This week on AI: Two new Apple Watches, mysterious health gadgets, all-glass iPhones & more

AppleInsider

Future hardware rumors were unusually diverse this week, possibly giving us a peek not just at future iPhones but things like the second-generation Apple Watch and mysterious new health gadgets.

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Everything you need to know:

• There could be two new Apple Watch models, including one with GPS > >
• The 2017 iPhone may have an all-glass enclosure > >
• A redesigned MacBook Pro will probably skip Apple's Sept. press event > >
• This year's "iPhone 7" should have a pressure-sensitive haptic home button > >
• Apple is allegedly working on a new health-related product for 2017 > >
• Rumors of a space black "iPhone 7" persist > >
• Apple's Irish data center is a go > >

For in-depth discussion of this week's hottest stories, listen to the AppleInsider podcast. Subscribe here, or stream the embed below:

A roundup of all of our hottest stories this week:

'Apple Watch 2' with GPS, barometer, better waterproofing, more to launch in 2H of 2016

Foxconn rumored to be examining glass phone enclosures for 2017 iPhone

Redesigned, ultra-thin MacBook Pro with AMD GPU not expected to debut at 'iPhone 7' event Sept. 7

Apple's 'iPhone 7' again said to have pressure sensing haptic home button

Rumor: Apple working on entirely new, advanced health-tracking hardware for 2017 launch

Latest pics show alleged 'iPhone 7' in space black, 'Plus' models with & without Smart Connector

Apple wins approval to begin first stage of Irish data center

Russian government probes allegations of iPhone price fixing by resellers

South Korean company said to be working on 'Apple Car' battery tech

Rumor: 'A10' CPUs destined for Apple's 'iPhone 7' surface in new pics

Apple hires Flipboard co-founder Evan Doll to direct work on health software

Iran to reportedly allow iPhone imports to cope with rampant smuggling problem

ireland

There's no mystery. It's either a medical edition of AW or simply the new version of the watch that everyone gets. A band with such features makes no sense: it stops people spending an AW amount of money, it negates the opportunity to capitalise on AW and make medical cool and cool more powerful. And needing to wear two devices for all the functionality doesn't sound right. No, Apple are researching this stuff and when they are ready AW gains such features. A hydration sensor that can tell you when you need to consume water would be a true innovation and a sensor that reads your blood sugar level in a reliable non-invasive manner would totally transform many people's lives. Which number AW it ends up being is anyone's guess. AW5 would be mine.

Soli

ireland said:

A band with such features makes no sense: it stops people spending an AW amount of money, it negates the opportunity to capitalise on AW and make medical cool and cool more powerful.

How so? Why can't the 2nd gen Apple Watch not only have more tech, but also include more options for connecting Smart Bands either from Apple or from 3rd-parties that will help solidify Apple as these de facto smartwatch company because of the vast range of options that will be available, just like wit their 2-year iPhone cycles and mFI program allowing for a huge number of compatible accessories? Why discount an Apple Watch that will be great for someone that will need to go hiking/camping for a week to the person that just wants it warn them if there is a medical issue in which they might suffer? There the opportunities are massive.

slprescott

ireland said:

There's no mystery. It's either a medical edition of AW or simply the new version of the watch that everyone gets.

I respect your opinion but see things differently.

I think that Apple is exploring "health" in a wide variety of areas (fitness, clinical, etc.) and using a wide variety of form factors (Watch, Phone, etc.). If it makes sense to use Watch as the right form factor for a particular health function, then Apple will... but I don't think that they're constraining themselves to that device. Within 10 years I predict Apple will have multiple health-related wearable form factors; Watch is just installment #1.