Contact Information:
Ursula Stickelmaier
ustickel@iu.edu
Whitney Stephen
stephewm@iu.edu
Calli Stouder
cstoude@iu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CUPERTINO, California [Sept. 09, 2014] – Apple redefined the smartwatch when CEO Tim Cook unveiled the company’s new product, the Apple Watch, this Tuesday at the “Wish We Could Say More” Event in Cupertino, California.

Held at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts, Apple debuted its new product alongside the iPhone 6 line of smartphones. Cook showcased the product with Apple Vice President Kevin Lynch. As well as, British-American designer Johnny Ive and Apple’s Vice-President of Fitness Technologies Jay Blahnik. 

The Apple Watch features a multitude of capabilities all designed to create a personal experience for the user. From a customizable timepiece to a brand new way for Apple users to communicate to an all-encompassing fitness tracker, the Apple Watch is tailor-made for whoever uses it. “We designed the Apple Watch as a whole range of products, enabling millions of unique designs and parallel personalization both in appearance and capability,” Ive said. 

The design choices in particular that make the Apple Watch unique for the wearer include interchangeable watch bands and multiple case options which go with three different models of the device available: the Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition.

One of the new design choices that Apple made with the Apple Watch is the introduction of the Digital Crown which allows users to easily scroll through their Apple Watch device without anything obstructing their view. Should the user need to interact with the screen directly, the Apple Watch is able to detect both touch and force. This allows the watch to tell the difference between a tap meant to pause your music and a press meant to access contextually specific controls, that differ between app to app.

The apps available on the Apple Watch range from Apple designed apps to third party apps like Twitter or Pinterest. Third party app developers are able to use Apple’s WatchKit which will help them seamlessly integrate their own software onto the Apple Watch device. Any app on the apple watch will be able to provide automated functions for its users to quickly access.

The Apple Watch also comes with Digital Touch, the latest innovation by Apple. With Digital Touch wearers will be able to communicate with other Apple Watch wearers in new and unique ways. By tapping their screen in this function they can send physical vibrations to their friend’s device, users can draw pictures that will be sent and there is even the option to send your own heartbeat. This heartbeat function is just one of the many ways that Apple has made the Apple Watch more personal and intimate for their users. “That’s never been done before,” Lynch said. “It’s a really great aspect of this new form of communication with Digital Touch.”

What truly separates the Apple Watch from all other watches though is its fitness capabilities. It combines the information gathering technology of your typical fitness tracker with the easy to use and personal technology of an Apple device. Divided between two apps, the Fitness App and The Workout App, the Apple Watch is designed to give you a complete profile of your health.

The Fitness App is there to monitor all your activity and movement throughout the day as you wear the watch. It is then stored on your phone so you can track your day to day progress through something that is unique to you. In the Workout App the user is able to set personal goals based on how long they want to work out, the amount of calories they want to burn or even the distance you want to travel. You can also change your workout to fit whatever activity you are doing whether that is biking, running or lifting weights. 

Over time the Apple Watch will become tailored to you and is designed to provide helpful and healthy reminders to keep you active throughout your day. These goals will be both personal and realistic to you and your everyday life so you’re not getting any unneeded stress when it comes to working out. “Apple Watch is going to greatly improve the way we keep track of our activity and change the way we look at fitness,” Blahnik said. “We think it’s going to help a lot of people live a better day and a healthier life.”

Users of both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5 lines of smartphones will be able to connect their phone to the watch and can access all the Apple Watch functions seamlessly. Starting at $349, all three models of the Apple Watch will be available for purchase in early 2015. “We think people are going to love to use Apple Watch,” Cook said.”It empowers people and enriches their lives. Apple Watch is the most personal device Apple has ever created.”

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FIRST CLIP – Apple CEO Tim Cook discusses the key points of the Apple Watch at the “Wish We Could Say More” Event in Cupertino, California, on Sep. 9, 2014. According to Cook, the Apple Watch featured multiple unique functions including a customizable time piece, new ways for Apple users to communicate and brand new fitness capabilities.
SECOND CLIP – The Vice President of Apple, Kevin Lynch, demonstrates the communication capabilities of the Apple Watch to a large audience at Apple’s “Wish We Could Say More” Event in Cupertino, California, on Sep. 9, 2014. The heartbeat function on the Apple Watch allowed users to send a real-time and accurate replication of their heartbeat to a friend’s device creating a more intimate feel for both wearers.