Apple Watch Slated for March Launch, Says Report

Apple Watch Slated for March Launch, Says Report

According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple is planning to release their product, the Apple Watch, in just a couple months. 9to5Mac\'s Mark Gurman says Apple is currently polishing up its software, and sources familiar with the product says it\'s on track for a March release in the US. The company has been fairly vague about the launch of the Apple Watch. The only knowledge we really have is that the watch will be available in "early 2015." The firm’s retail chief Angela Ahrendts narrowed the window a bit further in November, telling employees in a video message that it’d be arriving in the "Spring". Gurman notes that any unexpected issues in the software or manufacturing issues could potentially delay the watches launch. Tim Cook and co. will begin an extensive testing program in February to familiarize their retail employees with the watch. The Apple Watch, unveiled in September, will require an iPhone to function. It also has a built-in heart beat sensor, be able to track your activity, and interactive push notifications. The watch will come in three models Standard, Sport, and Edition. Pricing will begin at $349.

Advertisers Looking into Placing Ads on Apple Watch

Advertisers Looking into Placing Ads on Apple Watch

It has come to a day where ads are simply everywhere, even on your watch. Mobile advertising company TapSense this week announced that they will be the first advertising company to place ads on wearables. TapSense promises specific ads tailored for the Apple Watch. This may include custom watch faces, glances as well as full screen experiences. Advertisers will also be able to track GPS data (via the connected iPhone) to provide “hyper-local” ads.

“Wearables and Internet of Things (IoT) are the next frontiers in the mobile revolution. We are excited to announce industry’s first programmatic ad platform for Apple Watch developers and brands. ” said Ash Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of TapSense. “While most of our competitors are focused on banner ads and legacy platforms, we are focused on innovation and next generation platforms. Apple Watch has the potential to be a category disruptor similar to iPod or iPhone and we believe that it provides great opportunities for brands and developers to deliver engaging experiences to consumers.”

Pushing advertisements to a device such as the Apple Watch may have its risks. For example, customers may want to stop wearing their watches because of constant ads. An ad platform must focus on timing and relevancy, otherwise they\'ll just become obtrusive. On the contrary, pushing retail coupons and location based app suggestions can come in handy.

Video: Tim Cook Mistakenly Says “iWatch” in an Interview with ABC

Video: Tim Cook Mistakenly Says “iWatch” in an Interview with ABC

[Cult of Mac]