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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.
Apple Watch will feature on the cover of Vogue China
Would you buy an Apple Watch if the fashion industry named it the "it gadget" of 2015, even if you couldn't care less about what it can do? What about if it became a cover model? That's exactly what is happening, as it's slated to grace the cover of Vogue China's November issue, merely a month after it made its first public appearance at Paris Fashion Week. Clearly, Cupertino wants to present it as a chic device for the tech-savvy fashionista. According to Vogue China EIC Angelica Cheung, she met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and head designer Jony Ive way before the watch's September 9 unveiling, hinting that the company always meant to put some focus on fashion when it comes to marketing this particular product. If you're wondering which variant gets the honor, it's the fancy 18-karat gold one (check out the image after the break), though you'll see other versions in the editorial spread inside.
Apple Watch makes first public appearance at Paris Fashion Week
Colette is one of those ultra-hip Paris shops that may tempt you with its eclectic toys, clothing, tech and art -- until you see the prices. For Fashion Week in Paris, it's about to have a shiny new bauble: the Apple Watch. The store has announced a one-day only preview of the 1.53- or 1.33-inch wearable so that le public can see it for the first time. So far, only the press have glimpsed it, though we couldn't try any functions since it was just running a demo program. Apple told us that it'll be a strictly look-but-don't-touch event, with no new details -- and there's no word if Colette will actually sell it yet. If you happen to be in Paris though, you can see it now in it the fancy window display (which resembles the Watch interface) or brave the crowds in the store starting at 11:00 AM. [Image credit: Papasoey/Instagram]
Maker of $6,700 Android phone says the Apple Watch lacks prestige
Since Apple unveiled its brand new smartwatch just a few days ago, key individuals in a number of related industries have felt the need to weigh in on whether or not they think it will be a success. One man with a less than favorable outlook is Jean-Claude Biver, who oversees the TAG Heuer, Zenith, and Hublot brands for luxury conglomerate LVMH, and his opinion is being plastered on headlines across the web. Calling the Apple Watch "too feminine," and suggesting that Apple made "fundamental mistakes" in its design, Biver -- in an interview with German news outlet Die Welt -- was quite critical of just about everything Apple showed regarding the device. "This watch has no sex appeal," Biver claims, adding that it "looks like it was designed by a student in their first trimester." Well, it's clear that he's not super thrilled about Apple getting into the watch business. It's worth noting that Apple and TAG Heuer, one of the brands Biver oversees, have an interesting relationship. Apple recently lured TAG Heuer's VP of Global Sales into its own ranks, which Biver himself was quite vocal about, explaining how more than one of his former employees have found their way to Cupertino, while also noting that he doesn't see Apple as a direct competitor. One of the things that seems to have been missed in all of this is that TAG Heuer also makes phones -- Android phones, in fact. The company's "LINK" smartphone line has been targeting luxury buyers since 2011 with devices ranging from a few thousand up to and surpassing $10,000, depending on the model. The phones, sporting features like genuine leather and one which is studded with 1,007 diamonds, have embarrassingly meager specs. With 3.5-inch low-res screens, and running Android 2.2 (circa 2010), there's nothing about these devices that would compete with even the most modest smartphone in 2014, much less a flagship device from any major manufacturer. Of course, that doesn't change their price tags. So if we're going to judge the potential success of the Apple Watch, basing it on the predictions of someone who thinks a $10,000 diamond-covered bargain-bin smartphone is a solid product probably isn't the best idea.
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 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.
