The Apple Watch is set to be released on April 24. Pre-orders have also been announced, beginning on April 10 for $350 and up. The smartwatch will have features such as Siri, Apple Pay, and many more potentially threatening the relationship of smartphones with users.
Recently, Wired published a piece in which Kevin Lynch, Apple's vice president of technology, talked about his beginning in the company. He also revealed how Apple Watch features developed before the smartwatch was set for its release this year.
The piece revealed the "raison d'être" of the smartwatch. It stated that our "phone is ruining your life. Like the rest of us, Ive, Lynch, Dye, and everyone at Apple are subject to the tyranny of the buzz-the constant checking, the long list of nagging notifications." It mentioned the possibility of making a device that "you wouldn't-couldn't-use for hours at a time," and that could sort out out unnecessary information and "instead only serve you truly important information."
Lynch said, "We're so connected, kind of ever-presently, with technology now. People are carrying their phones with them and looking at the screen so much. People want that level of engagement. But how do we provide it in a way that's a little more human, a little more in the moment when you're with somebody?"
The result? Apple Watch. The goal was reportedly "to free people from their phones." This is also why the smartwatch includes features that are almost similar to iPhone devices. These are:
- Apple Pay
- Hotel or Car Key Replacement
- Novel Digital Crown
- Fitness and Health Tracking
- Full-fledged Apps
- Actionable Notifications and Glances
- Remote Control Functions
- Passbook Integration
- Digital Touch Communication
- Siri
Apple has made "Guided Tours" showing the ropes and features of the device. Users can check it out to see how the device pars with iPhone. As what Apple says about their upcoming device, "Apple Watch represents a new chapter in the relationship people have with technology. It's the most personal product we've ever made, because it's the first one designed to be worn."
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