Apple's follow-up to the iPhone and iPad could be a bendy-glass wristwatch, if fresh rumours about the Californian company's plans are to be believed.
The New York Times cites "people familiar with the company's explorations" who say Apple is experimenting with the wondrous wristwatch, which is tipped to run on the firm's iOS platform, just like its smart phones and tablets.
Nothing else is known, but it's not too tough to imagine what an Apple watch might look like -- I'm picturing something akin to the 7th-generation iPod nano, but with a screen that shines out of a curved piece of glass.
I'd bung Siri on there, despite the fact that it's about as much use as a chocolate fireguard. Some kind of Maps app would be dead useful for finding your way around without having to fish your phone out your pockets.
Corning, the company known for making Gorilla-branded glass to sit on the front of smart phones, recently debuted its 'Willow Glass', which can be flexed into a gentle curve. If Apple's rumoured wrist-occupier is the real deal, expect it to use this kind of technology.
Apple has been rumoured to make a watch before. A report from December tipped the titillating timepiece to have a 1.5-inch OLED screen, though there was no mention of curved glass back then.
It's no secret that Apple's iPhone and iPad are now undergoing minor revisions with each subsequent iteration, with even co-founder Steve Wozniak saying that the firm is "behind" when it comes to smart phone features.
I suspect to see some real creativity from Apple we'll need to wait for a new product altogether. A TV and car have been mooted before, why not a wristwatch?
What would you like to see Tim Cook and pals crafting next? Let me know in the comments, or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 7
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anonymous 11 February, 2013 09:59
Hmmmm. Let me see now, what do I want from a watch?
tells the time. PASS
self winding with no need to charge. FAIL
waterproof. PROBABLE FAIL
will cost less than £100. GUARANTEED FAIL
anonymous 11 February, 2013 10:02
I mean seriously, unless the battery on this lasts a week, it's going to be utterly pointless. Who wants a watch that you have to take off and charge up every day? It was bad enough having a mechanical watch that you had to wind, but an electrical one that may run down faster than you expect if you have a busy e-mail day? No thanks.
Robert Twiddy 11 February, 2013 11:05
As opposed to my negative friends, why dont we have iwatch with a phone. I can raise it easily to my face just as I have to get he big iPhone out. What do I want everything the iphone has. Is in fact this the mini iPhone, iWatch? Some watches are pretty big, but heavy. the iWatch could be pretty big but light. I take my watch off, so proportionality I dont mind plugging it in. If it was a grip on strap rather than a usual one think of everything you can get in the strap including solar charging. Sorry folks I live in Bangkok so plenty of light. Solar doesnt need sun it needs light! Pebble have done something, lets see if Apple can do it better??
anonymous 11 February, 2013 12:35
that's strange just as samsung announce bendy screen for s3 apple come up with!!!
anonymous 11 February, 2013 12:51
IMO, wearable tech isn't going to really take off until they put actual radios in them, eliminating the need to link up to your smartphone.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 15:00
Contrary to most other commenters I think this will actually be a success. There's a decent and growing appetite for smart watches right now - like the Pebble watch for example (http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/25/pebble-smartwatch-review/).
The best utility I can think of for this (besides a watch) would be as an MP3 player and sports computer. It would be great to see some of the apps geared towards running or cycling making an appearance on a more compact device.
anonymous 11 February, 2013 17:02
'Contrary to most other commenters I think this will actually be a success.'
I don't doubt that it will be. Anything with the name Apple on it seems to be. From my point of view it's a complete waste of time and space. I can't imagine anything more pointless. That doesn't mean it won't be a success though.