How the Apple Watch Functions

The concept of smartwatches isn't new. It dates back to the 1940s, with the introduction of Dick Tracy's communicator watch. After years of development, watches equipped with computing capabilities and synchronized with smartphones are now a reality. These devices can alert you about incoming calls, display messages and upcoming events, and even control music and apps on your phone. Apple has now joined the market.

At Apple's September 2014 keynote, CEO Tim Cook unveiled the Apple Watch, along with the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. He described the Watch as "the most personal device we've ever created" [source: Apple]. Although it lacked the familiar "i" prefix found in other Apple products, its sleek design and intuitive interface were unmistakably in line with Apple's other popular consumer gadgets.

The Apple Watch works in tandem with the iPhone 5 or later. While it can perform a few functions independently, the iPhone is essential for its full capabilities and real utility. The Apple Watch brings together advancements in hardware, software, and user interface (UI) design, allowing users to engage with it through sight, touch, and sound.

Beyond the usual features like answering calls, sending messages, managing appointments, getting directions, and playing music—functions we often rely on our phones for—the Apple Watch also facilitates payments, tracks your heart rate, and in certain cases, even unlocks doors. Additionally, it maintains incredibly accurate time and serves as a customizable fashion accessory.

Available Designs

While the design and features of each Apple Watch will remain largely consistent, Apple offers options for size, color, and even metal composition, along with a variety of watchbands—some practical, others more luxurious.

There will be three distinct Apple Watch models: Watch, Watch Sport, and Watch Edition. The Watch features a custom stainless steel alloy, available in polished or space black, with a sapphire crystal face. The Watch Sport is made from anodized aluminum, offered in silver or space gray, with an Ion-X glass face. The Watch Edition is crafted from 18-karat yellow or rose gold with a sapphire crystal face.

You'll also have the opportunity to choose from a variety of specially designed straps, based on your chosen model, including the following:

Each Apple Watch model comes in two different sizes, and all strap types are compatible with both size options.

This not only provides a range of style options but also allows you to personalize the watch face. At launch, the Watch will offer 11 different face designs: Chronograph, Color, Modular, Timelapse, Solar, Astronomy, Motion, Utility, Simple, Photo, and Mickey Mouse.

Some of these faces resemble traditional analog watches with moving hands, while others present various forms of digital information. The Astronomy face shows your current location on Earth and lets you zoom to the moon or other planets in our solar system. Solar displays the sun's position in a sundial-like arc, and Mickey Mouse, as you might guess, features a classic analog design with Mickey's arms acting as the minute and second hands.

You can further personalize many of the watch faces by adjusting colors and rearranging or adding functional elements, such as a display of your upcoming events, time in another time zone, weather, lunar phase, or even your activity levels.

Keep reading to explore what makes the Watch tick, so to speak.

Technical Details

The Watch case has a metal rectangular shape with rounded corners. All three models of the Watch are available in two size options: 38 millimeters (1.5 inches) or 42 millimeters (1.65 inches) in height. Additional measurements have not been disclosed at this time.

Apple worked with metallurgists to ensure the alloys used in the Watch cases are as durable as possible. The anodized aluminum of the Sport model is said to be 60 percent stronger than standard aluminum alloys, and the gold used in the Edition model is reportedly twice as strong as conventional gold.

On the right side of the device (when looking at the watch face) is a knob known as the Digital Crown. Resembling the crown of a traditional analog watch used for winding or setting time, the Digital Crown on the Apple Watch serves as an input device. It lets you scroll through content or zoom in and out on the screen. You can also press it like a button, which typically takes you to the home screen. Its function may vary depending on the context, but the Digital Crown allows you to navigate without obstructing the screen with your fingers.

Below the crown, there is an elongated button that brings up contacts (referred to as Friends) with a single press, and activates Apple Pay — Apple's NFC-based payment system — with a double press.

Two small buttons on the back of the device allow you to detach or reattach the watch bands.

