Test drive the Apple Watch BEFORE it's released: Interactive online demo lets you virtually play with the wearable's features


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Apple fans should be able to get their hands on the Apple Watch in March, but if you can't wait that long, a firm has created an online demo.

The interactive watch is modelled on official images released by Apple, and lets people see how their messages, emails and homescreen will look and work. 

The demo also shows how push notifications will appear, and lets users control music on the virtual watch. 

The interactive watch (pictured) is modelled on official images released by Apple, and lets people see how their messages, emails and homescreen will look and work. Clicking the crown on the right of the watch brings up the homescreen, featuring a host of circular app icons

The interactive watch (pictured) is modelled on official images released by Apple, and lets people see how their messages, emails and homescreen will look and work. Clicking the crown on the right of the watch brings up the homescreen, featuring a host of circular app icons

It was created by designers at Pipes, an app that lets people track news stories and trending topics. 

Clicking the crown on the right of the digital watch brings up the homescreen, featuring a host of circular app icons. 

Clicking the mouse and moving it to the left and right will swipe through pages on the watch's face. 

And clicking an individual icon will open that particular app. 

IPOD SHUFFLE SUPPLIES DWINDLE

Reports suggest that supplies of the iPod Shuffle are dwindling. 

Apple's online store quotes a delivery time of between seven and 10 days. 

By comparison, other iPod products are shipped within 24 hours. 

Apple fan site 9to5Mac said Apple has warned its retail employees Shuffle supplies will be short for an 'unspecified period of time'.

For example, clicking the iTunes icon opens a music player screen and lets users press play and pause, and change the volume. 

On the left-hand side of the demo are options that let users see how push notifications will appear, as well as how Apple's Glances feature works. 

Glances is a summary of the apps the user open the most, such as Facebook, the weather app, emails or maps.

The feature is similar to Google Now, and on the physical version of the watch, Glances will be accessible by swiping up from the bottom of the watch face. 

In the demo, Glances shows the weather, news articles from Mashable, and Pipes' Top Stories menu. 

It's a basic demonstration, but gives users an idea of how popular apps will appear on the watch's 1.5-inch display.

Clicking the mouse and moving it to the left and right will swipe through pages on the watch's face. And clicking an individual icon will open that particular app (Messages app pictured)
For example, clicking the iTunes icon opens a music player (pictured) and lets users press play and pause, and change the volume

Clicking the mouse and moving it to the left and right will swipe through pages on the watch's face. And clicking an individual icon will open that particular app (Messages app pictured left). For example, clicking the iTunes icon opens a music player (right) and lets users press play and pause, and change the volume

The demo was created by designers at Pipes, an app that lets people track news stories and trending topics. It's a basic demo, but gives users an idea of how apps will appear on the watch's 1.5-inch display (pictured)

The demo was created by designers at Pipes, an app that lets people track news stories and trending topics. It's a basic demo, but gives users an idea of how apps will appear on the watch's 1.5-inch display (pictured)

Earlier this week, reports said Apple is 'finishing up' work on the Apple Watch's software and it could go on sale in March. 

Apple fan site 9to5mac said sources familiar with the product's development believe the device will ship in the US by the end of the first quarter of 2015.

Glances feature (picutred) shows info users would like to see, similar to Google Now, and is accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen

Glances feature (picutred) shows info users would like to see, similar to Google Now, and is accessed by swiping up from the bottom of the screen

So far Apple has refused to reveal exactly when it will be released, although a statement made to Apple employees suggests the release will be in 'the spring.' 

It has previously been claimed that suppliers were struggling to make enough screens and processors. 

Now 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman said Apple Store employees are set to be trained in February.

'One or two representatives from many Apple Stores in the United States, depending on store and market size, will be sent to Apple offices in either Cupertino, California or Austin, Texas to learn first-hand about the Watch,' he claimed.

'These training programs will take place between 9 February and 16 February.'

The employees will then train the rest of their store's staff, it is believed. 

