AppleWatchEvent2015
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Apple labored over the perfect interface for its Watch Activity app
Apple's Watch designers did a lot of reps on the Workout and Activity apps before arriving at the final design, according to an internal memo dug up by 9to5 Mac. The company's in-house fitness guru Jay Blahnik detailed the design process of the Watch's key apps, saying, "We kept asking ourselves, 'What could we do to measure all-day activity that would be more useful than traditional all-day activity trackers?'" To arrive at the answer, the company decided to build both apps in-house, in order to "build our own knowledge base from the ground up" rather than using off-the-shelf software.
Here's more detail about how long Apple's Watch battery will last
What does an all-day battery life of 18 hours really consist of? That's what Apple's promising it's debut smartwatch will offer. Thankfully, it has also detailed a bunch of other power-draining use cases to allay / confirm (delete as appropriate) any battery life fears. This typical use battery life apparently consisted of: "90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth" Apple notes that this was a preproduction model from this month, and even offers all the other reasons why you might not get the same numbers, stating that "Battery life varies by use, configuration, and many other factors; actual results will vary." Placing a call through the watch will allow you to talk to your wrist for just three hours, while at the opposite end of the use spectrum, just wanting to see the time on the display will mean the watch can eke out up to 78 hours of use -- entailing four time checks every hour, but nothing else.
Apple Watch bands will cost between $49 and $449
An Apple Watch won't do you a ton of good without a band to hold it to your wrist and Cupertino has plenty of options to choose from. Let's start from the bottom: A 38mm sport band runs $49, and a 42mm one is the same price. It starts getting more expensive from there, though. The 38mm Milanese Loop (which looks an awful lot like chainmail if you ask me) is $149. Same goes for the 42mm large leather Loop. The smaller, 38mm Modern Buckle costs $249. The Link Bracelet will set you back the most, however, at $449 for a 42mm band (just over the price of two Pebble Time watches). Of course, none of them are available to ship at the moment despite how much you might want one -- you'll have to wait a few weeks for that.
HBO Now is cutting the cord, but there are still a few strings
With the exception of some special internet offers, until now the (legit) way to get HBO has been straightforward -- order it from your cable company along with a big TV bundle. Today, Apple and HBO took a leap over that paywall by announcing their partnership to launch the internet-only HBO Now. The only problem? That combination brings its own set of restrictions, and if you want a way around them, then help could come from a most unlikely source: your cable company.
Watch the replay of Apple's 'spring forward' event
Were you stuck at work when Apple kicked off its "spring forward" event and missed out on the whole shebang? Relax. As is its custom, Cupertino has posted a replay of the event so that you can tune in on your own terms. Just make sure you have a good hour and a half if you're bent on seeing the whole thing. Apple had a lot on its slate at this presentation, including Apple Watch launch details, medical research and even a shiny new MacBook.
One month to launch: A closer look at Apple's Watch
I was never a watch guy. Actually, let me rephrase -- I was never a watch guy until I bought a Tissot online for giggles (and about $350). That day sort of changed the way I looked at these seemingly archaic wrist appliances. They become a statement about you. They can make you feel awesome. And, perhaps most importantly to Apple, they can stop being a thing you wear and become something you don't want to take on your day without. With all that said, and given my general lack of expertise in horology, I did the only sensible thing I could. I strapped on the $12,000, yellow gold Apple Watch Edition in an incredibly dark room and took it for a spin.
The wearables industry needs to brace itself for the Apple Watch
Since the launch of the iPod, Apple's either dominated or come close to dominating every industry that it has entered. The only market where the company isn't the world number one is in set-top boxes, a field that has always been described as a "hobby." It's not too much of a risk to think that Apple will do to watches what it's already done to personal audio, smartphones and tablets -- even if global success isn't overnight. What then, for everyone else in the world of wearable technology?
Apple Watch vs. the competition: Where does it stand?
