Unveiling the Future: Introducing the Apple Watch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Riley Leichliter
Courtney Holland
Ben Jaffe

CUPERTINO, California (Sept 9, 2014), – Tim Cook, CEO of Apple made an announcement in Cupertino, California on Tuesday unveiling the first generation of Apple Watches.

Cook followed a prior unveiling by saying “But we’re not quite finished yet, we have one more thing.” He claims that this new product will change the course of Apple forever. Cook then played a video engaging the audience and showcasing this new revolutionary device – the Apple Watch. When Cook reappeared he took in the standing ovation and began to describe the features of the watch such as the ability to make calls, track health, and even play music.

The Apple Watch is a very large step for Apple. Up until now, Apple has been heavily known for its production of phones and computers, where they have been at the forefront of innovation and at the top of the industry. The Apple Watch provides a new and outstanding leap for the company as this continues its growth in the personal device industry. 

One of the physical elements of the watch is what Cook calls the “digital crown.” “If you have a list you can scroll through it, and all this without blocking the screen,” Cook said, “and if you press it, it returns to the home screen just as expected.” The Apple team has put immense thought into the design of the watch. Every aspect is designed to enhance the experience for the user.

Student using Apple Watch outside class.
Young student, Abby, looks at an Apple Watch to see the distance she has gone on her scooter today. She uses the fitness app to check the mileage from the past 4 hours.

Even the watch bands themselves are fully customizable. “They are meant to be worn every day,” said Cook. They have many options for these from more traditional metal, link bands to athletic-style bands that use magnets to fit to the wrist.

The watch has many digital features as well, but the ones that sit at the forefront of the device are the ability to track health, make calls, and search the internet. Starting with the ability to track health, the watch will be able to track everything from steps to heart rate, to how sedentary you are throughout the day. “It is a comprehensive health and fitness device,” said Cook. This feature can sync to the health app on your phone and provide the user with dynamic reports about their day-to-day lifestyle. 

The ability to make calls and even text is also a large innovation for the watch. Cook called the way the device allows users to contact one another a “New intimate way to connect, directly from your wrist.” This is one of the features that distinguishes the watch from other watches and fitness trackers on the market. “The watch works seamlessly with the iPhone,” Cook said. The watch can sync up to your contacts, messages, and phone app allowing you to make calls and answer texts without ever touching your phone.

Older Woman checks Apple Watch while shopping on Kirkwood.
Lisa, a local in Bloomington, uses an Apple Watch to get directions to a local supermarket right off of Kirkwood. She uses the maps app and follows the step by step directions to get there.

The ability to search the internet via Siri is another large step that the Apple Watch makes. “You can use Siri by just pressing the crown,” said Kevin Lynch, Vice President of Apple, “Then simply ask a question like what movies are playing in Cupertino today, and it comes back with a list of movies here in Cupertino.” Lynch demonstrated the ease with which the watch searched the internet and the ability to do so from your wrist is a very large step in the personal device industry. 

The watch is starting at only $349 and will be released early next year. It will be compatible with both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, as well as iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c. “This gives more than 200 million people access to Apple Watch,” said Cook.

“It empowers people and enriches their lives,” said Cook “The Apple watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.” 

The Apple Watches various designs being shown off in a brand new video. Many colors are available making the watch customizable to all.

Cook introduces dial feature of the Apple Watch. This makes it easy to zoom in and out of desired content.

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