The much-rumored Apple iWatch isn’t as exciting as you might have thought.
We’ve heard rumors of flexible displays and Siri integration, but it appears that Apple’s iWatch is actually just a band meant to connect with the Apple device of your choice.
According to this leaked video, which uses stand-ins for rehearsal instead of real Apple execs and designers, the band lets you slap your iPhone or iPad onto the strap and conduct your business directly from your wrist. The band will sell for $249, to compete with other smart watch offerings on the market, and use will require the purchase of an iPhone or iPad.
We’ve reached out to Apple regarding availability, but haven’t heard anything yet. Analysts predict the iWatch will land in July, alongside the next-generation iPhone.
While the firm wouldn’t comment on availability, they did mention that users have the option to use latest generation MBAs and MBPs with the smart watch as well, for a more fully featured computing experience.
“We don’t want the iWatch to be all about consumption, as many have labeled iPhone and iPad,” said an Apple representative who wishes to remain anonymous. “So we’ll be letting users attach their laptops to the band.”
Apple expects a high uptake from designers and other creative types.
It’s worth mentioning how users will deal with the one-handedness of the product. The larger the iThing that you attach, the harder it will be to walk and move and perform tasks on the device. However, rumors are swirling that Apple may be releasing a handful of exercise-related devices to measure weight loss while using the heavier “smart watch.”
This comes fresh on the heels of Samsung’s foray into quantified self, wherein it will offer a HRM and a scale that pairs with the Galaxy S IV.
Still, it’s quite a shock to see that Apple’s famous iWatch will be more of an accessory than a computing device. On the other hand, it should save quite a bit on production and R&D.
Perhaps Apple is managing expectations on purpose, as they did with Maps. Unfortunately, only time will tell.
Editors Notes: Pre-orders for the Apple iWatch begin today, April 1, and will end tonight at midnight, because this is clearly a joke.