“iWatch” expected to launch this year with full version of iOS

Apple's so-called "iWatch" may launch as soon as this year and is expected to run a full version of iOS. The timing details were first reported by Bloomberg, who cited sources saying Apple designer Jony Ive has had a longtime interest in watches. The Verge then corroborated Bloomberg's report, adding that its own sources said a full version of iOS is a possibility, but battery life challenges continued to plague the design team.

According to The Verge's sources, Ive is personally leading the iWatch team with roughly 100 engineers—a number previously reported by Bloomberg. "Interestingly, we're also told that Apple's chosen to rework the full iOS to run on the watch instead of building up the iPod nano's proprietary touch operating system—although the previous nano was already watch-sized and seemed like a great starting point for a wrist-sized device, Apple's betting on iOS across product lines," wrote the Verge's Nilay Patel.

But this has apparently caused issues during development, with the watch's battery life only lasting a couple of days. The team would rather the device last for 4-5 days before a recharge, meaning there's still some work left to be done before the design can be finalized. According to Bloomberg, it won't just be an iOS-running watch, either. The device will apparently compete with products like the Nike FuelBand and fitbit by housing its own pedometer (like the iPod nano) and other sensors for health data—these additions make sense and indicate that Apple is trying to offer a more general lifestyle solution than just something that tells time.

Reports that Apple was putting real resources behind an iWatch surfaced last month and have been snowballing ever since. In fact, Bloomberg's report from last month claimed this was only one of several wearable experiments at Apple. What the device will ultimately look like is anyone's guess, although a recently published patent application described a slap-bracelet-like functionality, one of no doubt many options being considered by Jony Ive and team.

Further reading:

• What the rumored Apple iWatch might look like, inside and out