After introducing the Apple Watch at the iPhone event in September, Apple went back to Cupertino to fine-tune the device and has emerged with launch details, more information about pricing and new features.
The Apple Watch be available on April 24. The starting price for the stainless steel Apple Watch will be $549 to $1,049 for the 38mm version and $599 to $1,099 for the 42mm version depending on your watch band.
The Apple Watch Sport will cost you $349 for the 38mm version to $399 for the 42mm model.
Finally, a limited number of the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition will be made available starting at $10,000. Completely decked out with all the bells and whistles, the Apple Watch Edition will set you back $17,000.
Ouch.
Tim Cook said, “It’s the most personal device we have ever created.”
He showed how each watch face can be customized to your needs including adding weather and stopwatch to the face.
There has been tons of speculation on how long the battery will last. Apple says the watch will last through a “typical day” with 18 hours of use. The watch is charged by a magnetic charger that snaps onto the back.
Pre-orders will start on April 10, with the watch available in stores on April 24.
The choice of straps for the device include two leather styles, fluroelastomer bands in five colors, a stainless steel link bracelet and a stainless steel mesh Milanese loop.
Apple’s entering a crowded wearable market. Google launched Android Wear last spring while watches from Peak and Pebble have been available for a few years. There’s also the myriad of health-tracking wrist bands.
Of course, Apple wasn’t the first company to create a smartphone. But when the iPhone was announced it made them something the average consumer wanted in their pocket. The Apple Watch could do the same thing for wearables.
In addition to health features like reminders to stand up, the watch supports third-party apps like Instagram, WeChat and Uber, and the ability to share your heart beat with other Apple Watch owners. It also auto-generates text replies based on a message’s content, lets you draw images to send to friends, and tap a message they”ll feel on their wrist.”
Siri is activated by touching the crown or using your voice by saying “Hey Siri.” There’s also everyone’s new favorite way to pay for stuff, Apple Pay. You don’t have to touch the terminal with your watch and you’ll receive haptic feedback when the transaction has been made.
You’ll need the Apple Watch app on your phone to browse and download new apps for the device.
Now that we have launch details and pricing, will you be pre-ordering or lining up for an Apple Watch?
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