Apple today held its Spring Forward event, where it gave a number of extra details about the price and release date of the Apple Watch.
During the event, Apple CEO Tim Cook confirmed that the device would be up for pre-order starting on April 10 and that it would go on sale on April 24.
The day to day use of the watch was also demonstrated at the event, showing how users could take advantage of Instagram for the device, as well as apps like Uber and of course Apple Pay. It was also shown how users could interact with Siri using the watch.
In fact, Kevin Lynch, one of Apple's chief software developers, showed how users could use the watch during each step of a trip, from checking in at the airport to bypassing the front desk at a hotel, and even unlocking the hotel door with the watch.
Apple also gave the price for the new Apple Watch, with the Apple Watch Sport starting at $349 for the smaller, 38mm model and $399 for the larger, 42mm one. The standard Apple Watch will start at $549 and go all the way up to $1,049 depending on the type of band that users purchase with the device.
Perhaps more notable is the price of the gold Apple Watch Edition device, which will set users back a whopping $10,000. It is built with an 18-karat gold body, with either rose gold or yellow gold options.
One of the questions that many had after Apple's September event is the battery life that the Apple Watch would end up with. Many were afraid that the device would only last for a single day, and those fears seem to be confirmed with the device sporting a scant 18-hour battery life.
The 18-hour battery life is a lot more than many expected, however, and while it won't take a user through a weekend camping trip, it will last a full day of average use, and it can be charged once the user gets home.
The Instagram app for the Apple Watch will allow users to scroll through photos using the digital crown. Tapping on a photo will offer users more information about the photo, including things like the location of the photo and the number of likes that it has.
WeChat was also shown off, displaying incoming messages from friends, as well as allowing users to reply to messages with a simple tap. Users can select a response from a list of responses, or they can dictate a response.
Users also got a glimpse of Facebook in use on the Apple Watch, however it was brief. We know that users will be shown incoming notifications, which is certainly something that is to be expected on the device.
Last but not least, Apple showed us a glimpse at what hailing a cab would look like on the Apple Watch. Once the app is opened, the user's location is pinged, and an estimate of how long it would be before the user is picked up is given. Users will then get real time updates on where drivers are, as well as information about the driver.
