Apple’s Digital Watch Market
BY BRIAN MARTIN
Staff Writer
With the rise of digital watches in the market today, Apple wants to catch up on the buzz that has been started by companies such as the likes of Samsung.
Apple’s latest product, the Apple Watch, is the company’s first foray into the digital watch business.
Alongside revealing the two versions of the new iPhone 6 at this year’s Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled the new Apple Watch. The device comes with numerous capabilities, even some that are similar to an iPhone.
“It was innovative because it was revolutionary,” said Guillermo Reyna, sophomore.
One of the numerous innovations this device has is a switch, similar to that of any standard watch, called Digital Crown. While users can navigate the device’s interface with their fingers, this switch allows them to zoom in on an app that’s focused on screen.
Next to the Digital Crown is a button that allows the user to view the friends menu. This menu is a list of people the user likes to keep in touch with all the time.
For example, if a user wanted to listen to music, one would put the music app at the center of the screen. After that, one would zoom in on the app with Digital Crown to enter the app’s menu.
“It’s cool,” said Za’Keya Dorsey, freshman.
The device’s iPhone-like features include being able to send text messages, receive notifications, and receive or send emails. Instead of sending a text message, the user can send preset animations called emojis as visually pieces to depict his feelings or emotions.
The user can tell someone how they feel with emojis instead of with words, they can use digital touch. Users can use this capability to sketch drawings, record voice clips, create taps with customizing options and send recipients a viewing of their heartbeats.
The heartbeat feature is made possible with the device’s built-in heart sensor.
In addition to measuring out heartbeats, the watch can also measure out the user’s physical activity with the new Activity app. For example, the Activity app can measure how much calories one has burned, how long one does physical activity for and how often one stands up to take a break from sitting.
The iPhone can work in conjunction with the watch to view one’s physical activity history.
Alongside the activity app is the Workout app. This app lets the user set goals for how many calories they intend to burn, sends reminders if the goal is almost complete and rewards the user with in-app badges for achievements.
The Apple Watch will come with features that are also coming with the new iPhone 6’s. Some of the features include the new Apple Pay where the user can store their credit card information as opposed to carrying a wallet.
The device can work as a remote for Apple-related products such as Apple TV. For example, one can use the Watch to play music from his iPhone.
The device will retail at $350. People are arguing that this price is too expensive and that consumers should not be enticed to buy the device.
Apple has maintained a steady record for the annual release of their iPhone products. The Apple Watch looks to be a chance for the company to expand its influence in another area of the digital device market.
The Apple Watch releases some time in early 2015.
