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Apple Watch site refreshed to highlight Timekeeping, New Ways to Connect, and Health & Fitness

Apple has quietly refreshed its Apple Watch microsite with a few changes including more details about the upcoming wearable and newly added interactive images of the device. Previously Apple had a single ‘Features’ page for describing the functionality of the Apple Watch, but has replaced that page with expanded descriptions of the watch’s functions across the separate pages labeled “Timekeeping,” “New Ways to Connect,” and “Health & Fitness.” Each page goes a bit more in-depth into each category with additional details and interactive images.

For example, the Timekeeping section not only includes the name of each included Apple Watch face, but now you can read a brief description of several faces. Apple describes the watch face seen above, Simple, as “an elegant and minimalistic view of the time — usually the first thing you want at a glance. Easily adjust the amount of detail on the dial, from light to rich. Even with complications, this face maintains a clean and symmetrical design.”

Further down the page now exist four examples of customization for the watch face. Apple notes that different watch faces will allow you to toggle between colors with various levels of time including “minutes, seconds, and milliseconds.”

The site also details additional utilities called “complications” that can appear on some watch faces noting that tapping a certain complication will open its specific app so they act as shortcuts.Apple Watch Complications

The Timekeeping page also includes an interactive image of the Apple Watch’s stopwatch functionality which allows you to choose between an analog, digital, and hybrid view.

Apple Watch fitnessThe expanded New Ways to Connect page features animations for the Apple Watch’s various communication apps including sketching an image, tapping a vibration pattern, and sharing your heartbeat. Apple previously demoed these functions on stage and described them on the previous version of the site.

Finally, Apple has included interactive animations for the Apple Watch’s move, exercise, and stand monitoring functions from its fitness app. You can also see an animation for the Apple Watch’s achievement feature.

Unfortunately, the refreshed microsite doesn’t reveal any details about the Apple Watch’s specific pricing or release date, but 9to5Mac recently reported on Apple SVP Angela Ahrendts’ information shared with Apple Retail that a launch in the spring season is planned offering a bit more light than Apple’s official “early 2015” description.

Apple also recently released its WatchKit development tools for developers allowing apps to add functionality intended for Apple Watch in time for its release next year. We described Apple’s WatchKit SDK in-depth here with more details about the Apple Watch.

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Comments

  1. robertsm76 - 9 years ago

    Any rumors of the watch having an A8 processor? I don’t keep my phone in my pocket all day and would like to keep track of steps taken. Since fitness bands do this, should the watch be able too?

    • hayesunt - 9 years ago

      An A8 processer in the watch?? Of course not. It has an S1 module which will keep track of movement information.

    • mikhailt - 9 years ago

      I think you mean M8 motion processor, not A8, the overall SoC processor.

      Apple Watch will have its own custom-designed SoC called S1 and also custom sensors to handle this, you don’t need an iPhone to keep track of your steps, it’s built into the watch.

      • mikhailt - 9 years ago

        One thing to keep in mind, this is only for the native Apple Watch apps.

        The custom apps you use to keep track of your health will not work without the iPhone until later next year when devs can build native Watch apps.

      • robertsm76 - 9 years ago

        Yes, thank you.

  2. Taste_of_Apple - 9 years ago

    Some subtle – but nice – changes.

  3. Lino (@linopolis) - 9 years ago

    This is great, but I’m a fat idiot, how long will the straps be?

  4. Has no one else pointed out that there is a new color, Space Gray Aluminum

    • I noticed that too but just assumed that color was already available. Either way it looks amazing and now I’m thinking about whether I want to get the Space Black Stainless Steel model or the Space Gray Aluminum.

      • Just watched the original keynote again and it’s there. If you advance to the part where they’re showing how to send sketches and your heartbeat you’ll see the Space Gray Aluminum model on the right.

  5. herb02135go - 9 years ago

    Prepare for more hype from the Apple machine.
    Apple isn’t reinventing time or any such nonsense.
    In fact, if you want to use your time better ditch the watch and turn off your clocks. It will lower your blood pressure and you will be happier.

    • Rick Lomeli - 9 years ago

      Herb the Troller paid by Samsung to sing Apple’s demise something about sheep blah blah blah

  6. Christoffer Treyz - 9 years ago

    too bad they are leaving the swimmers completely out there. i would have so bought one if the watch was waterproof and kept track of swimming distances. everything else the watch offers is same old stuff that the competition has been doing for a while now. i am underwhelmed, to say the least.

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.