Tag: Apple Watch

All the Important Announcements From Apple’s Mega Event in One Place

The ‘Spring Forward’ event held by Apple last evening was the exhibition of the finest innovations by the tech giant. The company disclosed some presumed devices along with other unpredictable technologies. The highlight of the show remained the Apple Watch, the most expensive smartwatch, and light weight 12-inch MacBook.

Here’s a compiled list of announcements made by the Cupertino-based company yesterday:

1. ResearchKit

ResearchKit is an open source software framework designed for medical and health research, helping doctors and scientists gather data more frequently and more accurately from participants using iPhone apps. It is made specifically for medical researchers.

ResearchKit and HealthKit work hand in hand. Simply put, the ResearchKit turns iPhones and HealthKit into power diagnostic tools. An mPower app is built that uses ResearchKit to detect the most core and fatal diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and breast cancer.

2. New 12-inch MacBook

The Apple event got gargantuan with the introduction of the new sleek and stylish MacBook. The 12-inch gadget comes with Retina display and weighs a mere 2 pounds. The laptop is thinner than MacBook Air at 13.1mm. Even if it’s slimmer and lighter, the build and internal quality of the machine is uncompromised. There is a full-sized keyboard redesigned to fit the smaller size.

Other than that, the new notebook features Force Touch trackpad that senses pressure, telling the difference between a light tap and a deep press. Also, it sports next-gen USB-C port, a third of the size of standard USB cable. It supports fast charging, quick data transfer and is all in a single connector.

The all-new MacBook comes in two variants. Both of them will be available from April 10. The one will bit lower specifications comes at Rs. 99,990 and is embedded with 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.4 GHz, bundled with 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300. The higher version holding 1.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6GHz, 8GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage, and Intel HD Graphics 5300 is priced at Rs. 119,900.

3. Next-Gen Reversible USB-C

The new MacBook comes with one single port. Which means that if you want to charge your laptop and transfer documents at the same time, you need to invest in an external attachment. USB-C was undoubtedly biggest announcements of the night. The next-gen USB Type C is slim and sturdy, and is one-third the size of a traditional USB port. Apple’s new MacBook is the first one to incorporate the smallest ever USB.

The revolutionary technology solves the purpose of having too many USB ports. The new connectivity standard gives you five ports in one – power, USB data transfer, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA capabilities. The reversible Type-C connector is roughly the same size as the existing Micro-USB connector at the bottom of your smartphone, but it’s reversible. Also, it facilitates faster charging and quick data transfer. While some may consider it tedious, Apple has taken a major step towards removing the excessive wires/cords in our lives.

4. MacBook Pro and Air Upgraded with faster processors

The tech biggie has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the fifth generation Intel Core processors, Intel Iris Graphics 6100, two times faster flash, and longer battery life. The upgraded 13-inch MacBook Pro features fifth generation Intel Core processors up to 3.1 GHz, Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.4 GHz, along with faster flash and better battery, as stated above. The new version ranges from Rs. 94,900 to 129,900.

On the other hand, the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air are upgraded with the fifth generation Intel Core processors, Intel HD Graphics 6000, Thunderbolt 2, and up to two times faster flash. The updated 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air now feature fifth generation Intel Core processors up to 2.2 GHz, Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2 GHz, bundled with Thunderbolt 2. The 11-inch notebook comes at two price points depending on configuration, Rs. 65,900 and 79,900. However, the 13-inch MacBook is priced a little higher at Rs. 72,900 and 86,900.

5. Force Touch trackpad

Force Touch trackpad has brought a new dimension to the Mac interactivity. It is highly responsive and feels your touch more than ever. The new trackpad features built-in force sensors that monitor the amount of pressure released in each click. One can customize the feel of the trackpad by changing the amount of pressure.

Force Touch trackpad enables a new gesture called Force Click. A click followed by a deeper press for tasks like pulling up the definition of a word, quickly seeing a map or glancing at a preview of a file.iOS 8.2

6. iOS 8.2

Along with gadgets, Apple event saw the launch of a new software upgrade – iOS 8.2. The new operating system is out for its compatible Apple products like iPhone 5 and later, Apple Watch and more.

The upgraded version is more stable and comes with bug fixes. Mail, Music, and Maps have got a significant boost along with iTunes. Moreover, one can download third-party health apps to keep themselves fit.