Apple Watch: Apple's smartwatch redefines the market
The rumors were true, and although we didn't actually see the device or any single hint of it before today, the iWatch exists, and it's called "Apple Watch." Tim Cook just showed off the device for the first time with a video that showed a variety of health software and other apps, as well as a plethora of interchangeable watchbands. "What we didn't do is take the iPhone and shrink it. It would be a terrible customer experience," Cook said, showcasing a small dial on the side of the device called the digital crown. The crown lets you zoom in and out on the screen, scroll through lists, and it also functions as a home button that sends you back to a central screen where apps are stored. The device vibrates using what Apple calls a "Taptic Engine," and lets you feel notifications without a sound. The idea here is that you'll be able to check your updates without disturbing those around you. Apple's beloved digital assistant Siri also makes an appearance on the watch, so you can ask for information on things like movies or sporting events, or get answers to virtually endless number of questions right from your wrist. The watch is slated to come in three different versions: The standard Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition. The differences are mainly relegated to materials, with the Sport version coming in strengthened aluminum, and the Edition version comes in 18k gold. Each version also comes in two sizes, which makes it perfect for those with large or small wrists. Third party apps will also be supported, which is obviously a huge addition. Twitter was shown off as an example, and it's essentially the full Twitter client shrunken down for the watchface.
Apple Watch is the wearable Cupertino hopes you've been waiting for
If you're tired of rumors and speculation about Cupertino's so-called iWatch, then good news -- that all ends today. Apple has just confirmed the arrival of its first fully fledged wearable device -- Apple Watch. How much of what we heard in the run up to the event was true? How does it compare to the recent slew of Android smartwatches? In typical Apple fashion, the device has a few surprises. First up some top-level details: Apple Watch has a sapphire display, four sensors on the back, NFC, Apple Pay and a choice of six straps at launch. Of course, they use a proprietary connecting mechanism, which means you can't just run out and buy any old watchband. Apple also claims it's accurate to 50ms and is the "most personal device we've ever created." Probably to the surprise of many, the new watch isn't Swiss-style at all, in fact sharing much of the iPhone's design language -- curved edges and a power button on the side. There's also a hardware dial, just like on a regular watch, that Apple is calling a "Digital Crown," which can be used to navigate menus, zoom into images and more. A big heads-up: You'll need an iPhone 5 or above and $350 if you want one of these when they become available "early next year."
Apple's iPhone and wearables event liveblog!
September is a month synonymous with the beginning of autumn, but it's also become associated with something else entirely: The iPhone. Today, we're in attendance at the Flint Center in Cupertino to hear about the latest products and updates from Apple, and we're expecting at least four new devices (two iPhones and two wearables). Join us at this space beginning at 1pm ET on September 9th, because we'll be liveblogging the event and bringing you the latest updates as it happens. Should be a long and intense event, so make sure you bookmark this page and come back for it all! September 9, 2014 1:00:00 PM EDT
The iWatch is dead, long live the iWatch
Up until Apple officially unveils a wearable, this little beauty is a close as any of us have ever gotten to an Apple smartwatch. The 6th generation iPod nano is still a pretty impressive little device, and with the ability to view photos, track calories burned, count your steps, play music and record voice memos, it's actually more feature-packed than many devices flying under the smartwatch banner. If (or when) Apple pulls the curtain back on the iWatch, the device it most closely resembles probably won't be something Samsung, Motorola or LG has recently launch, but instead the tiny little media device it introduced way back in 2010. Ahead of its time? Perhaps. Now it's time for round two. [Photo credit: Aaron Muszalski]
TUAW Liveblog of the Apple Event 9/9 starts at 12:45 PM EDT
Tomorrow's going to be, in the words of Star Trek's Mr. Spock, "fascinating". Nobody really has any idea what Tim Cook and friends are going to announce, although we're pretty sure that something that looks, feels and works like an iPhone should be given top billing. And then there's that building next to the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of De Anza College in Cupertino, draped in white -- what's that all about? The reveal is scheduled for tomorrow, and although TUAW won't be on the scene, we'll be covering the story in our usual professional and fun manner with a liveblog -- sponsored this year by Verizon. Erica Sadun and I will be taking the helm for the liveblog, and those who are joining in can send us questions and comments via Twitter hashtag #tuawliveblog. We will be firing up the mighty liveblog engine at 12:45 PM EDT (9:45 PDT), so be sure to bookmark our liveblog page so you can pop right in. Join us for what should prove to be an incredible event, and we look forward to your questions and comments.
