14 DAY TRIAL // Some Apple products ship in the United States first, then internationally. The Apple Watch is one of them. Apple has officially stated an early 2015 debut for Americans, while the rest of the world was poised to receive shipments later in the year.
By a mistake of the company’s website administrators, the European versions of Apple.com this week started listing the same “Early 2015” release date as in the U.S. Apple has now retracted the claim, returning to the old “Available in 2015” launch window.
Potential manufacturing hurdles
It is unclear why the company is so hesitant to cite the same release date for Europeans, but it may have something to do with the manufacturing yield rates. An all-new product generally means all-new production practices, including new machines and new assembly guidance for the workforce.
In November of last year, Apple announced the availability of WatchKit, a framework for developers that supplies the necessary tools to create experiences designed specifically for the wearable device. With it, programmers can create custom apps, actionable notifications and Glances.
Pricing scheme
The Apple Watch will start at $350 in the US, and likely €350 across Europe, while UK customers will pay something in the vicinity of £300, if Apple’s current pricing schemes hold true throughout the year.
A model featuring more metal parts and a larger screen is expected to retail for $500 in the US, and similarly across Europe. UK residents will likely pay around £400 to own one. Finally, a gold-encased version called the Apple Watch Edition is expected to sell for thousands.