Apple wristwatch in the works, tipped to run iOS

Google’s making Android-powered spectacles and Apple is pushing forwards with an iOS-powered wristwatch. What the hell’s going on?

Apple is said to be pushing ahead with plans to release an iOS-powered watch in 2013. Jony Ive is apparently heading up the project along with 100 Apple engineers. Details are scant at present but the watch is expected to debut at some point in 2013.



‘Apple, with its iconic brand and lucrative retail network, is poised to tap into the growing watch industry. Headway in the business would help compensate for slowing growth in other areas, such as iPhones and iPods,’ reports Bloomberg.

The global watch industry, according to Citigroup Inc. analyst Oliver Chen, is estimated to generate more than $60 billion per annum, with gross margins on watches being around 60 percent – or four times bigger than televisions.

‘This can be a $6 billion opportunity for Apple, with plenty of opportunity for upside if they create something totally new like they did with the iPod -- something consumers didn’t even know they needed,’ said Chen.

Interestingly, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told investors that his company has some new products in development. Could one of these by the iWatch?

US tech site, The Verge, has also chimed claiming Apple’s iOS-powered watch is currently being tested but engineers are having a tough time with its battery life.

‘We're also told Apple has some work to do with iOS on the iPhone, which currently has several hooks for supporting a watch-like device but lacks the appropriate interface or settings to make it work properly,’ said the report.

There’s currently no details on how the watch will work or what type of features it will have, although we’re going to assume that it’ll feature Siri – good news for those of you that harbour delusions of being a super spy – and offer a quicker way to check emails and texts.

And AirPlay, of course. But other than that we’re fresh out of ideas.

What’s next? A Windows Phone-powered cardigan?



by via Know Your Mobile