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$349 Apple Watch Coming in 2015

 & Chloe Albanesius Executive Editor, News

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Apple had "one more thing" during its big event today and, as expected, it was a sleek smartwatch, dubbed Apple Watch.

The device will start at $349, but it won't arrive until early 2015. You can choose from three versions, which have different bands: Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport, and Apple Watch Edition.

The watch requires that you be connected to an iPhone. Apple Watch will work with the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but also the iPhone 5, 5c, and 5s. To charge it, a circular, magnetic charger snaps into the back of the watch face.

There's a touch screen like most smartwatches, but Apple added a dial - known as the crown - that can be used to zoom in and out.

Press the digital crown to tap into Siri and ask questions. During an on-stage demo, Apple exec Kevin Lynch asked about movies nearby, and list appeared with film art.

The watch activates the display when you raise your wrist, and apps appear in a sort-of cloud bubble.

Apple Watch includes haptic feedback so you'll feel a slight pulse when you get a notification; like someone tapping you on the wrist, Apple said. But lest you fear that your Apple Watch will be shocking you, Apple said it's subtle enough that the person sitting next to you won't notice it.

Apple WatchYou can see photos - in a huge patchwork of photos or one at a time. Apple Maps is also on the Apple Watch (for better or worse); pan around and press the bottom left to return to your current location. For turn-by-turn directions, meanwhile, your watch will use the haptic feedback to tell you which way to go - different sensations for left and right, for example.

If you and a friend both have an Apple Watch, meanwhile, you can communicate with each other using the haptic feedback. Lynch tapped three times, for example, to ask a co-worker if he was ready for lunch.

With WatchKit, third parties can create Apple Watch-specific apps - either view on-screen notifications or apps that live on the home screen. Lynch showed off Twitter and Facebook notifications, and talked up integration with American Airlines and Starwood Hotels, which will let you use Apple Watch to check in at the airport or unlock your hotel room with just a wave.

With the Pinterest app, meanwhile, Apple Watch will notify you if you're near a location that you've pinned. And a BMW app can let you see your car's charge level or where you parked.

Tim Cook took the stage to talk up the health aspects of Apple Watch, which he said will give you a "comprehensive view of your daily activity."

The watch will include separate "rings" - the Exercise Ring and Stand Ring, for example. The Stand Ring will remind you to stand throughout the day; the better you do, the more complete the ring will become.

You can also monitor actual workouts: select an activity (running, walking, etc.), set a goal, pick how many calories you want to burn, and the distance you want to go. During the workout, you can see how far you've gone, and how long you've been at it. At the end, a summary will fill you in on your stats.

The iPhone's fitness app will store all this data, which you can share with the Health app (and third parties). Over time, Cook said, the Apple Watch "gets to know you like a good personal trainer would." It will remind you to work out and suggest goals, which Cook said "gives you a far better chance of succeeding."

"We think it's going to help a lot of people live a better day and healthier life," he said.

Stay tuned for more details. For more, follow PCMag's live blog of Apple's event.

About Our Expert

Chloe Albanesius

Chloe Albanesius

Executive Editor, News

My Experience

I started out covering tech policy in DC for The National Journal, where my beat included state-level tech news and all the congressional hearings and FCC meetings I could handle. I later covered Wall Street trading tech before switching gears to consumer tech. I now lead PCMag's news coverage.

My Areas of Expertise

Getting my start in DC means I still have a soft spot for tech policy; Congressional hearings can sometimes be as entertaining as a Bravo reality show, for better or worse. But PCMag is all about the technology we use every day, as well as keeping an eye out for the trends that will shape the industry in the years ahead (or flop on arrival). I've covered the rise of social media, the iOS vs. Android wars, the cord-cutting revolution that's now left us with hefty streaming bills, and the effort to stuff artificial intelligence into every product you could imagine. This job has taken me to CES in Vegas (one too many times), IFA in Berlin, and MWC in Barcelona. I also drove a Tesla 1,000 miles out west as part of our Best Mobile Networks project. Of late, my focus is on our hard-working team of reporters at PCMag, guiding and editing their robust coverage.

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