An actual device may still be months away (or longer), but as far as developers are concerned, it's already "iTime."
Recent news that Apple had secured a wide-ranging patent for various features that may be included in a smart watch spurred a slew of comments on social media by app makers. The firm's intellectual property for a possible 'iWatch" included a design that would build circuitry into the strap and gesture controls based on a user's arm movements, among other things.
Even with no firmly announced product roadmap for an iWatch, developers sounded excited about the possibilities.
Something is brewing over at Apple... #wearabletech @mashable http://t.co/5KIcVY7JzN
— Yellow Bear Studios (@WeBeYellowBear) July 24, 2014
Nice patents! 'iTime' might be the official iWatch: http://t.co/MinlJta54J
— Cliff Huizenga (@Cliffpro) July 22, 2014
Given that others in the smartphone space have already created wearable computers that can be strapped to the wrist, there were also a few developers who thought Apple was taking a little long to get into the game.
The iTime is a long time coming...http://t.co/ZBc3EWsIDH via .@appleinsider #wearable #tech #ios pic.twitter.com/g5wQ6pm1FY
— Verisage (@Verisage) July 23, 2014
Even if the iWatch turns out to be a late arrival on the smart watch scene, some developers pointed out that Apple's design could have some unique advantages.
Apple gets a comprehensive iWatch patent. Sounds like its the first model to put sensors in the band - http://t.co/yZ3Jgi6VY0
— John Swords (@swords) July 23, 2014
And though it will probably be a long time before Apple informs them of whether a smart watch will be a hardware platform they can build upon, this was one case where a patent proved to be a powerful piece of developer relations:
Apple never seems to stop creating =0 ...And we love them because of it. ;) #apple #itime #news #technology http://t.co/MW5i1iw0N5
— Monster Labs (@_Monster_Labs_) July 23, 2014