NEW DELHI: Apple on Monday took the wraps off its much-awaited Apple Watch at an event in San Francisco, while making two other key announcements: a totally revamped MacBook range and a health-focussed initiative called ResearchKit.
Launched in a number of variants and two sizes, including gold models, Apple Watch will be available from next month in nine countries; the schedule does not include India. The prices will start at $349 and go above a whopping $17,000 for the gold model.
Apple Watch, when it makes it to Indian shelves, is not expected to cost less than Rs 30,000 for the base model of 38 mm in Sport range. Most models upwards of that will compete with 'dumb' but luxury watches that are more of a fashion or style statement, a segment Apple clearly seeks to compete in and carve a niche for its watch.
Apple also spruced up its MacBook range with a newly designed, thinner, efficient 12-inch MacBook notebook and a new MacBook Pro range with Retina display.
Apple Watch, when it makes it to Indian shelves, is not expected to cost less than Rs 30,000 for the base model of 38 mm in Sport range. Most models upwards of that will compete with 'dumb' but luxury watches that are more of a fashion or style statement, a segment Apple clearly seeks to compete in and carve a niche for its watch.
Apple also spruced up its MacBook range with a newly designed, thinner, efficient 12-inch MacBook notebook and a new MacBook Pro range with Retina display.
Never again lose your hotel key. @spg #AppleLive http://t.co/nSoounSxIS pic.twitter.com/UF9B8BIMq
The smartwatch will be available in two sizes (38 and 42 mm) and three variants: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Edition and Apple Watch Sport. The first two come with sapphire crystal to protect the screen from cracking, whereas the sports version has a strengthened Ion-X glass on the display.
For the fashionable frat :
The Apple Watch collection comes with a choice of three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet and Milanese loop, and a black or white Sport Band.
Apple Watch Edition features cases made from custom rose or yellow 18-carat gold alloys developed to be twice as hard as standard gold, a Retina display protected by polished sapphire crystal and a choice of uniquely designed straps and bands with 18-carat gold clasps, buckles or pins.
When the smartwatch becomes available for pre-order from Apple's online store on April 10, Apple retailers will begin offering customers the chance to preview their choice of Apple Watch and try it on in-store.
Under the hood :
Apple claims its smartwatch delivers up to 18-hour battery life and comes with a unique charging solution that combines Apple's MagSafe technology with inductive charging for a quick connection.
Apple's first smartwatch has some distinguishing hardware features, such as a digital crown that can be turned to scroll or zoom on the screen; one can press on this crown to return to the previous page.
The touchscreen itself has two-step touch-sensitivity that can understand the difference between a tap and press. Above all, Apple Watch has a built-in mic and speaker using which one can complete a conversation as long as the iPhone is connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Apple has used an all-new microprocessor named S1 in Watch, which it calls an entire computer architecture on a single chip. Among the key features of Apple Watch are always-on Siri, tracking users' fitness, third-party app support and it receives phone calls as well as iMessages and SMSs.
It can act as a walkie-talkie and operate the iPhone camera as well as Apple TV. Apple Watch uses an actuator called Taptic Engine to let the users know of all notifications and alerts. There is no camera but the iPhone's photos can be seen on Apple Watch.
A new chapter in Apple's life :
The all-new Apple Watch is, however, compatible only with iPhone 5, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus and can be used to authenticate mobile payments via Apple Pay. Apple has already released iOS 8.2 which features the Apple Watch app that lets users connect the smartwatch to their iPhones.
Apple Watch will be available starting April 24 (with pre-orders starting April 10) in nine countries including US, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany.
"Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "We can't wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before."
For the fashionable frat :
The Apple Watch collection comes with a choice of three different leather straps, a stainless steel link bracelet and Milanese loop, and a black or white Sport Band.
Apple Watch Edition features cases made from custom rose or yellow 18-carat gold alloys developed to be twice as hard as standard gold, a Retina display protected by polished sapphire crystal and a choice of uniquely designed straps and bands with 18-carat gold clasps, buckles or pins.
When the smartwatch becomes available for pre-order from Apple's online store on April 10, Apple retailers will begin offering customers the chance to preview their choice of Apple Watch and try it on in-store.
Under the hood :
Apple claims its smartwatch delivers up to 18-hour battery life and comes with a unique charging solution that combines Apple's MagSafe technology with inductive charging for a quick connection.
Apple's first smartwatch has some distinguishing hardware features, such as a digital crown that can be turned to scroll or zoom on the screen; one can press on this crown to return to the previous page.
