New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Microsoft Shifts Smart Watch Prototype Testing to Surface Hardware Team

Monday July 15, 2013 10:03 am PDT by Juli Clover
Following last week's management shuffle at Microsoft, the company's Surface team has taken over testing its prototype smart watch, including variations with the same connector that Microsoft uses on its Surface tablets. According to The Verge, Microsoft's smart watch prototypes were previously tested by the Xbox accessories team.
The move to the Surface group underlines a recent organizational change at Microsoft that aligns Xbox hardware and Surface hardware into a single division, with former Windows chief Julie Larson-Green now responsible for all of Microsoft's hardware efforts.
msftsmartwatch
Microsoft Smart Watch Concept via Fortune.com

In addition to a potential Surface connector that could allow a smart watch to interface with existing Surface tablets, Microsoft is also said to be testing smart watches that have 1 1.5-inch display, a heart rate monitor, and are running a modified version of Windows 8.

As Microsoft experiments with its smart watch, it appears Apple is in the prototype stages as well. According to a report yesterday, Apple has begun "aggressively" hiring new employees to help with the smart watch, which is now expected to be released in late 2014. Apple's own smart watch is expected to run the full version of iOS and could include a heavy focus on biometrics and health related applications.

Along with Microsoft and Apple, both Google and Samsung are said to be working on smart watches of their own. At this point in time, it seems all companies are in the testing phases with no indication of which smart watch might hit the market first.

[ 135 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
bbeagle
80 months ago
According to Microsoft fans, a Microsoft watch won't be good unless it's a full computer and runs all Windows programs including Office.
:rolleyes:
Rating: 32 Votes
Avatar
Jack97
80 months ago
Honestly, if apple announced they were working on a magical iBrick these other companies would start developing one as well. :rolleyes:
Rating: 28 Votes
Avatar
LazyBrush
80 months ago
Reboot

So tell me again, how do you do a CTRL-ALT-DEL on one of these?
Rating: 17 Votes
Avatar
Popeye206
80 months ago


Need I say more?
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
blackhand1001
80 months ago
The live tiles of windows 8 actually are perfect for a watch. This should be interesting.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
samcraig
80 months ago

I hope everyone else releases their smart watches first, so apple can blow them out the water when the time comes :D


All relative. It's more about seamless integration. And if you're an iOS user - I'm guessing Apple will provide a superior product for iOS users. And conversely - if you're a MS user - then their smartwatch will offer better integration for their ecosystem.

According to Microsoft fans, a Microsoft watch won't be good unless it's a full computer and runs all Windows programs including Office.
:rolleyes:


A lot of people want iOS fully on their wrist. No different. Oh - I get it - this was a jab against Microsoft fans?

Honestly, if apple announced they were working on a magical iBrick these other companies would start developing one as well. :rolleyes:



A lot of companies have been working on smart watches - long before Apple "announced" they were working on one.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
Jack97
80 months ago
I hope everyone else releases their smart watches first, so apple can blow them out the water when the time comes :D
Rating: 7 Votes
Avatar
roadbloc
80 months ago
All this focus on damn watches. I couldn't care less about watches. I wish the tech industry would focus on something else.
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Konrad9
80 months ago

Honestly, if apple announced they were working on a magical iBrick these other companies would start developing one as well. :rolleyes:


You're not seriously trying to imply that Apple was the first company to ever consider a watch-like device that did more than tell time, are you?
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
0098386
80 months ago

Honestly, if apple announced they were working on a magical iBrick these other companies would start developing one as well. :rolleyes:


You mean how since Pebble was announced and blitzed through Kickstarter that other tech companies want a slice of this pie too?
Rating: 5 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]