Apple Watch, the first smartwatch and first product to be released by the company under new Chief Executive Tim Cook, will be rolling out to stores on April 24.
Apple customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US will be able to buy the smartwatch in online stores, by reservation in Apple retail stores, and selected resellers.
Beginning April 24, Apple Watch will also be available at boutiques in major cities including colette in Paris, Dover Street Market in London and Tokyo, Maxfield in Los Angeles and The Corner in Berlin, and select Apple Authorized Resellers in China and Japan.
Apple Watch is available in three collections, Apple Watch Sport, priced at $349 (US) and $399 (US); Apple Watch, available from $549 (US) to $1,099 (US); and Apple Watch Edition, crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys, with prices starting at $10,000 (US).
Currently available only by pre-order from the Apple Store, anticipation of the release of Apple Watch is egged on by reviews such as CNET's and NDTV Gadget's praising its design and functionality.
The Apple website makes it a point to clarify that the Apple Watch is basically an accurate timepiece. As an Apple Gadget the Apple Watch is paired with an iPhone as an extension or another screen.
The watch's timekeeping function follows global time standards with the precision of GPS satellites, taking away the need for the wearer to set the time. The personal Apple device design also allows the wearer to easily tap into its multiple gadget functions while keeping it strapped on the wrist.
The Apple Watch reinvented the wrist watch crown, originally used to set the time and date on watches, into a button that allows the wearer an unhampered view of the watch navigation panel to scroll through pictures and lists, and input data.
The smartwatch will feature a square display that is for most models coated in a protective layer of sapphire crystal, available to in 34 different faces and straps. The Apple Watch will be made available in 1.5in (38mm) and 1.7in (42mm) screen sizes, with 272x340 and 319x390 resolutions.
The Apple Watch comes with Siri which allows users to answer calls, speak commands, and reply to messages - all the while keeping the watch on the wrist.
The Apple smartwatch is also a health device as it measures the calories burned, heart rate, and body movements of the wearer.
CEO Tim Cook belied speculations that the Apple Watch battery will run out quickly with heavy application use, and insisted it will last 18 hours on average. Other specifications include an S1 processor, Bluetooth 4.0 support, WiFi and 8GB storage. The Apple Watch will offer 75MB for photos and 2GB for music.
Apple Watch, the first smartwatch requires a compatible iPhone model such as iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus.
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