apple watch introduces the digital crown of smartwatches

apple watch introduces the digital crown of smartwatches
all images courtesy of apple

apple’s iWatch is real and it’s officially called watch. at the event in san francisco, tim cook described the device as the next chapter in the company’s history. it’s a ‘comprehensive health and fitness device, an extremely precise and customizable timepiece,’ he explained. the device features infrared and visible-light LEDs, along with photosensors to detect your pulse, and ‘the display also senses force, quite literally adding a new dimension to the user interface.’ added sir jony ive.

update: announced at the apple event on march 9th, 2015, the ‘watch’ will be available on april 24 to customers in australia, canada, china, france, germany, hong kong, japan, the UK and the US.

incorporating powerful technologies into something small enough to wear on the wrist presented some very big design challenges. apple watch combines a series of remarkable feats of engineering into a singular, entirely new experience. one that blurs the boundaries between the physical object and the software that powers it.

available in stainless steel, anodized aluminum and 18 karat gold, the device uses multiple technologies in conjunction with your iPhone to keep time within 50 milliseconds of the definitive global time standard. it can also automatically adjust to the local time when you travel. apple watch also presents time in a personal context by sending you notifications and alerts relevant to your life and schedule.

the crown has been a standard feature on watches for more than a century – the design is a multifunctional input device that lets you zoom, scroll, and select without covering the screen. ‘it’s as integral to apple watch as the click wheel is to iPod,’ explains apple, ‘or the mouse is to mac.’

you can scroll, zoom, and navigate apple watch without covering the display 

the new watch OS has been built from the wrist up. the home screen lets you quickly find your favorite apps. the custom font is easy to read at arm’s length, and the force-sensitive retina display puts functionality at your fingertip. technically speaking, it’s one amazing little device.

because it touches your skin, the device adds a physical dimension to alerts and notifications — you’ll feel a gentle tap when you receive an incoming message. apple watch also allows you to connect with your favorite people in some new, spontaneous ways not possible with any other device.