At Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) highly-anticipated keynote event, Tim Cook boasted that the Apple Watch recently became the number one watch in the world, claiming an industry leading customer satisfaction rating of 93%. Apple’s CEO spoke about the health benefits the watch provides and introduced a sentimental thank you video from Apple Watch users to the company for improving their lives.
Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams then introduced Apple Watch’s new operating system, the watchOS 4. The new system continues the trend of health-based features, including a redesigned workout app called smart activity coaching. There are also new features for swimmers and gym goers. WatchOS 4 can also track flights of stairs climbed, and Apple is developing an altimeter with skiers and snowboarders in mind.
The company’s updated heart rate sensor is at the core of watchOS 4, and Williams noted that Apple Watch has become the most used heart rate monitor in the world. WatchOS 4 will feature heart rate metrics on the home screen. It will also calculate the user’s resting heart rate and recovery heart rate.
The heart rate monitor will now notify users if their heart rate is elevated when they don’t appear to be active. After partnering with Stanford Medicine on “The Apple Heart Study,” Apple hopes to begin to make Apple Watch users aware of cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation later this year.
WatchOS 4 will be available to all Apple Watch users on Sep. 19 and will also include a completely resigned music experience.
Series 3
Williams then introduced the company’s newest smartwatch, the Apple Watch Series 3. The watch will feature built-in cellular to allow users the freedom to leave their phones behind and still receive calls.
On top of being able to take calls on the Apple Watch Series 3, users can receive messages and use Siri—which will be able to talk to users for the first time in Apple Watch history. Apple’s new smartwatch also allows people to use maps and WeChat. Series 3 users can stream over 40 million songs with Apple Music on their wrist or Bluetooth-connected headphones.
The Series 3 features a new duel core processor that is up to 70% faster than the old processor. New custom wireless chips for Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are also featured. Williams noted that one of the biggest challenges was adding a SIM card and antenna without making the watch too bulky.
Therefore, Series 3’s display acts as the cellular antenna, and an integrated electronic SIM card was used to insure that the watch was pretty much exactly the same size as the Series 2—the Series 3 is actually 0.25 mm wider, which is roughly the width of two sheets of paper.
The Series 3 will come in new colors, including gold aluminum and space grey, as well as other colors and finishes. Apple also introduced sports loop bands and new Nike (NYSE:NKE) bands geared towards athletes. There will also be a ton of new band colors and designs as well as another Hermès partnership.
The Apple Watch Series 3 costs $399. Orders can be placed on Sep. 15 and will be ready as soon as Sep. 22. Apple will also sell a $329 version of the smartwatch that does not include cellular. The Series 1 will now start at $249.
The Series 3 with cellular capability is initially available in nine countries on 14 carriers—26 countries will be able to purchase the non-cellular version after the launch.
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