Microsoft's smartwatch to be compatible with iOS and Android, may launch this summer
Over one year after word of a Microsoft-built smartwatch first surfaced, a report on Thursday says the Redmond, Wash. company's offering will be compatible not only with its own Windows Phone, but also Apple's iOS and Google's Android.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Forbes reports Microsoft's smartwatch will be able to sync with iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices out of the box. The wearable is supposedly packed with sensors, including optical components designed by the company's Xbox Kinect team to constantly measure a user's heart rate at all times.
The sources went on to say Microsoft's watch is similar in appearance to Samsung's Gear Fit and will feature a touchscreen display positioned on the inside of the wrist for ease of viewing and privacy. Current smartwatch and fitness tracker wearables use everything from dot matrix to OLED displays, but most are placed on top of the wrist like a traditional watch.
Rumors of a Microsoft smartwatch go back to 2013 when the software giant was allegedly testing 1.5-inch displays to be used in the device. At the time, a number of divisions were supposedly working on the project, including the Xbox accessories and Surface tablet teams. One rumor even claimed the final product would be made of "translucent aluminum."
Sources said a rollout date has not yet been set, but noted Microsoft could have a product ready for consumers as early as this summer.
Microsoft previously attempted to market a smartwatch as part of the now defunct Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) platform that died in 2008. With SPOT, brand name watchmaker partners like Suunto, Fossil and Swatch incorporated Microsoft software into specially designed products. The program was based on a $59 per year subscription service that sent weather, traffic and other relevant data to SPOT devices over FM radio broadcasts.
Apple is also widely rumored to be working on a wearable of its own dubbed the "iWatch," though hard evidence that the device exists has yet to turn up. Most recently, a report from Rosenblatt Securities analyst Brian Blair said the future Apple device would feature a round display much like Motorola's upcoming Moto 360 watch.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Forbes reports Microsoft's smartwatch will be able to sync with iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices out of the box. The wearable is supposedly packed with sensors, including optical components designed by the company's Xbox Kinect team to constantly measure a user's heart rate at all times.
The sources went on to say Microsoft's watch is similar in appearance to Samsung's Gear Fit and will feature a touchscreen display positioned on the inside of the wrist for ease of viewing and privacy. Current smartwatch and fitness tracker wearables use everything from dot matrix to OLED displays, but most are placed on top of the wrist like a traditional watch.
Rumors of a Microsoft smartwatch go back to 2013 when the software giant was allegedly testing 1.5-inch displays to be used in the device. At the time, a number of divisions were supposedly working on the project, including the Xbox accessories and Surface tablet teams. One rumor even claimed the final product would be made of "translucent aluminum."
Sources said a rollout date has not yet been set, but noted Microsoft could have a product ready for consumers as early as this summer.
Microsoft previously attempted to market a smartwatch as part of the now defunct Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) platform that died in 2008. With SPOT, brand name watchmaker partners like Suunto, Fossil and Swatch incorporated Microsoft software into specially designed products. The program was based on a $59 per year subscription service that sent weather, traffic and other relevant data to SPOT devices over FM radio broadcasts.
Apple is also widely rumored to be working on a wearable of its own dubbed the "iWatch," though hard evidence that the device exists has yet to turn up. Most recently, a report from Rosenblatt Securities analyst Brian Blair said the future Apple device would feature a round display much like Motorola's upcoming Moto 360 watch.
Comments
Microsoft has failed with smartphones.
It has failed with tablets.
It was failed with Windows 8.
It has failed with its appstore.
I predict this will be a massive success. I mean, who WOULDN'T want to wear a Microsoft branded watch? Just screams style.
Just screams style.
Screams something.
Ooh! The default alarm tone is this!
Maybe it'll be the Steve Ballmer Memorial Edition.
It'll probably be better than the Samsung Gear, but it's still difficult to imagine myself going back to any kind of watch at this point.
In most cases these days, a watch is a piece of jewelry.
That said, it's more of a indicator of a certain socio-economic class than ever before, much like shoes.
It is completely unsurprising that many commenters in tech forums such as AppleInsider have no interest in wearing wristwatches or decent shoes.
That said, do what you want.
If you're not going to wear a watch, you're probably making my social life easier.
Who in their right mind would want a microsoft smart watch. DOA.
Maybe it'll be the Steve Ballmer Memorial Edition.
Featuring Clippy the LA Clipper's new mascot.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink
It had a one-way optical wireless data link where you'd hold the watch to your CRT monitor and your PC would flash some lines on the screen and the watch would download your contact list, alarms, and calendar. That would seem quaint in the current era of BlueTooth and WiFi, but it was petty neat back in the Windows 3.1 era.
That thing is garbage.
Apparently the early reports of him buying the Clippers were premature. There are still numerous complications.
I hope he gets the team. For the shear fact he'll have his own dedicated guywith the mop that wipes the sweat up off the floor during the games when a player falls.
And can you imagine the reaction after a bad call?
Please oh please oh please
Actually, I hope he gets the team and does well. He was a weak leader at Microsoft, maybe owning this team is just what he needs.
????!!! That is the funniest thing I've heard all week!
I just want him to rename them the Developers.
No, no. I want Ballmer to keep the team name the Clippers.
However, I do want him to change the team mascot to "Clippy." That should strike fear into the hearts of their adversaries. (Or the opposing team players would be laughing so hard, they'd miss their free throws, commit a lot of "delay of game" penalties, fail to rebound.)
However, I do want him to change the team mascot to "Clippy."
Ooh. Tempting.
“It looks like you’re trying to shoot a layup. Would you like some help with that?”
Exactly.