Loves music, technology, and adventures. Media Futurist @ Johnny Cupcakes. Any and all jokes are intended solely for my own entertainment.
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One Last Spitball on Stainless Steel Apple Watch Pricing

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Here are my “final guesses” from last night (for 38/42mm models):

  • Apple Watch Sport (all colors, with Sport Band): $349/399
  • Apple Watch, steel, Sport Band: $749/799
  • Apple Watch, steel, Classic Buckle: $849/899
  • Apple Watch, steel, Milanese Loop: $949/999
  • Apple Watch, steel, Modern Buckle (38mm only): $1199
  • Apple Watch, steel, Leather Loop (42mm only): $1299
  • Apple Watch, steel, Link Bracelet: $1499/1599
  • Apple Watch, space black steel, Link Bracelet: $1899/1999
  • Apple Watch Edition, Sport Band: $7499/7999
  • Apple Watch Edition, Modern Buckle (38mm only): $9999
  • Apple Watch Edition, Classic Buckle (42mm only): $10,999

I’ll stick with those — “final” is final. But here’s a spitball idea that moves the bottom two rungs down a bit:

  • Apple Watch, steel, Sport Band: $649/699
  • Apple Watch, steel, Classic Buckle: $799/849

What occurred to me tonight is that very few people might buy the steel Apple Watches with the rubber Sport Bands. If they wanted that look as their only band, they’d save money and buy a $349 Apple Watch Sport. And the steel ones only come with black and white color choices. The point of the steel Apple Watch with Sport Band is to set a lower number for the “Apple Watch collection starts at $_” figure. People who want a leather or metal band will buy the model that comes equipped with it, because (I think) those bands won’t be available for purchase as accessories. Instead, they’ll buy a Sport Band accessory — in whatever color they want — for, say, $79.

I don’t think Apple will go as low as $549/599 for the steel Apple Watch because they’ll want to capture sufficient value from people who plan to replace the rubber Sport Band with a leather or metal band from a third-party. And to me, $200 is not enough of a difference to establish Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch as separate collections. Also, with at least a $300 difference between collections, that leaves room for, say, $150 Classic Buckle leather bands as an add-on for Apple Watch Sport to bridge the gap.

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justinhiltz
3338 days ago
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I think it's all far simpler: it's fun! He said it himself. There's an energy in the air that has captured his attention.
Boston, MA
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1 public comment
gglockner
3338 days ago
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The fact that Gruber is posting so much about pricing makes me think he really is speculating here, as opposed to his insider information.
Bellevue, WA
martinbaum
3338 days ago
He was so far off on the screen res thing for the iPhone 6 you've got to wonder if he's just scattering ideas to the wind so he can link to the ones he got right.
teko
3338 days ago
$749 for steel version is way too much. I can see $50 or $100 more for steel but not more than that. Plus this is first generation, bulky, square with very limited battery life device nobody really needs...
davelevy
3338 days ago
I think he's trying to embrace his new view of the company as branching from technology that is consumer focused, to a consumer brand company. That would necessitate a lot of the differentiation that he's been posting about lately. The question that will get answered this afternoon is whether Apple turns into the luxury brand that most people can't afford or the brand that provides individual products for all those with different price sensitivity.

Inside Pixar’s Leadership

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Scott Berkun Scott Berkun has collected some terrific excerpts from Pixar president Ed Catmull’s 2010 interview with The Economist’s Martin Giles:

The notion that you’re trying to control the process and prevent error screws things up. We all know the saying it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission. And everyone knows that, but I think there is a corollary: if everyone is trying to prevent error, it screws things up. It’s better to fix problems than to prevent them. And the natural tendency for managers is to try and prevent error and over-plan things.

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justinhiltz
3988 days ago
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Boston, MA
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davenelson
3990 days ago
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Pixar president Ed Catmull -- It’s better to fix problems than to prevent them. And the natural tendency for managers is to try and prevent error and over-plan things.
Atlanta, Georgia

‘I’d Rather Be Hit in the Head by an iPad Mini Than a 650-Page Book’

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Nick Bilton continues his crusade against the FAA’s mindless rules regarding rule about consumer electronics:

These conflicts have been going on for several years. In 2010, a 68-year-old man punched a teenager because he didn’t turn off his phone. Lt. Kent Lipple of the Boise Police Department in Idaho, who arrested the puncher, said the man “felt he was protecting the entire plane and its occupants.” And let’s not forget Alec Baldwin, who was kicked off an American Airlines plane in 2011 for playing Words With Friends online while parked at the gate.