The touchscreen itself has two-step touch-sensitivity that can understand the difference between a tap and press. Above all, Apple Watch has a built-in mic and speaker using which one can complete a conversation as long as the iPhone is connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
Apple has used an all-new microprocessor named S1 in Watch, which it calls an entire computer architecture on a single chip. Among the key features of Apple Watch are always-on Siri, tracking users' fitness, third-party app support and it receives phone calls as well as iMessages and SMSs.
It can act as a walkie-talkie and operate the iPhone camera as well as Apple TV. Apple Watch uses an actuator called Taptic Engine to let the users know of all notifications and alerts. There is no camera but the iPhone's photos can be seen on Apple Watch.
A new chapter in Apple's life :
The all-new Apple Watch is, however, compatible only with iPhone 5, 5S, 6 and 6 Plus and can be used to authenticate mobile payments via Apple Pay. Apple has already released iOS 8.2 which features the Apple Watch app that lets users connect the smartwatch to their iPhones.
Apple Watch will be available starting April 24 (with pre-orders starting April 10) in nine countries including US, Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, China, United Kingdom, France and Germany.
"Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it," said Apple CEO Tim Cook. "We can't wait for people to start wearing Apple Watch to easily access information that matters, to interact with the world, and to live a better day by being more aware of their daily activity than ever before."
Apple Watch will pull your boarding pass from Passbook when you're near the airport. http://t.co/RXJ0pZsBjp pic.twitter.com/lRmt8ljKz
"Conceived,
designed and developed as a singular product, Apple Watch merges
hardware and software like never before," said Jony Ive, Apple's senior
vice-president of design. "In Apple Watch, we've created three
beautifully curated collections with a software architecture that
together enable unparalleled personalisation in a wearable device."
Apple will goad you into fitness
Apple Watch has an Activity app which provides a snapshot of the wearer's daily activity with three rings that show the calories burned, brisk activity and how often you've stood up to take a break from sitting during the day.
Apple Watch also provides the detailed metrics for the most popular activities such as walking, running and cycling through the Workout app. With an accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from your iPhone, Apple Watch can sense different types of motion and provides a comprehensive feedback of the user's day-long activity.
The Activity app on iPhone collects your activity and workout data from Apple Watch so you can see your history in greater detail. Apple Watch uses this history to suggest personalised activity goals, reward fitness milestones and keep you motivated.
We can't wait for you to experience the new Apple Watch App Store. #AppleLive http://t.co/nSoounSxIS pic.twitter.com/O12L81jo7J Health skips a beat on Apple Watch
However, the Cupertino giant was not able to integrate all of the features it had been testing for its first Watch due to various reasons ranging from technical difficulties to regulatory hurdles. These features can now only be expected in the future iterations of Apple Watch.
According to a report, when Apple first envisioned the smartwatch, it wanted to offer features like the direct ability to measure blood pressure, heart activity and stress levels with fair accuracy unlike most other smartwatches.
"Apple also experimented with ways to detect blood pressure or the amount of oxygen in the blood, but the results were inconsistent. Moreover, if Apple interpreted the numbers to provide health or behaviour advice, the company likely would have needed approval from the US Food and Drug Administration or other regulators," a report had earlier quoted sources as saying.
Apparently, the features didn't perform consistently on all wrists, especially with hairy arms or dry skin, and the results were also dependent on how tightly the user wore the Watch. This made Apple opt for a more conventional pulse-rate monitoring mechanism. An Apple on every wrist? Apple is believed to have asked its contract manufacturer, Quanta Computers, to make 5-6 million Apple Watches in the first quarter. Supply-chain sources say that 50% of this output is set for the entry-level Apple Watch Sports, whereas 30% is for the mid-tier model with stainless-steel casing and sapphire crystal. In comparison, Apple had sold 3 million iPads within first 80 days when it was first launched in 2010.
Apple Watch marks the first new device category to be launched by Apple since it entered the tablet space with the first iPad in 2010. It is also the first new Apple product line to make its debut since Tim Cook took over the reins of the company after Steve Jobs stepped down.
By some estimates, the smartwatch (mainly the gold version) could contribute up to $5 billion per quarter to Apple's coffers. Another estimate had even suggested that Apple Watch could account for up to 30% of world's total gold consumption by 2020.
