By Barry Eitel
SAN FRANCISCO
Apple released four new video ads Thursday showcasing use cases for the Apple Watch, a device many consumers are still struggling to find a reason for buying.
The ads, entitled “Beijing”, “Berlin”, “Goals” and “Closer”, also have an international flavor, important since Apple is slowly releasing the smartwatch around the globe throughout the rest of this year. The features displayed in the ads show Apple Watch’s abilities for fitness, communication and travel.
“Goals” attempts to illustrate how Apple Watch is useful for tracking fitness routines, while “Closer” highlights how it assists with communication and sharing data. “Berlin” and “Beijing” display Apple Watch’s utility for travelers, especially with translation.
The Apple Watch was released in April and demand quickly superseded initial supply, although the early backlog appears to have fallen off. On Apple’s online store in the United States, most models of the smartwatch are in stock, meaning they are immediately available for shipping.
Data analysts firm Slice Intelligence announced last month that 2.79 million Apple Watches had been sold as of the middle of June.
The wide availability could mean that the excitement has worn off since Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the product line last September. While reviews of the watch have been mostly positive, many customers have wondered about its uses beyond reducing glances at their iPhones.
The Apple Watch originally in several major markets including the U.S., Canada, China, the United Kingdom and Germany. Near the end of last month, it also became available in Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
It will launch Friday in Sweden, Thailand and the Netherlands, and be released in New Zealand at the end of July.
Also Thursday, television streaming service Hulu launched an app for the Apple Watch that essentially turns the device into a remote control.
