Watch out.
If you go to the Apple Store you might not want to leave empty-wristed.
Behind glass is a gleaming row of Apple Watches with crystal clear faces that come to life with words, images and animated emojis.
And you can try one on.
This is serious eye candy. You won’t be able to stop looking at your wrist.
In addition to the mesmerizing images, this smartwatch can make calls, texts, social media posts and tell time in milliseconds. It monitors your heart rate and can summon an Uber. Wave it at the checkout scanner to use Apple Pay. Swipe the screen to see maps, sports scores and financials, such as how your Apple stock is doing.
The Apple Watch is the hot new “wearable,” a buzzword for technology you wear. Samsung, LG and Sony have also released wearables, though not this dazzling. For now, Apple Watches are only available for purchase through online order.
Apple’s futuristic watch is functional jewelry. It doesn’t replace a smartphone. It complements and syncs with a phone. Data that your phone gets is sent to the watch, which uses Wi-Fi, not cell. There are separate apps and games for the watch.
Does the convenience justify the cost?
Apple Watches range from $349 to $17,000, and all the watches have basically the same innards.
Yes, you read that correctly. The price is in the beauty, not the brawn. It’s like Timex and Rolex in the dumbwatch world.
The 18-karat gold Apple Watch is 17K. For $349, you get the sport version in lightweight aluminum. The stainless steel watch with sapphire glass is $549. The bands, of course, are stylish and clever.
Models have two face size options, 38 millimeter (1.4 inch) and 42 millimeter (1.6 inch). Though small compared to a phone, the high-pixel display is sharp and easy to read.
On the side is the round crown knob that on mechanical dumbwatches sets the time and winds the mainspring.
On Apple Watch, the “digital crown” navigates and magnifies content on a small display. Zoom in and out, scroll through lists, input data, or press it like a button to return to the home screen.
To mute an incoming call, cover it with your hand. A notification appears when you receive a message. Hold up your wrist to read it, lower your arm to dismiss it.
This is a motion savvy device. Stay seated too long and it encourages you to keep moving.
Wonder how you’re going to text on this thing?
The watch takes the typing out of texting. Tap phrases and words already spelled out. Dictate a response that shows up as an audio file or text. Interaction with other Apple Watch wearers is a realm of its own, with seamless transmission of finger drawn doodles, emojis and loving taps.
The watch does not have a camera, but it has a remote shutter control to snap a picture or activate a timer to take photos and videos from your smartphone. No selfie stick needed.
The battery lasts about 18 hours, recharged by a cute little magnetic charger.
While away the hours with a customized face showing the sun’s position in the sky from a dawn sunrise to solar noon, sunset, dusk and solar midnight.
Or put Mickey Mouse on the front. Which some people might say this watch is all about.
5 reasons you must have an Apple Watch
1. You can talk, text, tweet, Facebook, surf, navigate and track your sleep, workout, diet. Right there, on your wrist. Wear it on a jog and it remembers your route.
2. Watch bands are easy to change to go with any wardrobe (expect a deluge of band choices made by other companies). The watch is a fashion statement and an accessory. It’s a conversation piece … at least until everybody has one.
3. Watches operate on Wi-Fi and don’t require a data plan.
4. It’s easy to talk hands-free on your phone while doing other things, such as driving. It is voice-friendly, turning words into text or audio files.
5. The watch stays attached to you, so you don’t have to worry about losing it or dig in your purse or pocket to use it. The watch can also be used as a remote control for Apple TV.
5 reasons you don’t need an Apple Watch
1. You still need a phone to get the most of it.
2. Wait and they will get cheaper.
3. It’s the first generation, so they’ll get better.
4. As Seattle blogger Virginia Roberts of theheartographer.com put it: “Picture this: you’re on a date with someone you met on Tinder. Your watch pings and the face lights up … with a picture of someone who just matched with you on Tinder. Your current date catches a glimpse of your glowing Apple Watch face with its obvious Tinder notification, and is instantly reminded that you’re totally both seeing other people and thinking about other people. Your date suddenly feels all chemistry and spark fizzle out in a watch-assisted instant.”
5. Digital advertising agencies are rushing to create ads and marketing messages that are pushed to the screen. The means at the checkout, a candy bar coupon could be pushed to your watch screen. Wait, maybe that’s why you do need this watch.
Andrea Brown at 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown
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