More details have emerged regarding the possibility of a Microsoft smartwatch, which came to light earlier this week.
Reports from the Wall Street Journal on Monday claimed that Redmond was working on a touch-enabled 1.5-inch wearable smart device to work alongside Windows Phone handsets and Windows RT tablets and perhaps other mobile devices.
Those reports have today been corroborated by The Verge, which says the software giant has been working on a rival to rumoured watches from Apple, Google and Samsung, for over a year.
What’s more surprising is that, according to The Verge, the project is being handled by members of Microsoft Xbox team.
The report claims that the Microsoft smartwatch started life as a heart rate monitor for the Xbox – presumably to aid Kinect fitness games – called ‘Jouee’
The project has now, apparently, been rejigged into a full on smartwatch with the Xbox accessory and Kinect teams taking the lead on the device.
Prototypes are already in existence, according to The Verge, with Microsoft employing a Surface-like magnetic connector during the testing process.
Earlier this week, the WSJ claimed Microsoft was working on on designs with manufacturing partners in Asia.
It wouldn’t be the first time Microsoft had tried its hand at building a smartphone. From 2004-2008 it sold a SPOT watch that brought news, weather and other information to the watch via radio signals.
Could a Microsoft watch challenge reported offerings from Apple, Samsung and Google? Let us know in the comments section below.
Via The Verge
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
