CEO of Apple Tim Cook Introduces the Apple Watch

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CEO of Apple, Tim Cook Introduces the Apple Watch

Media Contacts
Allison Davis
Goldi Baranovsky
Kyiah Johnston

CUPERTINO, California (Sept. 9, 2014) — At today’s launch event, Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled the Apple Watch, the newest smartwatch on the market with a sleek design and endless personalization opportunities.

 Apple introduced its new smartwatch at the annual launch event in Cupertino, California. Leading up to the reveal of the Apple Watch, Tim Cook built anticipation by first introducing new features like Apple Pay and the iPhone 6, showcasing their innovative ideas to enhance user experience. After highlighting these significant products, Cook stated Apple’s launch phrase, “…we have one more thing…” This moment signaled Apple revealing their most recent development and created anticipation in the crowd. “We love to make great products that enrich people’s lives, and we love to integrate hardware, software and surfaces seamlessly,” the CEO said connecting with Apple consumers. After the Apple Watch’s slow introduction video, the audience gave nothing but love to Cook and a standing ovation. 

Many consumers were visibly impressed by the innovative features highlighted and seamless integration with the iPhone. The anticipation built by Cook’s statement, “We have one more thing,” increased the excitement, marking the Apple Watch as a significant development in wearable technology. The positive reaction emphasized the product’s potential to reshape consumer expectations. “We believe this product will redefine what people expect from its category… It is the next chapter in Apple’s story,” Cook said.  His marketing for the Apple Watch holds a exciting entry into the smartwatch market for Apple, seeing it as a efficient innovation that combined technology, health, and fashion.

Woman stretching before workout class wearing Apple Watch
Indiana University student Gabby Rogers stretching before her workout class at Club Pilates in Bloomington, Indiana. The freshman used her Apple Watch health and activity features to track her heart rate, calories burned, and duration of the workout class.

 One of Apple’s most unique innovations was the User Interface; a new version of the user interface was required when developing the new product. Cook states the importance of incorporating functionality in a mechanism on the Apple Watch called the Digital Crown. This function provides a way to scroll, zoom, and navigate without touching the screen. It also serves as the Home button and a way to access Siri. A new form of communication with Digital Touch has been released. This feature allows users to communicate with each other through taps, drawings, and more—something that has never been done before!

Apple developed an original size and a smaller version with different bands or cases options adjusting to their consumer’s needs. They created distinct collections of Apple Watch: The first Apple Watch polished stainless steel | Apple Watch Sport: The sports collection has an iron exchange coverglass and an anodized aluminum case 60% stronger than the standard (first edition) | Apple Watch Edition: Made from 18-karat gold made up to be twice as hard as standard gold. The Retina Display function features force touch, distinguishing between a tap and a press. The IOS-based interface user interface was explicitly created for the smaller smartwatch. The smartwatch offers customizable watch faces from classic designs to user photos, ensuring the watch is set to change how we stay connected and express our style. 

“The Apple watch is made to be worn, and it can be worn all day for any occasion. It’s much more about personal technology than style and taste. It seamlessly combines materials, software, and technology.” Cook stated, emphasizing the personalization of a smartwatch. The watch offers a fitness app that monitors all your activity, heart rate, and movement throughout the day and a workout app that allows you to set specific goals for the type of exercise. The smartwatch empowers users to take control of their health and stay in touch without using their phones. Apple also worked hands-on with developers to access third-party notifications. “We love to make technology more personal and allow our users to do things they could never imagine,” Cook said. 

Woman wearing Apple Watch while teaching Russian class
Russian instructor Natasha Rubanova teaches her Russian class at Indiana University about spelling. Natasha used her personalized Apple Watch to check notifications from other devices, and proceeded to teach.

The 2014 release of the Apple Watch increased consumer awareness of wearable technologies and features within smartwatches, revolutionizing the smartwatch market. Apple turned its attention away from the watch’s design appeal and toward its fitness and health capabilities. The workout and fitness functions of the Apple Watch drew in new customers. Two hundred million consumers could utilize the Apple Watch since Apple made it compatible with the iPhone 5 through 6 during the development process. It is designed to be simple to charge at night. It includes an inductive charging magnet connecting seamlessly to the watch’s back.

 The Apple Watch took years to develop and has continued to improve. “Creating beautiful objects that are simple and pure as functional has always been our goal at Apple. We designed the Apple Watch as a whole range of products… I think we’re now at a compelling beginning designing technology to be worn and truly personal,” Apple stated. Apple is known for producing innovative products, and the Apple Watch is yet another successful example of that.

Visual features of the new watch were shown in this video from the event.

Project leader Kevin Lynch gave a live demo of the watch, showing how it’s features work. 

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