Amaya Toman Do you still remember the time when there was only speculation about Apple's smartwatch? All sorts of more and less bizarre concepts and speculations about what functions the Apple Watch will actually offer have been circulating on the Internet. Today, it seems to us that watches have been around for ages, and we can't imagine them ever looking any different.
Speculation and promises
The first mentions of the Apple Watch date back to 2010, but today we can no longer say with certainty to what extent it was preparations and to what extent it was the wishes of users. Jony Ive stated in one of the interviews in 2018 that the whole project officially started only after the death of Steve Jobs - the first discussions were started in early 2012. But the first news that Apple was working on its own watch appeared already in December 2011 , in the New York Times. The first patent, regarding a device usable for a "device placed on the wrist", even dates back to 2007.
A few years later, the website AppleInsider revealed a patent that more clearly indicated that it was a watch, and also contained relevant diagrams and drawings. But the key word in the patent application was "bracelet", not "watch". But the description fairly faithfully describes the Apple Watch as we know it today. For example, the patent mentions a touch display on which the user can perform a number of actions. Although a number of patents filed by Apple will never find practical use, AppleInsider was practically certain that the "iWatch", as it once called Apple's planned watch, would actually see the light of day. AppleInsider editor Mikey Campbell said in his article at the time that the introduction of "wearable computers" is the next logical step in mobile technology.
Top secret project
The work on the "Watch" project was entrusted, among other things, to Kevin Lynch - the former head of technology at Adobe and a strong critic of Apple's attitude towards Flash technology. Everything took place under maximum secrecy, so typical of Apple, so Lynch basically had no idea what he was supposed to be working on. At the time Lynch set to work, he had no working prototype hardware or software available.
In one of his later interviews with Wired magazine, Lynch confided that the goal was to invent a device that would prevent smartphones from "destroying people's lives." Lynch mentioned the frequency and intensity with which people stare at their smartphone screens, and recalled how Apple wanted to offer users a more human device that wouldn't absorb their attention as much.
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An unsurprising surprise
Over time, the situation developed in such a way that a person did not have to be an insider to know that we will really see a smart watch from Apple. Revealed by Tim Cook in September 2014, the Apple Watch was the popular "One More Thing" after the introduction of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. "We've been working hard on this product for a long time," Cook said at the time. "And we believe this product will redefine what people expect from its category," he added. After a moment of silence, Apple's CEO introduced the world to what he called "the next chapter in the Apple story."
But users still had to wait a while. The first pieces did not reach their new owners until March 2015, only through online sales. Customers had to wait until June for the watches to arrive at brick-and-mortar Apple Stores. But the reception of the first generation of Apple Watch was slightly embarrassing. Some technology-focused web magazines even advised readers to wait for the next generation or buy the cheapest Sport model.
Beautiful new machines
In September 2016, Apple introduced the second generation of its smartwatch alongside a redesigned first version. It bore the designation Series 1, while the historically first version received the name Series 0. Apple Watch Series 3 was introduced in September 2017, and a year later, the fourth generation of Apple's smart watch saw the light of day - it received a number of new, revolutionary functions, such as EKG or fall detection.
Today, Apple Watch is a familiar, personal device for many users, without which many people cannot imagine their lives. They are also a great aid for health-impaired or disabled users. The Apple Watch has gained immense popularity during its existence and has become one of the best-selling products. They surpassed even the iPod with their success. Apple has not released specific sales numbers for some time. But thanks to companies like Strategy Analytics, we can get a fairly accurate picture of how the watch is doing. According to the company's latest estimate, it managed to sell 22,5 million units of the Apple Watch last year.
Source: AppleInsider
