iWatch Features and Rumors: What We Know So Far [feedly]

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iWatch Features and Rumors: What We Know So Far
// MacLife

Apple's iWatch might be the worst-kept secret in tech history. There haven't been information leaks so much as geysers, and thanks to countless comments from "those in the know," we've put together a pretty solid picture of what we think the final product will be. Of course, we won't have all the details until Tim Cook flashes the first iWatch on stage at some point, but for now we can sort through the rumors to separate the probable from the preposterous.

 

Design

We've yet to see a killer smartwatch design. The Galaxy Gear and LG G are way too boxy and even the Moto 360, while certainly the best of the bunch, isn't something you'd picture coming out of Jony Ive's laboratory. From what we've heard, the iWatch will put these models to shame with classic Cupertino flair.

Most reports predict a rectangular face, with multiple screen sizes to fit all kinds of wrists and tastes. The models are said to range from a dainty 1.3 inches to 2.5 inches — which scales much larger than Samsung's 1.63-inch display — and feature curved, scratch-resistant Sapphire glass that comfortably wraps around the user's wrist. Of course, no one has claimed to have actually seen an iWatch prototype, but there's one thing we're pretty sure of: it's going to set the standard for every smartwatch that comes after it.

 

Price

None of the smartwatches currently on the market could be called inexpensive — the cheapest option, the Samsung Gear Live, still goes for $199. Apple's first-generation products often cost a bit more than the competition (remember, the original iPhone went for $599 on contract), and the iWatch will likely follow that pattern. There hasn't been any definitive information about Apple's targeted price point, but if we read between the lines, we can surmise a starting price of around $299. (Let's hope KGI securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo is wrong with his prediction of a top-of-the-line model costing "several thousand US dollars.")

 

Battery

Development of the iWatch has allegedly been held up in part by battery demands. As we've seen with our iPhones, powering a full-color screen is a significant power drain, and a wristwatch isn't something people are used to charging every night. Apple's engineers are working to extend battery life to around 4-5 days, and are apparently looking to build in inductive wireless charging to further cut down on the number of times the device needs to be plugged in each week.

 

Functionality

Most smartwatches need to pair with a phone to do more than tell time, and it's likely that the iWatch will similarly need a nearby iPhone to work most of its magic. As expected, Siri will reportedly play a central role in navigation, and a specially tailored version of iOS 8 is said to run on the device. Notifications will by beamed from our phones to our wrists, where the new interactivity of iOS 8 alerts will make them easier to answer from the tiny screen. And, of course, health and fitness will likely play a prominent role on the device, mirroring many of the features in iOS 8's new Health app.

 

Sensors

Our iPhones and iPads have gyroscopes and accelerometers, but that's nothing compared to what's rumored to be in the iWatch. More than 10 different sensors are said to be packed into the device, measuring every facet of our bodies, from the steps we take to the air we breathe and possibly even the sugar in our blood (though that one seems a bit far-fetched). It seems that Apple is serious about its health push — one report even claimed NBA superstar Kobe Bryant was seen on the company's Cupertino campus chatting it up with Jony Ive, presumably about all the ways iWatch will help him stay fit on and off the court.

 

Release

Since iWatch will likely require iOS 8, we probably won't get our first peek at it until the fall. And even then, there may be a significant wait before the device goes on sale — the original versions of both the iPhone and iPad were unveiled several months before release to prevent leaks and build hype, and some reports suggest Apple could do the same with iWatch. The smart money's on the third week of October, with the product possibly showing up as a "one-more-thing" reveal at the annual iPad event.

 

(Conceptual illustration by Adam Benton)

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