7. Apple Watch

The main highlight of the show, Apple Watch, as beautiful as ever, is now officially the most expensive smartwatch ever. It’s a personalised device and comes with different watch faces. The Watch supports iOS 8.2 and comes with many pre-installed apps like Uber, Shazam, WeChat, Twitter, Apple Pay and health apps.

The built-in speaker and microphone on the Watch that lets you receive calls on the go. Apple Pay is embedded in the device that allows you to pay money through the Watch on wrist. The battery life of the wearable is decent at 18 hours. The Apple Watch comes in three variants – Sport, Regular and Gold Edition. It starts from $549 and goes as high as $1700. HBO Now Coming to Apple TV

8. HBO Now Coming to Apple TV

The company launched the new exclusive device Apple TV and announced the subscription service of HBO for the users. The service is restricted to Apple TV users as of now, but soon the company will extend it to iPhone and iPad. Subscribed viewers can watch the channel through web browsers and can access the entire library of original shows and feature films catalogue of HBO.

The service is coming next month and will cost $14.99 per month. For those who sign up for the Apple device in April will get it free for one month.

March 10, 2015
New iOS 8.2 Comes With a Pre-installed Apple Watch App That Cannot be Removed

Apple announced the new software upgrade in the Apple event yesterday and declared that the new software will be available for iPhones 5 and above. The upgraded version is revamped but if you have it installed on your iPhone, the first thing that might catch your attention is the non-removable Apple Watch app.

The application sits on the screen and if you click the Apple Watch icon, it will take you to the company’s website. According to Business Insider, it is an empty screen for now, but soon the tool will showcase the Apple Watch applications. Looks like, Apple is trying to advertise its first smartwatch to every user through iPhones.

Not only the promotional Apple Watch app comes with the iOS 8.2, there’s a number of apps you can’t remove once the latest operating system controls your device. The apps encompasses Passbook, Tips, Stocks, Weather, Calendar, Clock, FaceTime, Contacts, iBooks, Compass, Maps, Health, Newsstand, Photos, Camera, Notes, Messages, Voice Memos, the iTunes Store, and the App Store.

Besides few downsides, the new software has some advantages as well. The upgraded version is more stable and comes with bug fixes. Mail, Music, and Maps have got a major boost along with iTunes. Moreover, one can download third-party health apps to keep themselves fit.

In case you missed any announcement about the Apple Watch event, do check it here.

March 10, 2015
Apple Watch Battery Life to Last Up to 18 Hours

Apple fans over the world were eagerly waiting for this. At the Spring Forward event, Apple, at last, has told us everything there is to know about its new wearable.

The smartwatch is a personalised device and comes with different watch faces. Users can customise the device with widgets for the faces like stopwatch, calendar, date, etc. The Watch supports iOS 8.2 and comes with many pre-installed apps like Uber, Shazam, WeChat, Twitter, Apple Pay and health apps.

The Apple Watch works in tune with the iPhone. Any notification that appears on the handset can pop on the Watch as well. Apple Pay is an important component of the smartwatch that lets users pay through the watch on their wrist. There is a built-in speaker and microphone on the Watch that lets you receive calls on the go.

However, one of the biggest concerns with a wearable is its battery life. With the number gadgets in our lives, we don’t need another gadget that needs to be constantly fuelled. Earlier reports had worried us, however it seems like the company managed to deliver a decent battery life. The company claims, on a day of normal usage, the Apple Watch will last you a decent 18 hours.

The Apple Watch will come in three variants – Sport, Regular and Gold Edition. The Sport Edition comes in Silver or Space Gray colour and ranges from $349 for the 38mm Sport to $399 for the 42mm.

The Regular Apple Watch edition is a traditional stainless piece and comes for $549 – $1,049 for the 38mm and $599 – $1,099 for the 42mm. The 18-carat gold edition is the most expensive and starts at $10,000. All the three watches will be available from April 24^th onwards.

March 10, 2015
Apple Watch Edition is Officially the Most Expensive Smart Watch

Apple has lifted curtains on the new Apple Watch and different elements variations including the aluminum version Apple Watch Sport which starts at US$ 349 for the 38mm and US$ 399 for the 42MM versions. The Apple Watch made from a custom version of stainless steel forged using special alloying techniques starting for a price of US$ 549 for 38mm and US$ 599 for the 42mm version, the strap you select will affect the pricing of course.

The Apple Watch Edition, aka the pure solid gold edition, available in a block of 18 carat yellow, or rose gold will go on sale starting at a whopping price of US $ 10,000 for the 38mm version, and the price will only increase as per the edition you decide to buy.

