Microsoft rumored to be working on touch-enabled 'smart watch' designs
Coming amidst rumors of so-called "smart watch" products from Apple and Samsung, software giant Microsoft is now said to be mulling an entrance into the still nascent wearable computing device sector with designs of its own.
Exammple of a Suunto-built watch running Microsoft's now-defunct SPOT platform.
Executives at Microsoft's Asian suppliers told The Wall Street Journal that the company is working on designs for a touch-enabled "watch-style" product, and requested shipments of 1.5-inch displays for internal testing earlier this year.
One executive reportedly met Microsoft's R&D team at the firm's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., but offered no specifics regarding the watch's feature set. It remains unknown if the product will even move out of the prototyping stage.
As noted by the publication, the rumored device would be Microsoft's second attempt smart watch initiative, the first being an offshoot of the Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) platform for which watchmakers like Suunto, Fossil and Swatch made products until 2008. The program, launched in 2004, was subsequently adopted in a wider range of electronics including GPS units, and sent weather, traffic and other data from MSN Direct servers to devices over FM radio broadcasts. The service cost $59 per year.
Apple and Samsung are said to be preparing smart watch devices which are said to communicate wirelessly with the companies' respective smartphone offerings. While information regarding Apple's supposed offering has only been whispers and speculation, Samsung went so far as to announce they are actively working on a such a product, having worked on it "for so long." In addition, Google and LG are also rumored to be preparing branded smart watches, suggesting the industry could see a major boom in the coming months.
Today's news points to a possible expansion of Microsoft's first-party computer hardware offerings, with the company perhaps looking to build on the moderate success of its Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets. The stripped-down RT launched in October, followed by the Pro in February, with combined sales reaching a total of 1.5 million units. The company is also thought to be readying a 7-inch Surface to cash in on the growing popularity of small form factor tablets like Apple iPad mini.
Exammple of a Suunto-built watch running Microsoft's now-defunct SPOT platform.
Executives at Microsoft's Asian suppliers told The Wall Street Journal that the company is working on designs for a touch-enabled "watch-style" product, and requested shipments of 1.5-inch displays for internal testing earlier this year.
One executive reportedly met Microsoft's R&D team at the firm's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., but offered no specifics regarding the watch's feature set. It remains unknown if the product will even move out of the prototyping stage.
As noted by the publication, the rumored device would be Microsoft's second attempt smart watch initiative, the first being an offshoot of the Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) platform for which watchmakers like Suunto, Fossil and Swatch made products until 2008. The program, launched in 2004, was subsequently adopted in a wider range of electronics including GPS units, and sent weather, traffic and other data from MSN Direct servers to devices over FM radio broadcasts. The service cost $59 per year.
Apple and Samsung are said to be preparing smart watch devices which are said to communicate wirelessly with the companies' respective smartphone offerings. While information regarding Apple's supposed offering has only been whispers and speculation, Samsung went so far as to announce they are actively working on a such a product, having worked on it "for so long." In addition, Google and LG are also rumored to be preparing branded smart watches, suggesting the industry could see a major boom in the coming months.
Today's news points to a possible expansion of Microsoft's first-party computer hardware offerings, with the company perhaps looking to build on the moderate success of its Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets. The stripped-down RT launched in October, followed by the Pro in February, with combined sales reaching a total of 1.5 million units. The company is also thought to be readying a 7-inch Surface to cash in on the growing popularity of small form factor tablets like Apple iPad mini.
Comments
Of course they are.
ME TOO!!! ME TOO! LOOK AT ME EVERYBODY!!!.....GET LOST SAMSUNG, I WAS HERE FIRST
SHUTUP MS, OUR WATCH WILL BE BETTER.........so what do you think Apple's watch is going to look like and do?
</Apple snickering in the corner>
Who the **** isn't rumored to be working on a smart watch now? I wouldn't be surprised if my cat was working on one.
Also, if this is true, it doesn't matter who comes out with it first, or how similar the concepts are. It only matters who does it right, and I know which company I would bet on.
And… all of them will wait until Apple release their smartwatch. (you know what i mean - copy quick copy quick)
Apple should challenge all of them to release theirs before they unveil their iWatch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
As noted by the publication, the rumored device would be Microsoft's second attempt smart watch initiative, the first being an offshoot of the Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) platform for which watchmakers like Suunto, Fossil and Swatch made products until 2008.
This is would not be the second, but a third attempt by Microsoft! Remember the Timex Data Link? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timex_Datalink
I used to have one. It was fun pointing it at the monitor to transfer data. It even had wristapps! With a cult following, this one was not a failure though. Of course SPOT was a disaster!
Your username is most amusing!
Surprisingly, I'm not even a Trekkie.
I hate wearing watches.
I also think that nowadays, the watch wearing crowd has been shrinking since we all have clocks in our pockets via any phone. Ask Casio, Timex, Swatch, how their business was disrupted by mobile phones.
The connected watch is NOT going to be the "next big thing" regardless if its Apple, MS, Google, or Samsung. It's not going to be a revolution like MP3 players, or current smartphones.
Yea matey, many have posted in other threads about the same.
I think the idea of a smart watch is a dog.
But, I could be surprised. If any company can make this work it will be Apple.
I like the leaked tech theory.
Will it have a kick-stand? If so I will be in line for one! /s
No wonder if apple working on bigger and broad phone...
Quote:
Originally Posted by TeaEarleGreyHot
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTR
Your username is most amusing!
Surprisingly, I'm not even a Trekkie.
I find him most engaging and feel like forming an away team number one </pulls down shirt>
Im in a privileged position to answer this for you :-)
Yes it will !
A very very small one.
Here's the thing...
even if microsoft or anyone else brings something like this out, it won't have the wide range of goodies to connect with like Apple does.
Imagine using the iWatch as a remote for your Apple TV ?
What about content from iTunes? Can't do that with Microsoft product (yes, I know microsoft have something similar, but really, you get my point)
What about shared calendars, to do etc between iOS devices, Mac OS and all the other wonderfully shared stuff that Apple already have numerous products for?
I understand that Microsoft are trying very hard to do the same thing with Surface etc, but the reality is, too little too late and Apple just simply do it better, because they control all the hardware and software across the whole suite (desktop, laptop, portable devices)
And even then, if someone else manages to bring out the whole suite and make them all happy together, they will still lack the already existing global distribution and support that Apple have established over the last 5 years or so. Sumsung has also tried with Samsung stores, but if they are anything like my customer experience with Samsung, they are in deep doo doo - WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EVER! And this was with an expensive TV under warranty!
I've been a fan of Apple products since the late 70's and I think they've finally got it right. Now all they need to do is keep innovating. So, iWatch, please have a heart rate monitor, bluetooth, have enough memory for a decent amount tunes, apps and content, a decent battery so you can have plenty of up time, easy charging and most of all, that beautiful elegance that your iMac so proudly displays.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RobM
It better be fcuken beige, Ballmer. Or I ain't buying !
LOL
I'm mostly impatient to use a good smartwatch for navigation and quick internet searches. I hope they build a search database more solid than ever.
Photocopiers standing by.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Spacepower
The connected watch is NOT going to be the "next big thing" regardless if its Apple, MS, Google, or Samsung. It's not going to be a revolution like MP3 players, or current smartphones.
"The Macintosh uses an experimental pointing device called a 'mouse'. There is no evidence that people want to use these things. I dont want one of these new fangled devices."
San Francisco Examiner, John C. Dvorak, 19 Feb. 1984