Apple will release its newest creation, the Apple Watch, on April 24. It will be Apple’s first wearable device, and many people are interested, but the debate rages as to whether it will be a technological revolution or a business failure.
The Apple Watch is made to be an extension of the iPhone and connects through Bluetooth. Since it is so small, its main purpose will be as a window for notifications, which means that its most important feature might be its ability to save people time they would have otherwise spent on their phone.
Freshman Rebecca Camacho feels like her phone uses up too much of her time.
“It is so convenient, everything is on your phone,” Camacho said. “During homework, I take a quick breaks to play games, listen to music and talk with my friends, so it probably adds up to a few hours a day. I don’t like that I spend so much time on my phone.”
People often take out their phones to accomplish something simple, like checking email or the weather, but end up getting drawn in by games and social media, and then they lose track of time. According to The Huffington Post, the average American spends 58 minutes on their phone every day.
Now, instead of looking at your phone, you can look at your wrist instead. The watch will give its users notifications, as well as allowing them to read their emails and check text messages.
The Apple Watch will come in three models — standard, sports and luxury — and there will be two color options for each model. Also, there are two watch sizes and six wrist bands to choose from, making the Apple Watch customizable. The different looks will likely appeal to a wide variety of customers.
The battery life is estimated to be around 19 hours of mixed usage, and it should recharge in just under two hours.
The device is controlled by a button and a dial on the side, along with the main touchscreen on the front. It has a heart rate monitor and accelerometer as well for health and medical applications. The watch will even give you a tap if it feels that you’ve been sitting down for too long.
Also, the watch can give its user directions through taps, so the wearer doesn’t even have to look at the screen. You will possibly even be able to shop from your watch, using a new Amazon app that was designed for it.
This type of interface is innovative, but the question remains if it will be successful on the market. The current estimated price, according to Business Insider, is around $350, and people disagree whether customers will be willing to pay. However, past data suggests they will, since the original iPod was introduced at $399 in 2001 and has done quite well since.
“I don’t think I would buy it; it seems pretty expensive, but I think a lot of people would. Apple has a big following, and people will wait outside stores for hours whenever there is something new, so this won’t be any different,” Camacho said.
According to The Guardian, the Apple Watch is estimated to bring in at least $10 billion dollars in revenue during 2015, but estimates predict that anywhere from 10-40 billion units will be sold in 2015.
Regardless of how well the Apple Watch sells, the gadget is largely heralded as a technological revolution. The first model of any new device usually encounters some bugs, and subsequent generations are produced to address these flaws, but the original model of this small device could change the way people interact with technology. It could connect people to the internet without disconnecting them from reality.
