Apple's 'iWatch' to come in late 2014 with focus on biometrics, analyst says
Noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple's much-rumored iWatch will hit store shelves late next year, not in 2013 as many market watchers expect, with a 1.5- to 2-inch screen, focus on biometrics and deep integration with existing iOS devices.
AppleInsider was first to discover an Apple patent filing describing a watch design with flexible display.
In a note to investors obtained by AppleInsider on Wednesday, Kuo said he does expect Apple to release a wearable accessory, namely the iWatch, sometime in the future, but doesn't see the company debuting the product any time soon.
Unlike other analysts, Kuo, who has a proven track record in accurately predicting Apple's product rollouts, believes Apple will ramp up production in the second half of 2014, a period more than one year later than current estimates.
In the report, the analyst mentions Apple will probably enter the wearable computing market with a watch offering, dubbed as the "iWatch," instead of a glasses product like Google Glass. Backing up the claim, Kuo points to the Cupertino company's recent patent filings related to curved screens and batteries.
"Investors shouldn?t be misled by the word ?Watch?. We think iWatch will not be positioned as a time-telling device, nor as a device that displays information from other Apple products," Kuo writes. "We are positive on the iWatch because its wearable design is helpful for offering more secure user identification and biometrics functionality."
As rumored just two days ago, Kuo says iWatch will use either a 1.5 or 2 inch panel. However, instead of OLED panels, the device is likely to leverage existing GF2 touchscreen technology, much like Apple's current iPad mini and iPod nano, as the format is well-suited for small screen applications. Production of the display will probably be handed to Japanese or Korean suppliers.
Illustration of device with display (402), kinetic energy gathering device (502),
wireless antennas (506), connector, (508) and battery (504).
Interestingly, Kuo believes the supposed iWatch will sport a "secure user identification mechanism" and biometric functionality, both of which could become main selling points for the device. With biometrics, the iWatch can better safeguard an owner from unwanted user access, while providing advanced healthcare features. Currently, devices like the Nike+ FuelBand and other wearables offer pedometer functions and, in some cases, heart rate monitoring. If such functionality were to be built into Apple's watch, it could open new doors to the healthcare hardware industry.
Also borrowed from the iPod nano will be an application processor, or AP, which will allow for integration with Apple's existing iOS device ecosystem.
As for the 2014 release, Kuo says Apple may not have adequate resources to develop an iWatch variant of its iOS mobile platform as it would require significant changes to the operating system. Also, with wearable computing devices being a nascent sector, components are too scarce to reach the critical mass production requirements needed to satiate an expectedly high demand. Kuo believes manufacture will likely start in earnest during the second half of next year.
AppleInsider was first to discover an Apple patent filing describing a watch design with flexible display.
In a note to investors obtained by AppleInsider on Wednesday, Kuo said he does expect Apple to release a wearable accessory, namely the iWatch, sometime in the future, but doesn't see the company debuting the product any time soon.
Unlike other analysts, Kuo, who has a proven track record in accurately predicting Apple's product rollouts, believes Apple will ramp up production in the second half of 2014, a period more than one year later than current estimates.
In the report, the analyst mentions Apple will probably enter the wearable computing market with a watch offering, dubbed as the "iWatch," instead of a glasses product like Google Glass. Backing up the claim, Kuo points to the Cupertino company's recent patent filings related to curved screens and batteries.
"Investors shouldn?t be misled by the word ?Watch?. We think iWatch will not be positioned as a time-telling device, nor as a device that displays information from other Apple products," Kuo writes. "We are positive on the iWatch because its wearable design is helpful for offering more secure user identification and biometrics functionality."
As rumored just two days ago, Kuo says iWatch will use either a 1.5 or 2 inch panel. However, instead of OLED panels, the device is likely to leverage existing GF2 touchscreen technology, much like Apple's current iPad mini and iPod nano, as the format is well-suited for small screen applications. Production of the display will probably be handed to Japanese or Korean suppliers.
Illustration of device with display (402), kinetic energy gathering device (502),
wireless antennas (506), connector, (508) and battery (504).
Interestingly, Kuo believes the supposed iWatch will sport a "secure user identification mechanism" and biometric functionality, both of which could become main selling points for the device. With biometrics, the iWatch can better safeguard an owner from unwanted user access, while providing advanced healthcare features. Currently, devices like the Nike+ FuelBand and other wearables offer pedometer functions and, in some cases, heart rate monitoring. If such functionality were to be built into Apple's watch, it could open new doors to the healthcare hardware industry.
Also borrowed from the iPod nano will be an application processor, or AP, which will allow for integration with Apple's existing iOS device ecosystem.
As for the 2014 release, Kuo says Apple may not have adequate resources to develop an iWatch variant of its iOS mobile platform as it would require significant changes to the operating system. Also, with wearable computing devices being a nascent sector, components are too scarce to reach the critical mass production requirements needed to satiate an expectedly high demand. Kuo believes manufacture will likely start in earnest during the second half of next year.
Comments
Or, at least, that's what we'll see in the headlines. It doesn't matter that Apple never even said they're working on a watch or when it might be available. The new rumor is later than the old rumor, so Apple is doomed.
Here we go again, with another one of AI's pet phrases that seem to endlessly repeat themselves in stories: "Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes...."
Someone please tell me, why is this guy/gal a "noted analyst?" Does (s)he have a solid track record on product and/or price predictions?
WWDC can't come soon enough. Sigh.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
... "Investors shouldn't be misled by the word "Watch". We think iWatch will not be positioned as a time-telling device, nor as a device that displays information from other Apple products," Kuo writes. ...
Basically what I've been saying on every article about the "iWatch" since everyone started talking about it.
Here's a good idea, let's all stop calling it a f*cking "watch" when it really isn't. Maybe if we all stopped using the "watch" word, then it wouldn't be so misleading and fuzzy about what the heck we are talking about and what the product is going to be.
It's not a watch. Watches went out of style years ago. Nobody wants a watch.
should it read:
Noted Asshole douchebag blogger?
If it's 1 1/2 years away Apple may as well forget it. Samsung is going to have these things to market way before then.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gazoobee
It's not a watch. Watches went out of style years ago. Nobody wants a watch.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/fashion/2013/jan/27/luxury-watches-defy-downturn
"kinetic energy gathering device (502)"
An automatic wristwatch then, circa 1923. But fanbois will scream "innovation!"
What things? How do you know what Apple is doing?
I had always assumed that the "iWatch" was a just a "chaff" rumor. A rumor who's purpose was to fool other companies into waste development time trying to beat Apple to the punch. Time spent while Apple truly works on the next big product. A misdirection if you will.
I would be disappointed to find out this is a real product, one with such a limited scope and audience. I know very few people that wear watches anymore, most use their iPhones instead.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ireland
Quote:
Originally Posted by bdkennedy1
If it's 1 1/2 years away Apple may as well forget it. Samsung is going to have these things to market way before then.
What things? How do you know what Apple is doing?
Not only that, I heard somewhere than Samsung Motorola and Nokia had these things (can't remember the name) that were used to make calls/sms 30 years before Apple.
Guess what.
1) How many people do you know that didn't use smartphones before the iPhone.
2) Wearable computer accessories aren't likely to replace something like the iPhone, but add to it.
That's 'domed' isn't it?
Amen to that.