This is the major signal I've been waiting for ... Apple is losing its cachet. Calvin Klein jeans used to be a fashion item, but when Costco started carrying them, favor had been lost. (No knock on Costco, buck-fifty hot dog and drink can't be beat.)
Cachet, seriously? Apple has been producing for the masses for many years, quite successfully actually. If you think they haven't their marketing has worked brilliantly on you.
Cachet: 1. the state of being respected or admired; prestige. 2. a distinguishing mark or seal.
Are you balking at the use of the word or at the idea that Apple is losing it (or do you think they never had it)?
They've certainly got cachet thanks to brilliant marketing, but it's inevitable that they will lose it at some point since they're on top right now and they've got nowhere to go but down.
No. All major designer brands have presence in local outlet malls, its where they make most of their money. But these are simply the distribution sites. The branding is created and maintained elsewhere. Apple spends significantly more on branding than CK, the comparrison is ridiculous.
Echoing other replies, while I seldom stop by my local Best Buy, the Wal-Mart I shop at has been selling iOS and iPod devices for a long time. Which makes sense because we have plenty of people out of 200K+ in our area interested in buying such, but who are unlikely to drive ~115 miles/1 hour and 44 minutes for the privilege of doing so in the nearest Apple store. Heck, in my home state of Missouri, the only Apple stores are in the Kansas City and St. Louis areas.
More accurately, it will be offered for sale at Best Buy. It is to be determined if people will buy it there. Pebble is there, Android wear is there, apple watch will be just another watch there for sale.
Android Wear does not compete with the Apple Watch; which one you can buy is wholly determined by the smartphone you already own. Pebble is the only thing that competes with both.