Initial Thoughts on the Apple Watch

The Apple Watch, Apple’s new entry into the wearable tech category, has been out for a day, and it certainly has everyone talking. Despite not being able to attend the Apple event and gain some hands-on experience with the watch, I can still offer a look at some features of it.

Varieties and Personalisation

The Apple Watch isn’t just a one-size-fits-all device. It comes in three different versions: the Standard Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport, and the Edition. Each version has a distinct look designed to cater to different lifestyles and tastes.

The Standard has a stainless-steel body, a sapphire crystal display, and standard bands. The Sport boasts a more lightweight, aluminium body, designed with outdoor activity in mind and paired with colourful rubber bands. On the other hand, the Edition, with its 18-karat gold-coated body and fancier bands, is clearly the fashion-forward choice.

In terms of personalisation, Apple cleverly offers two different sizes for each version of the watch. Catering to the different wrist sizes, there is a smaller version with a 1.5-inch display and a larger version sporting a 1.65-inch display.

Bands and Price

One of the standout features of this device is its bands. With options in leather, metal, rubber, and various clasp and buckle designs, there’s certainly something for everyone. Furthermore, these bands are designed to be easily removable and replaceable, paving way for third-party manufacturers to create their own bands in different materials and designs.

The starting price of the watch is $349 but depending on the version and your personal choices, one can expect to pay more around $400 to $450.

Interface and Interaction

The innovative feature of the Apple Watch is its Digital Crown. It’s a dial or a knob on the side of the watch that allows you to move around inside watch apps, zoom, pan, scroll and much more. Despite the small screen, navigation is fluid and vital, offering an interactive user experience.

Though it’s still early days, the Apple Watch has shown it has the potential to become a staple in the world of wearable tech.

A Different Kind of Smart Watch

The new Apple smartwatch may seem identical to the touch screen watches we’re familiar with; however, one feature that distinctively stands out is the knob on its side. It brings a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the Blackberry Pearl, which wasn’t a touch screen and relied heavily on its side knob for functionality.

Concerns about the Knob

I have certain concerns about the knob feature on the Apple watch. The positioning of the knob turns your hand from a comfortable resting position to an awkward angle, especially for left-handed people. There’s a lingering uncertainty about how the knob would react to accidental bumps which might cause undesired selections and scrolls. The downside is that these specifications are hard to measure without hands-on experience.

Why the Knob

The justification behind the knob is to provide users with a non-obstructive view of the display during interaction; a problem Apple believes is common with touchscreens. However, despite the presence of the knob, my prediction is that most users will primarily utilise the touch screen function.

A Less Finger-Friendly Interface

Another issue is the user interface. As a proud owner of an Android smartwatch, I find the interface hugely finger-friendly, with large notifications that are easy to swipe through. Apple’s smartwatch, even with its pressure sensitivity feature, fails to provide this. To be frank, I find the Apple watch’s home screen somewhat perplexing, with a cluster of app shortcuts. Worryingly, this could lead to frequent unnecessary use that might exhaust the watch battery.

Is the Apple Logo a Game Changer?

I couldn’t help but question; if the Apple logo was removed and the watch was introduced by, let’s say Samsung, touting it as ‘revolutionary’, would it receive the same reception? If it was a Samsung Galaxy Gear with a square form, peculiar software and compatibility limited to our phones, would we embrace it with open arms? The answer, it seems, depends on how committed we are to try new things.

Am I Convinced?

Not yet. I’m of the opinion that Apple, like several other brands, has a long journey ahead in impressing audiences with smartwatches. I look forward to reviewing the Moto 360 and hopefully getting my hands on the Apple watch in the near future. Keep an eye out for any updated reviews or thoughts coming your way in 2015.

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