The Apple Watch Is The Company’s Most Personal Device Yet

Apple has revealed more details about its first ever wearable, the Apple Watch, showing off the wide range of services we can expect from the device upon its release.

Available in three versions (or ‘collections’) the Apple Watch will go on sale in the UK and eight other countries on April 24, with pre-orders opening on April 10, with prices starting from $349 but rising to over $10,000 for the most premium model.

Advanced

“Apple Watch is the most personal device we’ve ever created. It’s not just with you, it’s on you,” Apple CEO Tim Cook told attendees at the launch event in San Francisco, “it’s the most advanced timepiece ever created”.

Overall, there will be three ‘collections’ or versions of the device, (pictured above) all available in either 38mm or 42mm thick editions.

The Apple Watch Sport, available in silver and space grey, features an aluminium build and will be available for $349 for a 38mm version or $399 for a 42mm edition

The Apple Watch Regular, available in stainless steel finish or space black, will cost between $549 and $1,049 for the 38mm version and $599 and $1,099 for the 42mm depending on the user’s choice of watch band.

Lastly, the Apple Watch Edition, crafted from 18-carat gold and only available in limited numbers and from selected retailers, will cost from $10,000.

Good to talk

As far as features go, Apple was keen to show off the huge range of apps and services customers will be able to enjoy with its new device.

In a slight surprise, this included the reveal of a built-in speaker and microphone to receive calls, a feature Cook said he had been wanting since he was five years old.

Users will be able to interact with the Watch in a number of ways, including a simple swipe up for the “Glances” feature, which lets you quickly check information such as notifications, steps taken and calendar notifications.

There’s also a new technology called Digital Touch, whereby a user draws on their watch, with that touch then being animated on a friend’s watch exactly as you drew it – you can even send a print of your heartbeat if you are so inclined.

“I think you’re going to have a blast with these digital touch features,” Cook said. “Its a whole new way to communicate.”

The Watch will also be able to communicate with its users, featuring a Taptic engine which sends alerts via a gentle tap whenever you receive a notification. Siri is also included, accessible by pressing the crown on the side of the device, meaning users can live out their spy fantasies in real life.

And any notification you could receive on your iPhone will now be able to be displayed on the Apple Watch, meaning calls, texts, and push notifications will all be coming to your wrist.

Apple’s Kevin Lynch showed this off by demoing apps such as Apple Pay (activated by double tapping the Watch’s side button) iMessage, (tapping once) Uber, Passbook and Instagram, all of which were interactive via the device.

“We think that Apple Watch is going to be integral to your day,” Cook said, highlighting an 18 hour battery life over the course of a normal day, although more detailed information was not revealed. Charging is enabled by simply attaching the magnetic charger to the back of the watch, but again Apple did not reveal any details on how long recharging would take.

Make it yours

The device will also feature major personalisation options, particularly with the watch face and the strap itself, which will be available in a number of materials, including steel, leather and plastic.

“Everything about Apple Watch has been very carefully considered, down to the materials,” Cook said.

There are also lots of custom widgets for the watch’s face, including those for weather, calendar notifications or what music is playing.

Healthkit was also a major focus for Apple, with a range of new health features included in the Apple Watch, which will encourage you sit less and move more, the company says.

The device will send you a health report at the end of every week, offering guidance and new targets for those of us falling behind. The Workout app will also provide more detailed measurement during specific activities such as running, walking and cycling.

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