Yesterday, Apple hosted an event in San Francisco to make several announcements. First, Apple announced that the new HBO NOW service — which lets you pay $15 a month to watch HBO even if you don't have a cable TV subscription — will debut exclusively on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad next month. Sounds like a good deal if you don't want to pay $100 a month for cable but you do want to watch Game of Thrones. (Apple also cut the price of the existing Apple TV from $99 to $69, but did not announce a new version of the Apple TV, which many folks expect Apple to unveil at some point this year.) Second, Apple announced new medical research initiatives that take advantage of the iPhone. Third, Apple announced a new, thin laptop computer called the MacBook.
Finally, Apple provided additional details on the Apple Watch. Here are the details that I consider most important:
Availability
You can pre-order the Apple Watch starting April 10, and you can also go to a retail Apple Store starting April 10 to try one on to help decide which one to order. The watch will ship on April 24 in the U.S. and eight other countries.
Prices and Bands
There are three types of Apple Watch: the Apple Watch Sport, the Apple Watch, and the Apple Watch Edition. Each one comes in either a 38mm size or a 42mm size. The larger size is $50 more expensive in the Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch collections.
The least expensive model is the Apple Watch Sport. It has an anodized aluminum case, a glass front (strengthened with something called Ion-X glass), and only comes with rubbery (fluoroelastomer), colorful sports bands. The price is $349 for the 38mm model, and $399 for the 42mm model.
The mid-range model is simply called the Apple Watch. It is made of polished stainless steel and has ten different bands to choose from. Instead of glass, its display is protected by sapphire crystal. The prices range from $549/$599 to $1049/$1099 depending upon which band you get. (Remember, the larger model is $50 more.) If you buy the cheapest Apple Watch for $549/$599, you get the same type of sports band that comes with the Apple Watch Sport, either black or white. For an additional $100 ($649/$699) you can get either the black classic leather buckle or the stainless steel mesh Milanese Loop. For the same $699 for the 42mm version (and not available for the 38mm version) you can get the quilted Leather Loop in a variety of colors. For $749 for the 38mm version (and not available for the 42mm version) you can get a leather buckle in a variety of colors with a magnetic closure called the Modern Buckle. If you go up to $949/$999 you can get the model with a stainless steel link bracelet with a butterfly closure. Add another $100, and for $1049/$1099 you can get space black version of both the Apple Watch and the stainless steel link bracelet.
The high end model is called the Apple Watch Edition, and if you have to ask the price, then you cannot afford it. But more specifically, it starts at $10,000 for the 38mm with a white sports band (a much fancier version than the one that you can get with the Apple Watch Sport or the Apple Watch) and $12,000 for the 42mm model with a sports band. Those two models come in either 18-karat rose gold or 18-karat yellow gold. You can then pay even more, up to $17,000, for nicer bands. The Apple Watch Edition will only be available at select retailers.
You can buy additional bands. Sports bands are available in six different colors and cost $49, so I can see that being a popular accessory for any of the more expensive models. Wear your nice band during the day, and swap to the rubbery sports band when you work out. Other bands are more expensive, such as $149 for the Milanese Loop and $449 for the stainless steel link bracelet with a butterfly closure.
Sizes
When you are deciding whether to get the 38mm or 42mm watch, and when deciding which band to get, you need to consider your wrist size and consult the Apple Sizing Guide (PDF link). For example, when you buy the sports band, you actually get two bands in two sizes. For the 38mm watch, the smaller band is made for wrists 130-180mm, and the larger band is made for wrists 150-200mm. But for the 42mm watch, the smaller sports band is made for wrists 140-185mm and the larger band is made for wrists 160-210mm. For the link bracelet, the 38mm band fits wrists 135-195mm, whereas the 42mm band fits wrists 140-205mm.
I've always known that I have a larger hand and wrist, and thanks to my wife (who sews and has ready access to a cloth measuring tape), I quickly learned last night that my wrist is about 205mm. I never really thought I would get the 38mm model, but now that I know my wrist size and have looked at the Apple Sizing Guide, I know that the larger 42mm watch is designed for me.
Battery Life
You charge the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch or Apple Watch Edition with an included magnetic charging cable. One end of the cord is USB (and comes with a USB wall charger) and the other end has a magnetic circle that attaches to the back of the watch. With the Apple Watch Edition, you also get a case that can charge the watch. You can also buy an additional magnetic charging cable for $29 for 1m or $39 for 2m.
Apple announced yesterday that a charge should last about 18 hours, but that depends in part on what you do with the watch. You can talk for up to three hours, or you can play music for up to 6.5 hours, or you can workout for up to 7 hours, or you can just check the time up to five times an hour for up to 48 hours. And those numbers are all on the 38mm model; the 42mm model has a larger battery and lasts slightly longer.
Suffice it to say that you are going to want to charge it every night. Apple says that you can charge the Watch from 0% to 80% in 90 minutes, and then it takes an additional hour to get up to 100%.
Water Resistant
Apple says, in the fine-print at the bottom on this page that could have been written by a lawyer, that the watch is not water proof, but it is water resistant. "Apple Watch is splash and water resistant but not waterproof. You can, for example, wear and use Apple Watch during exercise, in the rain, and while washing your hands, but submerging Apple Watch is not recommended." Apple also says that the watch has a "water resistance rating of IPX7 under IEC standard 60529." Um, yeah. Thanks to Wikipedia, I learned that this means that the watch could go under water, up to 1 meter, for up to 30 minutes. So you don't want to go swimming with the Apple Watch, especially if you are diving, but you should be fine if it gets wet while you are participating in an ice bucket challenge.
Note, however, that Apple also says that the leather bands are not water resistant.
Apple Watch iPhone App
You need an iPhone to use an Apple Watch. Yesterday, Apple released iOS 8.2, which includes a new built-in app called Apple Watch. You use this app to pair your iPhone and your Apple Watch and to load apps onto your Apple Watch from your iPhone. For all of us who do not yet have an Apple Watch, the App also provides information about the Apple Watch including videos that show off the watch.
Third Party Apps on Apple Watch
Apple now devotes a page on its website to some of the initial third party apps that will work with the Apple Watch. The SPG app lets you unlock your door in a Starwood Hotel. Airline apps let you check in for a flight and use your watch as a boarding pass. Use the Evernote app to quickly dictate a note. The eBay app can notify you when you are outbid at an auction. The Dark Sky app tells you how many minutes until it starts to rain. The ESPN app gives you the latest scores.
Using the Apple Watch
Much of what Apple said about how folks will use the Apple Watch was similar to what was said when the device first debuted last year. You can get quick access to information by just glancing at your wrist while your iPhone is still in your pocket, purse or briefcase. And with a few taps, you can interact with that information. You can even use Siri to ask questions or dictate a note, and you can place or respond to phone calls.
Looking at the Apple Watch, I'm reminded of the iPad. When it first came out in 2010, I was interested, but didn't yet understand how I would use it. I didn't even get my first iPad until later that year. Now, I use my iPad every day. Similarly, I suspect that the Apple Watch will start out as an interesting curiosity, and then will turn into a device that I use, and depend upon using, every day.
And finally, Apple started airing TV commercials for the Apple Watch last night. Here is the first commercial: