Apple Watch Revealed: Health, Style, and Connectivity

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Meara Doran
Xavier DeVany
Olivia Napier

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) –

Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the “Apple Watch” on Tuesday, which includes health monitoring features, Bluetooth, and a battery life of 18 hours. Tim Cook unveiled the Apple Watch at a convention in Cupertino, California. The device is a huge advancement for Apple as the watch allows users to customize the watch to their liking. Launching in September, the Apple Watch aims to seamlessly blend technology in user’s daily lives.

“Apple Watch is the most personal device we’ve ever created,” Cook said. Dressed in a Navy button-down, Cook showcased the Apple Watch’s features. The device offers heart rate monitoring and Bluetooth pairing. Users can monitor their heart rate and see how it changes throughout the day. Along with Bluetooth, users can pair the watch with their iPhone to see text messages. Apple also emphasized the watch’s battery life of up to 18 hours, making it convenient for users.

IU student utilizing the new Apple Watch Series 1 with a custom chain band. The watch comes with a sleek black band but additional styles are available.

The design is customizable and functional. The band comes in multiple different styles and there is a large variety of wristband sizes, to ensure it fit’s the wrist of any user. The watch is also resistant to enhancing the durability of the watch for users as they go throughout their day. Apple has redefined the concept of watches. “You can find one that reflects your style and taste,” said Cook.

The Fitness app featured on the Apple Watch monitors user activity and movement throughout the day. The workout app allows users to set specific goals for exercise like running or cycling, while the watch tracks the user’s heart rate and utilizes GPS to measure distance. The Apple Health and Fitness team designed the watch to help encourage users to live a more active lifestyle for athletes or those simply looking to improve their health. Users can set goals to burn calories for the day that close when they hit their daily goal. “Apple Watch helps you live a better day,” said Cook, showcasing the potential to improve everyday health.

IU Professor Joe Glennon using his new watch to track his steps and the distance traveled for the day. The watch can be used to track heart rate, distance, steps, and calories.

Pairing seamlessly with the iPhone the Apple Watch, allows users to access their notifications, calls, and messages. “I can use dictation to reply to send an audio recording of my voice,” Apple Vice President, Kevin Lynch said. The watch also includes a new selection of animated emojis that Apple created specifically for the Apple Watch. These animated emojis are customizable to send lots of emotion to the watch with minimal work. The watch also makes communication more intimate as users can send each other’s heartbeats on messages. The watch vibrates similar to how a person would tap on one’s wrist to alert the watch user without drawing attention from others.

The Apple Watch also includes Siri allowing users to find quick answers to urgent questions. Lynch exemplified how users could project a question to Siri by asking Siri to show them the movies playing in the local area. After just a few seconds of thinking Siri displayed nearby showings with reviews of the films aligned with the cast and director.

The Apple Watch is an innovative and intimate way to communicate directly from the wrist while serving as a comprehensive health and fitness device. Beyond fitness tracking, it seamlessly integrates with other Apple devices. Cook shared how he uses his to control his Apple TV, while some of his coworkers use it as a viewfinder for their iPhone camera. There are three editions: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. Cook mentioned how this divide is only going to grow more powerful when developers start creating new apps. Starting at $349, the Apple Watch requires an iPhone 5 or newer to unlock its full potential, offering an unprecedented connecting experience unlike ever before. ###