Apple is celebrating Black History Month with a series of initiatives and promotions across its platforms. Including a limited-edition Apple Watch Series 6 model.
The new Apple Watch Black Unity Collection includes a limited-edition Series 6 which has the words “Black Unity” etched onto the back crystal.
To go along with it, Apple has created a special watch face along with a sport band with the words “Truth. Power. Solidarity.” etched onto the interior of the stainless steel fastening pin.
The company has designed this new watch band and face with a little help from members of the Black creative community. Apple says the Unity band is made from individual pieces of colored fluoroelastomer, assembled by hand and compression-molded into one.
Watch Faces, Bands, and Workout Challenges
Both the new band and face feature the red, green, and black colors of the Pan-African flag, paying homage to the rich tradition and craft of quilting in the Black community.
According to the press release:
Red represents the blood that unites the people of the African diaspora and was shed for their liberation. Black is for the people whose lives are affirmed by the flag. And green is a symbol of the vibrant, natural wealth of Africa, the Motherland.
The shapes and colors on the Unity face slowly change as you move, in real-time. A date complication and another complication can be added to the top of this watch face.
The Unity watch face requires the newly released watchOS 7.3 update.
Additionally, the upcoming Unity Activity workout challenge in the Fitness app on the Apple Watch will treat everyone who manages to close their Move ring seven days in a row during February to limited-edition animated stickers for iMessage and FaceTime.
New Editorial Collections
Apple will also celebrate Black History Month with featured content. In the App Store, Black businesses, games, apps, developers, and stores are highlighted. The TV app offers a selection of featured TV shows and films in the “Essential Stories” section.
Apple Music will provide curated playlists and more from Black musicians. Apple Podcasts will do the same in terms of podcasts. Apple News will offer a selection of relevant stories.
The company will also showcase the power of creativity to bring about change via the new Today at Apple virtual sessions and tutorials, as well as through its Fitness+ subscription service and the latest Shot on iPhone campaign.
Lastly, Apple Maps will host social guides created in co-operation with EatOkra.
The new Series 6 Black Unity starts at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the cellular version. The Black Unity Sport Band is priced at $49 and will launch on February 1, 2021.