The much-anticipated Apple Watch is ready to be launched at Apple's upcoming Spring Forward event on March 9.
Before it is unveiled, a look back at news regarding the Apple Watch reveals how information regarding Apple's first entry into the wearable technology industry has shaped up over the past few months.
The Apple Watch began as rumors in late 2013 as a smartwatch that will serve more as a home automation device, as opposed to functioning similar to the Galaxy Gear smartwatch that Samsung had already released at the time. There were even rumors that the device will feature versions for different sexes, with 1.7-inch screens for men and 1.3-inch screens for women.
Once details about the device began to heat up, the Apple Watch's functions and design also began to become a bit clearer. It was expected that the Apple Watch will be functioning as the usual smartwatch that connects with the user's smartphone for functionality, but it will also have a certain focus on monitoring the user's health.
It was thought that the device will be unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June of last year, but that was not the case. Instead, the device was introduced alongside the arrival of the company's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones a few months later in September.
Reports surfaced in June of last year that Apple was looking to start mass production on the Apple Watch last July, which would have made the device available to be released to the market by the fourth quarter. There were even rumors that the device was already being tested by star athletes such as Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, signaling that the Apple Watch's release is coming soon.
The Apple Watch was unveiled at the Sept. 9 event alongside the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. However, the unveiling was only an announcement, with Apple stating that the device would be released to the market in early 2015.
The Apple Watch was introduced to come with three versions, namely the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition, with prices starting at $349 for the device's entry-level model and rumored up to $5,000 for the high-end gold version.
The Apple Watch's digital crown was shown off at the event, the part of the device that would be the primary interaction tool for users of the Apple Watch. Rotating the crown allows the user to scroll through the apps of the device, and pressing it brings the user back to the home screen.
While comparisons between the Apple Watch and the other smartwatches out in the market promptly started after the device's announcement, the luxury watch industry shook off Apple's unveiling, seeing the device as not a threat to the long-standing industry.
Apple is looking to produce and sell up to 40 million units of the Apple Watch in 2015, a number that could be seen as too much but that is apparently the goal that Apple has set.
However, with reports revealing that the charge of the Apple Watch may not even last an entire day, it would be hard pressed to think that the device would be able to replace the traditional watches that are used by consumers.
Earlier this year in January, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the release of the Apple Watch is right on schedule, with consumers to expect the device to be rolled out in April.
The Spring Forward event draws near, and while the world waits for the Apple Watch to hit the market, analysts are already suggesting that the device could become Apple's best-selling product ever, exceeding sales of even that of the iPhone.
From a rumor to a trending topic to possibly a breakthrough device, the Apple Watch has certainly already made its mark in the tech world of today.
