 "Apple working on 'curved glass' smart watch with iOS: report")
Apple Inc is experimenting with the design of a device similar to a wristwatch that would operate on the same platform as the iPhone and would be made with curved glass, the New York Times reported on Sunday.
The article cited unnamed sources “familiar with the company’s explorations”.
The report also quotes, Pete Bocko, the chief technology officer for Corning Glass Technologies, the company that has created Willow Glass which can bend as easily as a piece of paper in the wind without breaking.
It quotes, Mr Bocko as saying about this glass, “You can certainly make it wrap around a cylindrical object and that could be someone’s wrist. Right now, if I tried to make something that looked like a watch, that could be done using this flexible glass.”
The watch-like product that could be used to make mobile payments is currently in the experimental stage and would operate on Apple’s iOS platform, which is the foundation of its iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch consumer devices, the Times said.
An Apple spokesperson did not immediately return a call for comment.
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The Apple logo is seen in this file photo. AP[/caption]
The Wall Street Journal separately reported that one person briefed on the effort said Apple discussed such a device with its major manufacturing partner Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, also known as Foxconn, which has been working on some technologies that could be used in wearable devices.
The Taiwan-based company has been working toward making more power-efficient displays and its technologies are aimed at multiple Foxconn customers, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing the same person.
Previously it was reported by Chinese blog Tech163.com , that Apple was working with Intel to launch a Bluetooth-enabled smart watch with iOS on it. The post quotes supply chain sources.
The report had said_,Intel has designed for Apple, a bluetooth smart watch, this product is RiTdisplay with a 1.5-inch OLED screen._
With inputs from Reuters