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Expected early 2015
10th September 2014
A relatively late entrant into the smartwatch market, the Apple
Watch defies expectations in many ways. First of all, it's just
called the "Watch" and not the "iWatch", and
in fact there are three different series of watches (Watch, Watch
Sport and Watch Edition) in large and small sizes with a variety
of wristbands.
 Secondly,
it's a bit mundane looking with a rectangular display and minimalist
design. But the elegance is really in the design details and the
sheer choice of options.
Thirdly, the Watch isn't controlled in the same way as other
smartwatches. Yes, it has a touchscreen that uses gestures heavily,
but it also has a "digital crown" clickwheel at the side
which allows finer control.
Fourthly, Apple have gone away and had a really good think about
the sort of things that a smartwatch should do. The Watch has a
comprehensive set of fitness features, it can actually do useful
things with NFC, makes a good attempt at actually making applications
do useful things on the tiny screen, and it manages to make it all
fun rather than a chore.
As you might expect, this is not a standalone device and it needs
to integrate with a compatible iPhone (5 onwards). Of course, Android
users have more choice of devices, but until now Apple users had
none at all.
 Fitness
and health features include a heart-rate monitor, gyroscope and
a pedometer, combined with integration into iOS 8's new Health app
or any number of other apps. You can even share some data directly
with other Watch users.
Some novel features with the Watch include an application to
find where you parked your BMW, an electronic key system for Starwood
Hotels (presumably using NFC), and you can use it as a ticket for
American Airlines as well.
 The
watch faces are highly customisable, and other fun features include
Emoji-type messaging. Significantly, the maps application
has been redesigned from the ground up and now comes with something
called "tactic feedback" which helps you know which way
to turn when walking by vibrating your wrist.
The Apple Watch has its own wireless charging system that clamps
onto the back magnetically. Rival devices just use a simple dock
or tray for wireless charging, it remains to be seen if Apple's
approach is better.
The Watch is the base model (with prices starting at $349
in the US when it goes on sale next year), the Watch Sport
comes with a toughened case and a sports strap as standard, and
the Watch Edition brings on the bling with some 18 karat
gold. Overall, there are six different case combinations and several
different straps which at the moment gives three dozen different
variations to choose from. If the Watch becomes popular, then there
might be more variations to come.
Most of the major manufacturers (with the exception of HTC, BlackBerry
and Nokia) now have reasonably advanced smartwatches. So, now it
is up to consumers to determine if they actually want all this wrist-mounted
technology or not. Where will we be in two years time? Will smartwatches
be forgotten? Or will they be the next big thing? Watch this space.
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