Apple’s Wearable Technology

Along with their release of the new iPhone 6, Apple announced its first type of wearable technology: the Apple Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition. Apple’s immensely anticipated new products are sure to make the company millions of dollars to complement buyers’ new iPhones.

Whereas the new iPhone comes in two sizes, the Apple Watch comes in three models. The first one is the standard Apple Watch. This model is your regular smartwatch: great for work, school, and everyday life. The second model is the Apple Watch Sport. This model is lightweight but incredibly durable—great for sports players and those who like to get their hands dirty. The third model is the Apple Watch Edition, the fanciest of the three…and the most expensive. This model’s heftier price tag stems from its 18-karat gold coated case.

The new Apple Watch  is so much more than a timekeeper. For those of you who love to text while busy in class, the Apple Watch is great for you. When you receive a text, the Watch will gently tap your arm to notify you. A button on the bottom right will allow easier access to texting, calling or emailing your friends. All you need to do is push it and familiar faces will pop up on your screen. In addition to texting words and emojis, the Apple Watch allows you to draw custom designs and send them to your friends. The best part is that your friend can watch as you draw it, as long as they have a Watch as well. For anyone who likes to create secret knocks, you can customize tap patterns on your Watch and send them to your friends’ devices, allowing them to feel the taps on their wrists.

The Apple Watch is also great for fitness junkies. The Watch can track your daily cardio, steps taken, and adapt to your personal fitness activity level. Eventually, the Watch will create personalized exercises and workouts specific to your needs and encourage you to achieve them. The Apple Watch also makes using Apple Pay much easier than ever before. With just a few simple taps, you can complete your purchase without taking out your credit card or phone.

Maybe one of the biggest changes the Watch brings to Apple is the fact that the apps are round. A new feature called Glances compiles the most relevant information from all of your apps at a moment’s glance. The small tap on the wrist the Watch emits can also tell you of notifications you may receive. Apple additionally introduced a new feature called Force Touch which allows the Watch to distinguish between a forceful press and a light tap. Depending on the intensity of the touch, the Watch reacts in different ways, such as by changing the background or the action menu in Messages. The Watch can also control all of your iPhone’s or Mac’s capabilities, such as music, settings, and calendar features. The Watch has all of the camera functions as the iPhone does, in addition to Siri, GPS, and connectivity to your Apple TV.

For those of you who can’t wait to get your hands on the new Apple devices, you are going to have to wait a while (and save your pennies). The new Apple Watch won’t be released  until sometime this spring, and will cost upwards of $350—more than a 64GB iPhone 6. Until then, you might just have to settle for a regular watch.