The touchscreen is a flexible Retina display. For the Watch and Watch Edition models, it is shielded by a single piece of polished sapphire, which is the second hardest transparent material, after diamond, according to Apple. The Sport model features Apple's custom Ion-X glass, a scratch-resistant and impact-resistant aluminosilicate glass that is reinforced at the molecular level by replacing smaller ions with larger ones. Ion-X stands for 'ion exchange.'

The display detects touch as expected from any touchscreen, but it also integrates small electrodes that allow it to sense force, a feature Apple calls Force Touch. This enables the screen to tell the difference between a tap and a press and respond accordingly.

The Watch includes sensors like an accelerometer and a gyroscope to track movement. On the back of the watch, which rests against your wrist, there's a heart rate sensor covered with ceramic and zirconia. The sensor consists of photodiodes and infrared and visible-light LEDs that pass through four sapphire lenses.

The Watch is powered by a custom chip, the S1 SiP (System in Package), which integrates the entire computer system onto a single chip. This system is encased in resin to shield it from impact, moisture, dust, dirt, and wear. Apple claims this single-chip solution is a first in the industry. Tim Cook has mentioned that it houses several hundred components [source: Rose].

Another key internal component is the Taptic Engine, a linear actuator that, along with the speaker driver, delivers haptic feedback to notify you with tactile sensations when receiving calls, notifications, or performing certain actions.

The device is equipped with WiFi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 4.0 for seamless communication with the iPhone. Additionally, it supports some form of near-field communication (NFC).

While the device does not appear to feature a camera, it does include a speaker and microphone for audio communication.

Charging the Apple Watch is done via a small, metal inductive charging unit that attaches magnetically to the back of the watch using Apple's MagSafe technology. There are no visible connectors on either the watch or the charger.

Apple has not yet provided specific details regarding the battery life. However, CEO Tim Cook mentioned that users will likely charge their watches every night, similar to how many people charge their phones [source: de Looper].

The Watch depends on your iPhone's GPS for location data, and it uses the phone's connection to the Internet via cellular or WiFi for most of its other functions. It can store and play some of your music independently, allowing you to exercise without your phone. However, in most cases, you’ll need to bring your phone along to fully use the Watch.

Using the Watch

The Apple Watch is compatible with iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, 6 Plus, or later models running iOS 8 or newer. Synchronized with the Universal Time standard, the Watch maintains accuracy within 50 milliseconds, making it a reliable timepiece, though it also offers many other exciting features.

The display turns on when you raise your wrist. Initially, you'll see your chosen watch face, but pressing the Digital Crown will open the home screen, where you can access all your apps.

Apps are now shown as simple, circular icons arranged in clusters that you can organize to your preference. The clock at the center of the home screen takes you back to the watch face. The icons vary slightly in size. To navigate, swipe on the touchscreen or rotate the crown to zoom in or out, viewing several apps at once or just a few. If zoomed out, the icons become too small to select individually, but tapping on a section of the screen zooms into that cluster. Press the crown to return to the standard view with the clock in the center. Tap an app to open it.

The Force Touch feature allows the Watch to distinguish between a tap and a press, enabling different responses depending on how hard you press.

To select or customize your watch face, press on the face with some force (not just a tap). This will let you swipe through various options and pick one. You'll also see a 'Customize' button, which allows you to choose different colors or adjust functionality using the crown or touchscreen.

By swiping upward on the touchscreen, you can access Glances. This feature allows you to quickly swipe through summarized data from frequently used apps, such as your upcoming calendar events, weather, traffic, location, current music, fitness data, or any other information you choose to display, whether from built-in apps or third-party ones.

Swipe down to open the Notification Center. The Taptic Engine will gently 'tap' your wrist when you receive notifications, messages, or calls. If your phone is muted, the Watch allows you to receive notifications discreetly. To view a notification, simply raise your wrist to bring it up on the screen.

