With the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch approaching, we thought it might be enjoyable to have a look again at an attention-grabbing little bit of Apple Watch historical past.
After the Apple Watch was introduced in 2014, and earlier than it turned obtainable in 2015, Apple despatched out customized Apple Watch iPad demo kiosks to retail shops. The Apple Watch and iPad items used for these gadgets have been specifically designed, had customized software program, and characterize the primary and solely time that an Apple Watch was capable of pair with an iPad.
AppleDemoYT, identified for sourcing uncommon prototypes, shared photos and detailed details about the demo items with MacRumors, providing up detailed perception on the lengths Apple went to for this practice expertise. AppleDemoYT was capable of purchase one in every of these now-rare demo items.
Jony Ive and his design group got here up with the Apple Watch iPad Kiosks as a approach for patrons to check out an Apple Watch without having assist from an worker. Apple used a modified iPad mini 2 working iOS 8.2 paired with an unique Apple Watch working watchOS 1.0, with the 2 gadgets fused in a customized housing.
The iPad Apple used had a number of elements eliminated, together with the digicam, microphone, and audio system, and the housing of the setup served because the physique of the iPad. The Apple Watch was closely modified as properly, that includes a groove alongside the diagnostic port for cable routing, holes to affix it to the demo unit, and a particular Sport Band that was shorter than regular.
The Apple Watch was paired to the iPad utilizing a wired connection. A lightning cable hooked up to the Apple Watch diagnostic port linked to a converter board contained in the iPad, permitting the iPad to speak with and cost the Apple Watch. A particular app known as Apple Watch Demo was used to permit the Apple Watch to interface with the iPad, and a connection to Apple’s server was required.
The server that Apple used for the Apple Watch Demo app has lengthy since gone offline, so the one approach to see how the setup labored is thru a demo unit that was paired in 2014 and never reset since then. With a purposeful unit, the iPad is ready to mirror the Apple Watch, providing up transition animations and offering tips about the actions that may be carried out on the Apple Watch. This performance is demoed in AppleDemoYT’s video:
The customized iPad mini was not solely the only real mannequin capable of join with an Apple Watch, it was additionally the one iPad that may very well be charged utilizing MagSafe 2, initially designed for the Mac. A MagSafe connector charged the iPad, Apple Watch, and further batteries contained in the iPad. A Lightning port is obtainable as properly, however Apple’s documentation means that it is just meant for use for information switch.
Apple discontinued the demo unit in 2016 as a result of it was riddled with points. Updates to the iPad or Apple Watch would erase demo content material, and the entrance glass was vulnerable to cracking due to the design of the housing. Batteries degraded rapidly as a result of always-on charging, and overheating and failure have been continuous issues. Apple additionally needed to cope with pairing and syncing points, and that brought about Apple to tweak the interactive a part of the demo performance in 2015. After that change, the iPad offered Apple Watch data, however not mirrored the content material on the Apple Watch.
Demo items that have been decommissioned have been presupposed to be destroyed, and so discovering one that’s nonetheless obtainable, purposeful, and in good working situation is uncommon. The Apple Watch iPad kiosk represents one of the crucial superior customized gadgets that Apple had designed on the time, and it gives a neat look again on the Apple Watch’s debut.
Rumors recommend that Apple has plans for the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch, and as quickly as this yr, we might even see a redesigned “Apple Watch X” with an up to date magnetic band attachment system, new well being options, and extra.
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