为了让你们都去买，苹果将推黄色/玫瑰金版Apple Watch Sport | 趣火星
火星文：知道你们喜欢土豪金，所以库克要借此来拯救市场啦……
近来，关于Apple Watch销量不佳的新闻甚多，大家普遍不看好Apple Watch的市场表现。
通过对谷歌趋势的数据可以发现，Apple Watch的搜索量远低于任何一款苹果产品。
iPhone是目前搜索量最大的苹果产品，其次是iPad。Mac和iPod虽然远远落后于iPad，但Apple Watch却只有iPod的1/2、iPhone的1/16。
苹果于2014年9月发布了Apple Watch，今年4月10日通过网上商店开始销售，6月中旬登陆实体店。但从谷歌搜索数据来看，这些里程碑似乎未能引起消费者的真正关注。
按照100分的满分来评估一款产品的受欢迎程度(iPhone显然已经达到100分)，Apple Watch很少能触及两位数。
作为该公司5年来推出的首款产品以及史蒂夫·乔布斯(Steve Jobs)退休后的首款硬件，Apple Watch有可能无法达到预期。
日前，知名KGI Securities分析师郭明池除了给出苹果2015年第三季度的设备销量预测之外，他还对苹果将在下半年推出的新产品也做了预测。他指出，Watch第二季度出货量大约在390万左右，随着库存问题的解决以及市场的不断扩大，该设备在第三季度的出货量将能上升到550万。这有理由让郭明池相信，苹果将很难在今年达到华尔街对该设备销量的期望—1500万。郭明池认为，为了刺激设备销量，苹果将会在今年下半年推出黄色和玫瑰金版的Apple Watch Sport。
关于其他的苹果产品线的第三季度销量，郭明池也给出了预测。
iPhone：在郭明池看来，进入第三季度之后，iPhone 6s将很快就会发布，这将导致iPhone第三季度销量的放缓，它将从第二季度的5420万下降到4010万。
iPad：郭明池表示，iPad销量还会继续下滑，所以他认为，苹果需要推出一款更薄、更轻的来获取消费者的青睐。由于iPad一般都在10月份才会跟消费者见面，所以新款销量要从第四季度开始统计。
Mac：现在，Mac的市场表现相当不俗，今年第二季度，它的销量有530万，郭明池预测，第三季度能够升至580万。为了继续保持良好的势头，郭明池认为苹果会在第三季度末或第四季度初推出新款Mac。
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Apple's New Watch
On September 9, 2014, Apple finally unveiled its long-rumored wearable device, the Apple Watch. While many expected the wearable to be called the "iWatch," Apple actually opted to use the Apple symbol () followed by "Watch" for the device's name. According to Apple's head of design Jony Ive, Apple has been working on the device . Apple CEO Tim Cook has said that
is to "change the way you live your life."
The Apple Watch is designed to be both functional and fashionable, available in two sizes of 38mm and 42mm (1.5 and 1.7 inches), with eight different casing materials and six separate interchangeable band options in a variety of colors. Organized into three separate collections, from the simple "Sport" to the high-end luxury "Edition," the Apple Watch has been created to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
Prices for the device start at $349 for the aluminum Watch Sport collection. The stainless steel Watch collection starts at $549, while the the gold Watch Edition collection starts at $10,000 and goes as high as $17,000.
On September 9 2015, Apple
with the addition of two new Sport models in Rose Gold aluminum and Gold aluminum, along with a range of new bands. Pricing for the Gold and Rose Gold models continues to start at $349.
Designed with either an ion-strengthened or flexible sapphire display (depending on model), all of the Apple Watches include an HD Retina screen, sapphire-covered sensors built into the zirconia backing, and an NFC chip to allow the devices to work with Apple's .
The Apple Watch interface, much like its exterior, has been created with end-user customization in mind. Apple has designed several unique watch faces that users can choose from, featuring traditional watch designs, whimsical characters, animated images, and more, all of which are "extensively customizable." According to Apple, one Apple Watch can have millions of different appearances. Apps on the device are organized into a unique cluster design for quick and easy access.
As with all of its products, Apple has carefully considered the way people interact with and use the Apple Watch, developing both a unique operating system (WatchOS) and unique input methods for the device. While it does allow for touch input, Apple Watch also includes a "Digital Crown" located on the right side of the body, which lets users zoom, scroll, and select elements on the Watch without covering the screen. The Digital Crown also serves as a home button.
A second physical button below the Digital Crown allows users to bring up a list of contacts and then communicate with friends by sending quick drawings, messages, animated emoji, and a heart beat, drawn directly from the watch's included sensors.
Apple Watch takes advantage of new pressure-sensing technology called "Force Touch" and is able to determine the difference between a tap and a press, enabling a range of contextually specific controls. A unique notification system allows notifications to be relayed in a subtle way through gentle vibrations using the "Taptic Engine."
There are several different sensors built into the Apple Watch, which allow it to measure metrics like steps taken, calories burned, and pulse rate. Movement information is relayed to two separate fitness-related apps, giving users an overall picture of their daily activity.