Now that Mobile World Congress has come and gone, bringing with it a slew of smartwatch announcements, it's time to learn more about Apple's own highly anticipated entry into the market. We finally have a firm release date and a price -- April 24, starting at $349 for the 38mm Apple Watch Sport. But the field it's entering has changed quite a bit since the Apple Watch was first announced in September. What can the Apple Watch expect to face off against when it hits stores, and how does it ultimately stack up? We've compared some of the top models in the table below, and you can walk through our gallery to learn about even more options on the market.
Want some apps for that Apple Watch? You'll need iOS 8.2
We already got the big Apple Watch reveal last fall. But today, Tim Cook took the stage at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco to let us all know what wonders that very Apple smartwatch can perform, like make and receive calls! Oh yes, and there's also a host of apps to take advantage of Apple Watch, but to get them, first you'll need to download the new iOS 8.2 software update for your iPhone. Good thing it's available today.
The new MacBook is impressive, but not for everyone (hands-on)
Who would have thought that the most interesting thing to come out of Apple's "Spring Forward" event would actually be a new laptop? In addition to spilling more details on its new smartwatch, the company also unveiled a brand-new (and long-awaited) update to the MacBook Air. Well, sort of. The "new MacBook," as it's called isn't actually an upgrade to the Air at all; it exists as an entirely new product line, separate from both the Air and the Pro. At $1,299, it won't be cheap, but it's for people who demand the thinnest and lightest possible design from Apple, without having to compromise on the screen quality (as you normally would when you buy an Air). I had the opportunity to get hands-on after today's event, and came away impressed -- not just with its fanless design, but with the Retina display, pressure-sensitive trackpad and redesigned keyboard. That said, it's not for everyone.
The most expensive Apple Watch costs upward of $10,000
There's only one Apple Watch, but the company is happy to sell it to you one of three ways: as the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch or the Apple Watch Edition. Confusing names aside, it's the third on the list that has courted the most speculation. Now, the company has revealed that the watch, dressed up in a solid 18-karat gold case with an "exquisitely designed" band will set you back upward of $10,000. Yup, we're in "if you have to ask, it's too expensive" territory now, folks.
Apple Watch lasts 18 hours on a charge
If you've been anxious that the Apple Watch might not last long on your wrist, you can relax... well, a bit. Apple now estimates that the device will hold out for 18 hours of typical use. Just what that means isn't clear, but the company has previously suggested that this includes a lot of activity -- there was previous talk of it surviving five hours of nonstop use, which is a lot of time to spend staring at your arm. Either way, you'll definitely be charging up every night. That's on par with most other smartwatches, but it'll be a bit disappointing if you were hoping for the weeklong charges of e-paper devices like the Pebble Time.
Apple's new MacBook has a completely redesigned trackpad
Not surprisingly, the main attraction of today's Apple event is the company's new smartwatch. But there's more, a lot more leading up to that announcement. As part of its new MacBook unveiling, Apple has revealed a newly designed trackpad, dubbed Force Touch. The redesigned trackpad comes with what Apple is calling a Taptic Engine, which produces tactile feedback that lets you "feel" what's happening on the screen, rather than just see it. It's "not a diving board," Apple Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller said on stage about the trackpad, which is now pressure-sensitive and no longer hinged (as was the case on previous MacBooks).
Apple's new MacBook is ultra thin and weighs just two pounds
Apple wasn't just showing off fancy watches today -- it also unveiled its new MacBook (check out our full hands-on here!), the first major addition to its ultraportable line since 2010. And yeah, it seems like it was worth the wait. Shaving off even more from the MacBook Air's already thin design, the new MacBook features a sharp 12-inch screen with a "Retina" 2,304 by 1,440 pixel resolution, as well as a thin bezel around the screen and keyboard. It's just 13.1 millimeters thick, around 25 percent less than the 11-inch MacBook Air. The new MacBook brings the best of both worlds from Apple's past laptop lineup: a tiny portable case like the 11-inch Air, and a larger, high-res screen like the Retina MacBook Pro. In short, it seems like the ideal Apple laptop -- something it's been working toward since Steve Jobs slipped the first Air out of a manila envelope in 2008. The MacBook ships on April 10 and starts at $1,299 with a 1.1GHz Core M processor, 256GB SSD and 8GB RAM. There's also a slightly more powerful model for $1,599 with a 1.2GHz processor and 512GB SSD.
