Apple iWatch Set to Launch in October, According to Two Reports

Jun 6, 2014 - 5 Comments

iWatch Health App Apple is said to be launching an all new wearable device with health-monitoring abilities this October, according to two reports from reliable sources. Commonly referred to as the iWatch by existing rumors, the device is said to be a ‘watch-like’ item that is worn by the user.

The Nikkei report is the most detailed yet, indicating that specs and services for the device are still being finalized, but stating the central function will be to manage users biometric information through their smartphone (presumably an iPhone), offering the following description of potential features:

“It will likely use a curved organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touchscreen and collect health-related data, such as calorie consumption, sleep activity, blood glucose and blood oxygen levels. It will also allow users to read messages sent by smartphones.”

Apple is said to be working with Nike to integrate services on future products, according to the report.

Soon after the Nikkei report was published, Re/Code corroborated the October release date of the wearable device, further stating the product is intended to make use of the upcoming Healthkit functionality integrated into iOS 8. That Health app is demonstrated on the iPhone in the following images from Apple.com:

Health app in iOS 8

Though there have long been various rumors about an iWatch, the new reports from Nikkei and Re/Code are the first two indicators of such a product existing from consistently reliable mainstream news sources. Until now, most discussion has been limited to vague rumors from analysts with no specific release timeline.

Health App screen data

The news arrives hot off the heels of an iPhone 5S commercial that specifically focuses on using the iPhone for health and fitness, and soon after a variety of health orientated features included in iOS 8 were covered at the WWDC 2014 conference, both strong suggestions that Apple has increasing interest in the wearable device space.

Health app icon

Assuming this rumor pans out, Apple is looking to have a very busy fall, with the release of the aforementioned wearable, iOS 8, OS X Yosemite, a larger screened iPhone 6, and a high likelihood of considerable updates to the iPad and Mac lineups.

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in News, Rumor

5 Comments

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  1. Leafsley says:

    I would prefer an iPatch that I can wear over 1 eye so I look like a pirate.

  2. InTheory says:

    I’m normally excited by the idea of new Apple stuff, but the whole idea of an iWatch leaves me cold. I stopped wearing watches when cell phones started telling time. The iWatch will have to do something pretty amazing to get me to start wearing something on my wrist again. It’s so last century! ;-)

  3. Is They Learning? says:

    Cool! Finally some real reports on the iWatch, which, I bet is not going to be watch at all, I think it will be more like the Fitbit with a screen.

    http://www.fitbit.com/

    Oh and some background for the westerners who haven’t heard of Nikkei, they are “one of the largest media corporations in Japan. Nikkei specializes in publishing financial, business and industry news.” Founded in 1876!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihon_Keizai_Shimbun

    This is like your Wall Street Journal, minus the Murdoch BS.

  4. Matt says:

    I’m intrigued but stuck with the “Why” question. What’s the point? What’s this going to do for me? How does it work? Anyway, I hope this iWatch thing is useful enough and cheap enough to warrant an additional purchase. Hard to imagine paying $199 for a pedometer on steroids that reads me my text messages.

    Honestly I’m more excited for iPhone 6 with a bigger screen so that I can finally look at an iPhone without squinting, holding the thing 2″ from my face, or wishing I had a magnifying glass at all times.

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