If Apple announces a wearable that's not available until next year...
It'll be genius*. In no small part because, as of right now, no one has reported seeing a single millimeter of the device. If Apple shows off what it has been cooking but delays manufacture until later this year, it will also be one of the bigger tactical shifts for Apple during Tim Cook's tenure. Cook is a supply chain wizard, going back to why he was recruited from Compaq, having previously spent years at IBM. The fact that Apple may even be locking up the shipping channels, giving them a physical advantage in actually getting product into stores at the expense of competitors (hi, Samsung!), clearly shows Cook's savvy as a business leader. The supply chain in China is typically the weakest part of Apple's secret process. Even bringing manufacturing to America can't hide things like a sapphire glass plant, dug up by Mark Gurman some time ago. Yet he, nor MacRumors, AppleInsider -- none of the rumor sites have managed to capture a wire or screen or strap of the rumored wearable. Why? It likely hasn't gone into mass production yet. You can't leak what you aren't making. Jobs perhaps wouldn't have done this, but that is academic. He certainly had a flair for the dramatic and was able to keep things quiet, for the most part. The reality is what it is, however, and the best way to keep secrets these days is to keep your cards very close. Look at how Swift was kept under wraps for years. No one in the media reported Swift in advance, not even so much as a hint. Until Apple can build a campus somewhere high in the mountains (or perhaps a helicarrier like S.H.I.E.L.D.), the leaky supply chain will continue to tip its hand. Personally, I'm looking forward to being pleasantly surprised tomorrow. *Perhaps the only thing that would be more amazing would be hearing the product is ready to ship. It's not unprecedented to have a new product stay secret, as we had almost no supply chain leaks for the original iPhone or iPad. The iPhone was also announced first, then shipped some time later. Once people know what to look for it seems to be harder to keep things secret.
Yes, Apple's smartwatch should run third-party apps
Tipsters have been seemingly eager to shed light on every single facet of Apple's long-rumored smartwatch, but one obvious question hasn't really received a clear answer: will it run third-party apps? If you ask 9to5Mac, the answer is "yes." Its sources claim that the iOS-based wristwear will not only support third-party software, but already has a developer kit to make sure there are plenty of titles ready for the reported launch early next year. There isn't much word about what these apps can do, although they'll supposedly make good use of iOS 8 features like Handoff and widgets to quickly transfer info between the watch and its companion iPhone.
The smartwatch bar is embarrassingly low, and it's Apple's for the taking
Smartwatches suck. They're crap. Shite. Excrement. Doo-doo. Pretty much universally, the wrist-worn devices we've seen so far are too big, too clunky, and overall a massive disappointment. That could change on Tuesday, when Apple will have a captive audience for one of its most important events in years. But right now... smartwatches still suck. The reviews for the Moto 360 -- you know, the watch that the crowd at Google I/O gushed about -- are now in. This was the watch that was supposedly going to help kick the smartwatch market into high gear. I'll let the reviews speak for themselves: "Round is hard, though, and not just for Motorola. Google may technically support round displays with Android Wear, but the 360 provides constant confirmation that this operating system was designed with rectangles in mind. Scrolling through a list will often cut off titles and images; sometimes list items get kicked way down to the bottom of the screen for no apparent reason." - The Verge "It almost looks like I grabbed a clock off the wall and strapped it to my arm." - Wall Street Journal "The watch comes with a 320mAh battery which can be recharged wirelessly using a supplied charging cradle but, and this is a very big BUT, the Moto 360 only has a one-day battery life. While the 2-3 day battery lives of other smartwatches are nothing write home about, one day is just ridiculous." - IBTimes The Moto 360 is too big, Android Wear is too clunky, and -- according to multiple reviewers -- the battery will last you for 12 hours, if you're lucky. This is not the smartwatch you're looking for. The iWatch rumor mill has been churning out both believable and not-so-believable tidbits about an Apple smartwatch for the better part of two years now. We know next to nothing about it, aside from the theory that it will tie in closely with the company's new focus on health tech. If current smartwatch tech is anything to go on, that's a pretty safe assumption. Right now, Apple has a tremendous opportunity on its hands. It's sat back and watched Samsung, LG, and now Motorola