Apple's Watch is designed to be a companion device to the iPhone, and as such, it requires an iPhone to function. The Watch is not a standalone device because it relies on the iPhone for many features like relaying notifications and messages. The Apple Watch lasts for
with mixed usage and up to 72 hours in Power Reserve Mode, which limits functionality.
Though dependent on the iPhone, the Apple Watch is able to , letting it perform some basic functions like sending and receiving texts, querying Siri, and sending and receiving drawings.
The Apple Watch officially launched on Friday, April 24, and
after a better supply/demand balance was achieved. In August, the Apple Watch also
in the United States and Canada, and from there, it expanded to .
How to Buy
All versions of the Apple Watch can be
and select models are also
after making an online reservation. All Apple Watch models, aside from the Edition, now ship out within a few days.
The Apple Watch is available in more than 25 countries around the world, and Apple is expanding Apple Watch sales to additional countries gradually. A list of countries where the Apple Watch can be purchased and when it became available in those countries is below.
April 24: Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, UK, and United States.
June 26: Italy, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Taiwan
July 17: The Netherlands, Sweden, and Thailand
July 31: New Zealand, Russia, and Turkey
September 25: Austria, Denmark, and Ireland
October 9: Belgium, Finland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Poland
October 16: Brazil and Colombia
October 22: Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
October 23: Chile, Philippines, and South Africa
October 30: India
In addition to being available online and in retail Apple Stores, the Apple Watch is also , , and
in the United States and in dozens of other shops and boutiques around the world. For a full list of available retail locations where the Apple Watch can be purchased,
that we keep up to date with information on stores that carry the Apple Watch.
Apple Watch Buyer's Guide
Need help deciding which Apple Watch might be right for you? Check out our , which walks you through all of the available options and some things you might want to consider when choosing an Apple Watch.
Early Pre-orders
Pre-orders for the Apple Watch , and in just minutes, popular Apple Watch varieties began selling out. Many of the watches started with delivery estimates of 4/24 to 5/8, but some Apple Watches, like the stainless steel versions with Modern Buckle and Leather Loop, had shipping estimates of four to six weeks from the moment pre-orders were available.
Within an hour, shipping estimates for almost all models
or longer, and within six hours, there
at all that had a 4/24 to 5/8 delivery estimate.
Customers who managed to place an order before shipping estimates started slipping were among the first to receive Apple Watches. Delivery estimates ranged from 4/24 to 5/8, but customers began receiving Apple Watches on April 24.
Apple has not announced sales numbers for the Apple Watch, but during the company's third quarter earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook . CFO Luca Maestri hinted that revenue from Apple Watch sales exceeded $1 billion during its first quarter of availability.
Apple Watch Pricing
Because it's designed to suit a wide range of customer tastes, Apple Watch pricing varies wildly. It starts at $349 on the low end for the aluminum Sport, but goes all the way up to $17,000 for the 18-karat gold Edition.
Pricing for each Apple Watch is determined by three factors: the material the case is made from (stainless steel, aluminum, or gold), size, and band choice. Across the board, 42mm Apple Watch models are priced $50 higher than smaller 38mm models, and .
For the Watch Sport collection, Apple has 12 different models available, consisting of six different colors each available in 38mm and 42mm casing sizes. All 38mm models are priced a $349, while the 42mm models are priced at $399. The Silver aluminum casing is available with white, orange, and blue, fluoroelastomer sport bands.
The Space Gray aluminum Apple Watch Sport is available with a black band, while the 38mm Rose Gold Apple Watch Sport is available with a lavender band and the 42mm Rose Gold version is available with stone sport band. The 38mm Gold Apple Watch Sport is available with either an antique white band or a midnight blue band.
Apple originally offered its Apple Watch lineup with different bands, but appears to be changing the available color options on a seasonal basis. Prior to September 9, the Apple Watch Sport was sold with bands in bright spring colors of blue, pink, and green.
The two prices of the Sport Collection
The stainless steel Watch lineup is a bit more complicated, with 20 twenty different models available, 10 each in 38mm and 42mm sizes, at prices ranging from $549 to $1,099. At the low end of this tier are stainless steel Apple Watches combined with Sport Bands in black, white, and (Product) RED colors, with the 38mm models priced at $549 and the 42mm models at $599. Several other watch-band combinations such as the Milanese Loop ($649-$699) and Link Bracelet ($949-$999) are available with the same $50 premium for larger casings.
Not all bands are available for both 38mm and 42mm models, however, with a Modern Buckle available only for 38mm models at $749 with midnight blue and soft pink color options. Unique to the 42mm models is a Leather Loop band available in midnight blue and stone, with those combinations prices at $699. Finally, at the high end of the Watch collection is a unique Space Black casing paired with a Space Black stainless steel Link Bracelet, priced at $1,049 for the 38 mm model and $1,099 for the 42mm model. The Space Black stainless steel Apple Watch is also available with a black Sport Band for $549/$599.
