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Apple schedules March 9th event ahead of Watch launch
You know the drill. Apple issues an invite for an event, and tech media channels go wild with speculation. Except that we know the event in question this time, scheduled for March 9, is almost certainly about the Apple Watch. How? Well, we already know it's slated for an April release, so there's that. Oh and a not-so-subtle "spring forward" message the invite contains. Apple losing its cryptic touch? Maybe, but it's not unknown for Cook and crew to throw in a few surprises (but please, no more musical "surprises"). Engadget will of course be there to find out, with a liveblog so you can follow along too. Just don't forget to change your (non Apple) watch an hour, or you'll miss the whole darn thing.
WSJ: Apple cut watch health features due to erratic sensors
Apple apparently wanted its smartwatches to focus heavily on health-related features, but the company was forced to changed direction mid-development. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company originally envisioned a device that can monitor heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels (based on the conductivity of the skin). Unfortunately, the sensors they tested just didn't pass muster, which isn't entirely surprising, since we've reviewed plenty of wearables with patchy heart rate monitors in the past. The company's engineers found that hairy arms, dry skin and even how tightly the watch is worn can affect the results, and they didn't find a solution in time.
Reuters: more than half of top US hospitals are trialling Apple HealthKit
When Apple announced HealthKit, one of the more interesting features was the ability for Doctors to check your health data remotely. HealthKit has already been trialled with health professionals monitoring patients with Type 1 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Reuters suggests that these trials are moving away from Universities, and into hospitals. It claims that over half (14 of 23) the "top" hospitals (including eight on the News & World Report's Honor Roll) it contacted were running pilot programs that leveraged HealthKit data.
'Tron'-like headphones, virtual reality at Sundance and other stories you might've missed this week!
We get it. It's been a busy week. Luckily, we're here to catch you up on the release date of the Apple Watch, VR headsets in Hollywood and all the other cool stuff you may have accidentally glossed over during five days on the daily grind.
Tim Cook expects to ship the Apple Watch in April
Of all the mysteries still surrounding the Apple Watch, its long-awaited launch window was easily the most debated. Well, not any more. Apple CEO Tim Cook just confirmed during the company's quarterly earnings call that the company's oft-hyped Watch should ship in April 2015 -- not March like many of us suspected/hoped. "The creativity and software innovation going on around Apple Watch is incredibly exciting," Cook said after diving into Apple Pay's progress. "We cant wait for our customers to experience them when Apple Watch becomes available."
Apple apparently hasn't solved the smartwatch battery life problem
Everyone has been waiting hear just how long Apple's smartwatch will last on a charge. Well, we'll have to wait for confirmation, but current rumors don't suggest there's any reason to believe that Cupertino has solved the biggest problem plaguing the market. According to 9to5Mac the Apple Watch will settle in at about two to three days in standby mode, and between 2.5 and 3.5 hours of active application use. In other words: not much better than existing smartwatches. Just displaying the watch face is enough to drain the battery in three hours, though, we imagine nobody is going to keep the time displayed for three hours straight. Apple's goal is apparently 19 hours of mixed use, but reports are that it will probably fall short of that benchmark with its first generation device.
Here's how the Apple Watch companion app works
It's no secret that Apple is making customization a big part of the Apple Watch, but there's apparently more to it than meets the eye. The folks at 9to5Mac claim to have details and images showing how a pre-release version of the wearable's companion iPhone app works, and there's a fairly extensive range of tweaks. For a start, you can create your own watch face monogram if you just have to remind everyone that it's your wristwear. You also don't have to embrace Apple's fitness model if you don't want to. You decide how often it gives you progress updates, and you can turn tracking off altogether if you'd rather not let the watch quietly judge your lifestyle.
The Big Picture: This is not the Apple Watch
This is not the Apple Watch and it isn't launching in early 2015.
Developers can now write apps for Apple Watch (updated)
Been jonesing to create your own Apple Watch software? It's time to get cracking. As promised, Apple has released WatchKit, the toolbox you need to develop apps for this next-gen wristwear. The utility (tied into the iOS 8.2 beta SDK) lets you take advantage of most of what the Apple Watch can do, including pressure-aware touch, notifications and glanceable info. You won't get to publish your apps until next year, but you can start experimenting today. Update: Not surprisingly, early adopters are learning new things about the Apple Watch through WatchKit. Steve Troughton-Smith, for example, has discovered that the two Apple Watch models use different screen resolutions; the 38mm version displays at 272 x 340, while the larger 42mm model uses 312 x 390. Also, a lot of the processing for these early apps happens on your iPhone; they're just projecting an interface to your wrist. You'll have to wait until sometime in 2015 for truly native titles.
Apple to roll out WatchKit for developers in November
Apple wants developers to start tinkering and creating apps for its new smartwatch ASAP. So, the company's launching WatchKit in November, a few months before the upcoming wearable starts shipping early next year. WatchKit, along with HomeKit and HealthKit, is part of the company's larger effort to open up its devices to third-party devs, allowing them to create new features for its lineup. This lets companies, like banks and hotels, among others, provide apps that customers can use the moment they unbox their new Apple gadgets.