fumble their attempts at creating a revolutionary device, in much the same way early smartphone manufacturers had a lot of good ideas but almost universally blundered when it came to executing them. It's 2007 all over again. The folks in Cupertino have never been shy about stealing great ideas and making them their own, but what they do equally well is avoid pitfalls thanks to the missteps of other companies. Make no mistake: Apple learns from the mistakes of others in a way that no other company can match. You can bet that if and when Apple unveils the iWatch -- or whatever it'll be called -- it will have a battery that lasts more than half a day, the software won't be half-baked, and the screen won't have a massive slice taken out of it because the design team figured it was "good enough." There is no "good enough" for Apple these days, and on September 9th, they're going to have a great opportunity to prove it once again. [Photo credit (concept): Philipp Zumtobel]
What to expect when you're expecting an iPhone 6 (or iWatch)
Look, going off the sheer number of leaks we've seen the past few months, there's no way you didn't know Apple was planning to unveil a horde of new gadgets next week. Hell, the folks in Cupertino are even counting down to the event (and the livestream that goes with it) on Apple.com. If all those rumors and reports hold true, two iPhones and two wearables will take the stage next week, so let's take a moment and dissect what we know (and what we think we know) about Apple's newest batch of gear.
The ugly truth about wearable technology
When it comes to putting computers on our bodies, everyone's an armchair Anna Wintour. Take a look at the comments on any story about wearable technology, just about anywhere. Ugly is in the eye of the beholder. And with good reason. While some of us view our PCs, smartphones and tablets as status symbols, our clothing and accessories are more closely tied to our identities than anything else.
NYT: the new, larger iPhones will feature a one-hand mode
Now that we're nearing Apple's September 9th reveal, more and more details about the event are starting to leak out. According to The New York Times, the new and bigger iPhones will have a one-handed mode that can be toggled on or off to make their large screens easier to use. The new phones (and yes, there might be more than one) will reportedly come in 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch variants, you see, and both are a lot larger than the current model's 4-inch screens. While we've yet to find out what the mode can do, it could very well be similar to comparable features in large Android devices.
NYT provides iWatch details, claims iPhone 6 will include a "one-handed mode";
The New York Times today published a report claiming that the highly anticipated iPhone 6 will come with a "one-handed mode" to enable easier operation on account of what is rumored to be a larger display. As has been reported numerous times over the past few months, there's a lot of evidence to suggest that Apple next week will unveil two new larger-screened iPhone models, one with a 4.7-inch display and another with a 5.5-inch display. While larger displays are unquestionably great for some tasks, they also come with some trade-offs, one-handed usability being one of them. To deal with concerns that a bigger phone will make typing with one hand difficult (the current iPhone has a 4-inch screen), some changes to the design of the iPhones' software interface will allow people to type or use apps with just one hand - there will be a one-handed mode that can be switched on and off, two employees said. Indeed, the ability to use the iPhone one-handed has long been a favored marketing point for Apple, especially in the face of increasingly popular Android handsets with much larger displays. Apple a few years ago even centered an entire iPhone commercial around one-handed use. On another note, the Times article also provides us with some more speculative information regarding Apple's rumored iWatch, tantalizingly relaying that some employees they talked to indicated that it was the company's "most ambitious project to date." The company put an enormous amount of time and money in the wearable device's sensors so that they would track movements and vital signs, like heart rate and footsteps, much more accurately than existing fitness devices, two employees said. It has a flexible display panel that is protected by a cover composed of sapphire, a type of tougher glass, they said. The device's circuit board, which includes its sensors and chips, was described as tiny, about the size of a postage stamp. The Times also echoes a number of previous reports which have said that Apple's first smartwatch won't ship until early 2015. Lastly, while we're talking all things iWatch, the Wall Street Journal today published a story claiming that the iWatch will come in two distinct sizes and, as John Gruber subtly hinted, will support mobile payments as well.
