As expected and rumored earlier, Apple has now officially announced its arrival on the smartwatch market with the new Apple Watch. Surprisingly dropping the "i" from the name, Apple's Watch features a standard square shape design but also brings a few novelties when it comes to navigation. The new Apple Watch will be available early next year and have a US $349 starting price.


Design wise, the Apple Watch is quite standard and it will be available in two sizes, with 38mm and 42mm cases. The Apple Watch will be also available in three standard versions, known as the Apple Watch, Watch Sport and the gold Watch Edition. It will also come with changeable bands and according to Apple, there will be three different bands available once it launches.




While announcing the new Apple Watch, CEO Tim Cook described it as the most personal device the company has ever created which is not only an extremely precise and customizable timepiece, but also an intimate way to connect and communicate as well a comprehensive health and fitness companion.

While the design of the Apple Watch might not be anything new, Apple has an ace up its sleeve with the "digital crown", a dial placed on the side that will allow navigation without touching the screen or trying to zoom in and out by pinching the small screen.




Since the Apple Watch is scheduled to launch next year, Apple did not reveal a lot of details regarding the actual specifications of the Apple Watch. Little information that the company did reveal include a Sapphire screen that will pressure sensitive as well as the new and custom S1 chip, made specifically for the Apple Watch. Apple also did not reveal any specific details regarding the battery except that it will be enough for "all day wear" and that the device will use a Magsafe wireless adapter for wireless charging.




One thing that Apple did make clear is that it is definitely aiming at fitness and health wearable devices with its Apple Watch since the device will have sensors that will monitor heart-rate and similar things. The device will need an iPhone to work and will use iPhone's GPS. It will also have an NFC chip that will be used for Apple Pay as well as have built-in Siri that will also voice control.

Apple has also unveiled the all new WatchKit which will allow developers to make new apps for the Apple Watch as well as extend their current apps for it.

While Apple did not go into specific it did note that the Apple Watch will need an iPhone to work and that it will only work with the iPhone 5 and later models. Currently, Apple only revealed that the new smartwatch will be ready early next year and start at US $349.



Source: Apple.com.