Unveiled at a special launch event in Cupertino, Digital Spy has managed to get its hands on one of the devices - and here are our first impressions...
First up, let's talk about the design. The Apple Watch is not overly heavy, but feels easily as premium, if not more so, than the competition. It's also not quite as thick in feel as the Motorola 360.
Of the multiple colour schemes on offer, the space grey style dark offering is easily the nicest. The 18-carat gold is fairly bling, but we can see it going down well amongst those who want a flash watch. The standard silver offering is also very premium-feeling.
© Digital Spy / Apple
On the back of the watch is a heart rate sensor, plus an invisible connector, along the lines of the mag-safe setup you get on a MacBook, for charging.
There is a lot of different straps to choose from all attached via a clever clasp system on the side of the Watch itself. We tried on a number of different ones, as well as both the big and small version of the Apple Watch.
They were all extremely well made, similar to your typical Swiss offering. The Apple Watch is going to cost around $349 at launch, but UK pricing is still TBC. At that price, you are getting not only an impressive piece of tech, but a very premium watch. The problem is that it's a lot more expensive than basically all the Android Wear competition.
© Digital Spy
Maps on the Watch
As for the user interface, it's a totally different thing to anything Apple has done before. It's geared around two key things; firstly eliminating the need to use your fingers on the screen apart from for very simple actions. Second, streamlining any smartphone activity down to a watch face-sized offering.
Apple deals with the first issue by using the 'Digital Crown'. Replacing what you would normally set the time with on an analogue watch, you use this to scroll and select through the menus on the device.
© Digital Spy
The home screen of the new Apple Watch
It works well and has a satisfying 'click' to it as you work your way through the Apple Watch's menus.
The device's real trick however is in how it deals with smaller screen sizes. Hitting the key below the Digital Crown for example will open up an icon list of your friends. Tap one and you can draw them a quick message as well as send them customisable emojis and even your heartbeat. Alternatively you can communicate with them via a built-in walkie talkie option.
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The fitness app
Maps are zoomed in and out of using the Digital Crown, which works its way around the pinch to zoom issue. Any other majorly complex actions are handled via Siri.
Apple had a variety of different Apple Watch prototypes to play with, some of which were at later development stages than others. We aren't really ready to deliver a proper verdict on the operating system yet as our time with the device was just so limited.
They are expected to arrive in early 2015. It's a while to wait, but we have to say, it's by far the most desirable wearable we have seen so far.
Clever user interface tweaks combined with premium design make for a very impressive product. Now we just need one to test proper.
Article sourced from - http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a595441/apple-watch-hands-on-review-wearables-just-got-exciting.html#~oPsBNcqrAUTK3L
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