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Apple Watch looks like a winner
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AS computerized wristwatches go, the upcoming Apple Watch looks impressive.
I like that it will come in two sizes, so the watch won’t feel giant on smaller hands, as some competing watches do.
I also like that Apple will offer a variety of straps and materials, so fitness buffs can get a strap that’s stronger and sweat-proof, while those seeking a fashion accessory can opt for an 18-karat gold edition.
Beyond looks, it’s great the Apple Watch isn’t simply adopting the smartphone way of doing things. The operating system, Watch OS, was designed specifically for the watch, and its interface relies heavily on the dial to the right, known as the digital crown. Competing watches tend to emphasize the voice and touch controls found on phones.
Of course, it’s premature to conclude you need an Apple Watch. I had only about 45 minutes with the Apple Watch and other new products announced on Tuesday. The watch I was allowed to try on was running in a demonstration mode. It’ll take more time with the watch — beyond a controlled environment — to make a solid conclusion.
What I’m seeing so far, however, points to another winner for Apple.
The home screen has all your apps, arranged in rows like a honeycomb. You use the dial to zoom in and choose one.
The touch screen lets you slide the honeycomb around to see different portions of your app collection. I find this easier than swiping on a small screen to scroll through pages and pages of apps. With the Apple Watch, you can even rearrange apps so your favorite ones are toward the middle.
App developers will be able to decide what types of notifications appear on the watch and let you take actions such as replying to messages. That’s an improvement over existing smartwatches, which largely replicate the notifications sent to your phone. To be compelling, the watch shouldn’t duplicate your phone. It should enhance it. Apple seems to get it.
Apple Watch will require an iPhone 5 or later and will have a starting price tag of US$349, higher than rival watches. Expect to pay even more for the 18-karat gold edition and other premium models. You’ll also have to wait until early next year.
Apple’s new 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus are both larger than the current 4-inch models. They neutralize a key advantage Android phones have had: size.
And Apple managed to make its new phones thinner, with edges that are curved and fit nicely in the hands. Gone is the glass back, reducing the chances of breakage. The back will now be made of aluminum and feel more like an iPad.
To improve one-handed use, both new models will have a feature called reachability. With two light taps of the home screen button, the icons, controls and content on the top half of the screen snap to the bottom, so you can reach them with the same hand. Once you make your selection, everything snaps back to the top.
The iPhone 6 Plus also has new horizontal layouts to take advantage of the larger size.
Of course, apps have long worked either horizontally and vertically. On the Plus, horizontal viewing extends to the home screen, and apps will be able to arrange content in two columns.
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