Apple is assembling a team of hardware and software engineers, medical sensor, manufacturing, and fitness experts hinting that it is building a fitness-oriented, sensor-laden wearable smartwatch, according to sources.
The iWatch would likely connect and interact with iOS devices.
Cook, also a Nike Director, is known to wear the fitness-focused Fuel Band and is fond of the product. “I think Nike did a really great job with this,” he said at AllThingsD’s D11 conference. “The [wearables] that do more than one thing… aren’t great,” he added.
But the reason for hiring outside talent instead of already available inhouse talent is that the iWatch reportedly poses "hard engineering problems," which Apple is now trying to solve. There are now 100 engineers on board dedicated to the device's development.
Earlier this month, Apple hired Paul Deneve, the outgoing chief executive of fashion house Yves Saint Laurent as his experience in fashion and luxury goods will be potentially useful for the Company.
Apple has brought together a team of both lesser-known and high-profile workers to bring Apple’s “iWatch” to reality. The team works in secrecy in buildings separate from Apple’s main 1 Infinite Loop headquarters.
Reportedly leading the project with Mansfield are Apple VP Kevin Lynch and senior hardware director James Foster according to Cult of Mac. Lynch’s side of the team is focused on software, and Foster’s group is developing the hardware for the device.
Other Apple teams, such as Dan Riccio’s Hardware Engineering group, Jony Ive’s Industrial Design team, and Craig Federighi’s software developers, are also likely working closely to develop the user-facing hardware and software.
People from Apple’s Authentec acquisition are also involved with the “iWatch” project.
For chips, Apple has tapped members of Bob Mansfield’s semiconductor team, but it has also hired employees from chip design firms such as Infineon and XMOS.
In addition, the company has also hired experts in relevant sensor and medical fields.
The sensors in the watch would give users a snapshot of their health, which would be ideal for fitness applications.
Based on comments from Tim Cook, the iWatch reportedly will pack a 1.5-inch screen and will run a full version of iOS and is expected to launch sometime next year along side a range of thinner iPads, more capable and lower-cost iPhones, and new Macs.
Talking about Google Glass, Cook had said in the past. “I wear glasses because I have to.” “The wrist is interesting.”
Google, LG and Samsung are also rumored to be building a smartwatch, while Sony has already released a second iteration of its Android-powered smartwatch.