The lowest and highest-priced watches in the Apple Watch collection
For those looking for an 18-karat gold watch, the , ranging from $10,000 to $17,000, is the place to be. At the low end of this range are the black and white sport bands paired with either a rose gold or yellow gold casing. The 38mm casings are priced at $10,000 in these combinations, with the 42mm models priced at $12,000.
For $15,000, customers can opt for the 42mm Apple Watch in yellow gold with a black Classic Buckle or rose gold with a midnight blue Classic Buckle. The lineup tops out at $17,000 with the 38mm casing available with in rose gold with a rose gray Modern Buckle or in yellow gold with a bright red Modern Buckle. All Watch Edition watches are available in limited quantities.
The lowest and highest-priced watches in the Apple Watch Edition collection.
Apple is also partnering with some third-party companies to create bands for the Apple Watch. The company's first collaboration is with , with Apple selling complete Apple Watch sets outfitted with Herm&s bands. There are three varieties: the Double Tour, the Single Tour, and the Cuff, all of which .
Priced at $1250, the leather Double Tour includes a 38mm stainless steel watch case. It's available in four colors: Fauve, Etain, Capucine, and Bleu Jean, and is called the Double Tour because it wraps twice around the wrist. The Single Tour is a more classic design that includes a 38 or 42mm stainless steel Apple Watch at prices that start at $1000. It too comes in several colors, including Fauve, Noir, and Capucine.
The Cuff, priced at $1500, ships with a 42mm stainless steel Apple watch and is available only in Fauve. It's a thicker cuff-style band that's been specially designed to let the heart rate sensor stay in contact with the wrist.
Band Options
Along with various Apple Watch sets that come with bands included, Apple is also selling watch bands on a standalone basis, letting customers
to go with their watches. Apple may be updating its band collection on a seasonal basis, as it began offering new fall colors in September of 2015.
Pricing starts at $49 for the Sport Bands, which come with three pieces to adjust the size. At launch, Apple only offered Sport Bands in S/M and M/L size options. Customers requested larger sizing options and four months later, Apple
for the 42mm Apple Watch Sport band, able to fit wrist sizes up to 245mm.
In September, Apple introduced Sport Bands in a widely expanded range of colors. There are now
ranging from gray to turquoise to pink to orange.
Other bands include the ,
(42 mm only - in Stone, Black, Brown, and Midnight Blue), or Classic Buckle (in Black or Saddle Brown), which are available for $149, and the
(38mm only - in Blue, Brown, Black, and Pink), available for $249. The
is the most expensive Apple Watch band available, priced at $449. The Link Bracelet, available in Silver and Space Black, also has an add-on 6 Link Kit that expands its size from 205mm to 245mm for an additional $49.
While bands like the Milanese Loop and the Link Bracelet come in a single size that's designed to fit a wide range of wrist sizes, the Modern Buckle, Leather Loop, and Sport Band come in multiple sizes ranging from small to extra large. Apple has made a fit guide for each of the bands to help users choose the best band. []
Apple sells all bands on a standalone basis . Most Apple Watch bands have been available since the Apple Watch launched with the exception of the Modern Buckle, which became .
Third-Party Band Options
In early May, Apple introduced a "Made for Apple Watch" program letting the company certify third-party Apple Watch bands for use with the Apple Watch. Manufacturers must follow a detailed list of rules and guidelines to gain Apple's approval and to make sure bands work properly with the device. Made for Apple Watch is similar to Apple's existing "Made for iPhone" accessory program, and in October, Apple began providing accessory manufacturers
for use in Apple-sanctioned bands.
While there are no official third-party bands available for purchase, Apple Watch users have discovered that the , allowing the parts from the watches to be used with standard 22mm watch bands. A demonstration of the process is available in the video below.
Manufacturers have also begun selling unofficial Apple Watch adapters and bands, some of which are quite nice. Our forum members have been experimenting with different band options for the Apple Watch, and
available.
AppleCare+
AppleCare+ , and is priced at $49 for the Sport models, $69 for the stainless steel models, and $1,500 for the gold Apple Watch Edition models. There's also a
for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, priced at $149 for Apple Watch Sport, $169 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,600 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. Combined AppleCare+ can be purchased up to six months after an iPhone purchase.
AppleCare+ service fees for accidental damage are priced at $69 for the Apple Watch Sport, $79 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,000 for the Apple Watch Edition. Apple has
considers to be eligible for a warranty replacement and what types of damage are the fault of the user, requiring an out-of-warranty fix.
for the Apple Watch are priced at $229 for the aluminum Sport model, $329 for the stainless steel model, and $2,800 for the gold Edition model. An out-of-warranty battery replacement service is also available for $79.
Apple is also offering a free Express Replacement service for Apple Watch customers that purchase AppleCare+.
Apple Watch How-Tos and Tips
Apple Watch Issues
Few of Apple's new products launch without some kind of issue or controversy popping up, and the Apple Watch is no exception. Shortly after the device began showing up on doorsteps on April 24, some users with heavy tattooing on their arms noticed that the .
Based on user testing, it appears that tattoos with dark ink interfere with the Apple Watch's heart rate sensor and skin contact registration, resulting in problems getting an accurate heart rate measurement and using the device's passcode feature, for both locking it in the event of theft and Apple Pay.