We don't know anything about the iWatch, and why that's friggin' awesome
I'll go ahead and say it -- Apple media events over the past few years have lost a little bit of their magic. To be clear, this isn't the result of Apple stagnating on the innovation front, but rather due to the fact that every month we're bombarded with leaked photos of product casings and logic boards along with ostensibly insider-sourced news reports regarding new and upcoming products. While this is great for the Apple enthusiast who can't help but want to know Apple's plans before they're announced to the public, it also makes for rather ho-hum media events. Indeed, the mindset of someone who routinely keeps up to date on the latest Apple developments likely looks like this: A bigger screened iPhone 5? Already knew it. A completely revamped look in iOS 7? Old news. An iPhone with a fingerprint sensor? No kidding, it was obvious they were going to do this the moment they bought AuthenTec. But with Apple rumored to be unveiling the iWatch at next week's media event, we decidedly have little to no idea as to what the hell it's going to look like, what it's going to do, and why it's worthy of inclusion in a product pipeline that Eddy Cue said was the best he's seen in 25 years. Sure, we know that Apple has hired an impressive team of engineers and scientists with deep experience in medical sensor technologies. And sure, we know Apple has some fitness and sleep experts on the roster as well. But what do we really know about what the iWatch will be able to monitor? In truth, nothing at all. The reality is that the iWatch, as of yet, doesn't officially exist and its purported features are only bandied about in the most general of terms. So while it may have a health and fitness bent, that really doesn't tell us anything. Even ostensibly big leaks about the iWatch tell us little to nothing about why the average consumer might want to purchase it. Just today, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo issued a research note claiming that the iWatch will sport 512MB of memory and 8GB of storage. Even if we assume that that's accurate, who cares really? What ultimately matters is what consumers will be able to do with this rumored and now borderline mythical iWatch. Indeed, the closest we've seen to a report housing intriguing and specific details regarding the iWatch only surfaced last week when John Gruber intimated that consumers will be able to use the device to complete mobile transactions. Over and above that, no one has any inkling -- not even the slightest clue -- as to what this thing is going to look like, save for rudimentary drawings we've seen in filed patents. While we seemingly can't go four days without a new iPhone 6 parts leak, Apple has successfully kept the iWatch design completely under wraps. And that's freakin' awesome. Apple's most recent WWDC was largely heralded as its best and most exciting in years, not only due to the breadth of awesome announcements, but also because many of the announcements came as a complete surprise to EVERYONE. Swift?! Who saw that coming? Come next Tuesday, the expectations will be insanely high -- perhaps the highest they've been since the original iPhone was unveiled. At the very least, the buzz surrounding Tuesday's event is on par with, if not greater than, the hype that preceded the company's 2010 iPad event. And for whatever reason, call it a gut feeling, I believe that this announcement will be even bigger yet. When Tim Cook and Co. take the stage at the Flint Center in just a few days, no one will have any idea what to expect. That is awesome. As opposed to Apple events in previous years, what we don't know seemingly outweighs the deluge of leaked photos and rumors we've seen. That is beyond intriguing. In just five days, the entire tech world will be incessantly refreshing liveblogs to potentially witness the first new product category from Apple in the Tim Cook era. What the rumored iWatch looks like, what it does, why consumers should care about it -- all of these questions remain unanswered. The result is an Apple event with a little bit more mystery than usual, and the potential for a magical announcement the likes of which we haven't seen since Steve Jobs wowed everyone with the original iPhone. With expectations as high as they are, the potential for disappointment certainly lurks beneath. To "wow" the world, Apple will undoubtedly have to deliver in a major way -- which is why the anticipation for next week's event is palpably exciting.
