Apple Reportedly Testing 1.5-Inch OLED Displays for Smart Watch

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hex_vision_ipod_nano_watchJapanese blog Mac Otakara points to a pair of reports in today's edition of Taiwanese newspaper Economic Times addressing rumors surrounding Apple's smart watch effort. According to the first report [Google translation], Apple has begun sampling 1.5-inch OLED displays from RITEK subsidiary RiTdisplay.

The report also claims that RITEK's joint venture RitFast will be supplying the touch sensor technology for the watch.

Today's report echoes a December claim about Apple's plans for RiTdisplay's 1.5-inch displays and word that Intel is involved in Apple's effort, but includes a detail indicating that Apple had originally hoped to use a 1.8-inch display in the smart watch. That display, however, proved to be too large and the company shifted to the smaller 1.5-inch display size.

The second report [Google translation] offers an overview of the smart watch industry, with "market rumors" indicating that Foxconn has already received orders for Apple's smart watch. But with order volumes said to be around 1,000 units, the production run would clearly be a small-scale trial.

Rumors of an Apple smart watch ramped up in the months following that December report about Apple and Intel working together, with The New York Times later reporting that Apple was "experimenting" with curved glass smart watch designs and Bloomberg following up to claim that Apple has 100 product designers working on the project.

"iWatch" rumors peaked in February and March of this year amid claims that the device could launch "as soon as this year", but things have been relatively quiet for the past several months.

(Photo: HEX Vision Metal Watchband for iPod nano (6th Gen.))

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Top Rated Comments

Frankied22 Avatar
Frankied22
107 months ago
We don't even know what it will look like so how can people say they won't wear it or it looks too big lol
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BaldiMac Avatar
BaldiMac
107 months ago
I agree with all of these. A watch is a fashion statement, and all of these "smart" watches are hideous...plus I don't really know what value it would add to productivity.

Step 1: Assume "iWatch" will be hideous and useless.
Step 2: Dismiss "iWatch" because it will be hideous and useless.

:D
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SkippyThorson Avatar
SkippyThorson
107 months ago
I'd be game for one of these things, for sure. :) The iPod-Nano-As-A-Watch idea is pretty cool, but if this device syncs via Bluetooth to elegantly display alerts from your iPhone, I'd be all in.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Santabean2000 Avatar
Santabean2000
107 months ago
I can't see these being successful beyond the "geek" community. I would never wear one.

It's too bad they're looking at something so big. A watch that big isn't going to appeal to everyone so it'd be nice to see another size.

What is it expected to actually do? Just be the old Nano with a wrist strap? Too small to surf the net. Not a phone. Too small for real apps. Wouldn't want to run headphone speakers from my wrist.

I don't get it. And as my sig points out, I'm usually in for any new Apple gadget. I can't think of an Apple Gadget I've skipped since Newton, but this seems pointless.

I agree with all of these. A watch is a fashion statement, and all of these "smart" watches are hideous...plus I don't really know what value it would add to productivity.

My god, these things are ugly, imho. I think I'd have to kick my own a$$ if I ever caught myself wearing one. Might as well get a calculator watch from the 80's while you're at it. I've bought heavily into the iPhones, iPads and iPods, but sorry, but I'll pass this time, Apple. But if other people like are interested in them, then all the more power to them. I'm sure people will buy them, and a lot of people will like them. To each their own. Just not for me.

These watches better be cheap. Like around 100 dollars cheap. Watches are fashion statements. There is no chance in hell I would switch out my nicer watches for some digital watch that tells me I have a text message.

This line of conversation sounds familiar... iPhone, iPad anyone?

Lets reload this thread in a year or two, when you all own one of these (yet to be released) puppies. And you'll pay a pretty penny for one two.


My money says gangbusters!
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mad Mac Maniac Avatar
Mad Mac Maniac
107 months ago

"iWatch" rumors peaked in February and March of this year amid claims that the device could launch "as soon as this year" (https://www.macrumors.com/2013/03/04/apples-iwatch-planned-to-launch-as-soon-as-this-year-could-include-biosensors-and-mapping-features/), but things have been relatively quiet for the past several months.

March and Feb are only 2-3 months ago... How have things been quiet for "several months"?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AppleMark Avatar
AppleMark
107 months ago
I can't see these being successful beyond the "geek" community. I would never wear one.

Careful now...

I said the same thing years ago about electronic organisers.

Many iPhones & iPads later, I have a different opinion... ;)
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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