Apple Watch tattoo problems seem to vary based on the color and ink saturation of the tattoo, and dark colors cause the most interference. Users can toggle off Wrist Detection to avoid needing to enter a passcode, but this disables Apple Pay.
There seems to be no solution for people who have tattoos on their wrists that fully fixes the problem, so these individuals might want to opt out of purchasing an Apple Watch, or return their devices within the 14-day return window. Apple has
and says the only way to resolve the problem is to connect the Apple Watch to an external heart rate monitor.
Taptic Sensor Production
The Apple Watch has been in short supply since pre-orders for the device launched on April 10, and towards the end of the month, a report from The Wall Street Journal shed some light on what might have caused supply shortages.
Apple had two suppliers for the Taptic Engine in the Apple Watch and early on in production, it was discovered that Taptic Engine components from one of the suppliers were faulty. Apple was unable to use those Taptic Engine components, potentially leading to delays in production.
The Taptic Engine is an integral part of the Apple Watch, powering the gentle taps that users receive for notifications, heartbeats, and more. Apple caught the Taptic Engine problem early on, so Apple Watch buyers do
with a faulty Taptic Engine.
Qantas Airlines Boarding Pass Scanner
A problem that Qantas airlines ran into has given an interesting look at some of the pitfalls that occur when features are promised before a device is available for testing. The Apple Watch works with Passbook, allowing it to load boarding passes from participating airlines like Qantas.
As it turns out, an Apple Watch attached to a wrist does not fit under the Qantas airline's gate scanner for boarding passes, being too thick for something that was originally meant to scan a piece of paper.
"Sticky" Digital Crown
Some Apple Watch owners
about a sticky digital crown that becomes difficult to turn. While Apple is replacing devices brought into Apple Stores with this issue for the time being, there
-- water. Apple has a support document detailing what to do if the digital crown becomes hard to turn because of dirt or debris and solving the issue requires running the Apple Watch's digital crown under water for 10 to 15 seconds.
Band Locking
A few Apple Watch users have run into issues with
into place as they should, possibly due to a faulty locking mechanism. Apple appears to be replacing watches that have this issue with new devices.
Activation Lock
The , so there is nothing preventing a lost or stolen Apple Watch from being wiped and registered to a new device. The Apple Watch has a passcode, but it can be removed through a reset, which Apple highlights as a feature.
Watches don't generally come with anti-theft mechanisms, but if the Apple Watch follows in the footsteps of the iPhone, it could become a target for thieves due to its resale value and its high desirability. iPhone theft caused crime to rise in major cities like San Francisco and New York, leading to lawmakers to call for security features that led to the introduction of Activation Lock. Activation Lock was later added with watchOS 2.
Heart Rate Data Inconsistencies
After the Apple Watch received its , some users began noticing a problem concerning the frequency with which the Apple Watch sends heart rate data to the iPhone. Prior to the update, the Apple Watch sent heart rate information to the iPhone's Health app every 10 minutes, but after the update, data is sent at far more inconsistent times with some users seeing no data reported for hours at a time. It later turned out this was an intentional change -- the Apple Watch now only collects heart rate data when a user is stationary.
Apple Watch Design
According to , the Apple Watch is "one of the most difficult projects" he has worked on, and a ton of time went into the design and creation of the device. Apple consulted with several watch historians and Ive himself delved into horological history, studying clocks and watches throughout time while designing the product.
An incredible amount of work went into every minute detail of the Apple Watch, and
that was put into the device has been shared in a
published by Wired. One example cited in the interviews pertains to the images displayed on some of the Apple Watch faces. One of the faces displays different flowers blooming, and to develop that face, Apple put in 285 hours and took more than 24,000 photographs.
Apple Watch features a rounded, rectangular body in two separate sizes (38mm and 42mm) that is able to snap easily into an array of interchangeable bands. There are only two "buttons" on the device, including the Digital Crown that offers several control options and the Friends button that brings up a list of contacts.
Aiming to create watches to please a wide range of tastes, Apple designed the Apple Watch with four different custom alloys of stainless steel and aluminum in four finishes, along with two formulations of 18-karat yellow and rose gold that are designed to stand up to daily wear.
In total, there are eight different body options: Stainless Steel, Space Black Stainless Steel, Silver Aluminum, Space Gray Aluminum, Gold Aluminum, Rose Gold Aluminum, 18-karat Gold, and 18-karat Rose Gold.
Along with six separate body options, Apple has also designed six types of custom bands for the Apple Watch: Link Bracelet, which is stainless steel and resembles a tr Sport Band, made of a flexible and lightwe Leather Loop, a wraparound band constructed from Modern Buckle, made from Granada leather and sporti Classic Buckle, made from Dutch leather with a tradit and the Milanese Loop, a flexible metal mesh band designed to wraparound the wrist.
Apple has organized its various watch casings and bands into three separate collections: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition, each of which group casings and bands that Apple says "work particularly well together."
