After years of rumors, the inevitable is happening: Apple is gearing up to build a smartwatch.
Between Apple CEO Tim Cook’s promises of “new product categories” this year and the release of Samsung’s Android-based Galaxy Gear watches, this is a bit of a no-brainer.
As with previous Apple leaks, the news came first from the companies who will be making the device. Japan’s Nikkei Asian Review reported a manufacturer and other unnamed sources leaked details about the new product, and some details have been confirmed by announcements at Apple’s development conference.
Although the design isn’t finalized, there are a few confirmed features. Built-in sensors will monitor the wearer’s health, collecting data about calorie consumption, sleep activity, and possibly blood glucose and blood oxygen levels. Both the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic have announced their involvement in the device’s development, but it isn’t clear if current partner Nike has been a contributor. Currently, they’re pulling out of electronics to concentrate on their core business.
The watch will have a curved OLED display and run a variation of iOS 8. Like the Galaxy Gear series, the device is designed to be paired with a larger device, sending data and receiving notifications. However, it’s intended to work with similar devices instead of replacing them, letting users combine the watch with third party solutions to get a better picture of their health.
When production comes online, the company should be able to sell between 3 and 5 million units per month. For comparison, at the iPhone’s peak, 10 million devices were being sold each month.