The Apple Watch edition is set to target the high-end watch market, mainly from the name brand watches, the likes of Omega and Tag Heuer will see a shift in buying from the users.

The biggest reason, watch enthusiasts would stay away from smart watches would be the general availability of smart watches vs the exclusivity and high end precision with which the traditional watches were made.

With Apple creating a similar market for the Watch Edition, making it available in select quantities and in select stores across the world. Apple is basically pinging the high end watch lovers.

The question however remains; Would a high end watch enthusiast drop his/her precision hand made watch that potentially would never need a charge for a watch that would require to be charged daily?

Will the Apple Watch Edition end up being a high price novelty? Especially considering that we might see a new version in about 365 days of launch.

March 10, 2015
24th April Onwards Apple Watch Will be Available in Nine Countries

While we have known most details about the Apple Watch since Apple’s last major event, the company officially announced the smartwatch today. It is one of the newest entrants in Apple’s ecosystem. Tim Cook, Apple CEO, had earlier announced that we would be able to buy the device sometime in April, we have now been given an exact date for the same.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Tim Cook” author_title=”Apple’s CEO”]

Apple Watch begins a new chapter in the way we relate to technology and we think our customers are going to love it,

[/quote]

It will be available on 24th April to customers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US. While 10th April onwards, in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple’s retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store. Customers who purchase online or in-store from Apple will be offered Personal Setup to customise and pair Apple Watch with their iPhone.

Want to know more about the Apple Watch? Click here.

March 10, 2015
Here’s What You Can Expect From Apple’s ‘Spring Forward’ Event

Apple will be holding an event today, the 9th of March where it will finally launch its long teased Apple Watch. This is a whole new product segment for Apple, and the industry is waiting to get their hands on the device to see for themselves if it matches the hype.

There might be some hidden surprises at the event, but here’s what you can expect to see:

The Battery Fiasco

The battery has been a cause of concern for the potential consumers. It has been claimed in multiple reports that the Apple Watch might have a dismal battery backup. Some reports even went on to say that the device might just have a battery life for 5 hours of active usage while others said it might run for two-three days on low power mode. Replying to the concerns, Apple Chief, Tim Cook recently said that the Apple Watch will run for a full day, and its charging will be faster than the iPhone. We will finally get to know more details on the battery performance and will also learn how Apple plans on increasing the battery efficiency of the device.

Apps Maketh The Watch

Apple Watch is first of all a smart device, and the smartness of the device depends on the apps it has to offer. During its launch, Apple showed some amazing clock faces including the amazing Astronomy and Disney based watch faces. It also has some unique gesture supports that will make it easy to use and to interact with others.
At present, the apps on the device will work in conjunction with the iPhone apps. The company plans to bring native Watch apps in the future. Apple has already said that the Watch will support Apple Pay, which means the device has NFC so we might also see some NFC-based apps too. Tim Cook has already said that Watch might replace the car keys in the near future.

What’s The Price, Eh?

During the unveiling of the Apple Watch, its price was stated to be $349, which is expected to be the price of the basic variant of the device, the Watch Sport. The price of Apple’s other Watch offering is yet unknown. Apple has also brought the Edition collection of the watch which are made of premium materials such as Rose Gold surface and Sapphire Crystal display. These smartwatches will also come with a multitude of strap and accessory options. Though, for Apple customers, pricing is not a major issue, but this time around they’ll probably be cautious before buying an all new device. Some reports have indicated a price of above $1000 as the average price for the device, which sounds a bit exorbitant. With that hefty a price tag Apple has to make a good case for its product to attract users to its Watch corner.

Hmm… What Else?

Apart from the major Apple Watch launch, the Cupertino-based tech giant is also expected to bring out some new upgraded devices in its other product line-up. 9to5mac had reported in January that Apple might be ready to bring a 12 inch-notebook that would probably have a body similar to the current 11-inch MacBook Air. This new device is only expected to hold two ports, a headphone jack and the new C-Type reversible USB port. This new laptop will also do away with the internal fans and the touchpad, so this seems to be one of the usual experiments of Apple for the market whose success can influence future product designs. The lack of ports might disappoint potential buyers, but Apple might just end up introducing a new accessory to address consumer plight.