MacBook range is refreshed
Apple also refreshed its MacBook with an all-metal unibody, 24% thinner and 2 pound weighing Mac with a refurbished, full-length keyboard and Retina display (2,304 x 1,440 pixels) in a 12-inch screen. The fanless new MacBook is powered by Intel Core M processor and promises a day-long battery despite its thinner frame. It comes with an all- new trackpad with a tech called 'force click'. The latest MacBook has one port each for USB-C, Display, HDMI and VGA, a headphone jack and supports WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro too has been relaunched with it getting the new Force Touch trackpad, Retina display, faster Intel i5 and i7 processors, and faster flash memory and 10-hour battery life.
iPhones as health research devices
With the launch of ResearchKit, Apple has also sought to turn iPhones into a powerful device for healthcare and medical care research. Apple's senior VP of operation Jeff Williams announced the ResearchKit which will go live next month.
Backed by Open Source software framework for serious research into diseases like Parkinson's, breast cancer, diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disorders via apps. Also, there are over 900 healthcare apps for non-research on Apple's App Store.
Apple also announced slashing the price of its streaming device Apple TV from $99 to $69. Apple has so far sold 25 million units of Apple TV.
Apple will goad you into fitness
Apple Watch has an Activity app which provides a snapshot of the wearer's daily activity with three rings that show the calories burned, brisk activity and how often you've stood up to take a break from sitting during the day.
Apple Watch also provides the detailed metrics for the most popular activities such as walking, running and cycling through the Workout app. With an accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from your iPhone, Apple Watch can sense different types of motion and provides a comprehensive feedback of the user's day-long activity.
The Activity app on iPhone collects your activity and workout data from Apple Watch so you can see your history in greater detail. Apple Watch uses this history to suggest personalised activity goals, reward fitness milestones and keep you motivated.
We can't wait for you to experience the new Apple Watch App Store. #AppleLive http://t.co/nSoounSxIS pic.twitter.com/O12L81jo7J Health skips a beat on Apple Watch
However, the Cupertino giant was not able to integrate all of the features it had been testing for its first Watch due to various reasons ranging from technical difficulties to regulatory hurdles. These features can now only be expected in the future iterations of Apple Watch.
According to a report, when Apple first envisioned the smartwatch, it wanted to offer features like the direct ability to measure blood pressure, heart activity and stress levels with fair accuracy unlike most other smartwatches.
"Apple also experimented with ways to detect blood pressure or the amount of oxygen in the blood, but the results were inconsistent. Moreover, if Apple interpreted the numbers to provide health or behaviour advice, the company likely would have needed approval from the US Food and Drug Administration or other regulators," a report had earlier quoted sources as saying.
Apparently, the features didn't perform consistently on all wrists, especially with hairy arms or dry skin, and the results were also dependent on how tightly the user wore the Watch. This made Apple opt for a more conventional pulse-rate monitoring mechanism. An Apple on every wrist? Apple is believed to have asked its contract manufacturer, Quanta Computers, to make 5-6 million Apple Watches in the first quarter. Supply-chain sources say that 50% of this output is set for the entry-level Apple Watch Sports, whereas 30% is for the mid-tier model with stainless-steel casing and sapphire crystal. In comparison, Apple had sold 3 million iPads within first 80 days when it was first launched in 2010.
Apple Watch marks the first new device category to be launched by Apple since it entered the tablet space with the first iPad in 2010. It is also the first new Apple product line to make its debut since Tim Cook took over the reins of the company after Steve Jobs stepped down.
By some estimates, the smartwatch (mainly the gold version) could contribute up to $5 billion per quarter to Apple's coffers. Another estimate had even suggested that Apple Watch could account for up to 30% of world's total gold consumption by 2020.
MacBook range is refreshed
Apple also refreshed its MacBook with an all-metal unibody, 24% thinner and 2 pound weighing Mac with a refurbished, full-length keyboard and Retina display (2,304 x 1,440 pixels) in a 12-inch screen. The fanless new MacBook is powered by Intel Core M processor and promises a day-long battery despite its thinner frame. It comes with an all- new trackpad with a tech called 'force click'. The latest MacBook has one port each for USB-C, Display, HDMI and VGA, a headphone jack and supports WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro too has been relaunched with it getting the new Force Touch trackpad, Retina display, faster Intel i5 and i7 processors, and faster flash memory and 10-hour battery life.
iPhones as health research devices
With the launch of ResearchKit, Apple has also sought to turn iPhones into a powerful device for healthcare and medical care research. Apple's senior VP of operation Jeff Williams announced the ResearchKit which will go live next month.
Backed by Open Source software framework for serious research into diseases like Parkinson's, breast cancer, diabetes, asthma and cardiovascular disorders via apps. Also, there are over 900 healthcare apps for non-research on Apple's App Store.
Apple also announced slashing the price of its streaming device Apple TV from $99 to $69. Apple has so far sold 25 million units of Apple TV.
