The Apple Watch was Apple’s “one more thing” announcement during its iPhone 6 event, but the company still left many questions about the device unanswered. One of them is the device’s actual release date, as Apple simply said during the keynote that the device is coming in early 2015. Meanwhile, The Information has learned from sources familiar with the matter that Apple employees and partners were expecting “until recently” to see the Watch in stores this year.
FROM EARLIER: Apple Watch will reportedly have pretty unimpressive specs
“Earlier this year, Apple executives indicated to some employees and others involved in the product that it was expected launch for the holidays,” the publication writes. “But at some point in recent months that changed, according to these people, who surmised that Apple wanted more time on the software and the apps. The Information previously reported some development hiccups, including consideration of a new screen.”
Apparently, “Apple would be lucky to ship it by Valentine’s Day” next year, although an actual launch date for the device is still not available.
For what it’s worth, 9to5Mac says it heard similar whispers about a tentative Valentine’s Day launch for the smartwatch.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg Businessweek, Apple senior vice president of operations Jeff Williams basically confirmed that Apple needs more time refining the device before it’s ready to sell it to customers, taking a hit at Samsung in the process. “We want to make the best product in the world,” he said. “One of our competitors is on their fourth or fifth attempt, but nobody is wearing them.”
