Apple
has officially entered the wearable market upon introducing the Watch last
week. We have known a lot about the Apple Watch since its introduction last
September alongside the iPhone 6 duo, but there are certain points about this
wrist computer that are worth noting before you get to save that hard-earned
money.
Join
us as we list 10 Apple Watch features that could streamline the wearable
experience on your wrist.
1. You can send customized
Sketch and Drawings
This
may seem to be a so-so feature; however, this adds another feather to Apple
Watch's cap. You can draw random things and send it to any other Watch users,
of course.
2. Mobile Payments
Hard
to admit, but despite all the efforts that the Google has done with Google
Wallet, it is still categorized in the "negligible" department.
Meanwhile, Apple Watch will support the full-blown Apple Pay payment scheme
using its NXP-based NFC chip. In the US, the Apple Watch will be an alternative
to your existing credit cards as a swipe-to-pay necessity.
3. Send heartbeats and
vibrations to other users.
Being
the “most personal device” Apple has ever made, you can send real heartbeats to
any other Watch users. This feature points to wide-array of medical
applications.
In
addition, you can also send vibrations to other users using the taptic
capability of the Watch. Example, using a vibrating messages to get another's
attention. Seemd pretty legit right?
4. Use Apple Watch to
make or receive phone calls.
Yes,
you heard it right. Apple Watch has a built-in mic and speaker which allows
owners to directly make and receive phone calls on the wrist. Of course, you
need to pair your device with an iPhone to do this capability.
5. Digital Crown is
the crowning feature.
While
every other smartwatch goes for the touch screen input, Apple ingeniously
preserved a classic look of its latest wearable using the Digital Crown. It
also acts as a home button and scrolling wheel in one.
Knowing
that watch interfaces lack a proper screen real estate, the Digital Crown
completes the experience for scrolling and pinch-to-zoom functions. Of course,
you may also opt for a pure-tap interface in you like.
6. Wi-Fi Connectivity
What
makes it a big deal for Apple Watch to have WiFi connectivity? The reason is
most of its competitors, like Android Wear, lacks the feature. Yes, it can
communicate with your iPhone using Bluetooth; but with a positive reinforcement
of a WiFi connectivity, your range and speed could be tripled.
Plus,
you can be connected even when it is not paired with an iPhone. Android Wear,
on the other hand, only relies on Bluetooth to do its tricks.
7. Force Touch
Personally,
this is what I want to try with the Watch. In simple terms, the Force Touch is
a feature that can determine variations of strength applied in the display.
This means that a tap applied in different force could have different inputs in
the device. Thus, variations of actions can also be done.
8. Audio Messages
Just
like the iPhone, you can also send audio messages in the device. This works
like a walkie-talkie type of communication.
9. Tweak Existing
Watch Faces
Apple
has included variety of Watch Faces in the device. And if it doesn't suit your
mood, you can just tweak it the way you like. You can add “tid-bits” of
information like weather and/or dates shown in your watch faces.
10. Home-Automation
The
device will also be compatible with Home Automation systems. Opening a
smartlock door and adjusting light dimmers are now as easy as tapping your
device to its control unit. As long as the system is NFC-based, it can interact
with the Apple Watch.
Conclusion
Being
a late comer, the Apple Watch will have several established competitors in the
market. Samsung, for one, has managed to jump-start a Tizen-based wearable
platform aside from its Android Wear devices. And speaking of Android Wear,
Google has also managed to make several OEMs float above the surface like LG
and Motorola.
