Apart from the new iPhones, Apple also launched its much-awaited Smartwatch yesterday. Aptly named the Apple Watch, the new gadget comes with specs that might sound dull at first and was called a “comprehensive health and fitness device”.
“This is the most personal device we’ve ever created.”
You start with the display at the front. Don’t know about the screen size, but it is a flexible Retina Display with sapphire screen. The watch comes in two configurations: a 38mm and a larger 42mm in size.
Behind the watch are four sensors: Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart-rate sensor and a Taptic Engine. The last one is used to distinguish between a forced touch and a tap so it can actually detect what amount of force is being applied.
“What we DIDN’T do is shrink down the iPhone interface and put it on your wrist.”
As with Apple, the experience is all that counts, not the specs and Apple has started from the ground up on the OS. The big part of that experience is the new Digital Crown, which serves as a home button. However, it also zooms and scrolls meaning you don’t have to touch the screen and obstruct the view every time you use it.
On the screen itself, the interface is quite swipe-based. You’ll probably see reflections of Android Wear but let’s be honest, inspirations are everywhere. The Watch wouldn’t have existed otherwise and the OS has its own high points too.
There’s also another little button below the Digital Crown, called Digital Touch. A few applications come pre-installed, including Siri, Maps, Music, Calendar, Photos and health & fitness software. Apple has also released a new WatchKit, which will enable the developers to make custom software for the Watch. Facebook and Twitter are onboard, while BMW is also making an app to help you locate your car. Apple Pay, the company’s radical new system for payments works in the Watch via Digital Touch.
Like I said earlier, the device can also distinguish normal taps from the “Force Touch” and supports haptic feedback. Other than the home button, the watch can also wake up by lifting your hand. It most-possibly can’t work as a stand-alone device, as the only modes of connectivity are Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11b/g. It depends on your iPhone for GPS.
Here are few things that Apple Watch will help you achieve:
- Choose from over two million styles to show time
- Respond to calls, emails, messages and notifications (received on iPhones)
- Heath and fitness apps
- Make payments through Apple Pay
The watch itself will be available in three editions: The Standard Watch, the Watch Sport (anodized-aluminium version with strengthened Ion-X glass and colourful bands) and the Watch Edition (comes with 18K-carat gold cases in yellow or red colours.) The normal Watch comes with metal bands. They all require an iPhone 5 or better to work.
Talking of price, the watch costs $350, which is decidedly huge. Considering it’s a first for the line-up, you’ll have to double check whether it’s worth it.
However, during the entire presentation, the detail which we were looking for was missing: battery life. Considering that the best watches on the market with colour displays manage a day at best, it would’ve an ideal situation for Apple.
In case you’re tempted, the Watch will hit markets “early 2015”. No specific dates. Until that special detail is hidden, we don’t think anyone can recommend this watch easily. However, if you don’t mind plugging your watch every night, and can swallow the price tag (and own an iPhone 5 or above), then you can’t go much wrong with it.
That’s…pretty terrible looking. Coming from Apple, I expected something a bit different.
Even the Moto360 looks more like something Apple would release than that.
it’s downright hideous! looks like tim cook’s hobby project he created in his garage. Those Casio calculator watches looked better.
looks like chinese wrist watches available in the market for 100-200rs
crappy… Android wear all the way :D !!
One of the most innovative and high quality smart watch by any tech company as of now. It came in two sizes but 32 designs. So as a first smart watch by Apple, I think it has set a new standards for technology companies in the race of smat watches. Somehow will hamper Switzerland market too. I am glad to see launch of this innovative watch. People come and comment such as “its crap”, “Chines is better”, etc etc… but I ask them that had any body of them have ever used it or even had a feel of iOS/Apple phones, laptops, Mac etc… Sorry to say, but majority of them hate apple without even using its products and feel the quality of high end gadgets. It is so common to pass on judgement without even having experience of touching the product too. Only quality user can understand beauty of apple products simplicity.
Hahaha… You closed the mouths of some peoples… :P
But on the other side, are you representative from Apple???
Apple doesn’t need representatives… I am just an end user of Apple products and enjoys the seamless performance of its all gadgets. Apple gadgets are “beauty with brain”. ;)
Moto 360 FTW
Surely this wasn’t one of the “FIVE” devices that Late Jobs had in his mind when he was fired by Apple in early 90’s? I’ll wait for iWatch 3 or 4 to decide whether or not have it..