The Watch's speaker and microphone let you make and receive calls, record voice messages, and dictate text. There's even a Walkie Talkie feature for voice-to-voice communication with other Watch users.

You can use Siri on the Watch by pressing and holding the crown or raising the Watch and saying, 'Hey, Siri.' This allows you to use Siri for tasks like getting directions, checking movie times, or dictating messages, just as you would with any other Apple device.

The Apple Watch is designed to automatically lock when removed from your wrist, requiring a passcode to unlock it. Additionally, you'll need a passcode to make payments using Apple Pay, ensuring that no one can use it for transactions if it is taken without your permission.

Additional Features and Functionality

Beyond its basic features, the Apple Watch has some unique functionalities. One notable feature called Handoff allows you to begin an activity on one device and seamlessly continue it on another, like reading an email on your Watch and responding to it on your iPhone, or starting a message on one device and finishing it on the other.

Notifications provide quick action buttons that are contextually relevant to the app. For instance, when you receive a Calendar invite, you can choose from options like Accept, Maybe, Decline, and Dismiss. Incoming calls will present you with options to either accept or decline. When you get a text, Smart Replies will offer quick responses based on the message content. For example, if someone asks, 'Do you want fish or steak for dinner?', options for 'Fish' and 'Steak' will appear, allowing you to choose a quick reply. A sample from the keynote demonstrated a message asking, 'Are you going with 'Love Shack' or 'Wild Thing'?' with possible responses of 'Love Shack,' 'Wild Thing,' or 'Not sure.' You can also dictate a message or choose from animated emojis like hand, heart, and face icons, adjusting them with touch before sending.

Apple's Digital Touch feature allows you to communicate in unique ways with other Apple Watch owners. To access it, press the button beneath the crown, which brings up your contacts. After tapping someone's icon, you'll see their name, picture, and small icons for calling or messaging. If you tap the center of the screen instead, it goes black with just a dot at the top. From here, you can interact with your friend by tapping the screen (sending a tap to their watch), drawing small sketches with your finger, or even pressing two fingers to send a heartbeat that they will feel. You can change the drawing color by tapping the dot to reveal a color picker, offering options like white, red, pink, orange, green, yellow, and blue. Audio messages can also be sent through the Walkie Talkie feature.

The Apple Watch can also serve as a remote control for music on your iPhone, Apple TV, and iTunes on your computer. Additionally, it can display what’s seen through the viewfinder on your iPhone camera, and you can use it to set a timer or take a photo. As noted earlier, you can store music directly on the Watch, allowing you to enjoy your tunes without needing your phone. You’ll just need Bluetooth headphones if you prefer not to broadcast your music to everyone, since the Watch has no audio output ports.

You can easily toggle simple settings such as Bluetooth, Airplane Mode, and Do Not Disturb on your Watch. Additionally, if you're ever unable to locate your iPhone, you can ping it from the Watch.

As expected from a computing device in the form of a watch, the Apple Watch includes essential apps like Timer, Alarm, and Stopwatch. However, these aren’t the only tools available for use on the device.

Apps on the Watch

The apps and interfaces have been designed for minimal interaction, optimized for the smaller screen. Apple created WatchKit, a set of APIs and tools for developers to build apps for the Watch. This allows developers to extend their app's capabilities to provide actionable notifications and Glances on the Watch. In 2015, Apple plans to enable third-party developers to create fully native Watch apps.

Several familiar iPhone apps have already been adapted for the Apple Watch, including Calendar, Maps, Passbook, Music, Stocks, Weather, and Photos.

When you open Maps, it will default to your current location. You can navigate the map using the touchscreen, zoom in and out with the crown, and tap the arrow icon in the lower left corner to return to your location. A force touch on the screen brings up the Search and Contacts options, enabling you to search for places and get directions. You can choose Dictation or select from Favorites or recent searches. After selecting a location, it provides details and options for walking or driving directions. The Taptic Engine will give different feedback for left or right turns, allowing you to follow directions without looking at your Watch.

