Apple Watch announced, available early 2015 for $349

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Wearables, Corporate News

After months of rumors, the iWatch has been made official, and it’s called the Apple Watch. For the first time since the death of Steve Jobs, Tim Cook mentioned that he had “One more thing…” to talk about after unveiling the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Introducing the device as a precise and customizable timepiece that is also a comprehensive health and fitness device, the Apple Watch was unveiled with pride.

A video, narrated by Jony Ive, explained how the watch works. Users navigate using the touch display, as well as a Digital Crown on the side (similar to dials you find on analog watches) that allows you to navigate, zoom, and scroll without covering up the display with your fingers. The Apple Watch display can sense touch and swipes, as well as force.

The face of the watch is covered by sapphire crystal, which the company noted was the second-hardest translucent material, right behind diamond. That makes it very scratch-proof and difficult to shatter.  The actual display itself is a Retina display that is laminated to the sapphire crystal. Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all, the Apple Watch will be available in two display sizes—38mm and 42mm. Aside from screen size, you then have three different finishes, each with two colors:

• Apple Watch: Silver stainless steel & Black stainless steel
• Apple Watch Sport: Silver aluminum & space gray aluminum
• Apple Watch Edition: 18-karat yellow gold & 18-karat rose gold

After deciding on your finish and color, you then move on to picking a watch band, which ranges from a plastic sport band, link bracelet, leather buckle, Milanese loop, and more. There are plenty of ways to customize the Apple Watch and make it your own.

On the inside, the Apple Watch has an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, gyroscope, and a Taptic Engine which is used to sense when you are tapping the display versus pressing it. Charging is done wirelessly with a MagSafe connector that hooks to the Watch using magnets. You’ll also find Siri built-in, as well as a host of apps including Maps, Calendar, Music, Apple TV remote, Remote camera, Stopwatch, Timer, Stocks, Weather,, Photos, Passbook, and more. Passbook is particularly interesting, because it allows the Apple Watch to support Apple Pay. That’s right—you can use the Apple Watch to pay for items wirelessly using your credit card. Expect third-party apps from developers as well.

To use the Apple Watch to its fullest potential, you need to pair it with an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 5s, 5c, or 5. The new Apple wearable will be available in early 2015 at a starting price of $349.