The rumored iWatch could be out as early as this fall, according to a report this week. China Economic News states that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is preparing to launch it in October. The report also claims that Quanta Computer secured a contract to manufacture approximately 70% of the iWatches. Supposedly Apple expects to sell about 50 million units.
So if and when it comes out, what will it look like? We have seen numerous artist renderings, with some looking better than others. There was a report recently that the iWatch will have a 2.5-inch display so the folks at SET Solution put together a YouTube video of a concept they came up with. Gizmodo spotted the video.
New iWatch concept
The video shows what basically looks like an iPhone with a curved screen. Of course it’s running iOS 8. There’s a power button on one side and volume controls on the other. The design is quite sleek, just like Apple’s other devices, so the style seems to fit in with the company’s brand.
However, the concept also features a six-day battery life, which seems very unlikely. In addition, it seems like Apple would do more to adapt iOS 8 to a smart watch than just making the icons for the apps smaller. Personally, I don’t really like the design, but everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.
Other rumors we have heard about the iWatch is that it could have a display that’s made of sapphire crystal and feature voice messaging. Most agree that it will probably offer health tracking and more fully utilize the HealthKit API and Health App, which Apple unveiled last month at WWDC. There was a rumor recently that the iWatch will feature as many as ten different sensors focused on monitoring various aspects of health.
Android Wear set the bar low for smart watches
Whatever the iWatch ends up looking like, it certainly seems like Apple won’t have to do much to come out ahead of the smart watches that are already on the market. Mark Spoonauer of Tom’s Guide thinks the iWatch already beats Android Wear, even though we have no idea what it will look like or what it will actually do.
He said Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s Android Wear “feels half-baked” and that the company “has left the door wide open for Apple’s iWatch.” He says Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (LON:BC94) (KRX:005930)’s Galaxy Gear and LG Electronics Inc (KRX:066570)’s G Watch just fall short.
Google gets some things right and others wrong
He likes the way the devices deliver alerts to the wearer based on their location and what time it is. Also he likes the voice recognition, which he says gives the watch more use than simply turning it into a smartphone strapped to the wrist.
However, he doesn’t like the fact that wearers can’t choose only some of their contacts that are allowed to “buzz” their wrist, although Google said it is working on more customization. He also said the interface is “way too swipe-happy.” In addition, he thinks the hardware sports screens that are too difficult to read. They’re also bulky and only have about a one-day battery life.
