Apple’s “Spring Forward” event is scheduled for Monday, March 9th and we’re already getting prepared to bring you live coverage and last minute leaks leading up to the event. What can you expect at the event? Below we’ve put together our list of likely announcements including some unannounced Apple Watch features and possible surprises…
Watch Pricing & Availability |
Get your credit cards ready, Apple will likely give us more on pricing and availability for the Apple Watch and could even give details on preorders.
The biggest question on everyone’s mind: How much will the 18k gold Apple Watch Edition cost? We know the Apple Watch lineup will start at $349, and most expect that represents pricing for the Sport model, but otherwise we’ve yet to get anything official on pricing beyond that.
A poll of 9to5Mac readers showed nearly 80% of people think Apple’s 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition will cost under $4500, while only 16% expect it to cost between $5000-$10,000, and 3.8% expect a price tag over $10,000. The jewelry experts are expecting a price tag slightly higher than the $4500 mark.
Apple might also give us some info on changes it’s making to the retail experience for Apple Watch and how customers will be able to try on the device in stores and purchase online. It’s possible some models might be harder to find than others and there have been rumors that the gold model could have its own special sales/buying experience.
New Watch features |
There are a lot of Apple Watch features, both software and hardware, that Apple hasn’t yet highlighted in detail. We just told you about a few of them: Power Reserve mode, storage capacity, Heart Rate Glance, and more.
You can expect Apple to talk about some of these features with Power Reserve features likely a given due to worries of poor battery life for the device. We’d also hope to get more on final hardware specs and a look at apps from partners. Apple just started asking developers to not share their app announcements, so it’s likely Apple has some time allotted for showing off third-party apps.
Watch Accessories |
We reported that Apple plans to sell its own straps separately alongside the Apple Watch, so it’s more than possible Apple will give some stage time for Watch accessory announcements.
We don’t know if Apple plans anything for third-party accessories or anything beyond just basic straps, but its event Monday will certainly be a good place to show off anything it might have planned for launch. There has been speculation regarding the possibility of a smart straps platform similar to what Pebble just announced with its new wearable.
iOS 8.2 |
We’ll likely hear a mention of iOS 8.2, the software update to the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, as it’s on track to be released next week after several beta builds.
The Apple Watch requires an iPhone 5 or higher, and iOS 8.2 adds support to the iPhone for pairing and communicating with the Apple Watch. iOS 8.2 also introduces WatchKit, the framework used to add Apple Watch apps to existing iPhone apps.
Because the Apple Watch will require the iPhone to have this software version, Apple will likely want to distribute the update without any issues well before the Apple Watch goes on sale.
The update also adds new and previously available information to the existing Health app on iOS 8. A minor update to the Apple TV 3 software has also been in testing.
Companion + Fitness Apps |
In addition to enhancing the built-in Health app on iOS 8, we may see a couple of new apps show up next week.
As we reported earlier this year, a Companion app on the iPhone that we previously revealed is used to manage many of the settings on the Apple Watch. The Companion app features controls for accessibility options and different Watch behaviors, and an unannounced monogram feature allows you to create a customized watch face with your initials.
While Apple has not yet shown off the Companion app that we highlighted, it did reveal another iPhone app when it first demoed the Apple Watch. A new app called Fitness will interface with the Apple Watch’s own Fitness app and functionality to provide an overview of your activity and workout routines.
Apple Pay |
Apple Pay officially launched in October and has steadily expanded in the US, but with the feature a perfect way of highlighting the convenience of Apple Watch, it won’t be surprising if Apple gives us an update on the payments service. Apple just updated its Apple Pay website to further highlight Apple Watch integration.
Tim Cook said Apple Watch would be available outside of the US in April, so an expansion of Apple Pay would also make a lot of sense. We reported back in January that Canadian partners were prepping for an Apple Pay launch that could happen as early as March, and other reports said Apple was targeting a similar timeframe to launch in the UK and other countries.
At the very least Tim Cook has a lot of Apple Pay growth to mention if he runs over his usual company stats: As of this month the company is now at over 100 banks and credit unions in the US and growing.
MacBook |
Rumors of early 2015 updates to the MacBook Air have persisted for months, and based on a seemingly authentic spec leak for an updated 13″ model, it’s quite possible that Apple will update the Air with improved Intel Broadwell CPUs, graphics, and battery life either during or shortly after the Monday event. An as-of-yet-unconfirmed report from Japan has suggested that Apple may also update the 13″ MacBook Pro with Broadwell CPUs at the same time.
Similarly, reports have differed on whether Apple will debut the radically thinner 12″ MacBook Air exclusively profiled by 9to5Mac during this event. The Wall Street Journal suggests that it could be announced as early as Monday, but the announcement could take place closer to the middle of 2015.
A Muse performance?
Word around the Muse fan blog world is a possible performance at Apple’s event on Monday, which wouldn’t be a huge shocker given Apple often hosts big name rock bands at its events. U2 was a big hit with everyone last time around.
