Earlier this week, Apple began sending out emails to iOS developers, offering them a chance to purchase a 42mm Apple Watch Sport with a Blue Sport Band guaranteed to ship by April 28, 2015. Apple had a limited number of devices to provide to developers, and used a lottery system to determine who would get the chance to purchase one of the available watches.
Developers who registered for a chance to buy one of the watches with a guaranteed delivery date and won the lottery have just begun receiving emails with purchase instructions. Apple is asking winners to complete a purchase by 5:00 p.m. local time on April 27 to take advantage of the shipping date.
It’s not known why Apple only offered 42mm Apple Watch Sport models with Blue Sport bands, but it can be assumed that the combination may have been one that the company had an ample supply of. Apple is providing developers with watches in an effort to give them devices to test Apple Watch apps on.
A guaranteed April 28 ship date means developers who purchase one of the available devices will receive an Apple Watch just a few days after customers who pre-ordered receive theirs.
Top Rated Comments
Which isn't what they promised.
Same situation for me, another developer in Germany. Yesterday, one of my customers successfully purchased his Watch in Berlin. It drives me mad and crazy, not being able to test my App that is available in the App Store on a real device.
While I highly appreciate Apple's initiative for developers to put an expedited order, it comes much too late. Apple's developer communication should at least answer the key question of each developer here: "When will I be able to test my app on a real device?"
When I have to regularly visit this MacRumors Post in order to get any information about the expedited order for developers, that does not excel Apple's developer communication as being sufficient. I am extremely happy about this forum, so let's continue updating our experiences here!
I'm in Cali too. I was charged and prepped for shipping in the middle of the night last night but haven't shipped yet.
I definitely agree about being nice to dev and store support. Even though this is "guaranteed" it's still a special privilege for developers and no one should feel entitled. Apple was nice enough to give us preferential treatment and to acknowledge the benefit our community brings.
California developer here. 9am April 29th and order has still not shipped. Credit card not charged.