Apple might also introduce iOS 8.2 with Apple Watch support. This new update will have the new companion app for the Watch and will let you use the device in conjunction with your iOS devices. The new emoji’s, which got the fans excited will only arrive after a few months when Apple brings out the iOS 8.3.

To Conclude

Overall, it’s a show about the new Apple Watch and it is targeted at the customers who have been eagerly waiting to own the companion device for their iPhones. While we know about most of the features of the Watch, Apple will be making its final case before bringing the device out for the customers to try. The smartwatch segment of the market is slowly coming to maturity and with Apple’s addition to the list, all major brands have placed their contenders in the market. We have to wait till next quarter to know how Apple’s latest product segment is received by the public.

Come back to iGyaan to know more about the details of the Apple event on Monday.

March 9, 2015
WatchAware Previews How Third-Party Apps Would Look on the Apple Watch

Apple Watch, the device which will mark the entry of the Cupertino-based giant in the wearable space, is scheduled to release few days from now. There have been certain disclosures about the Watch that points to the fact that this might just be the smartest wearable in the market. Now, more revelations are unfolding that have gotten us excited about getting our hands on Apple’s first smartwatch.

A site WatchAware has been developed that gives a demo of some of the many features of the new Watch. The website is built by the AppAdvice team that is dedicated to providing the media coverage of Apple Watch. WatchAware depicts some videos that inform us about the inclusion of selected third-party apps on the iWatch. Presently, the site includes 27 previews of applications like Run 5k, Todoist, Deliveries and Infinitweet.

.@_DavidSmith previews an interactive version of @FeedWrangler for Apple Watch: http://t.co/kRdyW1Trqb pic.twitter.com/yMW1cjURZe

— WatchAware (@WatchAware) March 3, 2015

These previews give users a fair idea of how the things are going to work and how Apple is trying to catch up with the present wearable market. The website includes a little description to give clues about its functionality. The features have been embedded on the Apple Watch prototype to showcase how the things would look like on the stainless piece. The touch seems as fluid and smooth as the iPhone screen; one can easily scroll up and down to view the content.

Beautiful jogging coach app 5K Run shares an interactive version of their Apple Watch app: http://t.co/kRdyW1Trqb pic.twitter.com/v5Ug9d6yL8

— WatchAware (@WatchAware) March 3, 2015

The WatchAware is a fresh initiative and an interesting platform that will help developers display their app inventions. It is learnt that the team will add more interactive previews about the apps coming on the Watch. The new proposal gives new developers a chance to exhibit to the world about the functionality of the upcoming apps.

March 4, 2015
Apple Watch Will Have the Power to Replace Your Car Keys, Says Tim Cook

Just when we thought that we knew everything important about Apple’s much-awaited Watch, there was another significant disclosure by the company. The CEO of the organization, Tim Cook, took to the stage to enlighten the audience about the magnitude of the Apple Watch and informed that it has the power to replace your car keys.

Cook further stated in an interview given to The Telegraph that the Watch is designed in a way to replace car keys, so as to get rid of the clumsy, large fobs used for vehicles. Commenting on the battery of the wrist gadget, Tim elaborated its battery will go on for a full day and the charging time will be lesser than that of the iPhone.

Bearing another primary feature of the iPhone, the Watch will embed the company’s digital wallet service Apple Pay, which hoped to replace credit cards. This is not the first time Apple has dived into the automobile segment. Last March, it showcased CarPlay that lets drivers perform essential features like browse contacts, make calls and more without leaving the steering wheel.

Well, hearing all this, we are much more excited about the official launch than ever. The company has scheduled a special event for 9th March where the Watch will be finally unveiled.

February 28, 2015
It’s Official, Apple to Launch its Watch on 9th March

The when and where questions about the Apple Watch have finally come to an end. Last night Apple announced that its much-anticipated smartwatch Apple Watch will launch in an event on March 9 titled as ‘Spring Forward’. The Cupertino-based firm has started sending out media invites for the show to be held at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco.

Well, we have a basic idea of how the Apple Watch functions, but there will be much more that the company would have kept undercover for the big day. As already stated, the Watch will cost $350 in the US for the aluminum Sport model and will start shipping in April. The prices of the Watch for other countries are expected to be announced on 9^th March. The other two superior variants of the Apple Watch are bound to be priced significantly higher. One of the two is a mid-level stainless-steel Watch and the other is a 18-karat-gold edition.