Apple Watch Collection
includes Apple's stainless steel casings in both a highly polished silver color and space black. These watches feature a durable, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal display and are combined with several of the six available bands in 20 configurations that can be purchased from Apple.
A selection of watches from the Apple Watch Collection
According to Apple, its stainless steel is made from a cold-forging process designed to make the 316L steel 40 percent harder and more resistant to nicks and corrosion. The black version is coated in a diamond-like carbon layer to achieve its color.
Apple Watch Sport Collection
is the watch collection with the lowest price tag. Aimed at fitness enthusiasts, the Sport watches do not have a sapphire display, instead featuring a lightweight strengthened alumina-silicate Ion-X glass that's "especially resistant to scratches and impact."
Apple's Sport collection also features a lightweight anodized aluminum casing in either Silver or Space Gray, and in September of 2015, Apple also introduced Apple Watch Sport models in Rose Gold and Gold anodized finishes. According to Apple, the aluminum used in the Apple Sport Watch is a new alloy (7000 Series aluminum) that's 60 percent stronger than standard alloys. With the Ion-X glass and the aluminum casing, the Sport collection watches are 30 percent lighter than stainless steel models.
A selection of watches from the Apple Sport Collection
Sport watches come with a high-performance fluoroelastomer band that's durable and strong, but soft. Apple says it is more flexible than rubber traditionally used in watch bands, for a smooth drape across the wrist, with a pin-and-tuck closure for a close fit
Apple Watch Edition Collection
is Apple's high-end luxury lineup, featuring casings crafted from 18-karat yellow or rose gold. Apple metallurgists have designed the gold in the Edition watches to be up to twice as hard as standard gold, which keeps it free from nicks and scratches.
18-karat yellow gold Edition Apple Watch with red Modern Buckle Band
Like the Apple Watch collection, the Edition collection features a polished sapphire crystal display that's highly durable and scratch-resistant. The Edition collection's gold casings are paired with the Modern Buckle, the Sport Band, and the Classic Buckle, creating eight different options.
18-karat rose gold Edition Apple Watch with white Sport Band
The Apple Watch Edition can be purchased in select Apple Stores and a limited number of luxury stores. It ships with a special
that's able to double as a charger, unlike the less expensive watches, which come with a standard box. The back of the Edition box is equipped with a Lightning connector, and the magnetic charging pad rests inside. Users can charge the watch simply by returning it to its case at night.
The Apple Watch was created to be a companion device to the iPhone, and as such, it displays notifications when a user receives a phone call, a message, or an app alert. It offers apps, time keeping abilities, social features, and a unique interface that takes advantage of a vibration-based feedback system and the iPod-style "Digital Crown" scroll wheel.
Digital Crown and Contacts Button
Though designed as a companion to the iPhone, the Apple Watch has a limited number of
including the ability to make Apple Pay payments, play music over Bluetooth, track activity, and display some built-in Apple apps.
Apple Watch has a water resistance rating of IPX7, so it is splash and water resistant, but it is not waterproof. It can be worn during exercise, in the rain, and while washing your hands, but it should not be submerged. Many of the Apple Watch bands, like the Modern Buckle and the Leather Loop, should also be kept out of the water.
conducted on the Apple Watch suggest it might be more water resistant than Apple claims. It was able to survive a 1,200 meter swim workout, depth tests, and a 10 meter high dive, but users should follow Apple's guidelines and avoid submersion.
The Apple Watch may be more waterproof than suggested, but tests by one developer suggest that it's
because when wet, the screen can't be controlled. People wondering how it performs in water should check out his detailed report on his experimentation with the device.
The watch has a built-in speaker and a microphone, so it is able to place and receive phone calls. It was created to function as a health and fitness device, offering movement tracking capabilities combined with intuitive apps that encourage users to be more active.
Apple custom designed a special S1 package for the Apple Watch, which integrates several different subsystems into a single module. The S1's
is said to be
to the A5 processor in the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4s, and , it has 512GB of RAM. It houses a gyroscope and an accelerometer to measure activity, and a sensor that detects heart rate. The heart rate sensor consists of four sapphire lenses built into the zirconia backing of the watch that detect pulse rate (via infrared, visible-light LEDs, and photodiodes), and the device also integrates the GPS and Wi-Fi capabilities of the iPhone into several of its tracking abilities, using the phone's GPS system to determine distance traveled.
The Apple Watch has a
beneath the band that's used for diagnostic purposes, but there has been some speculation that it could, in the future, enable accessories like smart bands. Third-party accessory makers have proven that the diagnostic port is also .
Battery Life
<Apple Watch battery life remained a mystery for many months following the device's September introduction, but during its recent March 9 media event, Apple
on how long we can expect our Apple Watch devices to last before needing to be charged.
According to a dedicated battery section , the Apple Watch lasts for approximately 18 hours with mixed usage, which the company refers to as "all-day battery life." Mixed usage is defined as 90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback, all over the course of 18 hours. A
revealed a rather small 205mAh battery, just a fraction of the capacity of the battery found in the iPhone 6.
