As Apple prepares to ship its highly anticipated smartwatch, the company has reportedly removed competing fitness bands that were once made available in its retail stores.
In particular, stores in Palo Alto, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York have revealed that Apple is no longer carrying popular activity-tracking bands, such as the Nike+ FuelBand and the Jawbone's Up. These fitness devices have also been removed from Apple’s online stores.
This week, the tech giant unveiled more details about the upcoming Apple Watch, which boasts fitness apps and sensors capable of monitoring the user’s heart rate. The upcoming smartwatch is also being promoted as a personal trainer to achieve one’s health and fitness goals. The device is expected to be capable of tracking other metrics, including steps and distance.
“This is the most personal device we have ever created. It's not just with you, it's on you,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said.
Sapphire lenses covered in ceramic can be seen at the back of the Apple Watch’s case, which will come with a sensor that utilizes infrared and visible-light LEDs and photodiodes for one’s heart rate to be detected.
This sensor is also used together with an accelerometer, GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity in a compatible iPhone to track physical movement, including the number of steps and calories as well as the distance covered.
Official pricing for the Apple Watch has been announced as well. Prices for the Apple Watch Sport model start at $349 whereas the stainless steel version will cost $549. A whopping $10,000 price tag will go with the Apple Watch Edition.
A companion app, the Watch app, has already been made available in iOS 8.2 this week. Aside from health tracking applications, the Apple Watch also offers features relating to phone, messaging and other capabilities. The integration of the Apple Pay mobile wallet and the connection to social media apps and services, such as Facebook and Instagram, are also highly anticipated.
Interchangeable straps are available for the Apple Watch, including fluoroelastomer (rubber), leather, and stainless steel. Both left-handed and right-handed individuals can enjoy wearing the smartwatch by adjusting the strap in order for the digital crown to be on the opposite side.
When it comes to battery performance, the smartwatch’s battery life is said to last a whole day as based on an average of 18 hours of usage, including “90 time checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of app use, and a 30-minute workout with music playback from Apple Watch via Bluetooth.”
Nonetheless, when used simply as a watch, it can last up to 48 hours.
Pre-orders for all Apple Watch variants can be made on April 10 and onwards as these wrist devices go on sale beginning April 24.
The Apple Watch will be made available in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong and Japan.
