When it comes to the latest technology trends, everyone wants a piece of the pie. Since wearable tech seems to be the new hot thing, companies are jumping on the bandwagon while they still can. Motorola initially dominated the smartwatch trends with its poster-child Moto 360, but other companies also provided their own versions of wrist-based mobile devices: LG with the LG G, Samsung with the latest Gear 2, and of course Apple with the iWatch, due for an announcement this week at WWDC 2014.
But we can’t have proper competition without Microsoft stepping in, right? Well, the company definitely has a smartwatch in the oven, cooking up nicely, according to a report by Forbes. Microsoft certainly has a few things up its sleeve. First, it will make use of its Kinect technology to provide its smartwatch with Heartbeat Sensor technology that is said to be miles ahead of the competition. Another important aspect of the Microsoft Smartwatch (its name remains unknown at this point) is the fact that it’s not limited to any OS or platform. This wrist-based wearable will be designed to assist health enthusiasts and help users achieve a healthy, balanced life-style. Microsoft is not limiting itself my limiting the smartwatch for Windows Mobile. It will be compatible with Android-based smartwatches, and with the latest versions of iOS. The iPhone 5S will in fact support the Microsoft smartwatch, and this take on business is likely to give Microsoft a competitive edge.
The Motorola Moto 360, one of the best looking smartwatches we’ve seen to date, and the posterchild for the technology. Will Microsoft provide an equally attractive smartwatch?
Many people are skeptical when it comes to yet another market Microsoft is entering. Currently, the company is facing stiff competition in the console segment from Sony’s PS4. The tablet market isn’t friendly to Microsoft either, with the Surface Pro line being overwhelmed by products such as the Apple iPad Air or the Samsung Galaxy Tab line-up. Thus, people are justified in wondering just how successful this endeavor will be for Microsoft, but if the company manages to provide a smartwatch that works with any modern smartphone, they’ll certainly have a head start. Add to that the obvious potential hidden within the Kinect technology (which is far from being refined to its fullest), and we have a solid base for wearable tech that can appeal to many.
When we’ll be seeing the Microsoft SmarWatch is unknown at this point. It’s highly unlikely the company would be releasing the wearable device this year, but Q1 2015 is a reasonable estimation. We’ll have to wait awhile longer to see the device in action, but rest assured, it’s coming.