With built-in NFC, the Passbook app on the Watch not only allows you to use loyalty cards, board flights, and enter events with digital tickets, but also store payment methods for direct purchases at retailers with touch payment systems. Simply double-click the button beneath the crown and hold the Watch up to the payment terminal. For security, the Watch doesn’t store or transmit actual debit or credit card details, but instead uses a specially assigned device account number for each card.

The Photos app displays your Favorite images as small, continuous thumbnails on the Watch screen. You can zoom in using the Digital Crown, navigate with the touchscreen, or tap to zoom in further and swipe through individual photos. Any images marked as Favorite on your iPhone or Mac will automatically appear on your Watch.

There are two new health-focused apps designed to help you reach your fitness objectives. These apps, Activity and Workout, make full use of the Watch’s capabilities.

The Activity app tracks your daily movements using the Watch’s accelerometer and gyroscope to measure body movement, the heart rate sensor to assess workout intensity, and the phone’s GPS and WiFi to monitor your distance. The data is presented through an easy-to-read graphic of concentric rings labeled Move, Exercise, and Stand. The Move ring tracks calories burned, the Exercise ring shows minutes spent doing moderate to intense activity, and the Stand ring records how many times you've stood up from sitting. Clicking each ring offers more detailed insights. These rings fill up throughout the day and close once your goals are met. The app can suggest new goals and will send reminders to get up after sitting too long.

The Workout app allows you to select an exercise from a list (mostly cardio-based activities like running, walking, or cycling) and set goals for time, distance, or calories. You can track your progress throughout the workout and receive a summary when you're done. Additionally, the app gives you reminders as you reach key milestones in the workout, such as the halfway point, and awards you badges for various achievements.

The Activity app syncs with the Fitness app on your iPhone to allow you to review your activity and workout history. Additionally, you can share your activity data with other health and fitness apps via the iPhone Health app. The Watch's health and fitness features might make it a solid, albeit pricey, alternative to more affordable fitness bands like the Fitbit and Nike Fuelband, which tend to offer fewer features.

Likely Cost, Buzz, and Availability

The base model of the Apple Watch will start at $349 [source: Apple]. Details on the pricing for higher-end models and luxury watch bands are not yet available, but speculations suggest that the Watch Edition models, made from 18-karat gold, could range from $1,200 to $10,000 [sources: Biggs, Murphy, Taylor]. Given that premium non-computerized timepieces can also be priced similarly or even higher, these price points are plausible, though only Apple knows for sure. The Apple Watch will be available in early 2015.

Several smartwatches have already hit the market before Apple’s offering. The Samsung Galaxy Gear (which pairs with a Samsung phone), the Motorola Moto 360 (which is compatible with Android phones), and the Pebble (which works with both iOS and Android devices) are all somewhat similar to the Apple Watch. All require a smartphone for communication, deliver notifications, and run a variety of apps. The Gear and Moto include heart-rate monitoring features for fitness tracking, while the Pebble focuses on step-counting. Google's Android Wear, an operating system for smartwatches, is already used by the Moto 360, Samsung's Gear Live, and the LG G Watch. However, the Apple Watch is the only one so far to incorporate NFC, enabling payments directly via the smartwatch.

Smartwatches have yet to become the must-have gadgets in consumer technology. A survey by RBC Capital Markets, a Canadian firm, found that only 11 percent of those planning to buy an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus are also considering purchasing an Apple Watch [sources: Booton, Dormehl]. However, interest may grow as more people upgrade to the latest phones, experiment with iOS 8, and use apps that integrate with the Watch. Furthermore, as the Watch becomes available, positive reviews could help spur demand.

This is not Apple's first time entering a market where initial interest was mainly among tech enthusiasts. In the past, Apple revolutionized the digital music player with the iPod, the smartphone with the iPhone, and the tablet with the iPad. Whether Apple can work its magic again and make the smartwatch a mainstream product remains to be seen.