The Watch by Apple is fixed for the event, but the firm may throw other big surprises along with it. Rumours have been whirling about the 12-inch MacBook Air that is sleek, stylish and in line with other previous generation MacBooks. It is speculated to feature a Retina display with a refurbished design. Another notable rumour is that Apple is working on a larger 12.9-inch iPad Plus. Many more devices like Apple TV box and more may follow the Apple Watch.

It’s just a matter of a few days before Apple raises the curtains to reveal its newest offering for the year 2015.

February 27, 2015
Apple Watch to be Used by Major US Hospitals for Health Report

Smartwatches are built with an aim to use technology to make lives easier for its users. Many manufacturers have now launched smartwatches to keep up with the wearable technology race, but it seems like Apple is working hard to remain at the top of this game. A new report states that Apple’s healthcare gadget is the top choice of major US hospital doctors to monitor patients.

According to a survey conducted by Reuters, top hospitals prefer Apple’s smartwatch rather than the wrist-worn gadgets by Samsung and Google. The hospitals are in talks to start a program of Apple’s HealthKit service that will assist doctors read the recorded health information like blood pressure, weight or heart rate, so that the chronic conditions can be detected.

The Apple Heathkit gathers data such as glucose measurement tools, tracking apps to measure food intake and exercise and Wi-Fi connected scales. The forthcoming watch, set to release in April, is expected to come with some features that would allow doctors to view the heath records of a person just by sending it through the watch.

The Chief Clinical Transformation Officer Dr. Richard Milani clarified the use of Apple Watch saying, “If we had more data, like daily weights, we could give the patient a call before they need to be hospitalized.” An industry advisor John Halamka spoke about the use of Apple Watch commenting, “Can I interface to every possible device that every patient uses? No. But Apple can.”

The health technology is growing at a rapid speed and there are chances that Apple will invest more by 2018 in technology including apps, wearables, virtual care and remote monitoring.

February 6, 2015
Tim Cook Confirms Apple Watch to Debut in April

The smartwatch by Apple is the next big awaited announcement from the Cupertino-based giant. The Apple Watch will make a debut in April this year, confirmed the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook.

Tim stated that the Apple Watch is under development, and that he has high expectations from its upcoming debut-

My expectations are very high on it. I use it every day. I love it and can’t live without it.

This statement condemns the earlier rumours which assured that the Apple Watch would launch in the first quarter of 2015.

The revelation has come at the time when Apple is riding high on success. Recently, Apple witnessed a record-breaking sale of over 74 million iPhones.

Users will see three variants of the Apple Watch: first is the regular Apple Watch that would have a case of stainless steel, second variant is the Apple Watch Sport that will hold a fluoroelastomer band and anodised aluminium case, and the last one is the Apple Watch Edition with an 18-karat gold case. The device will be compatible with the latest iPhone models – iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

Apple Watch has a personalised interface and a Digital Crown that sits at the right side of the watch to help navigate better. The Apple Watch will be available in six designs with interchangeable straps. The built-in speaker phone and microphone can be used to receive calls.

January 28, 2015
Apple Faces Flak for Apple Watch’s Terrible Battery Life

Apple may have announced the Apple Watch but there are still very limited details about the smartwatch available. We’re still uncertain about when it might be available. And obviously, one of the biggest concerns is its battery life. Smartwatches are judged on the bases of their battery life; no one needs another device that needs constant recharge. It seems Apple Watch is no different.

9to5Mac reported, the iPhone maker is having trouble achieving the target battery life for the Apple Watch. Apple has aimed for its upcoming smartwatch to last a full day on a single battery charge, but the reality may fall short of the goal.

According to the report, Watch’s beefy processor and high quality screen hogs in the battery juice really fast, severely impacting the battery life of the smart watch. It might only last 2.5 to 5 hours of battery life on active use.

The company hoping to achieve its goal of three days on standby mode and four days in sleep mode. But the wearable device may last only two to three days in either standby or low-power mode, according to 9to5Mac. The Apple Watch was expected to change the scenario of poor battery life of smartwatches. However, the Apple Watch’s battery life doesn’t sound much better than already-available smartwatches.

The battery life has remained a source of concern for Apple over the past year, and was a contributing factor for Apple pushing back the retail launch from an originally planned late 2014 to early 2015.

