The new Apple Watch is making a bold attempt to set the bar for all smart watches. It’s capable of all the abilities of smart watches on the market while exceeding expectations with innovative design and exclusive features.
Apple watch will be sold in three different trim levels; there’s a base version, a sport version and an 18K gold edition. Six different bands are offered to cater to varying aesthetic tastes. Sapphire crystal, the second hardest transparent material after diamond, protects the display. Buzzing feedback alerts users of iPhone notifications, and like other smart phones, the Apple Watch can deftly handle turn-by-turn directions. Sure it tracks your steps and your heart rate like the competition, but it takes it a step further with a series of rings that track your progress and regress. A Move Ring displays your calorie burn. An Exercise Ring tells you how active you’ve been. And the dreaded Stand Ring highlights how little you’ve moved for the day. Achievements of daily goals makes the rings disappear.
The Apple Watch promises to connect users to the real world in a more user-friendly way than other brands competing for the smart watch crown. The Pinterest app will provide walking direction to pinned locations straight to the Apple Watch. You can unlock your hotel door via the Starwood Hotels app. A Honeywell app will enable users to control the thermostat from their wrists. Additionally, a BMW will help forgetful drivers rediscover where they’ve parked their car. Apple Pay, Apple’s take on the mobile wallet, will be featured with the watch as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Apple’s answer to navigating through multiple apps and content on a tiny screen is called a digital crown. It’s simply a rotary dial, but the ease of use and application of it could set the Apple Watch miles apart from its competitors. The crown can zoom in and out of minuscule elements on the display when finger gestures could be frustrating.
The base model Apple Watch is offered in standard or black stainless steel. The next level up is the Apple Watch Sport that features a tough anodized aluminum case and reinforced Ion-X glass. The Apple Watch Edition trim level comes with an 18K case in either yellow or rose gold. Pricing for the Apple Watch starts at $349. That’s a stiff price compared to smart watch offerings from Samsung and Motorola, but if it’s as user-friendly and functionally sound as it should be, it will more than justify the price tag. Watch collectors and potential Android defectors should note that that the Apple Watch requires the iPhone to function.
Featured image via Apple
