Apple Targeting March for Apple Watch Launch, Retail Training Begins Next Month

While Apple has yet to publicly announce a specific launch date for the Apple Watch beyond "Early 2015", sources speaking to 9to5Mac say the company is currently planning for a March debut in the initial wave of countries. Sources in the retail segment indicate that select store employees will undergo centralized Apple Watch training the week of February 9, with those employees in turn training others at their individual stores in the days leading up to the device's launch.

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One or two representatives from many Apple Stores in the United States, depending on store and market size, will be sent to Apple offices in either Cupertino, California or Austin, Texas to learn first-hand about the Watch. These training programs will take place between February 9th and February 16th.

The report indicates Apple has been continuing to refine various aspects of the Apple Watch since its September unveiling, focusing mostly on software but also tweaking such components as the inductive charging mechanism.

Developers are currently working with Apple's WatchKit tools and iOS 8.2 betas to build apps for Apple Watch, starting with lightweight Glances, actionable notifications, and iPhone-based apps that project portions of their interfaces to the watch. More powerful apps running directly on the Apple Watch will be possible later this year.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 11
Tag: 9to5Mac
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

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Top Rated Comments

Col4bin Avatar
142 months ago
Shut up, I'll keep my money! :cool:
Score: 43 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Technodynamic Avatar
142 months ago
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
142 months ago
I will probably wait for the second gen

Me too. I'm already hearing it:

Tim: "We're going to introduce today Apple Watch 2 and to tell you all about it, I'd like to invite Phil Schiller up to the stage... Phil!".

Phil: "Well good morning everyone... I'm really excited to tell you all about the new Apple Watch 2... So what have learnt, what can we improve? It starts with a new chip, the S2 which is twice as fast and blablabla ...and it's waterproof! *a video with a swimmer highliting how the Apple Watch 2 changed his life in the pool*".
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hlfway2anywhere Avatar
142 months ago
The iwatch does not have that much demand.

True. There is no "iwatch."
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Bogeyman Avatar
142 months ago
Shut up and take my money!!!
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
142 months ago
Image (http://i.giphy.com/ilkfz8Mn5Yz7O.gif)

I know at least one person that has to have one. My teenage daughter. She's mad because I emphatically told her no. 2nd gen maybe, but definitely not 1st gen. I am a horrible parent because I won't allow her to use Apple Pay (she has no job and wants to use one of my credit cards. Too damn funny) and I won't buy her a Gen 1 :apple: watch. 1st world, amirite?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)