The Apple Watch is out and my wrist is feeling a little lighter because of it ...Get back to us if you plan on purchasing one on April 24th.
...Diving in
The Big One
Chris: Apple has finally released news of the Apple Watch in its full capacity. While the tech giant showcased and demonstrated several of its newest products, today — specifically the Apple Watch, new MacBook Air, several featured applications, its HomeKit software and Apple TV — it is the Apple Watch that garnered the most attention from CEO Tim Cook, featuring it as the event’s finale. But unlike past Apple products, the Apple Watch has a complex pricing structure.
Each model comes in two case sizes — 1.5 inches and 1.65 inches. The cheapest model will be the Apple Watch Sport, tailored to athletes, starting at $349 — a larger sized Sport will also be available for $399. The Apple Watch, a non-sport more casual version, will cost between $549 and $1,099 — with its price range varying greatly based on a user’s band choice. It brings a more fashionable stainless steel case. Meanwhile, Apple’s "premium" version of the device, Apple Watch Edition, is made with18-karat gold and starts at $10,000.
In terms of battery life, the subject was somewhat short-worded. Cook confirmed that the battery would last 18 hours and to help users prolong battery life, Apple designed a mode called Power Reserve. There's no keyboard meaning that customers need to use the Digital Crown to zoom in since there's no pinch-to-zoom function.
Making Moves
Chris: Reston-based government contracting giant Maximus, a DoD contractor that focuses mainly on health and human services, has bought Falls Church-based tech contractor Acentia for $300 million. Acentia, owned by private equity firm the Snow Phipps Group and employing about 1,000 people, works on technology and IT solutions for the U.S. government. Maximus brought in about $1.7 billion in revenue last year, making the cash purchase entirely feasible. The deal will come through a combination of cash reserves and an amended line of credit agreement that provides for up to $400 million through 2020.
National Headline
Chris: The Senate subcommittee on securities, insurance and investment will hold a hearing on how small cap companies with less than $250 million market capitalization might benefit from their own venture exchanges separate from the usual exchanges. Lowering the bar to go public might help some struggling startups get the cash they need to survive and succeed. This is a case of the usual tension between regulating financial markets to stop criminals and wanting capital to flow as freely as possible. A new exchange won't happen overnight but the hearing on Tuesday will reopen the door.
Community
Chris: Tomorrow we will be revealing the top 64 tech companies in this year’s #DCTechMadness competition. Be at Penn Social from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m as we will reveal the bracket, together. During the party, you'll have an opportunity to fill out your own paper bracket predicting this year's Tech Madness winner. Companies will be placed in a March Madness-esque bracket where they will compete, vote for vote, with their peers to decide on who the community believes will be the most influential company within 5 years.
What we're reading
- Beware The Post Money Trap
- U.S. Public Transit Use in 2014 Climbed While DC's Declined [Chart]
- Everything You Need To Know From Apple's ‘Spring Forward’ Event
- They 'Know the Internet': Why E-Commerce Giants Are Investing in Media Companies
- Justice Dept. vows to strike harder against hackers
Reach out
Tips? Rumblings? Complaints? Something you want to see in the email? Reid@dcinno.com
