Predicting The Impact Of The Apple Watch
It's likely that when the new Apple Watch (just try and shake that iWatch name) shows up in stores, it will be even more incredible than Tim Cook's presentation showed it to be. The months of anticipation paid off with the kind of public reception that only Apple can seem to pull off. It's the first real new product in four years, which are like exponential dog years in the world of tech. With the biggest infusion of Cupertino's technology in its smallest package, the question remains: How far-reaching will the smartwatch be? Watch every gadget freak on the planet get camping gear just to wait in line for it. The question remains of what the Apple Watch's overall impact will be, not just in the world of wearable tech but also in the world of watches. It's not just about what's inside the watch that counts, it's the style and personalization the Apple Watch conveys that will make the difference between success and insane success. We all know that everything short of the Apple Newton has been blessed by the Midas touch, so failure won't be an option. What the Apple Watch has the potential to do is take the place of a wristwatch, largely because it doesn't look like a flat-out small computer for your arm, but will it actually compete with mid-range timepieces (around $250 to $1,000) or just take its place at the top spot of smartwatches and define the genre?
Well, it's no fluke that Apple took the time to create the Watch in four different case finishes and two different sizes, while also offering six very different kinds of watch straps. They did the right research, too. From active to dressy, the strap range captures just about everything short of scuba diving (one thing you won't do with the Apple Watch). We also expect the build quality of the Watch to be nothing short of solid. If it's going to dominate the world of techy wearables and make some waves in the wristwatch community, then it needs to be impressive.
The metal case is topped by a high-end watch-type sapphire glass display and accented by beautifully slick curved edges. The "Digital Crown" is a brilliant idea, especially since Apple could've chosen to have no crown at all. Instead, the watch's version echoes traditional timepieces, but with a modern utility that navigates menus among a host of other functions.You can also configure the watch's face to your liking from the simplest of simulated analog faces to animated dynamic ones. The level of personalization makes every other smartwatch look boring by comparison, and frankly, a fair number of real watches, too. And the watch community is a picky bunch. If they're going to adopt new wrist candy, especially when style (and often traditional simplicity) are of vital performance, the Apple Watch has a real chance. Will it occupy a slot in watch cases around the world where an automatic analog dress watch might normally reside? I doubt it.
It's quite clear that the Apple Watch's deep and wide skill set put it at the top of the smartwatch heap. Plus, with all the personalization options, it's a smart move for Apple to unload the full monty from the get-go, especially in light of the serious competition that's just about full-on public knowledge already. You can't fault Apple for trying to do more than just issue something for the modern, fast-paced world of wearable technology. It's likely that the outcome will be a winner for Apple, but that's not really a stretch of the imagination, is it?
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