After years of industry rumours, Apple has finally unveiled its long-awaited smart watch. Featuring “revolutionary new technologies and a pioneering user interface with a beautiful design that honours the rich tradition of precision watchmaking”, the Apple Watch enables wearers to send and receive messages, answer calls to their iPhone and monitor their health and fitness. Launching the watch, Apple CEO Tim Cook said it is the “most personal device” that Apple has ever made.
“Apple introduced the world to several category-defining products (the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad) and once again Apple is poised to captivate the world with a revolutionary product that can enrich people’s lives,” he said.
“With Apple Watch, we’ve developed multiple technologies and an entirely new user interface specifically for a device that’s designed to be worn.”
According to Apple, the new watch, which boasts a digital crown to “scroll, zoom and navigate fluidly without obstructing the display’, is an extremely accurate timepiece that’s “customisable for personal expression”.
The watch comes with 11 watch faces ranging from traditional analogue faces to new faces like the dynamic Timelapse face; the Astronomy face with an “interactive, real-time 3D model of the earth, sun, moon and planets”; and the Solar face, a contemporary sundial. In addition the watch can be personalised in appearance and capability with additional information such as upcoming events, moon phases and activity levels “enabling millions of possible configurations”.
Apple Watch will be available in three collections – Apple Watch, with a polished or space black stainless steel case and a choice of straps; Apple Watch Sport, with a space gray or silver anodised aluminium case and sport band; and Apple Watch Edition, with an 18 carat rose or yellow gold case and a choice of “exclusive” straps.
Apple Watch is expected to be available for retail in early 2015.
Australian prices have not yet been released but US retail prices are expected to start at US$349.