Apple watch is finally here. There are no surprises. All industry speculations have proved to be right. However, there was a surprise element in its name. Observers are still debating why it is called Apple Watch and not just iWatch.

Interesting features of Apple watch are as follows:

Apple watch requires an iPhone to work. It will work on iPhone 6, 6 Plus; and iPhone 5s, 5c and the iPhone 5.

It will be available from 2015.

It will support third-party apps.

The user interface is controlled through a dial called the digital crown. One can scroll up and down to select apps. Pressing the crown returns one to the home screen.

It has a lot of sensors to make it a complete health fitness device. It has sensors to detect your pulse via infrared and visible light. It features an gyrometer and accelerometer, plus it offers haptic feedback. But it also means that it will work with the Health app on iOS 8, which will enable the watch to suggest activities and give you rewards for being active. If one is using it for navigation, one gets a buzz when one has to turn.

It is available in two sizes (large and small), but for each there are three different lines. The basic line has a stainless steel case; the Sport version is made of anodized aluminum, while the Watch Edition is made of hardened 18-karat gold. For each, Apple offers six different straps. Two come in leather, two in stainless steel and two in a sweat-resistant plastic. The design even goes all the way down to the charger, which uses wireless inductive charging through a MagSafe-like connection.

One can communication with another Apple watch owner using a feature called Digital Touch.

At $349, it is expensive than its cousins who entered market earlier.

Following is the complete text of Press release issued by Apple:

Apple, on Tuesday unveiled Apple Watch, its most personal device ever. It features revolutionary new technologies and a pioneering user interface with a beautiful design. Apple Watch introduces a specially designed and engineered Digital Crown that provides an innovative way to scroll, zoom and navigate. The Digital Crown is Apple’s most revolutionary navigation tool since the iPod Click Wheel and iPhone Multi-Touch.
 
Apple Watch will enable you to communicate in new ways right from your wrist by sending and receiving messages, answering calls to your iPhone, and with Digital Touch, sending something as personal as your own heartbeat. Apple Watch also introduces comprehensive health and fitness apps that can help people lead healthier lives. Apple Watch is available in three distinct collections—Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition.

“Apple introduced the world to several category-defining products, the Mac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. And once again Apple is poised to captivate the world with a revolutionary product that can enrich people’s lives. It’s the most personal product we’ve ever made”, said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO.

“With Apple Watch, we’ve developed multiple technologies and an entirely new user interface specifically for a device that’s designed to be worn. It blurs the boundary between physical object and user interface. We’ve created an entire range of products that enable unparalleled personalization”, said Jony Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Design. 

                                                     

Apple Watch features the Digital Crown, an innovative way to scroll, zoom and navigate fluidly, without obstructing the display. The Digital Crown also serves as the Home button and a convenient way to access Siri. The Retina display on Apple Watch features Force Touch, a technology that senses the difference between a tap and a press, providing a new way to quickly and easily access controls within apps. Apple Watch introduces the Taptic Engine and a built-in speaker that together discreetly enable an entirely new vocabulary of alerts and notifications you can both hear and feel. Apple Watch also features Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 4.0 to pair seamlessly with your iPhone.

Apple Watch comes in three distinct collections—Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and Apple Watch Edition—available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm. The beautifully designed and durable enclosures are crafted from custom alloys of polished or space black stainless steel, space gray or silver anodized aluminum and 18-karat rose or yellow gold. Apple also created an entire range of watch straps: the high-performance elastomer Sport Band; the Milanese Loop in a flexible magnetic stainless steel mesh; the Leather Loop in soft, quilted leather that conceals magnets for quick fastening and adjustment; the leather Modern Buckle, which closes with a solid metal clasp; the leather Classic Buckle; and the stainless steel Link Bracelet. Apple Watch comes with a unique charging system that combines Apple’s MagSafe technology with inductive charging for a quick connection that snaps into place.

Apple Watch comes with 11 watch faces ranging from traditional analog faces to new faces like the dynamic Time-lapse face; the Astronomy face with its interactive, real-time 3D model of the earth, sun, moon and planets; and the Solar face, a contemporary sundial. Apple Watch can be personalized in appearance and capability with additional information such as upcoming events, moon phases or your activity level, enabling millions of possible configurations.

Taking advantage of its location on your wrist, Apple Watch provides timely information that can be viewed at a glance. Smart Replies and dictation let you respond quickly to messages, and with Handoff, you can start a message on your Apple Watch and continue where you left off on your iPhone. Swipe up from the watch face for Glances that quickly show you information you care about, such as your current location, stocks or your next meeting. Pressing the side button brings up Friends, a view of your favorite people, so you can contact them quickly and easily. Digital Touch allows you to send a sketch, a gentle tap, an audio message through Walkie Talkie or even your own heartbeat. Apple Watch lets you interact quickly and conveniently with the world around you, so you can pay for coffee using Apple Pay (Apple Pay is only available in the US), board a plane with a Passbook boarding pass, control your Apple TV or get directions. 

                                             

Apple Watch includes a groundbreaking Activity app designed to help motivate you to be more active throughout the day, and an all-new Workout app designed to provide the metrics you need during dedicated workout sessions. Apple Watch uses the accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from your iPhone to provide a comprehensive picture of your daily activity. The Activity app measures three separate aspects of movement: calories burned, brisk activity and how often you stand up during the day. The Workout app provides goal-setting and pacing during popular s