Apple wants your iPhone to double as a medical device
Apple's taking another step in its ongoing effort to make its iDevices more friendly to medical professionals. "ResearchKit" was introduced this morning in a San Francisco event by Senior VP of operations Jeff Williams; he calls it, "a software framework made specifically for medical research." More specifically, ResearchKit is a solution for making iOS devices with HealthKit into "powerful tools for diagnosis." The long and short is ResearchKit is intended to make medical diagnosis apps easier to create by medical professionals. A handful of apps were shown off that help with diagnosis of a range of conditions, from Parkinson's to breast cancer. The data collected by these apps, which Apple says it won't see and you can opt out of sharing, can be used for enormous research projects.
Apple Pay adoption triples to 700,000 locations in six weeks
Apple's Pay started well and has grown at a steady clip. But at Apple's Watch event, Tim Cook has announced just how much it's taken off in the last month or so: It's now accepted at over 700,000 locations. That now includes Coca-Cola machines, up to 100,000 of which will take the wireless payments by the end of the year. For some perspective, we reported about a month and a half ago that Apple Pay was accepted at 200,000 points of purchase, meaning recent adoption has accelerated at a breakneck pace -- and it'll soon get a boost from Apple Watch users. The only drawback? That success has attracted throngs of fraudsters, forcing banks to adapt quickly by tightening security.
Apple TV gets a new price: $69
It's been a long, long time since Apple refreshed its streaming box, the Apple TV. And it looks like that won't be changing anytime soon. Now, that's not to say the company has forgotten about the platform; in fact, since the last hardware update, Apple's made its set-top ecosystem more robust by adding a myriad of third-party entertainment apps, making the tiny box a must-have for most any living room. With that in mind, today at its highly anticipated "Spring forward" event, Apple announced that Apple TV will now start at $69 -- $30 less than its previous MSRP. The new retail price comes on the heels of the announcement that HBO Now will be exclusive to Apple hardware, including the iPhone, iPad and, of course, Apple TV.
HBO Now launches on the web and iOS in April
HBO CEO Richard Plepler just announced that its new cable-free streaming service will be available only on Apple devices (and PCs, per a press release) when it launches early next month. The price for HBO Now has also been confirmed at $14.99 per month, and it will be available in time for you to catch the season premiere of Game of Thrones on April 12th. Plepler also debuted a new GoT trailer, and mentioned that there will be a new channel on Apple TV for the service once it's available. Even better, there's a 30-day free trial for anyone that subscribes in April through the app. HBO is promising the service will have more than 2,000 titles online, "similar" to HBO Go. Update: For the full breakdown and details on Apple's 90-day digital exclusive deal, click here.
Live from Apple's 'spring forward' keynote!
When Apple announces it's going to hold a "spring forward" event the day after daylight saving time begins, that can only mean one thing: We're going to hear more about the famous Apple Watch before it goes on sale next month. Actually it means something else too. A few sleep-deprived Engadget editors have made the trek to San Francisco to cover the keynote live, because you know a lost hour of sleep ain't gonna stop us. And by all accounts, it should be a pretty newsy day indeed. I mean, just think of all the things we don't know about the Apple Watch: its battery life, fitness features, what day it's going on sale and how much that fancy gold edition is going to cost. We're here for answers, folks, and we suspect we'll know a lot more by the time Tim Cook leaves the stage today. For now, just settle in and leave the hard work to us: bringing you all the news as it's breaking. March 9, 2015 1:00:00 PM EDT
Here's how to watch Apple's 'spring forward' event
Can't help but give in to the hype surrounding Apple's "spring forward" event today? You'll have a few ways to satisfy your curiosity about the Apple Watch... and anything else Tim Cook might show. Apple is hosting its own live stream starting at 1PM Eastern, although you'll need to use an iOS device, an Apple TV or Safari on a Mac to tune in. Don't worry if video isn't an option, though. We'll be covering the event live at the same time, so you can catch the goings-on no matter what device you're using. [Image credit: Loic Venance/AFP/Getty Images]