Recommended Reading: Apple's Jony Ive talks design and the timepiece
Recommended Reading highlights the best long-form writing on technology and more in print and on the web. Some weeks, you'll also find short reviews of books that we think are worth your time. We hope you enjoy the read. A Rare Look at Design Genius Jony Ive: The Man Behind the Apple Watch by Robert Sullivan, Vogue The man behind much of Apple's design doesn't often open up for interviews, but following Cupertino's Watch reveal, much of the focus has been on the fashion-minded. That said, Jony Ive offered Vogue a bit more on the upcoming wrist-worn device and his aesthetic mindset as a whole -- right down to things like the sound a watch band makes as it closes.
Sound off! How would you make a killer smartwatch?
It looks like the smartwatch is here to stay, and now that Apple has shown off their own attempt at creating some svelte looking electronic wrist candy, you can guarantee more people will be wearing them in the near future. But are smartwatches really useful? Besides showing off your latest notifications, what do they need to become an essential part of our lives? Head over to the Engadget forums and share your thoughts!
iPhone 6, Moto 360 review and other stories you might've missed
Even if you do live under a rock, you probably heard that Apple unveiled a larger-sized iPhone and its first wearable. But that's not all we have on deck this weekend -- we reviewed the Moto 360, investigated the benefits of using dash cams and more! Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Samsung ads poke fun at everything from Apple's stream to its Watch
Now that Apple's new iPhone 6 Plus is ready to play in the Galaxy Note 4's size territory, Samsung is taking the competition on with a few new ads. It's revived the "It Doesn't Take A Genius" tagline, and first up is a segment making fun of Apple's glitchy live video stream during yesterday's presentation. The rest of the videos play up Samsung's features like multitasking windows, stylus and fast charging, or make fun of anyone using a watch that still requires a phone to get connected. Whether you're already lined up for a refreshed slate of iStuff or if you weren't too impressed, the latest round of Apple vs. Samsung -- on store shelves instead of in the court room -- is here (complete with bonus flame action).
A watch expert's take on the Apple Watch: the benefits and failures of digital
Despite Benjamin Clymer's many accolades across the past several years -- the New York Times calls him the "High Priest of Horology" -- it's possible you've never heard of his website Hodinkee. The name might not bring watches to mind, but it's actually a Czech word for "wristwatch" (technically it's "hodinky" in Czech). The site's established itself as a go-to source for wristwatch obsessives, and Clymer's its executive editor, which is exactly why we were so interested to read his thorough dissection and impressions of Apple's first ever watch: Apple Watch. In a lengthy piece (that we suggest you read in full), Clymer begins by setting expectations: "I'm not even sure we can call it a watch." That isn't to say he doesn't like Apple's effort, but comparing it directly to a traditional, mechanical wristwatch is near impossible.
Twitter thinks it's a good fit for the Apple Watch and other small screens
Moments after Apple announced its latest devices to the world, Twitter's President of Global Revenue, Adam Bain, came on stage at CTIA to give his thoughts on the integration of Twitter with that much talked about Apple Watch. Twitter was one of the apps given early access to Apple's WatchKit, and was prominently featured in today's keynote in Cupertino. Not only can you read tweets on your wrist, but tweeted images fill up the entirety of the tiny screen.
Apple Watch: Much ado about nothing
I don't get it. Based on my demographic standing; by sheer dint of my position within the tech press; as someone who grew up with the first Macintosh in his house and a subscription to Macworld, I should be standing and applauding and ferociously tweeting my awe and amazement at the unveiling of Apple Watch. Yet, I am not. Apple did not save wearables, as many thought it would. Apple caved to the incredibly high bar of expectations set by the public. Apple unveiled something, at best, lukewarm. At most, it's prettier than the smartwatches that've come before, and that's likely its greatest innovation.
Apple Watch will unlock your hotel room door, guide you home and more: the app roundup
You're at the Westin Grand in Berlin having a luxurious vacation. After finishing a delicious bowl of mushroom consommé -- chanterelles are in season, after all -- you stroll up the lavish center staircase toward your room. Having left wallets in the past, you simply hover your Apple Watch over the door. "Click!" And that's that. Magnetic plastic cards are so uncivilized. This is the future Apple imagines for you with its new Watch, and it's working with Starwood Hotels (the group that owns Westin, among others) to make that future a reality. And that's just one of several scenarios for Apple Watch that were introduced by Apple VP Kevin Lynch during a third-party app demo on stage in Cupertino, California.
Apple Watch vs. the competition: Is it worth the wait?
Long rumored and eagerly awaited, the Apple Watch is now a reality. It's certainly not the first smartwatch on the block, but could it be the best? The features look impressive, but we'll still need to get one on our wrist and write a full review. In the meantime, there's always the specs to look at. How does the Apple Watch fare against some of the other wearables on the market? Just take a look below to see where it stands against notable smartwatches like the Pebble Steel, Moto 360 and the Samsung Gear Live.
We got our hands on the Apple Watch
The rumors, flying for many moons now, have turned out to be true. Meet Apple's first wearable, the aptly, if uncreatively, named Watch. While the name's a bit mundane, Apple's making a big effort to make the thing as customizable as it can, with two sizes, three materials and a slew of different watchbands. We didn't get to put our fingers on every permutation of the Watch, but we did get to try on a couple of them. Join me after the break, won't you, and find out what they're like.
