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2.5-Inch iWatch with Wireless Charging and Pulse Sensor to Enter Mass Production in July

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Apple's upcoming iWatch may measure in at 2.5 inches diagonally with a slightly rectangular face, reports Reuters, citing sources familiar with the product. The watch face is also expected to protrude slightly from the band to create an arch shape, and it will reportedly include a touch interface and wireless charging.

Reuters also suggests the iWatch has a sensor that monitors a user's pulse, which is just one of many sensors that may be included in the device. Rumors have indicated that the iWatch will be able to measure several different health metrics in addition to heart rate, like steps taken, sleep quality, and more.

nanowristband.jpg
Apple's 2.5-inch iPod nano in a Griffin SportCuff​
A 2.5-inch screen is much larger than the size predicted in previous rumors, which suggested the device would come in 1.3 and 1.6 inch sizes to accommodate different sized wrists. 2.5-inches is the same size as the existing iPod nano, though the iWatch may be more squared than the nano.

Taiwan's Quanta Computer is currently producing a trial run of the smartwatch and mass production is expected to begin in July, in preparation for a possible fall launch. LG Display is said to be the exclusive supplier of the screen, which is in line with previous rumors.
While the watch is widely expected, the start date of its mass production and the extent of Quanta's involvement were not known until now. Mass production will start in July and the commercial launch will come as early as October, according to the source and another person familiar with the matter.
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Along with providing an array of health-related information via sensors, Apple's iWatch is also expected to interface closely with the iPhone and iOS 8, providing users with at-a-glance notifications and information.

Reuters confirms that the iWatch is slated for an October release, a target launch date that was previously shared by Re/code.

Update 3:45 PM PT: Reuters has amended its original post with additional information, suggesting that while the iWatch will be able to perform some functions independently, "tasks like messaging and voice chat will require a paired smartphone." The iWatch will only be compatible with devices running iOS, like the iPhone.

Article Link: 2.5-Inch iWatch with Wireless Charging and Pulse Sensor to Enter Mass Production in July
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2014/06/19/iwatch-2-5-inch-screen-july-production/
janderson0719

janderson0719

macrumors 6502
Aug 25, 2011
403
19
Eh, we need better mockups.

Edit: Ha, macrumors changes pic as soon as I post. Not much better.
 
BMcCoy

BMcCoy

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2010
1,718
3,421
And yet MR show the circular face mockup in the news story...?

Edit - haha.. They changed it! Lol
 
T

Thermonuclear

macrumors 6502
May 23, 2009
362
21
Another status symbol for the insecure. If this mugger magnet is less expensive than an Omega or Rolex, then it will sell very well.

But will it tell time any better than my US$12 Casio?
 
gmanist1000

gmanist1000

macrumors 68030
Sep 22, 2009
2,832
824
I post this a lot, but when I think of iWatch, I think of this :)

_67757545_underarmour2.jpg

I think I'll be highly disappointed.
 
C

crazedbytheheat

macrumors regular
Aug 23, 2003
168
0
Thermonuclear said:
Another status symbol for the insecure. If this mugger magnet is less expensive than an Omega or Rolex, then it will sell very well.

But will it tell time any better than my US$12 Casio?
Click to expand...

I suspect it will have other feature than time that people are interested in. Not sure why you should care so much about what other people choose to spend their money on to the point that you insult them. The rumored health features plus tight coordination with iOS and OS X devices make it sound interesting to me.
 
J4B3

J4B3

macrumors regular
Mar 18, 2012
200
23
Gamma Quadrant
2.5" (!!) wow. Typically watch measurements are given in millimeters, so 63.5mm seems crazy; I don't think that can be right. Steve Wozniak is famous for his HUGE Nixie Diode watch whose diameter exceeds the length of his wrist. The Nixie is (only) 55mm in width.

4837490694_8682c2084c.jpg
 
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bpeeps

bpeeps

Suspended
May 6, 2011
3,678
4,629
Thermonuclear said:
Another status symbol for the insecure. If this mugger magnet is less expensive than an Omega or Rolex, then it will sell very well.

But will it tell time any better than my US$12 Casio?
Click to expand...

This comment can also be read as: I am bitter.
 
Reason077

Reason077

macrumors 68040
Aug 14, 2007
3,605
3,643
Thermonuclear said:
But will it tell time any better than my US$12 Casio?
Click to expand...

Yes, it will, because it'll be able to get very accurate time from the Internet (NTP) or from the GPS time signal. It'll also, presumably, automatically switch timezones when you travel.
 
T

Thermonuclear

macrumors 6502
May 23, 2009
362
21
crazedbytheheat said:
I suspect it will have other feature than time that people are interested in. Not sure why you should care so much about what other people choose to spend their money on to the point that you insult them. The rumored health features plus tight coordination with iOS and OS X devices make it sound interesting to me.
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I post in hope that some might save a bit of cash if they could see what others see.

You might try a search for "rolex police", just for the past month to see a list of muggings and other thefts. Wearing a visible, easily removed status symbol does have a serious drawback.

Will the bauble need to be charged up every few days as rumored? My watch has been going for two years now on the same cheap, user-replaceable battery.
 
L

lewisdorigo

macrumors member
Sep 19, 2008
77
0
Ayrshire, Scotland
lewisd25 said:
2.5in diagonal? That's rediculous.
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Serban said:
what the heelll...2.5" ?? is so big, what is this ?! 1.7" was ok
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Serban said:
Moto 360 has 1.8" and is big enough
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I’m not sure. Last year, I made a little mockup of an iWatch with a 2.5" display. Didn’t seem too big to me. (I assumed it at the time that it’d use the same software as the iPod Nano. I’ve since done mockups of an iOS 7-ish UI on a 2.5" display.)



An iWatch with a 2.5" (well, 2.45") display and a resolution of 480x640 would have the same pixel density as the current iPhones.
 
I

invisiblegt

macrumors member
Mar 21, 2013
49
18
Passbook on the iWatch would certainly be nice, particularly if they begin to implement mobile payments. Movie tickets. Credit cards. Etc. All instantly pulled up when you're in proximity to the theater or store, and accessed with a simple scan.
 
T

Thermonuclear

macrumors 6502
May 23, 2009
362
21
Reason077 said:
Yes, it will, because it'll be able to get very accurate time from the Internet (NTP) or from the GPS time signal. It'll also, presumably, automatically switch timezones when you travel.
Click to expand...
There are already watches which automatically synchronize with shortwave time signals without need of Internet access. You can get that along with voice synthesis for US$60. Not sure about the GPS, though; that might cost extra.
 
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