The Apple rumors just keep flying in the face of one another. Less than a month after a well-known Apple blogger dropped an off-hand comment about Apple's "wrist wearable thing" and then backtracking on that statement saying he was "just kidding," a new report now confirms that Apple really is getting ready to introduce the iWatch.
Apple fans are looking out for September 9, when Cupertino is rumored to launch the next iteration of its flagship product. Along with the iPhone, Apple will also reportedly debut its very own wearable device, which has been dubbed the iWatch by fans and onlookers. Re/code reports, knocking blogger John Gruber for his "joke," that Apple is busy getting ready for its unannounced media event next month, where it will unveil the iPhone 6 and its wearable device.
Sources tell Re/code's John Paczkowski that the new device will incorporate Apple's HealthKit fitness platform, which the company debuted earlier this year at its Worldwide Developer Conference. It will also have HomeKit, Apple's home automation platform to help developers create smart home apps that can be integrated in iOS. Both HealthKit and HomeKit are compatible with iOS 8, which is said to be available later this fall.
The introduction of the iWatch, if that is what Apple will name its wearable device, has been the subject of rumors for years. Apple experts and analysts have been expecting its arrival this year, and speculations were further fueled by anonymous sources from Apple's lower rank of employees speaking of the project. Nothing, however, has come out from the top, but Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue, who oversees the company's Internet, software and services division came out during Re/code's Code Conference in May saying Apple has the "best product pipeline that I've seen in my 25 years at Apple."
As usual, Apple declined to comment, leaving its loyal followers even more eager to finally get to the September 9 event. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak did say, however, that if Apple releases a wearable device, it will take over the wearable market saturated by good-but-not-revolutionary hardware from household names such as Samsung, LG and Motorola and exceptional products from not-so-well-known startups such as Pebble and Basis Science.
"Apple works very hard to produce exceptionally great products and doesn't quickly release things like a wearable," says Wozniak in an email. "So if one is introduced I expect it to have a chance to set the direction and make the product category finally viable."
