Apple iWatch: less smartwatch, more fitness band

The Apple iWatch won’t reach its full potential without an iDevice to pair it to, though it’ll probably tell the time just fine.

The latest whispers courtesy of MobiHealthNews’ sources point to a wrist-hugging Apple device that will depend heavily on a connected iPhone or iPad to reach its full potential.

That means no in-built Wi-Fi or Nano SIM for browsing or making calls from your wrist. Instead, the iWatch is expected to connect to an iDevice via energy-friendly Bluetooth 4.0, after which it’ll be able to serve up notifications, control music and initiate calls.

It’s also not expected to launch with previously rumoured extravagant blood sugar and hydration sensors, though fitness tracking is still expected to make up a large chunk of its features.

We’ve already seen plenty of informations pointing to Apple’s upcoming Healthbook app (which will arrive baked into iOS 8), and it’ll reportedly track steps, exercise sleep and diet.

Gadgeteers hoping for a wrist-mounted iPhone look set to be disappointed then, but releasing the iWatch as an accessory as opposed to a primary standalone device will ensure that it’s battery life will be measured in days not hours.

READ MORE: Apple iWatch prices, release date and specs – all we think we know

[MobiHealthNews via Tech Radar, main image: Martin Hajek]

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.