MOSCOW, September 11 (RIA Novosti) - On September 9 in Cupertino, California, Tim Cook presented to the world one of the most anticipated products of recent years - the Apple Watch.
Despite the fact that smart-watches by Apple competitors had been around for some years now, the Apple Watch had raised the expectations too high. We have collected all the facts about the new gadget that is hotly debated in the press.
The Apple Watch runs on a brand-new S1 processor and can only be used with an iPhone 5 or higher.
It offers very precise synchronized time, to plus or minus 50 milliseconds and automatically adjusts to the local time when the time zone changes. Being the first wearable Apple product it can be personalized by the user. It comes in two sizes (38mm and 42mm), and in three distinct styles: the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Apple Watch Edition made from 18k yellow or rose gold. The variety is supported by an impressive choice of straps ranging from a stainless steel metal link bracelet to flexible straps in different colors, and classically styled leather bands. Each has its own unique fastening, and some use magnets to hold the strap closed.
All watches have flexible, Retina-quality touchscreen displays (with laminated crystal of sapphire), a "crown" dial, infrared LEDs and photo diodes that can monitor the pulse and "turn movement into data”, as Apple proudly manifested in its presentation. The little scroll-wheel digital crown on the side, which Cook calls the Digital Crown, is a home button, and can also be used to control lists, zoom in and out, to scroll functions and more.
A button below brings up favorite friends and contacts in an easy to use list, while Handoff sees messages started on the Watch transfer over to the iPhone. Passbook displays boarding passes and other tickets and infra- red and photo sensors give it extra sensitivity.
The display turns on by raising the wrist. Sensors that are located on the back of the watch using the accelerometer, Wi-Fi, and GPS are used to monitor the user’s movement s and their characteristics during the day. Apple itself has developed two different fitness apps for the watch, too. The Activity app is meant to track your movement throughout the day. The Workout app focuses on specific sports.
The watch includes a new feature – a wireless payments system Apple Pay so users can use it as a digital wallet and make mobile payments.
It is equipped with a gyro-accelerometer and uses the Wi-Fi and GPS on the phone.
A built-in Siri works with different apps and can be used to access and control the car or appliances at home. It can also act as a digital key to open smart locks.
The Watch features a haptic feedback system which Apple calls the Taptic Engine. It taps the user on the wrist informing about notifications, and vibrates when the Digital Crown is turned on, and combine with subtle audio alerts too. Another new feature is exchanging of taps that can be sent to other Watch wearers, like a digital tap on the shoulder, and the Taptic Engine will also recreate the user’s heartbeat on another Watch owner’s wrist.
The Apple Watch has its own operating system, it will take dictation, uses a speaker and a microphone which helps users answer calls from a nearby phone and use the watch like a wrist-bound walkie-talkie. Users can also draw little pictures for each other, answer text messages with voice, emoji, or preset responses that change with time. Other features include using it as a viewfinder for camera, and an Apple TV control.
Although Apple has demonstrated the Watch now, it is ready to release it just yet. All we know right now is it will be out in early 2015, and the price starts at $350 in the US.
