You’ll Try On the Apple Watch in a 15-Minute Appointment
You’ll Try On the Apple Watch in a 15-Minute Appointment
2 minute read
The new Apple Watch is displayed during an Apple special event at the Flint Center for the Performing Arts on September 9, 2014 in Cupertino, California.Justin Sullivan—Getty Images
Trying an Apple Watch before you buy one may not be as simple as strolling into an Apple Store and slapping one on your wrist.
According to 9to5Mac, Apple customers will be encouraged to schedule 15-minute appointments to try on an Apple Watch with the assistance of an Apple Store employee. Walk-in appointments will be accepted, but it’s likely those people will end up waiting a long time to try the device, given the care Apple is taking in presenting it to customers.
Stores are expected to have at least 10 “try-on stations” for the Apple Watch, where employees will guide customers through the device’s featureset and give them an opportunity to pre-order the watch. For the gold Apple Watch Edition, which starts at $10,000 and will only be sold in select stores, specially-trained Apple Store employees called “Experts” will pitch big-spending customers on the device.
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/CorbisThe 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 ImagesThe 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 ImagesThe 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—ReutersThe 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—ReutersApple's fitness app, one of the device's main selling points, tracks runs, walks and bike rides.Stephen Lam—ReutersThe 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/CorbisIt 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 ImagesCEO 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 ImagesThe 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 ImagesIt also comes in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm, to fit on different size wrists.Monica Davey—EPAHigher-end models of the watch could cost several thousands of dollars.Stephen Lam—ReutersApple is significantly expanding it's product reach.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesAnd there's one more thing...David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty ImagesIt tells the time.Marcio Jose Sanchez—AP
Employees are expected to walk through the health, communication and timekeeping features of the device, according to 9to5Mac. Apple Stores will dedicate most of their employees to selling or explaining the Apple Watch for the device’s initial launch period.
Apple will begin in-store previews of Apple Watch on April 10. The device goes on sale April 24 and can be pre-ordered at physical Apple Stores or on Apple’s website.
