If a recent report is to be believed then we might see Apple’s most awaited wearable technology device ‘iWatch’ sometime later this year.
The report states that Apple iWatch will sport processors designed in-house by Apple, sapphire touch panels from TPK and chips from Taiwan-based Richtek. The iPad maker is said to outsource production of the chipset to Samsung which suggests that the company will continue to rely on its rival for silicon.
According to a report from Economic Daily News, the Taiwan based Quanta Computer has received an exclusive contract to build the device that is expected to be launched in Q3.
The report claims that the company is looking for an estimated shipment figure of 65 million units by the end of 2014. However, previous reports also pointed to a launch date in the second half of 2014.
While details about the new iWatch have been scarce, some of the earlier reports have pointed out that Apple’s new device would serve as a health and fitness tracker. The device is expected to feature biometric sensors to track a number of health-related statistics, including heart rate and skin temperature.
Barclay’s analyst Blayne Curtis’s latest note claims that the iWatch will feature a UV light exposure sensor from Texas-based Silicon Labs that will make Apple’s offering different from its competitors. The sensor is also believed to record heart rates, blood oximetry and gestures.
“These chips measure UV exposure to aid those with elevated risk of sunburn or just a general concern about excessive sun exposure, and we believe they may be of appealing [sic] to OEMs looking to differentiate in a crowded market,” Curtis said.
Apple is also rumored to be prepping a “Healthbook” app with iOS 8 that will work with the iPhone and iWatch to track other health statistics like weight, heart, rate, and calories.
[Source: MacRumors]
