said about anything that isn't necessary for basic survival needs—like oxygen. “Although the financial impact of the Apple Watch is almost immaterial…
How to Schedule Your Apple Watch Try-On Appointment
There a link to Apple's concierge scheduling service on the Apple Watch page at the online Apple Store, as shown below: Schedule an Appointment That takes you to a page where you choose your state and your Apple Store: Choose Your State Even though you already chose your store, the next page lists that store…
8 Steps to Prepare for Your Apple Watch Purchase Online
Image credit: Apple There are several things you can do to prepare for your Apple Watch purchase online to ensure a better chance of success. That's especially true if you're competing with everyone else at 12:01 a.m. PDT on April 10th. I'll walk you through some recommended technical preparations to help make sure you get…
Angela Ahrendts to Retail Staff: Push Online Apple Watch Sales
Apple wants us to buy Apple Watch online, not in its stores The memo marks a big change for Apple because its stores have always been the place to go see new products, make a purchase, and walk out the door with a brand new laptop, iPhone or iPad. In a memo obtained by Business…
How to 'Heart' Your Favorite Apple Watch in the Store App
In Apple's iOS Apple Store app, it says, “Pick your favorite models before pre-order…. Choose your favorites by clicking the heart icon next to those models.” That way, you can compare them and be ready for the pre-order process. Here's how to do it. _____________________ This is another bit of genius from Apple. By selecting…
In-store Apple Watch Purchases will Require Appointments
Want an Apple Watch right away? Make a reservation. Internal Apple documents obtained by MacRumors say customers will need to use an online form to reserve a specific watch model at a specific store they can then go in to buy. The new Product Reservation system will be used in lieu of the Personal Pickup…
Which Airlines are Supporting Apple Watch? [Updated]
Airlines getting onboard with Apple Watch support Alaska Airlines – YES Alaska's Apple Watch app gives you check-in notifications, gate changes, connecting gate information, flight delay and cancellation alerts, and countdowns for boarding and landing. The airline says that's just the beginning, and is asking for customer feedback to decide which features to add next.…
How Long Will the Apple Watch Retain its Value?
Image credit: Apple Apple Watch Pricing There are two distinct concepts when it comes to the Apple Watch. First, is it priced right? In my discussions with some of the TMO staff who are watch aficionados, I must repeat what I've written before. “Apple Watch Pricing is Very, Very Reasonable.” The fact that one can buy…
The Apple Watch iOS App Isn't Bloatware
Not everyone will be an Apple Watch owner, and that's understandable. I've heard many folks complaining about this forced installation, calling the Apple Watch app “bloatware.” Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this is an indication of how good we iPhone users have it. Sit down with anyone who has ever bought…
Apple Builds Mystery Room for Apple Watch Media Event
Apple's mystery room at the Yerba Buena Center Image courtesy 9to5 Mac Apple sent out invitations last week for the March 9 media event with the tag line “Spring forward.” The wording is no doubt a nod to the Day Light Saving time change that will have happened the day before, and also a likely…
Tim Cook Reportedly Showers with Apple Watch, Suggesting It's Waterproof
Apple has not officially designated the Apple Watch as either water proof or water resistant. If Mr. Cook actually said he wears his in the shower, it could indicate that Apple will market the device as one or the other. The problem is the report is hearsay, and there could be some translation issues. It…
Thanks to Apple Watch Some Schools Ban Smartwatches
Schools banning Apple Watch to stop cheating on tests The big problem schools are facing is that smartwatches can work as an extension of our smartphones—devices that have already been banned from many exam halls. While some smartwatches are very obviously not traditional watches, Apple Watch blurs that line with its design that's more fashion…
What the Apple Watch Purchase Experience Will be Like
____________________ What got me started on this was an article by Dave Smith at Business Insider. “The Biggest Concern With The Apple Watch Has Nothing To Do With The Actual Watch.” The issue was that this new purchase process was presented as an unknown, perhaps something that could trip Apple up. I really doubted that.…
The Two Big Tech Hits of 2015 Will be UHDTV and Apple Watch
To be sure, UHDTV is coming, and the industry is, from what I've seen, determined not to make the mistakes of the past. (Read that as 3D). Having been through this process before, the industry knows what it has to do to generate demand. I might have used the words “be successful,” but there's no…