14 DAY TRIAL // The much rumored smartwatch Apple is said to be developing secretly in its labs is finally coming to fruition, and will sport a plastic screen that doesn’t break when you bend it, according to a Korean newspaper.
Rumors about a “flexible” iWatch abound, so it wouldn’t be too surprising for this report to get shot down fast, but we’re conveying it for the purpose of discussion.
The Chosunlibo, a Korean newspaper with ties to the IT sector, reports that Apple is planning to deploy a flexible smartwatch featuring a plastic display that can resist bending.
“Apple has apparently decided to equip its smartwatch with a flexible display, industry sources said. They said the rumored ‘iWatch’ will be equipped with a plastic OLED monitor that can be bent.”
Three different models are being prototyped, with screen sizes ranging from 1.3 inches to 1.5 inches.
More interestingly, “A prototype of the 1.5-inch has already been made,” the paper’s source said.
It is currently unknown when the finalized device is scheduled to debut, but rumor has it that Apple is pushing for a release sometime in mid-2014, or towards the end of 2014 at the latest.
Apple this year has unveiled only two new iPhones and has yet to refresh the iPad line.
Things aren’t looking up on the tablet front, as the company is said to be delaying the iPad mini 2 Retina display refresh. An iPad 5 with a thinner and lighter body is said to be on schedule for release this fall.
Software-wise, Apple has launched iOS 7 to much fanfare, and has yet to deploy OS X Mavericks, the latest version of the company’s desktop operating system.
Various concepts try to depict the look and feel of the iWatch, including some which show the potential packaging in typical Apple style (pictured above).