Dealing with the F.A.A. on this topic is like arguing with a stubborn teenager. The agency has no proof that electronic devices can harm a plane’s avionics, but it still perpetuates such claims, spreading irrational fear among millions of fliers.

Disgraceful for a U.S. government agency to be spreading what amounts to nothing more than voodoo.

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justinhiltz
4136 days ago
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I've never turned my devices off fully and nobody has died as a result.
Boston, MA
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IN DEFENSE OF INSTAGRAM

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Oh, untwist your knickers. God forbid someone would want to make a return on their investment after providing you with a free service for two years.

What do you think is going to happen, anyway? Nike is going to use that picture of you dancing for their new print campaign? Nobody is going to risk a lawsuit by using your photo for anything major without talking to you first, no matter what “agree”s you’ve clicked on in the past. Instagram is just trying to show their investors that they are not blindly throwing money away and have at least some kind of long term plan that may generate income. When did making money become synonymous with evil, anyway? evil? They’re not even asking you to do anything. They’re trying to make money out of thin air and you’re whining about it. Instead of knocking capitalism all day why don’t you try it? You’ve tried living off other people’s money for twenty years, now give making your own a whirl.

Your photos are not that valuable. You’re not Terry Richardson, you’re you. You’ve been using this incredibly handy software to upload your pics so your friends can see how cute your dog is, what you ate for lunch, and what your socks look like when you watch TV. If you find they’re using your photos in a way you deem inappropriate, delete your account. It’s that simple. But that’s not going to happen. Because you don’t matter. Shit, half of you seem to have your accounts set to private already.

It seems like the more inconsequential people’s achievements become, the more sanctimonious about them they get. Your Facebook profile and the stupid photos you take on your phone are not bars of gold. Get over yourself.

-GAVIN McINNES

Related posts:

  1. IN DEFENSE OF THE SITUATION
  2. THE BITCHES OF INSTAGRAM
  3. I’M ADDICTED TO INSTAGRAM: 30 PICS
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justinhiltz
4148 days ago
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Yoyup
Boston, MA
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Bill O’Reilly: ‘Christianity is Not a Religion; It’s a Philosophy’

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Earlier tonight, our friend and American Atheists President Dave Silverman appeared on The O’Reilly Factor to discuss — what else? — the War on Christmas.

The most amazing part of the conversation may have been O’Reilly’s retort to Silverman saying the government shouldn’t be promoting religion: “Christianity is not a religion; it is a philosophy.”

You know what the appropriate reaction to that has to be:

Later, O’Reilly claimed that a Christmas tree was a secular symbol, not recognizing the hypocrisy in that statement. (Silverman pounced on it, though.)

Then, there was this classic exchange, after Silverman argued against the idea of Christmas as a federal holiday:

O’Reilly: You and your merry band of fascists —

Silverman: Fascists?! Fascists.

O’Reilly: You get [Christmas] revoked!

Silverman: You called me a fascist!?

O’Reilly: Absolutely!

Silverman: I am a patriot, sir!

O’Reilly: You are a fascist.

Silverman: I am a patriot who is taking the crazy notion that everybody in this country is equal and that the government has to treat everybody fairly. That’s fascism?!

Silverman after being called a fascist. Let the memes begin.

Silverman handled that brilliantly. O’Reilly had his arrogance thrown right back in his face by a supposed bogeyman who ended up looking like the only reasonable person in the conversation.

***Update***: American Atheists’ Teresa MacBain has something to say about whether or not Christianity is a religion:

I’m a former pastor, who served many churches for over 20 years. I would consider myself somewhat of an expert. Trust me; Christianity is a religion by any modern definition. According to my theology professors, Christianity has been and always will be a religion. Every priest, every pastor, every Sunday School teacher, choir member, deacon, usher, and pew sitter will tell you that Christianity is a religion. So where did Mr. O’Reilly come up with this idea? Oh! I know! The tides told him.


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justinhiltz
4168 days ago
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Winter Solstice, son.
Boston, MA
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