The lack of a USB connection sparked some questions after the reveal

Mar 20, 2014 10:48 GMT  ·  By

Yesterday we brought you whatever information could be scrounged up about the Moto 360 smartwatch from Motorola, and today we have a certain curiosity to explore, in regard to just how the device is expected to power itself.

Motorola seems to love its secrets, because it has decided to keep under wraps pretty much every detail about the smartwatch that cannot be deduced from the photos.

Obviously, the company wanted to enchant the world with the unique, circular display, but didn't mean for the rest of the hardware to be disclosed.

And so it is. No leaks exist, and there isn't much of a foundation for speculation either, in regard to what the watch has on the inside.

But even the lack of information can be useful. Or, in this case, the distinct lack of evidence that an essential technology is present: Universal Serial Bus.

Apparently, there is no USB technology. Not a micro-USB port in the side, and not a USB port on the end of the strap.

So how, exactly, does the watch recharge? The short answer is: no one knows. Motorola intends to sit on this enigma for a while.

Solar charging could be an option. The black material that the watch, strap and all, is made from would fit the concept.

Motorola also chose a segmented belt of an unknown material, instead of rubber or leather, so there is visual evidence to support the possibility, flimsy as it is.

Another possibility is wireless charging, but it's even more remote, because that's not exactly an essential or affordable feature for wearable gadgets.

Kinetic energy could be the answer. The watch would recover energy from your every move. Some normal wrist watches have it after all. If so, we have to wonder where Motorola shoved all the parts. The Moto 360 isn't all that bulky after all.

One thing is sure though: since USB would not be actually required for more than recharging (Bluetooth/Wi-Fi handle the file transfer after all), its absence suggests that the Motorola Moto 360 doesn't need to be recharged often. Maybe it can last for months, or weeks at least. If so, the company might be able to pull off a sale even if the item has interchangeable batteries. It's unlikely that the design involves them though.

Motorola Moto 360 hasn't been given an ETA, but we assume it's of around a month or two, maybe mid-2014.