--- description: Apple's earliest Apple Watch prototype was basically just an iPhone strapped to somebody's wrist with velcro. title: Apple's First Watch Was So Low-Tech That Velcro Was Involved image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltad2a82d4120cb1de/69878668e53aba16474d8620/465689186.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Business](/section/business/) ## Business Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Tech](/tag/time-section-tech/) ## Tech Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Apple's First Version of the Watch Was Surprisingly Low Tech ## Video: Apple Watch Event In Under 2 Minutes [Watch (HLS stream): Apple Watch Event In Under 2 Minutes](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/b7He6KZp.m3u8) (1:55)  _Published 2015-03-09. The Apple Watch is the company's' first entirely new product category since the original iPad. It's a huge gamble for Apple and a test of the still-nascent wearable market._  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 2, 2015 3:28 PM CUT  Apple CEO Tim Cook announces the Apple Watch during an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9, 2015 in San Francisco, California. Apple CEO Tim Cook announces the Apple Watch during an Apple special event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9, 2015 in San Francisco, California.Stephen Lam—Getty Images  by [Alex Fitzpatrick](/author/alex-fitzpatrick/)  ## Alex Fitzpatrick Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 2, 2015 3:28 PM CUT Apple’s earliest Apple Watch prototype was basically just an iPhone strapped to somebody’s wrist with velcro, a new [story](http://www.wired.com/2015/04/the-apple-watch/ "undefined") detailing the Watch’s origins reveals. In the early days of the the Apple Watch, software for the device was being developed at a quicker pace than the hardware, according to [_Wired_](http://www.wired.com/2015/04/the-apple-watch/ "undefined")_._ That meant the Apple Watch team had to rely on a decidedly bootleg method of developing the user interface: Essentially emulating the Apple Watch software on a modified iPhone. Via _Wired:_ --- > “” --- The Apple Watch is due out April 24, with preorders beginning April 10. ### 11 Amazing Features of the Apple Watch  The Apple Watch is the company's' first entirely new product category since the original iPad. It's a huge gamble for Apple and a test of the still-nascent wearable market. Stephen Lam—Reuters/Corbis  The Watch is the most customizable and varied product Apple has likely ever launched. It'll come in three editions made of different metals and be available with multiple snap-in wrist bands. Prices start at $349. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  The Watch has a touch interface that can sense the difference between a light touch and hard press. But it also has a "digital crown" that allows users to quickly scroll through lists without obscuring the screen. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  The Watch must be paired with an iPhone for many of its functions. The device piggybacks on the phone's data and GPS connections to pipe in directions or incoming voice calls and text messages, for instance. Stephen Lam—Reuters  The Watch, like Apple's other iDevices, will have various independent apps. Examples include a Tesla app that shows the status of your electric car when it's charging and a Starwood app that lets the Watch act as your room key. Stephen Lam—Reuters  Apple's fitness app, one of the device's main selling points, tracks runs, walks and bike rides. Stephen Lam—Reuters  The Watch also can track your heart rate (while resting, while active) throughout the day thanks to these light sensors on the back. Koichi Mitsui—AFLO/Corbis  It also has Apple Pay, the company's digital payments platform. Swipe the Watch in front of a compatible kiosk and it will make an automatic online payment. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  CEO Tim Cook has said the Watch will last about a day before it needs to be recharged. So far, battery life has been the biggest downside of most wearables. The Watch recharges through the magnetic system shown here. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  The Watch will come with many customizable bands that slip on and click in place at the top and bottom of the device's body. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  It also comes in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm, to fit on different size wrists. Monica Davey—EPA  Higher-end models of the watch could cost several thousands of dollars. Stephen Lam—Reuters  Apple is significantly expanding it's product reach. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images  And there's one more thing... David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty Images  It tells the time. Marcio Jose Sanchez—AP Read the rest of _Wired’s_ story here: [iPhone Killer: The Secret History of the Apple Watch](http://www.wired.com/2015/04/the-apple-watch/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3768963/apple-watch-velcro/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3768963/apple-watch-velcro/"},"headline":"Apple's First Version of the Watch Was Surprisingly Low Tech","datePublished":"2015-04-02T15:28:21.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T04:44:57.268Z","description":"\"A very nicely designed Velcro strap\"","url":"https://time.com/3768963/apple-watch-velcro/","keywords":["Tech","Apple","Apple watch"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltad2a82d4120cb1de/69878668e53aba16474d8620/465689186.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alex Fitzpatrick","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alex-fitzpatrick/"}],"articleSection":"Business","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltad2a82d4120cb1de/69878668e53aba16474d8620/465689186.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Apple Debuts New Watch","caption":"Apple Debuts New Watch","creditText":"Stephen Lam—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/business/","name":"Business"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-tech/","name":"Tech"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3768963/apple-watch-velcro/","name":"Apple's First Version of the Watch Was Surprisingly Low Tech"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Apple Watch Event In Under 2 Minutes","description":"The Apple Watch is the company's' first entirely new product category since the original iPad. 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