The company has now set a March shipping date for the smartwatch. The Apple Watch will be priced at $349 and will be available by early 2015. It will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

January 24, 2015
This Website Lets You Can Virtually Use The Apple Watch

Word is that you have to wait till March to get your hands on Apple Watch. The Cupertino-based tech giant’s first bid on the wearable market will be priced at $349 and will come in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. The wearable will be compatible with iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

Anyhow, some folk at Pipes news app have created a demo of the forthcoming Apple Watch, which you can try right on its website. The interactive demo lets you navigate through various features of Apple Watch by clicking and holding parts of the home screen and moving around. The demo lets you try out certain applications, like the Clock, Weather, Phone, and Music apps.

The Digital crown of the demo watch is also interactive. While it doesn’t let you scroll or zoom like you’ll be able to once the real Apple Watch comes out, you can use it to return to the home screen. The demo can also show you a preview of some of the watch’s features, like Glances, which are cards that give you tidbits of information, and push notifications.

January 16, 2015
New Screenshots Reveal How an iPhone App will Control the Apple Watch

Everyone is waiting to get their hands on Apple’s new smart watch. Although it is one of the late entrants in the smartwatch segment, it is one of the most awaited devices around. Months ago, at the mega-event held in Cupertino, the company claimed that the Apple Watch will be highly customizable. However, the details about how that would be achieved were few, until now.

Yesterday, it was reported that the latest iOS 8.2 beta will come with an Apple Watch application for the iPhone through which the smartwatch can be customized. The app, which is referred to as the ‘Companion app’ , manages settings for Apple Watch applications, as well as settings for iPhone-Apple Watch interactivity.

The publication also revealed some screenshots of the ‘Companion app’ which gives us little insight of the new functions expected. According to screenshots, users will be able to manage and organize applications on the Apple Watch Home Screen via a virtual view on the iPhone Companion application.

Most of the functionality of the Apple Watch will be decided via the companion app, including alert and notification preferences, as well as some of the visuals you see on the wearable. The layout for the cluster of application icons on the Apple Watch’s home screen can be managed from the companion app, using a virtual preview.

According to the images, Apple Watch will rely heavily on voice commands for texting, browsing and other functions.

There’s also the option to have the Apple Watch unlock any time a user unlocks his or her iPhone, so long as the watch is attached to their body.

Apple Watch was announced back in September 2014 along with Apple iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Pay. The company has said that it will ship in “early 2015,” however, it is widely expected that the Watch might ship in by March.

Want to know more about the Apple Watch? Click here.

January 14, 2015
Apple Watch and Selfie Stick are Some of Time Magazine’s Best Innovations of 2014

Time magazine has released a list of 25 best innovations of 2014 featuring Apple Watch, Selfie Stick, Mangalyaam, Blackphone, Microsoft Surface Pro 3 among others.

Apple Watch ‘wholly reimagines the computer for the wrist, using a novel interface that combines a touch screen and physical buttons’, the magazine said, noting that it can send messages, give directions, track fitness, and can even make wireless payments. The smartwatch is expected to be available early next year at a starting price of $349.

Mangalyaam also made it in the list, with the magazine describing it as ‘The Supersmart Spacecraft’. Time said, “Nobody gets Mars right on the first try. The US didn’t, Russia didn’t, the Europeans didn’t. But on September 24, India did. That’s when the Mangalyaan…went into orbit around the Red Planet, a technological feat no other Asian nation has yet achieved.”

One of the most interesting innovations that the list included was the Selfie Stick. It facilitates taking a selfie from an angle of your choice by positioning your smartphone beyond the arms’ reach. “If 2013 was the year in which selfie became a buzzword, then 2014 was the year selfies became a cultural phenomenon,” Time said, indicating that the new-found infatuation with selfies matured within a year.

Along with this, Hoverboard, Back To The Future inspired skateboard that levitates like a magic carpet, also made it to the list. Granted, there are caveats. Hendo’s hoverboard can float only an inch or so above the ground, and only over conductive materials like copper or aluminum. Just 10 are being made so far. The battery life of the hoverboard is 15 minutes—barely enough time to zoom past your enemies à la Marty McFly.

But the technology that powers it could be revolutionary. Using the $450,000+ it raised on Kickstarter, Hendo Founders Jill and Greg Henderson plan to develop magnetic ‘hovering’ technology to stabilise buildings during earthquakes, protect valuable works of art and more. “The hoverboard is the first step to bringing this technology to the world,” says Greg.

Other than this, 3D printing, wireless electricity, Blackphone, BMW i3, Microsoft Surface Pro 3 also made to the Time magazine’s list of 25 Best Innovation of 2014.

November 24, 2014