“The only concrete wearable news from [Apple’s WWDC] conference was the unveiling of watchOS 3 – the updated smartwatch platform that will hit devices in the fall,” Paul Lamkin reports for Forbes. “However, that hasn’t stopped the Apple Watch 2 rumour mill from spinning, with fuel being added to the fire by way of some interesting new patents that have turned up.”
“In particular, a patent that details the potential use of camera(s) in future Apple Watch models. ‘The camera can be disposed on the front surface of Apple Watch face to capture images of the user,’ reads the patent uncovered by Patently Apple,” Lamkin reports. “The original Apple Watch lacked the lenses required to take snaps or do FaceTime video calling.”
“Patents suggest that the Crown could be touch-sensitive using capacitive touch technologies that can received pressurized inputs, while at the same time move in one or more directions to offer multiple gesture-based control methods,” Lamkin reports. “The patent also reveals that two more buttons, also with capacitive skills, could hit the left hand side of the bezel.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: How cool would it be if our first gen. Apple Watches are the only ones with these types of mechanical inputs (Digital Crown) and button setup? They’d be unique like the first generations of iPod.
As for a camera on the wrist, bring it on! It’d be cool and useful if the camera could be secured geofenced off for enterprise and government use.
SEE ALSO:
Why Apple should NOT add a camera to Apple Watch 2 – June 22, 2015
Apple Watch 2 to feature FaceTime camera, iPhone-free Wi-Fi, premium-priced $1000+ models, sources say – June 18, 2015
Apple Watch 2 to look like original on the outside – April 12, 2016