Rumor: Apple's 'iWatch' to use new 'stepped' battery technology from LG
Apple will turn to an LG-devised layered lithium ion battery design manufactured by Samsung SDI, LG Chem and Tianjin Lishen Battery for the powerpack in its so-called iWatch, a questionable report out of Korea suggests.
"Apple will utilize LG Chem's stepped battery since it offers better longevity than others and can be applied for different shapes," a source told the Korea Herald. LG's stepped design is said to hold up to 16 percent more energy than similarly-sized conventional lithium ion batteries.
In addition to their enhanced energy density, the stepped batteries can be formed into shapes --?like curves --?that would suit a wrist-worn device.
The report should be taken with a grain of salt, however. The Herald intimates that Apple was also considering powering the device entirely with solar power --?other rumors have suggested Apple may be considering solar charging, but none have speculated that the company may eschew batteries entirely.
The paper also cites anonymous sources that say "there would be no point" for the iWatch to use a curved display that would ultimately be less than two inches diagonally.
"Apple will utilize LG Chem's stepped battery since it offers better longevity than others and can be applied for different shapes," a source told the Korea Herald. LG's stepped design is said to hold up to 16 percent more energy than similarly-sized conventional lithium ion batteries.
In addition to their enhanced energy density, the stepped batteries can be formed into shapes --?like curves --?that would suit a wrist-worn device.
The report should be taken with a grain of salt, however. The Herald intimates that Apple was also considering powering the device entirely with solar power --?other rumors have suggested Apple may be considering solar charging, but none have speculated that the company may eschew batteries entirely.
The paper also cites anonymous sources that say "there would be no point" for the iWatch to use a curved display that would ultimately be less than two inches diagonally.
Comments
And the report that should be taken with a grain of salt is the one on solar power...that won't happen.
...a questionable report out of Korea suggests.
...
...
The paper also cites anonymous sources that say ...
Key takeaways from the article.
Let me structure it better...
"A questionable report out of Korea suggests the report should be taken with a grain of salt, however the paper also cites anonymous sources."
I'm coming to hate that render, because it looks so feasible, yet common sense tells me that Apple won't be able to make anything that cool looking that is also usable, has reasonable battery life, and isn't as delicate as a snowflake.
The one problem I have with it is the perfect, rigid, circle: because I'd like a vertically scrollable touch-screen and for that to work the bracelet had better offer resistance to rolling around the wrist and that shape doesn't offer that to my mind..
I'm coming to hate that render, because it looks so feasible, yet common sense tells me that Apple won't be able to make anything that cool looking that is also usable, has reasonable battery life, and isn't as delicate as a snowflake.
If the released product looks anything like these renderings, I'd be surprised [and would never buy one.]
I pray Apple has better taste than you . . . think they have.
Seriously the design concept looks appropriate for children.
When you think of people of different sizes, a curved display is necessary for anything greater than 1-1.25 inches. Otherwise it starts to look very bulky, like rolling a CD along a soda can. Even the 6th gen iPod Nano was only 1.5 inches across and is arguably too bulky for a mass audience (although thickness and bezels certainly play a part)
I love the concept photo. Whether Apple actually will release an iWatch anytime soon if at all remains to be seen but if it looks like the concept I would be intrigued. For me personally I would be most interested if it were able to check blood pressure and heart rate, show notifications from your iPhone or iPad, and include Siri capability. For Siri it would have to be able to work through the phone basically as a bluetooth headset but could also show data on the display as well. For example if you ask for a weather forecast or today's sports scores you could see that on the display. If you could charge the battery at night not by plugging it in with a wire which would be hard to do due to the small size, but instead use inductive charging or some very simple dock to just plop it in I think that would be far more convenient.
I'm coming to hate that render, because it looks so feasible, yet common sense tells me that Apple won't be able to make anything that cool looking that is also usable, has reasonable battery life, and isn't as delicate as a snowflake.
Yep that is an awesome design. I don;t know how feasible or ergonomic it would be, but damn it looks hot!
I didn't say the render represent my ideal product, just that the hardware and software illustrated give the appearance of feasibility, when I suspect neither are, so the render is raising expectations.
Apples eventual product in all probability will be better in many ways than this illustration, more usable, better thought through functionality, but I strongly doubt it will be as slick, or uniform, the screen as advanced, or as high resolution, bright and curved.
That's the point. No need to insult my taste over it.
Really? I think this concept looks amazing. It actually reminds me that even if you think that you don't need something, if it looks great, you'll want it. And I'm sure Apple will play on that too.
Prediction: need to charge every 2-4 weeks at low use
Solider prediction: iPhone 5c 8gb model (no rear camera?, maybe just for China, India markets)
So it has to fit to many wrist sizes and shapes, so adjustable strap is essential.
Bite me.
I didn't say the render represent my ideal product, just that the hardware and software illustrated give the appearance of feasibility, when I suspect neither are, so the render is raising expectations.
Apples eventual product in all probability will be better in many ways than this illustration, more usable, better thought through functionality, but I strongly doubt it will be as slick, or uniform, the screen as advanced, or as high resolution, bright and curved.
That's the point. No need to insult my taste over it.
Well, there's no accounting for taste!
Sorry, I should have put a ;-) on my post. Not because I'm joking, just because I didn't mean to offend ;-)
As a designer, I'm pretty picky on design concepts. The think I hate most about it is I can see it really is *not* a feasible design. As others have pointed out, it would be unusable. Even if the bangle like design were feasible, stylistically it would be rejected by most users.
Apple, it they do an iWatch, will produce something far more practical, useful, and interesteing.
Obviously any interrogation can point out a multitude of flaws; but the render is professional and very well done aesthetically, the UI has a veneer of plausibility, and most importantly of all it's being used on every news site and blog all the time as if it were a real product.
It's most likely a render done by an undergrad student. It's what is often referred to as "design porn" or "air design."
It's a visual concept produced by laying some rearranged iOS screen shots and a little illustrator work onto a simple shape that's well lit in an idealized setting, and then rendering it.
You see it as plausible because it looks photorealistic.
I'm unimpressed by "photorealism" and focus on design, so to me it looks inexplicit and unrealistic.
Is this the same battery technology they used in the 2012 and 2013 iWatch? O_o