14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is working on its very own smartwatch that could compete with similar devices from Apple and Samsung, but the company hasn’t obviously shared too many details on this, aside from a few teasers that more or less confirmed such a project.
Sources close to the matter indicated that Microsoft’s smartwatch could come with cross-platform compatibility, meaning that it would work not only with Windows devices, but also with Androids and iOS-powered products, such as iPhones.
Now a concept created by designer Nadir Aslam comes to help us imagine what the new smartwatch could actually look like, although it’s pretty hard to imagine that Microsoft would actually use any design cues from this concept for the final product.
The concept you’re seeing here is using the design of a classic watch for a modern device that runs Windows and provides support for apps, such as weather, messaging and notifications to stay up to date with your appointments.
At the same time, the designer says that it would be helpful for the wearer to be able to access apps that usually run on Windows, such as Xbox Music, Nokia HERE maps, and possibly Skype.
“After all the leaks and rumours about Microsoft working on a smartwatch I wanted to show how a Microsoft Windows for Wearable OS could look like. I tried to keep the most important parts of the Windows design language: The focus on fonts (Segoe WP), eye-catching colours and movement and reduced that interface to the most important things,” the designer explained.
Getting weather forecasts could follow the same approach as in Windows 8 and change the entire smartwatch background with a wallpaper that illustrates the current forecast.
“No matter if it’s sunny or cloudy, within a glance on the weather live tile you always know if you can take out the shorts or if you need an umbrella. And if you want to have a deeper look at the forecast, just open the weather app and see what the weather brings to you,” the designer added.
Navigation would also come in handy because directions and instructions would be provided right on the screen with the help of Nokia HERE maps integration. “To get speech instructions, just enable the voice commands and the phone in your pocket will work as a speaker,” the concept explains.
The whole photo gallery showing more pictures of this concept is available after the jump, but keep in mind that this is just an interpretation of a possible Microsoft project and no one can guarantee that the smartwatch, if it ever hits the shelves, would look like this.