The rumor seems to originate with the tweet pictured above from Muse frontman Matt Bellamy. It could just be a nice send-off for BBC DJ Zane Lowe, who just accepted a new gig at Apple. But some think the hint at meeting with Apple’s Jimmy Iovine could mean Muse is on their way to the Apple event in California.
Check out the latest 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast to hear more on our predictions for Monday’s event.
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Also, don’t forget, the battery life will be programmed to get worse day by day. So that we all look forward to buying Apple Watch 2.
You could not come up with a better thought?
you should make sure to hit up MacRumors with that comment too. oh wait.
You might want to learn a bit about chemistry before saying something as silly as this, dear me, conspiracy theorists unite lol
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/gadgets/how-to/a7432/why-your-gadgets-batteries-degrade-over-time-6705747/
Apple, nor anyone else, needs to “program” their batteries to do that… that’s just how the chemistry of batteries works. If you’re buying a new devices because the battery performance is lousy, that’s your choice… you could also choose to buy a battery replacement kit and replace it, even for an iPhone. I’ve replaced a couple iPhone batteries and it’s time consuming but it’s not “hard”.
Bring on the self installing Muse album!
It is irrational to spend $4500 on a gold Apple watch simply because smart watches represent a different buying paradigm than a 5K or 10K Rolex. Electronic devices are not heirlooms. Next year’s $349 base model Apple Watch 2, will far out perform today’s top of the line gold Apple Watch 1. Do you think any of those who purchased an aftermarket diamond encrusted iPhone 3 are still using them? Users are going to make their buying decision based on a two year shelf life, like they do with their iPhones.
Good point, I can’t see wearing a 10K piece of jewelry that’s outdated in a year. Kind of reminds me why some watches are marketed as timeless. The only hope is the ability to upgrade the internals (for ever) as it will be a lot of iterations before the performance of the watch internals are NOT a selling point.
Looking at it as a $350 throw away electronic gadget, maybe reusing the bracelets, is more inline with the electronics gadget current selling model.
If I was spending $4,500 on a watch, I probably wouldn’t mind dropping another $4,500 on a watch a year later. Why? Because $4,500 for me is just another disposable purchase. That’s the logic of someone who can just drop $4,500 on a watch without blinking an eye.
The people buying these aren’t buying them for rational reasons. They aren’t you and me. For almost all of us $349 is a decent chunk of change… but for _some_ of us, $4,500 is about the same. I wish I could drop $4,500 like it was $20 and not think about it.
Oh but they will – the economically advantaged are different – they know nothing about the problems of the poor, and care even less. The Watch Edition has to be real expensive or it will not sell to these people.
Looks to me like the internals might be replaceable. Notice in the images above that show the back sensor surface, the sensor ring is black while the body is silver. My guess is that you can pull the sensor ring out of the body using a suction cup like if you wanted to replace the glass surface on your iPhone.
Stainless Steel Rolexes are $~8k and Gold ones over $27k….. FYI, I can sell my stainless GMT and Daytona for more now than I bought them for in 2001 and 2009….Buy hey, there is a market for everything..Gold Apple watches will sell incredibly well. Its a big world with too much money.
Yup,,, and you can bet the Apple IIe that sold on eBay for $25k was at a slight profit too..
People who say it’s just going to be outdated are really, really, REALLY short sighted.. Those $5k Apple Watch Editions are going to be worth far more in 10 years or more..
It being ‘”Out of date tech”” will have zero, none, nada, zilch to do with resale or collectible value..
Most tech analysts are way too “throwaway’ mentality to grasp what Apple is doing.
I highly doubt that Apple plans to the life cycle of the watch similar to that of the iPhone. The most obvious solution is to have the internals replaceable (which is my guess/hope). Even if the life cycle is every 1-2 years, you all forget about the high resale value of Apple products. They don’t depreciate in value as quickly as other gadgets.
They’ll buy it, drives up the stock they own.
Why is no one talking about the bluetooth earphones for the watch?
Apple patented them in 2012 – with no earphone socket on watch – but ability to play music – they must be coming…
http://usabilityhell.com/post/108103096611/apple-watch-bluetooth-earphones-patented-in-2012
I hope so. I’ve been thinking about it too, and it’s the right time for wireless EarPods. Thanks for the patent link, was unaware of that.
Doesn’t BT drain the battery. With all the “clutching of pearls” on the battery life, I would not be surprised if you don’t see this for awhile. Hopefully, the partnership Apple and Tesla are creating is around batteries and not cars.
Um no. Tim Cook has talked about the fact that you can go for a run without your phone, and if you have Bluetooth headphones, you can listen to music directly off the watch. It is absolutely an option, and the only way to listen to music off the watch, lest you want to listen to it on the tiny speaker in it. The only question is whether Apple has Apple designed Bluetooth headphones at launch. I hope they do, I’ll buy them immediately.
You know that beats is part of Apple? They have BT headphones.
Apple bought Beats, so they’re a part of Apple now. Beats designed and created BT headphones, they are Beats designed, not Apple designed. Apple will redesign them so they’re so much better. I’m sure they did, I’m sure we’ll see the result Monday. On the other hand, Apple may have already been designing wireless EarPods and after Beats joined, they added Beats expertise into them, making them better. Either way, we’ll see some Bluetooth headphones at the event. I’m not talking about over ear, they’ll be in ear like EarPods.
