Apple has made its first move into the already crowded wearable computing space, taking the wraps off Apple Watch, a smart wristwatch that CEO Tim Cook breathlessly declared on a stage in San Francisco will “redefine what people expect from this category”.
The watch — Cook’s “one last thing” — came during one of the busiest keynotes from Apple in years, in which it took the wraps off two larger-screen iPhones and unveiled a new smartphone payments platform called Apple Pay.
Cook called the watch the next chapter in Apple’s history, describing it as a “comprehensive health and fitness device” and an “extremely precise and customisable timepiece”.
Apple says it has spent years developing and refining the watch. Key to its design is a “digital crown” that allows the wearer to navigate the user interface without a finger covering the display.
The Watch will be available in two sizes with six straps. There are also three different finishes, the basic unit, a sports model and one which is made with 18-carat gold.
It integrates with Siri, Apple’s voice-driven software assistant. However, the watch doesn’t work without a companion iPhone.
Users can choose from a range of customisable watch-face designs. It has a built-in heart-rate monitor and gyroscope. It features inductive charging, too.
The Watch will start at a recommended retail price of US$349 and will go on sale in the US in early 2015. It’s not immediately clear when the device will go on sale in South Africa.
More pictures of the new Apple Watch follow below. — (c) 2014 NewsCentral Media