The Apple Watch lasts for up to three hours when it is being used to make phone calls, up to 6.5 hours during an active workout session, and up to 6.5 hours when playing audio. When used as a watch, the device lasts for up to 48 hours, and in , the battery lasts for up to 72 hours.
Power Reserve Mode, which can be enabled at any time, shuts down most of the functions of the watch that drain power, allowing it to continue to offer its most basic function -- time telling -- even when the Apple Watch battery is low.
As Apple notes, battery life varies by use, configuration, and other factors, so real world results may vary. According to Apple, the 42mm Apple Watch "typically" experiences longer battery life than the smaller 38mm version.
It takes 1.5 hours for the Apple Watch to be charged from 0 percent to 80 percent using the included MagSafe inductive charger, and it takes 2.5 hours for the device to get to a full 100 percent charge. The Apple Watch , but users need to send the device in to Apple to get a replacement installed.
The Apple Watch comes in two separate sizes, 38mm and 42mm, both of which are equipped with a Retina display. According to Apple, the "incredibly high pixel density" of the Apple Watch display makes numbers and text easy to read at a glance, even while moving."
Apple has not provided specific details on the resolution of the Apple Watch in its marketing materials, but the resolution is listed in the. The smaller 38mm Apple Watch has a resolution of 272 x 340, while the larger 42mm Apple Watch has a resolution of 312 x 390.
Apple describes the display as "extremely energy efficient" and says that it has "remarkable sharpness and contrast." On the Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Edition, the display is laminated to a machined and polished sapphire crystal. On the Apple Watch Sport, the display is protected by Ion-X glass, which is lighter than sapphire but less scratch resistant.
In a scratch test, the sapphire display of the Apple Watch proved to be , even when scratching was attempted with a drill.
of the Apple Watch Sport suggested it is less resilient than the sapphire display of the more expensive Apple Watches, but it should still hold up well to daily wear and tear.
According to , the Apple Watch has an "excellent smart watch display" with accurate colors and picture quality. A side-by-side comparison with the iPhone 6's display suggested Apple has taken measures to ensure the Apple Watch display has the same colors, color calibration, and color accuracy as the larger smartphone screen.
According to , though the Ion-X glass used in the Apple Watch Sport is more prone to scratching, it's less reflective than the sapphire used in more expensive models and is easier to see in bright lighting.
According to Apple, the Apple Watch was designed to be an "incredibly accurate timepiece" that has a margin of error within 50 milliseconds. It checks against the definitive global time standard on a regular basis, adjusting the time accordingly during daylight savings time or when a user travels from one time zone to another.
Apple's focus on time has also led it to develop a variety of watch faces, offering a range of designs from a standard analog clock to Mickey Mouse to a galaxy theme that includes moon phases and a look at the solar system. Each custom watch face includes several additional customization options, letting users change colors and the information that's displayed.
A few watch face examples
Customizable features included with each Watch Face are called "Complications," and are specialized functions that offer information like moon phases, sunrise and sunset times, alarms, and weather.
Apple Watch's accelerometer senses when a user raises his or her wrist, at which point the watch face is displayed. When not activated, the screen remains blank to conserve battery life.
Force Touch
Pressure-sensing technology called "Force Touch" has been built into the Apple Watch, allowing it to determine the difference between a tap and a press. This functionality allows for a new range of contextually specific controls, almost similar to the different abilities enabled by left clicking and right clicking on a mouse button.
Taptic Engine
Along with pressure-sensing technology, the Apple Watch has a unique haptic feedback vibration engine that's designed to deliver alerts in a subtle, gentle way, letting users feel and hear the design of the user interface. Tactile sensations are different for each kind of notification and combined with audio cues for a feedback system that's unlike anything available on the Mac or iPhone.
NFC and Apple Pay
Apple Watch includes support for NFC, which allows it to integrate with Apple's new mobile payment initiative, . When paired with an iPhone, the Apple Watch can be used to make payments at retailers that accept Apple Pay.
With its NFC capabilities, the Apple Watch allows iPhone users with an iPhone 5, 5s, or 5c to use Apple Pay for the first time. Currently, Apple Pay is limited to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users as those are the only iPhones with NFC.
The built-in heart rate monitor is used to ensure secure payments . When the Apple Watch is first put on the wrist, a user enters a PIN code to authorize Apple Pay. After that point, the watch monitors skin contact and if removed from a wrist (in the event of a theft, for example) the device is no longer able to make payments until the PIN is re-entered.
The Apple Watch uses inductive charging, taking advantage of a Magsafe-style magnetic charger that snaps easily onto the back of the device. The Apple Watch charges from 0 to 80 percent in about an hour and a half, with an additional hour required to reach full charge.
Watch OS is the operating system that's installed on the Apple Watch. Though WatchOS has taken design cues from iOS 7 and iOS 8, it's been designed from the ground up for the Apple Watch with features that take advantage of all of the hardware in the device.
Current Version
The current version of watchOS is , which was
on October 21, 2015. watchOS 2.0.1 is a minor update to watchOS 2,
and new emoji.
