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| Apple announces Apple Watch, its first wearable device and smartwatch | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Apple’s highly anticipated entry into the world of wearable technology is the Apple Watch. | Apple’s highly anticipated entry into the world of wearable technology is the Apple Watch. |
| The Apple Watch will monitor health and fitness, tracking the wear’s movement, heart rate and activity with built-in sensors, feeding the information into Apple’s Health app for the iPhone and iPad, allowing review and analysis of the data. | |
| “This is the most personal device we’ve ever created,” said Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook. “We’ve set up to make the best watch in the world. One that is precise. It’s synced with a universal time standard.” | “This is the most personal device we’ve ever created,” said Apple’s chief executive Tim Cook. “We’ve set up to make the best watch in the world. One that is precise. It’s synced with a universal time standard.” |
| It uses a “digital crown” on the side of the watch, that turns like a jog dial for adjusting functions on the watch, like zooming and setting the time – no pinching to zoom required. It also functions as the home button. | It uses a “digital crown” on the side of the watch, that turns like a jog dial for adjusting functions on the watch, like zooming and setting the time – no pinching to zoom required. It also functions as the home button. |
| The screen is covered by a curved sapphire glass screen touch screen that can also detect pressure as well as simple touch to differentiate between a tap and a touch, complete with vibrating haptic feedback and loud speaker. | The screen is covered by a curved sapphire glass screen touch screen that can also detect pressure as well as simple touch to differentiate between a tap and a touch, complete with vibrating haptic feedback and loud speaker. |
| The Apple Watch is charged by a wireless, inductive charging pad that magnetically aligns to the back of the watch. | The Apple Watch is charged by a wireless, inductive charging pad that magnetically aligns to the back of the watch. |
| Three editions | Three editions |
| The smartwatch will be available in three editions: the stainless steal Watch, aluminium Watch Sport and 18c gold Apple Watch Edition. | The smartwatch will be available in three editions: the stainless steal Watch, aluminium Watch Sport and 18c gold Apple Watch Edition. |
| Six different straps will also be available, complete with a quick remove clasp that attaches to the watch. | Six different straps will also be available, complete with a quick remove clasp that attaches to the watch. |
| All three will will requires the iPhone for connectivity via Bluetooth and will work with iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus, but will not be available until early 2015 starting at $349 in the US. | All three will will requires the iPhone for connectivity via Bluetooth and will work with iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus, but will not be available until early 2015 starting at $349 in the US. |
| Apps, taps and touching | Apps, taps and touching |
| Several of Apple’s apps will be available on the Watch, including Siri, Messages, Maps and lots of at-a-glance information pulled from calendars, email and other apps on an iPhone. | Several of Apple’s apps will be available on the Watch, including Siri, Messages, Maps and lots of at-a-glance information pulled from calendars, email and other apps on an iPhone. |
| Maps will provide walking directions right on your wrist, buzzing for each turn required in the same way Google Maps operates on Google’s Android Wear smartwatches. | Maps will provide walking directions right on your wrist, buzzing for each turn required in the same way Google Maps operates on Google’s Android Wear smartwatches. |
| Siri will be available, launched by holding in the digital crown, as is voice dictation. | Siri will be available, launched by holding in the digital crown, as is voice dictation. |
| Apple also has a quick reply board for replying to messages that analyses the text coming in and suggests responses, or pick from a selection of customisable emoji, for when talking into the watch for voice dictation isn’t appropriate. | Apple also has a quick reply board for replying to messages that analyses the text coming in and suggests responses, or pick from a selection of customisable emoji, for when talking into the watch for voice dictation isn’t appropriate. |
| Apple’s new contactless mobile wallet, Apple Pay, will also be available on the Apple Watch to enable users to pay for goods and services in the US using the smartwatch like a contactless credit card. | Apple’s new contactless mobile wallet, Apple Pay, will also be available on the Apple Watch to enable users to pay for goods and services in the US using the smartwatch like a contactless credit card. |
