Not sure how much of a factor the connector is in that regard. iPhone has an impressive level of water resistance even with a a USB-like lightning port.
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
MagicBand+ announced
- Thread starter CaptainAmerica
- Start date
Agreed but would a USB-C port fit on watch, without having to make it thicker then would otherwise be required? A cradle or wireless charging are the only real options.
TheMaxRebo
Well-Known Member
Would a micro-USB not work well enough? My son has a "smart watch" (it's like a kids one - very basic, nothing fancy) and uses a micro-USB to charge and it isn't any bigger/thicker than a MB+
Or would they not want something with "old" technology?
And probably having wireless charging would be cost prohibitive
MickeyLuv'r
Well-Known Member
They kinda did in the past. It was a slider with a digital watch, but there was no way to replace the battery and then they stopped selling them. Once it died, that was it.
For us it really depends on the bands available. If they have the characters and designs we like, then we'll probably buy them, especially since they can be recharged. That is a big plus for us.
MickeyLuv'r
Well-Known Member
And I wonder how long these will be around....
We bought a limited edition band, and then a few months later MB2 was announced.
I immediately have to ask, "So how long until this is obsolete?"
Last edited:
Your limited edition MB1 still works just fine.
So... that's not what "obsolete" means.
My guess would be that the + will become the main version and the earlier models will be discontinued. Having a single offering and higher selling point would seem to be an attractive option for Disney.
MickeyLuv'r
Well-Known Member
It was supposed to have a special light -up feature. By that I mean it was supposed to trigger a special color at the park entrance scanners.
By the time I used it- at all - that feature was no longer in operation: obsolete. Earlier, I was trying to say that succinctly.
Yes, it still functions the same as the $10 bands function, but most of the reason I paid the upcharge was because I thought I'd get to see that fun feature a few times. Instead, I just feel WDW suckered me.
WDW has a history of stuff like this. Again, I point you back to the clock slider we bought with no way to replace the battery. I should have looked more carefully at it before I bought it, but I bought it thinking it would continue to work for multiple years.
Conversely, we own wands from Universal. Universal has 'repaired' them multiple times, no questions asked. They were WELL worth the price we paid, because we have been able to use them for many years. I'm not even sure how long it has been, but at least 7 years.
MickeyLuv'r
Well-Known Member
Maybe WDW will support these. It would be nice, but I don't have high hopes based on what WDW has done in the past.
I agree — especially since it is specifically the MB+ that they are launching at DLR afterwards. One wildcard there is the fact that Disney jointly developed these with Amazon. While they are more expensive and will bring in more revenue, Amazon will presumably get a cut. I’m curious if Disney will actually end up making that much more in revenue from these compared to the MB2s.
I imagine some of their decision making will also be based on what demand looks like for MB2s after the MB+ launches.
Posters were suggesting USBC in the context of EU requirements and avoiding the need to carry an extra cable. USB micro offers no advantages over cradle. I suspect micro-USB would be less waterproof.
Edited to I could envision offering a limited numbet of MB2 to accomodate "cheapskates". Just grey.
TheMaxRebo
Well-Known Member
My kids watch has a rubber flap that closes over the port so I might help with waterproofing
I always have micro-USB cords with me so wouldn't be an extra cord for me .... Though to be fair it am [checks watch] old
EU requirement is fair point if they think these could go abroad or if the regulation could come here
I'll speculate....cradle costs less then micro-USB and flap. If Disney could even save a nickle per unit...
We're taking about large quantities. The numbers may be different for products like kids smartwatch. Much smaller production runs.
The charger they've chosen is very close to wireless. You don't have to push a plug into a slot, there are two pins that snap into place with a magnet. I think people will be very satisfied with it once they use it.
Micro-USB is extremely fragile. It's garbage. This is not Disney cheaping out, it's an upgrade.
There is no EU requirement for watches or other wearables. It's a complete non-issue here.
Totally disagree. Some people will balk at $35 but will gladly spend $20. I think there's benefit to them to sell multiple types at multiple price points.
I WOULD, however, expect that Limited Editions and other specials will be confined to MB+.
AEfx
Well-Known Member
Oh, don't worry about profitability. These little plastic trinkets are based on absolutely ancient technology, and even adding little lights and vibration to the newer ones doesn't change that. I'd love if one of our insiders actually had some idea (@marni1971 ?) but I would be willing to guess even with printing, packaging, etc. - these little suckers cost Disney less than the price of a Dole Whip to produce.
I have no doubt they are nearly as profitable as the pins, or Disney wouldn't be pushing them so hard.
trainplane3
Well-Known Member
This. Micro is bad and is going away, thankfully.
While I would've liked to see wireless or at least USB C, pogo pins are fine enough. The larger offender is the 6" cable. Should've been a foot at least so a charger block won't be as cluttered.