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Microsoft prepping ‘translucent aluminum’ smartwatch, sources say

“Microsoft’s prototype smartwatch testing has moved over to its Surface team,” Tom Warren reports for The Verge.

“Sources familiar with Microsoft’s Surface plans have revealed to The Verge that the company is now prototyping devices directly under the Surface team as the firm moves its wrist-worn device closer to reality,” Warren reports. “Previously, Microsoft had been testing variations of a smartwatch designed and prototyped by the Xbox accessories team, with the original plan of a ‘Joule’ heart rate monitor.”

Warren reports, “AmongTech recently reported that smartwatch prototypes include a variety of removable wrist bands in blue, red, yellow, black, white, and grey colors. We’re told that this is accurate, and that Microsoft’s smartwatch plans center around the idea of removable bands. AmongTech also claims that prototypes are housed in Oxynitride Aluminum, an expensive ‘translucent aluminum’ that is said to be three times harder than glass.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: “Transparent aluminum” will be their big selling point (think Vapor Mg) – because they don’t have the rights to Liquidmetal.

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