Smartwatch image from Microsoft patent filing
We"ve heard the whispers for some time that Microsoft was working on wearable technology, specifically a watch. We have even seen a patent pop-up that shows that Microsoft is indeed working on such a device, and now a new report is shining a little bit more light on Microsoft’s plans.
According to Forbes that cites its own unnamed sources, Microsoft’s smartwatch will work with all the major smartphone platforms and will continuously monitor your heart rate. The battery life is said to be targeted at lasting two days without needing to be recharged.
Like many recent Microsoft projects, the company is said to have reached across its engineering team to tap into internal expertise for the software that will be utilized. The report states that optical engineers from the Kinect division, designers and data scientists have created a software that will be used for the device.
Wearable’s have become a big trend recently with the likes of Fitbits and Samsung’s Galaxy Gear watches making lots of noise in the emerging market. Apple is rumored to be toying in this arena as well, and there is another obvious player in Google Glass.
For Microsoft, this will not be their first attempt at a smartwatch; many years ago, the company had its SPOT (smart personal object technology) software built in to the devices. While we expect a much more advanced user interface and more modern design with the new watch, the principles of the device remain largely unchanged.
Timing for the launch of the watch is still unclear; it could debut as early as this summer, but no hard timeframes were noted. Naturally, with any new product, timeframes can be tough to lockdown as each piece of the manufacturing puzzle takes time to mature and then rigorous testing of the new devices can raise issues as well.
Source: Forbes | Image via Microsoft