DHAKA: Apple has announced that its Apple Watch will be available on April 24 to customers of nine countries and the preview from April 10.

The countries are Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US.

The smartwatch will be available in three collections. They are Apple Watch Sport, priced at USD 349 and USD 399; Apple Watch, available from USD 549 to 1,009; and Apple Watch Edition, created from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys, with prices starting at USD 10,000.

Apple Watch introduces new technologies including the Digital Crown, a new way to scroll, zoom and navigate fluidly without obstructing the display.

The Retina display with Force Touch on Apple Watch senses the difference between a tap and a press to access relevant controls. In addition, the new Taptic Engine discretely delivers a gentle tap on the user’s wrist when they receive a notification or message.

Apple Watch keeps time within 50 milliseconds of UTC, the universal time standard. .

Users can swipe up on the watch face of Apple Watch for Glances that quickly display information such as the weather forecast, their current location on a map or the music they are listening to.

Apple Watch also allows users to send messages, read emails and answer calls to their iPhone from their wrist.

With Digital Touch, Apple Watch enables users to communicate by sending a sketch, a tap or the rhythm of their heartbeat. In addition, Apple Watch integrates Apple Pay, Passbook and Siri personal assistant.  

The Apple Watch Activity app provides users with a visual snapshot of their daily activity with three rings that measure active calories burned, brisk activity and how often the user has stood up to take a break from sitting during the day.

Apple Watch provides detailed metrics during dedicated workout sessions for activities such as walking, running and cycling through the Workout app.

With the accelerometer, a built-in heart rate sensor, GPS and Wi-Fi from the user’s iPhone, Apple Watch uses sensors for different types of motion and provides a picture of all-day activity and workouts.

Apple Watch is available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm.

Apple Watch delivers up to 18 hours of battery life. Apple Watch requires an iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus running iOS 8.2 or later for synchronisation.

Apple said that iOS 8.2 is available for download from 9 March.

Source: telecompaper.com

BDST: 1240/1810 HRS, MAR 10, 2015