As the first significant update to watchOS, watchOS 2 introduced a lot of new features to the Apple Watch, mainly through new developer tools. watchOS 2 brought native apps that run on the watch itself instead of the iPhone, and it let developers access several sensors and hardware features including the Taptic Engine, heart rate monitor, microphone, and accelerometer.
Along with these features for developers, watchOS 2 also included new watch faces (photo album and time-lapse), third-party Complications, a tweak that makes the screen stay on for up to 70 seconds when activated, and Activation Lock.
watchOS 2 also included a new Time Travel feature for viewing past and upcoming events in a watch face Complication, and a Nightstand mode that's activated when the watch is charging, displaying the time.
Watch OS Details
By default, the Apple Watch display remains black and blank when a user's arm is down to save battery. When a user raises up his or her wrist, the watch face with the time and other user-selected information is displayed.
The WatchOS home screen can be accessed by pressing on the Digital Crown. The home screen displays all available apps in a cluster format (or "app neighborhood") that can be navigated with swipes or with the Digital Crown control. Apps are accessed with a touch.
Apps that run on the Apple Watch are extensions of existing iPhone apps, powered by the iPhone and with a user interface that extends to the watch. When the Apple Watch launched, there were no native apps, but native app functionality was introduced with watchOS 2. Developers also originally had limited access to Apple Watch features and were unable to access the gyroscope, accelerometer, NFC, built-in speaker and microphone, and the Taptic Engine of the device, but that all changed with watchOS 2. Apple Watch apps can now take advantage of all of the hardware the device.
Actionable Notifications let users take an action or respond to a notification, such as turning off lights of a connected device or accessing flight information from an email. Notifications are only received when the
and in contact with skin.
There are two types of notifications on the Apple Watch: a "Short Look" where a notification is only briefly visible and a "Long Look" activated when a user raises their wrist. "Long Look" notifications are equivalent to Actionable Notifications, letting users respond to an incoming notification. For example, a user might receive a Short Look notification from Instagram when a new photo is posted, which morphs into a Long Look notification where an action like a comment or a like can be taken.
Apps on the Apple Watch are similar to apps available for the iPhone, but are far more limited. A comprehensive list of Apple-made apps and third-party apps for the Apple Watch is available below, as is information on some of the Apple Watch's more advanced features.
Digital Touch
Social interaction is a cornerstone of Watch OS, and the various sensors and technological capabilities built into the Apple Watch allow for new ways of communication between users, mainly through a set of features Apple's named "Digital Touch."
With Digital Touch, users can send taps to each other or take advantage of the touch screen to draw and send simple sketches. Apple Watch has specially designed animated emoji, plus a list of pre-determined response messages (which improve over time based on user input) that can be used as text message replies. It's also possible to use the built-in heart rate monitor to send an actual heartbeat to another user, which is relayed through vibrations and a heart on the watch display.
Accessibility
As it does with all of its products, Apple has paid special attention to accessibility with the Apple Watch, making the device suitable for use by people with a range of visual, physical, and aural disabilities.
Apple has created an outline of all the
on its website, highlighting functions like VoiceOver, font adjustment, Taptic notifications, and mono audio.
For the visually impaired, Apple offers VoiceOver, able to speak whatever appears on the screen (compatible with built-in apps and available in 14 languages). There are also settings to increase the size of the Apple Watch type, make text heavier, zoom in, turn on an extra large watch face, reduce transparency, reduce motion, and activate grayscale.
For people who have hearing loss, Apple Watch supports mono audio, letting users play both audio channels in both ears, adjusting the balance for greater volume in either ear. The Taptic Engine, with its gentle touch-based notifications, is also cited by Apple as an accessibility tool.
Accessibility features can be accessed through the Apple Watch directly or through the Apple Watch Settings app on a paired iPhone.
There are two separate fitness apps pre-installed on the Apple Watch, each designed to track different fitness elements. The Activity app gives users an overview of their daily fitness levels, with three "rings" representing calories burned, exercise completed, and how often a break is taken from sitting. Activity has a companion iPhone app to let users track trends over time, providing a comprehensive overview of daily activity and workout history along with achievements for reaching fitness goals.
A second Workout app displays real-time stats like time spent exercising, distance traveled, calories burned, and pace when working out. It encourages users to set, meet, and beat fitness goals, and over time, it is able to suggest new, attainable fitness goals and act as a digital personal trainer. The Workout app can be programmed for different workouts before you begin an activity, and it'll monitor your progress. You can set it for a walk or run, for example, or a bicycling session. There are also several settings for different workout machines like rowers and ellipticals.
Health and fitness was one of Apple's main focal points when developing the Apple Watch. The company
where it gathered health and fitness data from Apple employees for years to develop the Apple Watch.
Employees were outfitted with a wide array of sensors and wear masks that measure statistics like changes in breathing. Volunteers were subjected to widely varying workout regimens including rowing, yoga, and running, to collect data for the Apple Watch. Apple collected
for the Apple Watch, both indoors in special rooms that featured different climates, and in various locations around the world.
Though heavily reliant on the iPhone, certain Apple Watch features continue to work when you're away from your device. For example, the device is able to learn a user's stride after a few exercises completed while paired with an iPhone, and then it's able to
without needing to be tethered to an iPhone.
