The Apple Watch

Apple has finally revealed all regarding the Apple Watch, the wrist-based wearable it first introduced last September. Many of the Apple Watch’s particulars were already known, but here, for the first time, is a comprehensive look at what will no doubt become the world’s most popular smartwatch. Pre-orders will begin on April 10th. The device will start shipping on April 24th, and cost anywhere from $349 to $10,000 + depending on style.

The device is not self sufficient and requires an iPhone in order to work. It is compatible with iPhone 5c, 5s, 6 and 6 Plus running iOS 8.2 or later. In addition to the different editions, the Apple Watch is available in two sizes: 38mm and 42mm. The Apple Watch offers users a choice of fastenings - three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet with Milanese loop or a black or white Sport band. Users can also personalise their watch faces with a wide range of options, from traditional analogue to Mickey Mouse. The Apple Watch Sport comes with an anodised case - in a choice of silver or space grey - with is lightweight. To ensure it can stand up to the challenges of being a device used out and about in a variety of sport-related situations, the Retina display is bolstered by toughened Ion-X glass and a performance fluoroelastomer Sport Band (with a choice of five shades).

Apple previously confirmed basic specifications of the Apple Watch, which was introduced to the world at the end of 2014, but it added more detail at its launch event on 9th March 2015. Users can make and receive calls, texts and emails and also make use of the Siri voice assistant, which will prove useful in the absence of a good sized virtual keyboard. The device features new technology called Digital Crown, which lets users scroll, zoom and navigate their way around the screen quickly and easily - without interfering with information displayed. Digital Touch lets users interact with other users by tapping or doodling. Sophisticated additions such as Force Touch also means the device is intelligent enough to differentiate between a tap and a press. Furthermore, users are notified of messages or alerts via a gentle wrist tap, facilitated by an all-new Taptic Engine. While the Glances functionality puts them instantly in touch with the information they care about most - from the weather to sports results and more. 

The Apple Watch is also being touted as a health and fitness companion that, according to Apple "encourages you to sit less, move more and get some exercise every day." During a speech at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet conference, Apple chief Cook said the device will provide users with hourly reminders to stand up and get active. "If I sit for too long, it will actually tap me on the wrist to remind me to get up and move, because a lot of doctors think sitting is the new cancer,” said Cook, according to MacRumours. “Ten minutes before the hour, it will remind you to move. We have a lot of people using the Apple Watch at Apple, and ten minutes before the hour, suddenly they all get up and move. It took a little to get used to, but it’s great.”

The Apple Watch is designed for all-day (18 hours) use, and can be charged wirelessly. An Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch that the battery would indeed be replaceable, quelling fears that the device would become obsolete within just a few years. The site estimates that the battery life on the Apple Watch would be around three years.Another spokesperson revealed to around the time of the launch that the Apple Watch's battery life was "about a day right now," and, understandably, the tech company isn't satisfied with that.Nat Kerris, speaking for Apple, told  Re/code: "There's a lot of new technology packed into Apple Watch and we think people will love using it throughout the day. We anticipate that people will charge nightly which is why we designed an innovative charging solution that combines our MagSafe technology and inductive charging."Paul Jackson, principal analyst at Ovum, said battery life could be a make-or-break factor for potential buyers."This is still the major deal breaker for mass adoption. Sure, tech firms have trained us to charge our phones every day, but devices like watches, fit bands, glasses etc. need multi-day capacities."

In preparation for the device's release, Apple released a Software Development Kit (SDK). Dubbed Watch Kit, the SDK paved the way for developers to start designing apps for the device, and also gave them a first glimpse at some of the code for iOS 8.2. The code preview has been included to help developers design offerings that take advantage of the connectivity between the Apple Watch and other iOS devices. Ahead of the watch’s release in April, Barron's reports, Global Equities Research’s Trip Chowdhry has predicted that Apple Watch could already have as many as 100,000 apps by the time it goes on sale. “By April 10, 2015, we are expecting 100,000 Apple Watch Apps on AppStore. Currently, on an average there are 65 Apps per iPhone. We are estimating that an average Apple Watch will have 100 Apps per Apple Watch. There will be no single killer app for Apple Watch – each user will have their own set of Killer Apps...

 one way to think is that the consumer is getting 100 different devices in one Apple Watch. “On an average an Apple Watch user will have 100 Apps installed, and one way to think about it is that the consumer is getting 100 devices for $350... i.e. $3.50 per device.” Facebook and other firms were reported to have been testing the Apple Watch in a secret lab without internet access, according to Bloomberg. Visitors weren't even allowed to bring in a pad of paper to make notes when they entered the special test room at Apple’s headquarters, the publication reported. The companies, including United airlines and BMW, were busy making last-minute changes to their apps, which are set to debut on the wearable in April. Staff visiting the test lab had to bring their applications’ source code on hard drives that could’t leave Apple’s Cupertino base, said Bloomberg, citing confidential sources familiar with the matter. Instead, Apple was believed to be sending the firms any source code adjustments made at the test lab prior to the watch’s release, which we now know will be on April 24th.