Apple CEO Tim Cook showed off the new Apple Watch at a live event in San Francisco, California. The presentation went into some more detail than when Cook announced the watch in 2014 at an earlier event.
The Apple Watch is offered in three collections and prices: the aluminum Apple Watch Sport starting at $349, the stainless steel Apple Watch beginning at $549, and the solid gold Apple Watch Edition which will be offered in limited quantities at select retail locations for $10,000. Each collection of Apple Watches is available in 38mm or 42mm sizes.
The watch has many fitness-based features that track the wearer’s activity, heart rate, and more with built-in sensors. During the event, model and activist Christy Turlington Burns appeared on stage to talk about how she wore the watch in a recent half-marathon and announced a blog that will highlight how she uses the watch train for the upcoming Virgin Money London Marathon.
Apart from the fitness functions of the Apple Watch, it has a number of communications features as well. An onboard speaker and microphone allow users to make and receive calls directly on the watch, similar to comic strip detective Dick Tracy‘s iconic two-way wrist radio. Users can draw special notes to other Apple Watch users that will be animated on the recipient’s screen, and users can even share their heartbeat with one another with the Apple Watch’s haptic feedback.
Apple will begin pre-orders for the Apple Watch on April 10, 2015 and the watch will be available two weeks later on April 24, 2015. The Apple Watch will be available to try hands-on in Apple Stores beginning April 10.
images via Apple
