Apple is sending out invites to random registered developers, giving them the chance to buy an Apple Watch with guaranteed delivery by the end of the month. Developer get the opportunity to buy a 42 mm Apple Watch Sport with shipment by the 28th of April. Apple is emailing selected developers, who are offered to apply here.
The process is by application only. Developers find out whether they are eligible to actually go through with the purchase on the 23rd of April, this Thursday.
Apple is sending out emails to applicable accounts informing them of the offer but some developers have been able to register at the link above without receiving an email. The selection process is supposedly random.
Although developers still have to pay for these devices, this chance to buy does give a way for developers to quickly attain test units for their apps. Due to ongoing supply issues, normal purchases will not be fulfilled for many weeks, far beyond the April 28th date guaranteed by this opportunity.
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yet they have everyone else back ordered
It became annoying the way Apple changing the way they conduct business… Its not right, everybody should be treat equally.
We (Customers) that keep Apple running. I will cancel my Apple watch this evening.
Why are you overreacting to this? This is how you’re supposed to conduct business to ensure the product can survive on the market and Apple is a public for-profit company that only has one goal, to make profit.
Almost every single for-profit company does this and for many, they must do this.
1. Companies give stuff to celebrities to build up the marketing for the product, to build up the brand awareness, and to get people to buy it. Guess what happens when products have customers? You get more developers because they would want to build apps to sell to these customers. Without developers, no apps, and Apple Watch can fail on the first day. Apple is not invincible, their products can fail easily without developer support.
2. Companies give developers early access to products in order for them to build apps for their products, so when they release said products, the customers have apps to use.
3. Developers in this case cannot grab the Watch earlier than May, which would mean for many companies, they won’t be able to release new tested apps until later this summer. That’s why Apple is reserving some supply for “some” of these developers. They’re not holding 10K worth of watches, they’re giving all developers a chance to enter the lottery to buy it, the supply is very limited.
The more apps and developers there are for the Apple Watch, the more likely it’ll survive longer on the market.
Please, go ahead and cancel your Watch, someone else will just grab it. I seriously think you’re overreacting over a very small thing that does not impact the overall supply.
Not everyone.
I guess now there are THREE tiers of customer “importance” at Apple. The Super Rich, the developers and the rest of us scum.
Boohoo.
By getting these devices in developers’ hands now, we’ll be hearing a lot less outrage from those all getting the devices and running into problems with apps because they’ll have actually been able to test it properly. I’m down
for £70 a year for dev account we pay for the early delivery
Because your money is worthless compared to s good Apple Watch App.
Got June delivery for this model. Does this mean they have plenty and I get sooner? Or am I waiting even longer?
Looks fake to me. Typo of through next to April 23. Apple wouldn’t let that fly. But hey maybe they are getting careless in their shit storm of a product release.
Good eye.
Might be from an email to a UK-based developer, we spell it as “through” not “thru”.
Applied, but hopefully this doesn’t affect the other orders I’ve got going too. I just need one asap so I can finish my WatchKit app!
Got mine, your story hit before the email, bravo.
Here is what it says: You’ve been entered in the random selection process for the chance to purchase one Apple Watch Sport by placing an expedited order.
We’ll let you know your status on April 23, 2015.
If you wish to withdraw your entry, you must do so by 10:00 a.m. PDT on April 23.
Tried to register (I have a developer account) but got a message that says I don’t have access to the page…so I guess it’s not all developers.
oh wait…you have to be selected before you can apply….
I have a feeling they’re only sending this to developers who have apps in the App Store (which would make sense), but I could be wrong.
I have over 50 apps in the AppStore, including one with Watch support, but haven’t got the invite. Some developers who got it haven’t even submitted an app for Apple Watch at all, so who knows how they’re doing it.
Sounds like a great opportunity for some devs. I am actually ok getting my Apple Watch by the end of May. I’d rather see how early adopters like it and use it first. Also, its likely that the Apple Watch will get a firmware update before mine is even delivered.
I was kind of bummed out I was not “selected” but I realized I am not missing out on much!