What Else We Might Learn at the March 9 Apple Watch Introduction

by Don Reisinger

Apple will finally reveal Apple Watch pricing at its March 9 event. Apple has kept pricing for its line close to the vest, and many are wondering just how much the gold version will cost. Considering rumors are suggesting Apple is placing safes into its stores to prepare for Apple Watch, the device might prove very expensive when its price is announced.

During a recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook let slip that Apple Watch will probably ship in April. Since Apple is holding the event on March 9, it’s possible that the company has moved up that timeline or is simply preparing customers to get their preorders in for an eventual April launch. Either way, we’ll find out for sure when Apple Watch launches at the company’s March 9 event.

Whenever Apple starts a press event, the company talks statistics. So, there’s little chance that Apple will break its routine this time around. Apple will undoubtedly tout its recent smartphone sales figures, as well as how many apps are available in its App Store, how much money it’s doled out to developers, and more.

The main feature that will ultimately help sell Apple Watch will be application support. So, it’s highly likely that Apple will spend some of its time onstage giving developers the opportunity to show off their Apple Watch software and talk about the experience of building apps for the device. Apple Watch will be nothing without useful software features, and Apple knows it.

Apple has a tendency to keep certain hardware features under wraps if it unveils a device early. So, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility to expect the company to announce a previously unknown hardware feature built into Apple Watch. Whether it’s a sensor or a health-tracking component, expect Apple to announce something new about Apple Watch at the event.

Apple’s senior vice president of retail, Angela Ahrendts, has been working with the company’s head of design, Jony Ive, to rework the look and feel of Apple retail stores, Ive confirmed recently in an interview. That change is going to coincide with the launch of Apple Watch, since the company will need to find retail space to showcase its smartwatch. At Apple’s March 9 event, the company will likely talk about the changes it’s making to its stores to accommodate its latest product addition.

Although it may not seem like the place for an announcement, the Apple Watch event could play host to a new line of Macs. There has been talk of Apple announcing at some point soon a 12-inch MacBook, as well as updates to its MacBook Air that would see it come with a Retina display. Since so many people will be watching the event to learn more about Apple Watch, it might make sense for the company to spring new MacBooks on the market to boost sales.

Since Apple Watch supports Apple Pay, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if Tim Cook and his colleagues spend some time talking about the company’s mobile-payment platform. Apple could announce new banks, retailers and developers that now support the platform, or it might talk in detail on how Apple Pay will work on Apple Watch. Either way, it’ll play a role in the event.

Apple’s decision to hold its Apple Watch event on March 9 is no coincidence. As history has proven, Apple likes to upstage other companies that are holding similarly large events, and this time around, that company is Samsung. Expect Samsung to fire some shots over Apple’s bow and for Apple to respond with stats and other data that will attempt to make Samsung look bad. Unfortunately for Samsung, Apple is going second, which means it’ll get the last laugh.

Over the last few years, Apple has followed a timeline that sees the company announce a product one day and start preorders the same week. Several reports suggest that Apple is planning the same move with Apple Watch. It’s quite possible that the company will talk in detail about the smartwatch on March 9 and start preorders that Friday.