As might be expected from a device with limited space for user input, the Apple Watch includes Siri integration. Users can ask Siri to perform many of the tasks the personal assistant is able to perform on the iPhone, such as sending messages, getting directions, or looking up information.
Siri can be activated by holding down the Digital Crown or raising a wrist and using the "Hey Siri" command.
Other Apps
For the most part, apps that are available for the Apple Watch are more limited versions of some of the apps available on iOS and OS X. For example, the included Messages app lets users dictate messages or select quick responses from pre-set options.
The Phone app, meanwhile, lets users conduct quick conversations that can be transferred to the iPhone, a car's speakerphone, or a Bluetooth headset, if desired. Incoming phone alerts can be silenced by covering the Apple Watch with a hand.
Phone, Mail, and Messages
Mail, another app present on Watch OS, displays incoming email messages. Users can read a message, flag it, mark it read/unread, or move it to trash, but need to transfer to an iPhone to type a response. Other built-in apps:
- Calendar: Displays what's coming up next in a user's day, sends meeting reminders and allows users to accept calendar invitations.
- Maps: Lets users view current location and get turn-by-turn directions. Maps takes advantage of Taptic Feedback, delivering different vibrations for a left or right turn.
- Passbook: Like on the iPhone, Passbook stores boarding passes, tickets, loyalty cards, and credit cards. It's an integral part of Apple Pay.
- Music: Users can control the music on their iPhones via Apple Watch and Apple Watch can also play music directly.
- Apple TV, iTunes: Apple Watch can serve as a remote control for both iTunes and the Apple TV, letting users navigate the interface with the watch.
- Camera/Photos: Apple Watch serves as a remote shutter for the iPhone's camera. It can display a live preview of what the iPhone sees, and snap the picture. Apple Watch also displays photos that are favorited on the iPhone in its Photos app.
- Clock: Similar to the iPhone's clock app, Apple Watch has stopwatch, timer, and alarm functionality built in, along with a world clock.
- Weather: Apple Watch lets users to see the weather in their immediate location or anywhere in the world. The app displays a detailed daily report and a weekly forecast.
- Settings: A Settings app serves as a hub to enable and disable various Apple Watch features, including Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, and Mute. This app also lets users ping their iPhones to determine its location should it become lost.
Apple Watch supports third-party apps, allowing developers to create three distinct types of software for the device: "Actionable Notifications" that are essentially interactive third-party app notifications sent from the iPhone, Glances, which display quick bits of info, and full on apps that run either on the iPhone or on the Apple Watch itself.
Example of Actionable Notifications, Glances, and Apps
Continuity
Watch OS, like OS X Yosemite and iOS 8, supports Apple's new Continuity features that allow the operating systems to integrate with each other in innovative ways. With Handoff, for example, users are able to shift tasks from one device to another with ease, so a phone call, message, or email can be transferred from the Apple Watch to a Mac or iOS device.
iPhone Companion App
iOS 8.2 included a pre-installed iPhone app called just "Apple Watch," which serves as a companion to the upcoming device. It serves as a place for Apple Watch owners to control settings on the device and download apps.
An iPhone pairs with an Apple Watch using the companion app, though the iPhone's camera. A pairing menu available now asks users to hold their Apple Watch devices up to the camera to initiate a connection.
The Apple Watch companion app has menus for configuring the app layout on the Apple Watch (rearranging the home screen cluster), toggling on notifications and glances, choosing brightness and text size, and controlling sounds and haptic feedback (the gentle vibrations you get with notifications). One neat haptic feature is the ability to cover the watch display with a hand to mute it.
You can use the iPhone app to toggle on Airplane Mode, turn on Do Not Disturb, and set a passcode. There are controls for individual app settings, and it's possible to choose the orientation of the Apple Watch display to left wrist or right wrist. You can also toggle on "Wrist Detection," which activates the watch display whenever the wrist is raised and shows the time.
There's a friends list available to add friends to communicate with (by sending heartbeats and drawings), and there are options to control Activity alerts, manage music, and manage photos.
that did not make it into the original Apple Watch due to performance problems and inconsistent results.
Apple planned to include sensors that measured things like the conductivity of the skin and blood pressure, but the company was unable to get solid results with the sensors, ultimately deciding to scrap the technology for the first-generation Apple Watch. Apple may be planning to include these features in future versions of the device, and Financial Times says Apple is indeed
for the launch of the second-generation Apple Watch.
After visiting some of Apple's Asian supply chain,
also believes the second-generation Apple Watch will be announced in mid to late 2016. He predicts the device will be thinner in size than the original Apple Watch.
Other features that
for the next-generation Apple Watch include a front-facing FaceTime camera to allow Apple Watch users to make and receive FaceTime calls and a new Wi-Fi chip that may allow the Apple Watch to do more without an iPhone.
A questionable rumor from a source without a proven track record has suggested Apple is working
that will be equipped with various health sensors. Said to plug into the Apple Watch's diagnostic port, the rumor says the sensors could detect blood oxygen levels, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and body temperature.
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