Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the latest tech company rumored to be releasing a smartwatch sometime in the near future. Gear Live recently reported the PC giant filed a patent for a smartwatch, but patent filings are just the beginning.
A close-up of the purported Microsoft watch
One of the site’s authors recently detailed this close up of the purported Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) smartwatch during a trip to New York City. He mentioned how he came across someone who was testing out the device and he asked about it. Although the author claimed the person was reluctant to admit it that it was a Microsoft smartwatch at first, it was finally admitted after some prodding.
The purported smartwatch is said to look more like the Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit or even the Fitbit One instead of like a traditional watch. The watch appears to have a flat display and a curved inner portion. The icons featured on the screen look similar to the icons featured on Windows 8. It also has a flat glass display, but it is not of high-resolution. The watch is also packed with sensors for such as heart rate monitors, a gyroscope, GPS, accelerometer and galvanic skin response sensor. The latter is actually built into the band of the watch, while the other features are built inside the unit.
Key feature for rumored smartwatch
The key point for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s watch is the fact it is supposedly a cross-platform device. It could be compatible with iOS, Android, OS X, Windows, Windows Phone 8 and Xbox One. Another key feature could be biometric sensors that can be utilized in new ways. There might be a way to stream sensor data from the watch to the Xbox One and involve that data in playing a game.
At press time, there is no word on if or when the Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Smartwatch will arrive. GIven the typical testing timelines involved, a possible would most likely be after the E3 event.
