Apple rumoured to have wrist device in the works
Team of 100 designers developing ‘iwatch’ computer, sources say
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple Inc. has a team of about 100 product designers working on a wristwatch-like device that might perform some of the tasks now handled by the iPhone and iPad, sources say.
The team, which has grown in the past year, includes managers, members of the marketing group, and software and hardware engineers who previously worked on the iPhone and iPad, said the two sources, who asked not to be named. The team’s size suggests Apple is beyond the experimentation phase in its development, the sources said.
Chief executive officer Tim Cook is facing pressure from shareholders who have seen the stock slump more than 30 per cent since a September high amid slowing sales growth and competition from rivals such as Samsung. Without a revolutionary new gadget that commands a higher price, investors are concerned about falling margins and increased competition.
“The iWatch will fill a gaping hole in the Apple ecosystem,” Bruce Tognazzini, a technology consultant and former Apple employee, wrote in a blog post last week. “Like other breakthrough Apple products, its value will be underestimated at launch, then grow to have a profound impact on our lives and Apple’s fortunes.”
Natalie Kerris, a spokeswoman for Apple, declined to comment on Tuesday. Previously, The New York Times reported Apple was working on a watch-like device.
Apple’s James Foster, senior director of engineering, and Achim Pantfoerder, another manager, are part of the efforts to introduce a wristwatch-style computer, according to the sources. Apple has worked on wearable devices for tracking fitness in the past and never brought them to market, one of the sources said.
Creating a watch involves unique challenges, particularly managing power demands so that the battery doesn’t need to be recharged every day. Google has been working on eyeglass-embedded computers and plans to introduce them in 2014.