Time's changing: All you need to know about the new Apple Watch

Apple last evening launched its first wearable device calling it the Apple Watch and its most personal device ever.

This watch can not only show you “accurate” time but also enable the user to send and receive messages, answer incoming phone calls, measure your heartbeat, count your steps and even browse Apple TV and make payments at retail outlets.

But the key question would be pricing and availability. Would you pay $349 (Dh1,281) to buy the Apple Watch? The device is technically delayed and will hit retail stores only in the first quarter of 2015.

The announcement yesterday has definitely stirred the wearable market and the success of the Apple Watch will be based on the extent the device can go in making the user’s life more convenient than what it is today. And here’s what Apple Watch has to offer:

The Apple Watch operates on a completely new user interface built based on the iOS and has four key elements to it – the Digital Crown, the Force Touch, the Taptic sensor and Digital Touch.

YouTube Official Apple Watch Trailer:

Digital Crown

What’s significant is the introduction of Digital Crown – a feature that brings back the functionality of the little knob on the side, a prominent feature on the traditional wristwatch into a digital arena.

Most smart watches had eliminated the use of the winding knob, replacing it with buttons and touch screens.

In the Apple Watch for example, the digital crown is the key and can be used to scroll, zoom and navigate the completely new iOS based user interface that Apple has built for the watch.

As Apple itself points out, the Digital Crown is its “most revolutionary navigation tool since the iPod Click Wheel and iPhone Multi-Touch.”

The new user interface allows the user to use the knob without obstructing the display. The Digital Crown also serves as the Home button and a convenient way to access Siri.

Force Touch

The screen of the Apple Watch has a retina display that features Force Touch, a technology that senses the difference between a tap and a press, providing a new way to access controls within apps.

According to Apple, the device senses force, adding a new dimension to the user interface. “Force Touch uses tiny electrodes around the flexible Retina display to distinguish between a light tap and a deep press, and trigger instant access to a range of contextually specific controls — such as an action menu in Messages, or a mode that allows you to select different watch faces — whenever you want,” the description on the Apple website notes. 

Taptic

A new feature that combines the sense of a touch and a sound for alerts and notifications.

Apple’s new Taptic Engine combines with a built-in speaker that together “discreetly enable an entirely new vocabulary of alerts and notifications you can both hear and feel.”

According to Apple, it taps you on the wrist whenever you receive an alert or notification, or perform a function like turning the Digital Crown or pressing down on the display. A user also feels a tactile sensation that’s recognizably different for each kind of interaction.

Not just you also get to hear “subtle audio cues from the specially engineered speaker driver.”

As if these were not sufficient the feature also allows an Apple Watch user to communicate with other Apple Watch wearers. “You can get someone’s attention with a gentle tap. Or even send something as personal as your heartbeat.” Now that’s a bit creepy.

Health Apps

Apple Watch also introduces various health and fitness apps. The device comes with a heart rate sensor and uses the GPS and Wi‑Fi in the iPhone to help measure the distance travelled during activities, while the accelerometer in the watch measures total body activity and calculate calories burned throughout the day.

Design wise the Apple Watch comes in three distinct collections—Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition. Apple has used custom alloys of polished or space black stainless steel, space grey or silver anodized aluminium for the body. For the fashion conscious you even have an 18-karat rose or yellow gold model.

Apple also created an entire range of watch straps from a sport band to flexible magnetic stainless steel mesh to a leather strap with magnets for adjustment and a more modern buckle styled strap.

The Watch also comes in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm.

As Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design pointed out Apple has gone all out in designing the Apple Watch. “With Apple Watch, we’ve developed multiple technologies and an entirely new user interface specifically for a device that’s designed to be worn. It blurs the boundary between physical object and user interface…..We’ve created an entire range of products that enable unparalleled personalization.”

Among the other significant features are:

Watchfaces

As Apple notes, you will have over two million ways to see time. Each Apple Watch comes with a range of watch faces you can change whenever you like. You can also add specialized functions — known in watchmaking as complications — to most faces. Choose stopwatches, stock quotes, weather updates, and more. When you combine all the possible options, the opportunities for personalization are virtually endless.

Easy Connect

You can create an inner circle and simply press the button next to the Digital Crown to access Friends. The screen will display thumbnails on which you can simply tap to send a message, make a call, or reach out in one of several new ways the new Apple Watch interface allows you to.

Messages, calls, and mail

The Taptic Engine plays a key role in notifications. Users can dictate a message or select from preset options — Apple Watch will make suggestions based on the things you write most. Or you can skip words altogether by sharing one of our new animated emojis.

You can also use the built-in speaker and microphone for chats. Users can transfer calls to their iPhone or from Apple Watch to your car’s speakerphone or your Bluetooth headset. And to silence an incoming call simply cover the Apple Watch with your hand.

The Watch also allows you to flag an email, mark it as read or unread, or move it to the Trash.

Digital Touch - talk without speaking

You don’t even have to use words. Use your finger to draw something quickly. Your friend on the other end can watch your drawing animate, then respond with a custom creation for you. Use the built-in speaker and microphone to share sound bites with friends.

You can even send a tap to let your friends know you’re thinking of them. You can even customize taps for different people.

When you press two fingers on the screen, the built-in heart rate sensor records and sends your heartbeat.

 Activity Tracker

The three rings are the key indicators. The Move ring shows how many calories you’ve burned. The Exercise ring shows how many minutes of brisk activity you’ve done. And the Stand ring shows how often you’ve stood up to take a break from sitting.

Workout App

Apple wants this app to be your personal trainer at the gym. Whenever you’re doing a dedicated cardio workout, the Workout app built into Apple Watch shows real-time stats such as time, distance, calories, and pace.

It lets you set goals for each workout, encourages you to meet or beat those goals along the way, and gives you a summary of what you’ve achieved.

And your workout is included in your Activity app measurements for the day. The Workout app suggests personalized goals based on your workout history. During your workout, Apple Watch provides timely encouragement by letting you know when you’re halfway there or almost done.

When you reach a personal best or hit a milestone it even celebrates and you earn special badges. A companion app on the iPhone lets you sync the data on a bigger screen.

Apple Pay

Apple says it has created a more convenient, secure way to pay by simply using your Apple Watch. A simple setup allows a user to use credit and debit cards across various retail store and merchants. The facility will first roll out in the United States and will soon roll out in other markets.

As a security feature Apple says the card numbers are never shared with merchants or transmitted with payment. Instead, Apple Watch creates a Device Account Number for each card. When a user make a purchase, this number is used to process the payment, along with a transaction-specific dynamic security code.

To pay with Apple Watch, all you have to do is double-click the button next to the Digital Crown and hold the wrist up to the contactless reader.

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