Unveiled on 9 September at Apple's iPhone 6 launch event, the Apple Watch is the company's foray into wearables.

Samsung, LG, Sony, Motorola and Microsoft have already launched their own smartwatches, but Apple is expected to face unprecedented demand for its timepiece.

Quanta, which is building the watch, has upped its number of workers from 2,000 to 10,000 and is ultimately aiming for 20,000. 

The initial round of shipments will be 3 to 5 million watches. 

Apple anticipates a total of 24 million watches to be shipped during 2015.

During the announcement in September, Apple's chief executive Tim Cook didn't announce exactly when the watch would be available, but said it would go on sale 'early next year.'

A 'source close to Apple' told The Information in November that the firm 'would be lucky to ship [the watch] before Valentine's Day'. 

Despite the range of impressive features unveiled by Mr Cook, there was something he failed to mention: battery life.

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook (pictured) unveiled the watch at a launch event in September. Earlier this week, reports said Apple is 'finishing up' work on the watch's software and it could go on sale in March

Apple's chief executive Tim Cook (pictured) unveiled the watch at a launch event in September. Earlier this week, reports said Apple is 'finishing up' work on the watch's software and it could go on sale in March

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE APPLE WATCH

Built-in is a 'taptic engine' that responds to a subtle vibrations users feel on their wrist for notifications

Built-in is a 'taptic engine' that responds to a subtle vibrations users feel on their wrist for notifications

The watch has a completely new user interface, different from the iPhone, and the 'crown' on the Apple Watch is a dial called the 'digital crown.'

Users can turn the crown to zoom in and out on a map, or scroll a list. The crown can also be pressed to take the user back to the home screen.

Different areas on the watch face can be customised with taps and swipes, and force touches.

The Glances feature shows info users would like to see, similar to Google Now, and is accessed by swiping the screen up from the bottom.

Music can also be controlled on an iPhone through the Apple Watch.

Built-in is a 'taptic engine' that responds to a subtle vibrations users feel on their wrist for notifications.

It understands questions in messages and then offers pre-selected answers, and messages can be dictated to the iPhone.

Users can also talk to the watch and send a voice reply, or have it transcribed to them.

There is no keyboard on the watch, and messages can only be sent through dictation, or emoji.

Siri also is built into the Apple Watch. 

The telling omission suggests the watch's battery life will be the Achilles Heel of the device when it eventually does go on sale. 

Apple is said to be unhappy with the watch's battery life, and the long lead time before the $349 (£216) product ships could mean the device will be more functional once it's released early next year. 

Most existing smartwatches on the market, such as Pebble and MetaWatch, tend to last up to a week on a single charge.

The closest Cook came to talking about the battery life for the Watch was saying that users would 'charge it at night.'

During an interview in Bloomberg Business Week, Apple's senior vice president of operations Jeff WIlliams said: 'We want to make the best product in the world.

The watch has a completely new user interface (pictured), different from the iPhone
The 'crown' on the Apple Watch is a dial called the 'digital crown' (pictured) presented by chief executive Tim Cook

The watch has a completely new user interface (left), different from the iPhone, and the 'crown' on the Apple Watch is a dial called the 'digital crown' (right) presented by chief executive Tim Cook

The company's chief executive added that the Apple Watch 'can be worn all day, for any occasion,' but hourly figures were notably absent
The product costs $349 (£216) and is now not expected to launch until at least February next year

The company's chief executive added the Apple Watch 'can be worn all day, for any occasion,' but hourly figures were notably absent. The long lead time before the $349 (£216) product ships could mean the device will be more functional once it's released early next year

'One of our competitors is on their fourth or fifth attempt, but nobody is wearing them.'

The company's chief executive added that the Apple Watch 'can be worn all day, for any occasion,' but hourly figures were notably absent.

A source said Apple is unhappy with the watch's battery life, according to Re/Code. Another source confirmed to the technology site that that the battery life 'is about a day now.'

A spokesperson for Apple declined to provide battery details to MailOnline and said they will be revealed closer to launch next year.

 



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