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YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS.Two months after the initial launch of the Apple Watch, Apple plans to produce smartwatches with FaceTime camera.The Apple Watch 2 is planned to gain a video camera, a new wireless system for greater iPhone independence, and new premium-priced models. Interestingly, it will also feature similar battery life to its predecessor. Apple’scurrent considerationscall for a video camera to be integrated into the top bezel of the Apple Watch 2, enablingusers to make and receive FaceTime calls on the move via their wrists. The companytelegraphed its interest in increasing Apple WatchFaceTime functionality during the rollout ofwatchOS 2.0 at the Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month.
As Armenpress was informed by “9to5mac,”for the first time, the new software allows users to answer FaceTime Audio calls from the Apple Watch, as well as routeFaceTime video calls to either be answered on an iPhone or rejected. Of course, plans can change and it is possible that the camera could be pushed back to a later model.Under an initiative internallycalled“tether-less,” Apple plans for the second-generation Watch to have more functionality when used independently from an iPhone. Currently, the Apple Watch’s activity tracking, mobile payment, and music playback functionality work substantially without a connected iPhone, but many other features that could normally function solely under a Wi-Fi connection do not function completely, includingtext messaging, emailing, and receiving updated weather data.
In order to make the next-generation Apple Watch more capable without a connected iPhone, Apple intends tointegratea new and more dynamic wireless chipset into the wearable. Although the Apple Watch 2will likely continue to require an iPhone forheavy data transfers, including software upgrades and the synchronization of media files, basic communication tasks could be handled without iPhone assistance. The new Wi-Fi chip willalso enabletheFind my Watch feature we reported on earlier this year, as Apple will be able to trackApple Watches usingWi-Fi router triangulation technology instead of GPS. While Apple and consumers were both concerned about the Apple Watch’s real-world battery life prior to the product’s April release, Apple has conductedmarket research since then, and has concluded that the majority of currentcustomers are satisfied with charging their Apple Watches nightly. According to asource, Apple’s research indicates that average consumers finish each day with between 30% and 40% charge remaining on their Apple Watches, enabling thecompany’s engineersto change theirhardware priorities for future Apple Watch models.
While Apple might otherwisehave considered focusing on majorbattery life improvements for the next Apple Watch, it now believes that it can satisfy customers by keeping, or slightly improving, the existing battery life while adding more advanced hardwarefeatures. Indeed,Apple’s addition of a Nightstand charging mode to the Apple Watch(rather than, say, sleep tracking) implies that the nightly charging requirement will not be going away in the near term.This strategy would follow Apple’s annual iPad hardwarestrategy, which has brought new features to the product annually without shifting away from the 2010 promise of 10 hour battery life. Apple is currently exploringa widerportfolio of Apple Watch models beyond today’s Sport, Steel, and Edition tiers. Interestingly, the company issaid to be focusing on introducingnew models that will sit between the highest-end stainless steel Apple Watch and the entry-level 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition. The company is looking at ways to attract customers atprice points between $1,000 and $10,000, but it is unclear if this will result in lower-priced gold Apple Watch variations, higher-priced steel models with more advanced bands, or versions with new materials. It is possible that Apple could introduce Apple Watch 2 variations made withtitanium,tungsten,palladium, or ashas been previously suggested, platinum.
While minor hardware upgrades for this holiday season have beenhinted at in analyst reportsover the past several months, it is most likely that Applewill wait until 2016 torelease a full next-generation Apple Watch device. Sources did warn that Apple prototypes several variations of future hardware products before release, so the plans for a camera-equipped model could ultimately be saved for another generation either due to roadmap changes or component availability. To hold off Apple Watch customers until a new model,Apple will release watch OS 2.0 this fall with new Nightstand functionality, a trio of new watch faces, improved email functionality, and new “Digital Touch” messaging features.