APPLE SPRINGS FORWARD

Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the stage in San Francisco to unveil the finer details of the Apple Watch, which will have functionality straight out of a Dick Tracy movie. Said Cook of the newest Apple toy, "it's not just with you; it's on you."

The presentation ad that accompanied the latest phase of the watch rollout, by the by, features "Running Behind" by Glassnote's Holychild. More on that soon.

This device is the biggest arrival so far in "wearable technology"; it can take phone calls, recieve and send texts, view photos, and has an 18-hour battery life and built in health apps that remind you to get up if you’re sitting too long or activates to manage your workout progress. Apple Watch will also integrate lifestyle apps like Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, plus apps from American Airlines, CNN, Uber and Shazam. As with the iPhone, the device lives or dies by the range and quality of available apps. Looks like there'll be a dizzying array.

To reflect customers' personal styles (and pocket books) Apple Watch comes with customizable bands and features multiple models made of steel, aluminum, and gold with price tags that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. While the Apple Watch sport price is from $349, the luxury version Apple Watch Edition starts at $10,000. Of course, that's chickenfeed to you.

One of the more exciting announcements came from HBO CEO Richard Pepler who revealed a new stand alone service called “HBO NOW” — giving subscribers access to all their original programming viewed through Apple hardware like Apple TV, iPhones and iPads. This is incredibly significant because it severs HBO from the exclusive tether of cable subscription. HBO NOW debuts in April for $14.99 a month: just in time for the season premiere of Game of Thrones.

Curiously, there was NO mention of Beats Music (only a brief shout out about the wireless headphone technology) or the impending streaming service.