14 DAY TRIAL // Luxshare, a Chinese company that specializes in wireless charging solutions, has reportedly sent “charging coils” to Apple for certification. If the hardware gets a clean bill of health, Apple will be using these coils in the upcoming iWatch, according to Chinese media.
According to xueqiu.com, Luxshare wants to be Apple’s partner in crime to give the elusive iWatch wireless charging capabilities. The feature has long been rumored to be a part of the wearable computer.
Company insiders reportedly said that Luxshare had sent over to Apple a few test units for certification. The Cupertino giant has stringent requirements, but if the wireless charging coils prove worthy for use, then Apple will be equipping future iWatches with them.
That’s not to say Luxshare will be the only supplier of wireless charging solutions for Apple’s iWatch. The California computer titan usually enrolls the help of multiple suppliers on every front (i.e. for every major component, such as displays, sensors, cases, and even assembly), so expect this rumor to take on a bigger form if other suppliers pitch in with their own solutions.
In related news, the tantalizing iWatch is said to look a lot like a normal watch, in that it has a round face. That’s according to Brian Blair of Rosenblatt Securities, who just got back from a trip to Taiwan, where many of Apple’s suppliers are located. These suppliers led Blair to believe that the iWatch will look very much like an upcoming device from Motorola. Many had been hoping Apple would give its own smartwatch a futuristic design.
Rumor also has it that the iWatch may not be ready for unveiling this year. Although Apple prides itself on keeping a tight lid over its plans, the company has failed to stop leaks in recent years. There is certainly an abundance of iWatch rumors to go around, but no hardware leaks whatsoever.
Nevertheless, analysts like KGI Securities’ Ming-Chi Kuo expect the device to materialize this fall, alongside other flagship products, like the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and the revamped Apple TV.
The first event to be held by the fruity company will be the Worldwide Developers Conference, an annual affair that gathers coders from all corners of the world and focuses on the latest achievements in software. This year’s showcase will highlight iOS 8 and OS X 10.10, but some analysts say there will be a couple of hardware announcements as well.