Please note that Aluminum and Stainless Steel are about the same price, so the base price of these watches should be equivalent. Since the sensor and the electronics are the same, the only differentiator will be the watch band; plastic, leather or metal. Of course with the metal there will be chain or links – each sporting a different price (like iPad covers).
The gold watch will have the same electronics, so it will be the price of the gold case and the watch band. The price of these watches will be set by Angela Ahrendts; I am sure that she will try to differentiate the gold watches like the Burberry line of products.
The prices between 16GB and 32GB memory units are pretty close too but that hasn’t stopped Apple from charging a premium for the increased storage.
It really depends on what Apple can put in that limited real estate. I am having issues whether Apple can place more than one size of memory in the watch, since it must have the same footprint. I believe that all watches will have the same speed processor and I believe the same size memory. The Apple watch paring with the iPhone will allow the watch to store larger amounts of data.
The cast of the electronics will be the same – same S1 CPU and the same flash memory.
I want Muse’s new album on my phone – for free, automagically! I couldn’t give a shit if 2m people moan about it. If Muse are there on Monday I will actually be more excited than the Apple Watch announcements.
Also, while unlikely, it’d be nice for a new iPod to make the rounds as it’s my daughter’s Birthday next month and she wants one to play games on, but I’m just a tad worried that the dated player is too under-specced for her to play the latest games.
They sound to me like a bad marriage of “Duran Duran” and “Men at Work” (both awful, warbling groups with painful singing and overdone lyrics from the 1980’s)
To me they sound a bad tribute band to Queen (a band I actually like).
I hope this companion app thing is a download from the app store. There’s already far too much crapware on the iPhone which cannot be deleted.
It’s free advertising for them if they put it on. If I were them I’d add it with the ability to delete, at least for iOS 8.2
U2 Flashback.
That literally has nothing to do with apps? You do realize there are numerous apps (hint: stocks) which can’t be removed, but are useless to most.
I really wish they had done one of two things:
1) Make a waterproof model. I swim. This is all but useless.
2) Make model that isn’t a watch, but more a wearable in the form factor of a Jawbone Up…and yes, waterproof.
I can offer you one sentiment: you, nor I, nor anyone outside of people at Apple, know whether or not it is water resistant enough to swim with. You’re assuming it isn’t, which is fine, because it probably isn’t, but the fact is, Tim Cook told employees that he showers with it on all the time. That is a good indication that it is of decent water resistance. Lets hope they surprise with a good water resistance rating, and the ability to swim in shallow waters with it on.
So I must conclude the Apple Watch is useless, because oxfdblue can’t swim with it. That’s good to know, because before I knew that I was considering one for myself.
Muse? Ugh…
Listen to Madness by Muse. They Rock!!!
when the f… are they going to make an update on the MAC PRO, I am really waiting for that long time ago……
I hope this is sarcasm.
I was truly hoping to see better battery life and a sleep mode. I use my Microsoft Band to monitor my sleep with my iPhone and it’s going to take a lot to get it off my wrist and put this Apple Watch on it. Primarily, a sleep tracking function because I have sleep apnea and it is very important that I track not only the quantity like the Galaxy Gear, but also the quality which Microsoft Band does /very/ well.
Wait for the event….. The battery life is very good from what we’ve heard. As for sleep tracking, I’m highly confident it will do this, whether through an app or natively.
Of course you tease about a MacBook Pro update. I bought one last year, then took it back thinking a new one would come out. Was planning on getting a new MBPro this weekend, but now I think I will wait until after the event on Monday.
What is interesting though, I was going to order a custom 13″ MB Pro, and yesterday I noticed that some options can not be added anymore, such as upgrading to the 500GB hard drive. So, maybe some changes are coming. I hope so. I do not want to drop $2200 just to have a new model come out in a month or so.
Macbook AIR not Pro…
Like that’s the big update, the Pros will only get a newer chip. No significant changes. But I don’t think waiting a few days will hurt you…
Does anyone know if a Friday launch is possible (feb 13)?
Going back in time or is it not being released until 2016?
A fool and his money are soon departed. Apple knows this. And they are excellent at making fools of us all.
The fools are the ones that can’t grasp the possible uses.
I’m going to guess too
Sport (aluminum)
38mm $349
42mm $399
Watch (stainless)
38mm $449
42mm $499
Edition (gold )
38mm $899
42mm $999
Edition (rose gold)
38mm $999
42mm $1199
Of course bands/straps have their own pricing
I can see Apple Sport Bands @$40
And the rest $80+
This is all in my own opinion
I think everyone is over thinking it and far fetch. But I’m a nobody, no reason to listen to me.
U2 was a big hit last time around? For who? Apple? Because to me and those I know it was terrible, especially the lame free album from an artist that holds no bearing anymore.
Pricing as follows makes the most sense and will sell good
Sport-38mm-42mm-band etc.
$349.00
$399.00
$39.00
$449.00
$499.00
$49.00
$1,499.00
$1,699.00
$199.00