| Hundreds of third-party apps, like Twitter, Facebook and others will also be available, arranged in clusters on the screen for easier launching on the smaller screen, zooming in using the digital crown. | Hundreds of third-party apps, like Twitter, Facebook and others will also be available, arranged in clusters on the screen for easier launching on the smaller screen, zooming in using the digital crown. |
| Apple also includes a new communication app called digital touch, which allows users to share taps, small drawings and even their heart beat with other Apple Watch users. | Apple also includes a new communication app called digital touch, which allows users to share taps, small drawings and even their heart beat with other Apple Watch users. |
| The Apple Watch can also control music playing on iPhone or iPad devices around it, as well as storing music locally on the Watch, playing through Bluetooth headphones. | The Apple Watch can also control music playing on iPhone or iPad devices around it, as well as storing music locally on the Watch, playing through Bluetooth headphones. |
| Health and fitness | Health and fitness |
| Apple’s focus on fitness extends to the Apple Watch plugging into the Health app on the iPhone for sharing with third-party apps. | Apple’s focus on fitness extends to the Apple Watch plugging into the Health app on the iPhone for sharing with third-party apps. |
| Two new apps on the watch track two different levels of activity. The Fitness app tracks general activity, steps and calories burned throughout the day, like many fitness trackers currently available like the Misfit Shine or Jawbone Up. | Two new apps on the watch track two different levels of activity. The Fitness app tracks general activity, steps and calories burned throughout the day, like many fitness trackers currently available like the Misfit Shine or Jawbone Up. |
| It tracks both activity, but also how sedentary the wearer has been to avoid sitting too long in one place by prompting desk workers to get up and move throughout the day. | It tracks both activity, but also how sedentary the wearer has been to avoid sitting too long in one place by prompting desk workers to get up and move throughout the day. |
| The Workout app tracks specific activity for custom workouts, acting like a personal trainer on your wrist based on your heart rate and motions. | The Workout app tracks specific activity for custom workouts, acting like a personal trainer on your wrist based on your heart rate and motions. |
| Tough competition | Tough competition |
| The wearable technology market is a growth area for mobile technology as smartphones reach a 70% saturation point in developed markets including the US and UK. In 2013, 9.7m wearables, including fitness trackers and smartwatches were sold worldwide, according to data from research firm CCS Insight. That number is expected to reach 22.3m in 2014. | The wearable technology market is a growth area for mobile technology as smartphones reach a 70% saturation point in developed markets including the US and UK. In 2013, 9.7m wearables, including fitness trackers and smartwatches were sold worldwide, according to data from research firm CCS Insight. That number is expected to reach 22.3m in 2014. |
| In the first week of September, Europe’s largest electronics trade show, IFA in Berlin, saw more than 10 different wearable devices introduced by big name electronics manufacturers. Samsung, Sony, Asus and Motorola all launched smartwatches, many running Google’s Android Wear software. | In the first week of September, Europe’s largest electronics trade show, IFA in Berlin, saw more than 10 different wearable devices introduced by big name electronics manufacturers. Samsung, Sony, Asus and Motorola all launched smartwatches, many running Google’s Android Wear software. |
| Wearable technology has struggled to become mainstream, with few convincing use cases and ugly designs for devices trying to replace jewellery on peoples’ wrists. Smartwatches and other wearable technology have seen a high rate of abandonment too, with one third of Americans ditching the devices within six months of trying them, according to research by Endeavour partners. | Wearable technology has struggled to become mainstream, with few convincing use cases and ugly designs for devices trying to replace jewellery on peoples’ wrists. Smartwatches and other wearable technology have seen a high rate of abandonment too, with one third of Americans ditching the devices within six months of trying them, according to research by Endeavour partners. |
| Whether the Apple Watch will become mainstream is unknown but this Christmas will be the wearable season as shops and online stores push the myriad of devices, which Apple will not be playing part in this year. | Whether the Apple Watch will become mainstream is unknown but this Christmas will be the wearable season as shops and online stores push the myriad of devices, which Apple will not be playing part in this year. |