With Samsung set to unveil its first generation of “SmartWatch,” the Galaxy Gear, next month, more rumors this week indicate that Apple may not have a response on the market for at least a year. The long-speculated Apple “iWatch” may not land until late 2014, and will be marketed as an iPod replacement or alternative, according to supply chain sources speaking with DigiTimes Tuesday.
Taiwanese ODM Inventec has reportedly secured a contract for the bulk of Apple’s future orders for the iWatch, producing 60 percent of the expected units, while The Economic Times reports that Quanta Computer will take the remaining 40 percent. Both firms have previous relationships with Apple, with Inventec primarily supplying MacBooks and Quanta notably supplying new iMac models.
Analysts at financial firm CIMB Group expect the eventual iWatch to be priced between $149 and $229, and that “consumers will purchase the device mainly to replace their iPods.” If true, this indicates that the iWatch may have substantial standalone functionality in addition to anticipated tie-ins with the company’s smartphones and tablets. This may also make the device more popular, as potential buyers won’t have to necessarily own an iOS device in order to use its core features. As a result, analysts expect Apple to sell 63.4 million units in the first two quarters of availability.
Such a claim also draws inevitable reminders to Apple’s sixth generation iPod nano. The small square device, introduced in September 2010, was popularly used with a wrist-strap case and worn as a watch replacement. While the sixth generation iPod nano may eventually be considered the spiritual predecessor of the iWatch, Apple’s patent filings and recent hirings indicate that any future product will offer far more functionality and integration with iOS devices.
Despite drawing industry attention and comparisons to speculated iWatch capabilities, little is known about the product that Samsung will unveil next month, although statements from company executives suggest that the Galaxy Gear will offer limited functionality with a “non-flexible” display and that it will be marketed primarily to “young trend setters.” Samsung will unveil the product on September 4th in Berlin, ahead of the country’s annual IFA consumer electronics expo.