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Apple MAC OS 7.5 Promotional watch
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Early Apple Watches were originally promotional gifts (1980's - 2014)
In 1983 Apple Computer introduced their Apple IIe, Apple III+, and the Apple Lisa computer models. During this period in it's history Apple was shifting from competing against it's main competitor in home computers, Commodore computers, to competing against the hugely successful IBM PC computer. 1983 was also the year that Microsoft first announced they would be developing the Windows 1.0 operating system to work with Intel based IBM PC compatible computer systems.
Anything with the Apple logo on it was quite popular during the 1980's, it publicly showed that you were not among the mainstream home PC computer user that was using the IBM PC. Apple Computer Jewelery, and Apple rainbow logo T-shirts were worn proudly by anyone who was "hip".
The Apple gift catalog was a full-color, promotional gift catalog available for free to the general public by mail or through Official Apple retail computer dealers. Apple wanted to promote it's famous Apple rainbow logo further through the use of unique, custom made gift items. Some interesting (and now hard to find) items found in the catalog included an Apple II computer puzzle, an Apple brass belt buckle, an Apple rainbow logo latch hook kit or handmade wall hanging, various Apple rainbow logo jewelry, lapel pins, tie tacks & a necklace, an Apple brass cube paperweight, an Apple rainbow logo kite, and those classic 1980's Apple logo T-shirts.
Apple Computer gift watch (1986)
Apple promotional gift Watch designs over the years
Apple introduces their First functional digital watch to the masses (2014)
The first smartwatches were created by other companies, not Apple. These devices could receive messages, display texts, phone numbers, and play music - all without the need for cables or phones nearby.
In 1993, an Apple spin-off company created by former Apple Macintosh Developent Engineers called General Magic was creating the operating system for a new “handheld computer”, called Magic Cap. They called this device an “intelligent personal assistant” or IPA for short. This device would work as both a cell phone and a portable computer. The company wanted to make it into a hands-free, wrist-mounted wearable so that people could use it while they were on the go. Models were built by Motorola as the Envoy, and by Sony as the Magic Link. Neither were a commercial sucess due to the slowness of the devices, and the high cost and very limited availability of mobile networks at the time.
In September 2014, Apple announced their new product, the Apple Watch, a timepiece that they designed and developed. At that time, Apple's CEO Tim Cook said that they were "hard at work on new products that we believe will redefine what people expect from smart watches." Apple had been working on the design of their watch for years, experimenting with various sizes and layouts. The Apple watch developement tream was driven by lead Engineer Kevin Lynch. The device is a wristwatch-style wearable with many functions including phone and text messaging capabilities, music control, fitness tracking, apps and more
The Apple Watch was offered for sale to consumers on April 24, 2015. It came in two different sizes and with two different models - Apple Watch Sport ($349) and Apple Watch Edition ($549). The Apple watch was marketed as a fashionable fashion accessory rather than a must-have gadget for techies.
- CPU: S7002 "Apple S1"
- RAM: 512 MB
- Storage: 8 GB
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
- Bluetooth 4.0
The first generation of the Apple Watch was followed up with the release of the Gilt model in September 2015; which introduced new features like GPS tracking and waterproofing.
The Second generation Apple Watches were released in September 2016 which included Series 1 (which had minor hardware updates), Series 2 (which had major hardware updates) and Series 3 (which introduced LTE cellular for making phone calls).
T8002 refers to the CPU inside of two of Apple's SiPs: the S1P and the S2. The S1P is used in the Apple Watch Series 1, while the S2 is used in the Apple Watch Series 2.
Series 1 & 2:
- CPU: T8002 "Apple S2" ARM 32-bit
- RAM: 512 MB
- Storage: 8 GB
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
- Bluetooth 4.0
Series 3:
- CPU: T8004 "Apple S3"
- RAM: 768 MB
- Storage: 8 GB (GPS) or 16 GB (GPS + Cellular)
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz)
- Bluetooth 4.2
- Apple W2 Wireless chip.
- Qualcomm MDM9635 (GPS + Cellular models only)
The original Apple watches used the Apple WatchOS operating system.
In 2017, Apple watches were upgraded to their new watchOS4 operating system, introducing new features including new watch faces , and a SIRI Face, as well as improvements to it's fitness and music functions.
In September 2018, the Apple Watch would become offered with another OS upgrade - the new OS5 operating system.