KILLER features & cool things can do with Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is one of the most impressive smartwatches we’ve used, and is one of the strongest cases yet for wearable. For those with an up-to-date iPhone, it’s the best smartwatch to buy, and includes a range of features – from fitness apps to games – that make it a genuinely useful extension to your smartphone. Throw in a svelte case and numerous ways to personalise it, and the Apple Watch could be the gadget of the year.

Packed with seemingly endless features, we browsed through the Apple Watch's functionality and picked out the important things you need to know.

Here are the Apple Watch’s killer features:

Communication

Digital Touch: This feature is Apple's way of advancing communication. Users can draw quick images to friends, using minimal effort.Related is the Watch's Taptic Engine, which alerts you of notifications with a simple "tap," probably similar to a vibration. You can also use the feature to send "taps" to a friend to get his or her attention.

Animated Emoji: The little graphic images can be customized. You can send a smiley face, but you can also make it wink, or stick its tongue out with the animated new feature.

Receive calls and texts: The Watch is compatible with the iPhone 5 and beyond (bad news for folks still on model 4). It can accept texts and calls.

Analyzes texts: The Watch looks at your incoming texts and analyzes the content. Based on that, it can suggest quick replies that you can send straight from your wrist.

Walkie talkie: Not just for kids anymore. Using the watch's mic, you can send quick voice messages to other users.

Fitness and Health Tracking

Measures heart rate: Using a custom heart rate sensor located on the back of the watch, you can measure your heart rate at any time. Using the Watch's Taptic Engine, you can also send a friend your heartbeat

IMAGE: APPLE

Not only will the Apple Watch pack a heart rate sensor on its underside, it will also feature a robust set of apps to help you keep track of your well-being. The Activity app collects data on all your movement in the day -- whether it be standing, moving or running -- and prompts you to get up when you've been sitting still too long. You can also set goals and the app shows your progress on rings that fill up as you approach your targets. The Apple Watch even gives you badges in reward for achieving your goals.

The Workout app gives athletes more detailed information and measurement for more precise feedback. You'll get real-time stats on your time spent, distance traveled, calories burned, pace and speed for activities such as running, walking and cycling. You can also set goals for each session, and get updates as you exercise, as well as a summary at the end and once each week.

Locate iPhone

Looking for your smartphone is one of the most frustrating things you can do, especially if you’re in a rush. Usually you’d have to call your phone and listen out for ringing/vibrating, but the Apple Watch packs in a useful new way to locate your missing iPhone. Heading to Glances and clicking on a smartphone symbol makes your handset emit a loud ping, making it much easier to find your phone.

Remote Control Functions

You may never have to leave your couch again, with the Apple Watch doubling as a remote control for your devices. Skip through music on your iPhone or iTunes music library, navigate your Apple TV menu, enable Do Not Disturb and Airplane modes on your phone or turn on/off the smart lights in your home -- all from your wrist. Apple's Kevin Lynch also showed at the event how you can use the smartwatch to not only remotely unlock your door, but through a connected camera, see who enters your home as well.

Activity App

Although the App Store offers a range of more detailed running apps, Apple’s own workout app is a good place to start. Featuring a clean interface and simple controls, the Apple Watch’s workout app makes it easy to track your activity, especially runs.

When jogging, the Apple Watch keeps you informed about your pace, distance, overall time and a range of other useful information, so you’ll never need to glance at your phone.

A Full Day On a Single Charge

Apple claims you will get a full day - 18 hours is quoted - on a single charge and we’ve seen reports that users of the Apple Watch in testing typically saw 25% charge remaining by the end of a day of moderate usage. If you do run the smartwatch dry it takes two hours to charge fully.

Siri

The voice-controlled assistant just got more personal. With Siri on your wrist, you won't have to lift a finger to check the weather or compose a reply to your friends. Siri on the Apple Watch acts just like she does on the iPhone, but you'll likely have to be tethered to a phone to get Web-powered search results. You can also just say "Hey Siri" to get the voice assistant to take your next command, as demonstrated during the March event. It's not clear yet if you'll need to already have Siri open to use this feature or if the wearable will have an always-on microphone listening for that phrase.

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