Friday Apple Rumors: iWatch to Feature Optoelectronic Sensors

by Christopher Freeburn | February 14, 2014 12:53 pm

[1]Here are your Apple rumors[2] and AAPL news items for today:

Wrist-Check: A report out of Asia suggests that Apple’s (AAPL[3]) much-anticipated iWatch will come with advanced health-monitoring features[4], AppleInsider notes. A Chinese technology analyst says that Apple will incorporate optoelectronic sensors in the iWatch, which will allow the device to track a user’s heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Apple had planned to use the sensors to monitor blood glucose levels, but abandoned those plans after finding that the sensors did not produce accurate enough results for that purpose. Optoelectronic sensors analyze the color and intensity of light from LEDs that is reflected by skin. Similar sensors are used to track pulse rates and blood oxygen levels in mainstream medical devices. Apple has recently hired a number of health-oriented experts, presumably to work on the iWatch team, stoking speculation that the smartwatch will include and array of health-tracking features. Reports suggest that Apple now has more than 200 employees working on the iWatch, which is widely expected to launch later this year.

Dominance: During the fourth calendar quarter of last year, Apple accounted for a stunning 87.4% of all mobile phone-m[5]aker earnings before i[6]nterest and taxes[7], Investors.com notes. The data comes from a Raymond James analyst who says that rival Samsung generated just 32.2% of smartphone industry profits. The combined profits of Apple and Samsung exceed 100% of handset-maker earnings because so many competing vendors posted losses during the quarter. During the same period last year, Apple comprised 77.8% of industry profits, compared to 26.1% for Samsung. In his note, the analyst said, “The mobile device market continues to look like an Apple and Samsung market in the developed world, with Chinese-based vendors continuing to take share in emerging markets.”

No Go: Talks between Apple and Samsung over a possible deal to resolve patent infringement litigation between the two tech giants[8] have failed, sources tell ZDNet Korea. Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook met with Samsung mobile head JK Shin. The meeting was ordered by a California court currently hearing a seemingly-unending stream of motions in the ongoing patent case. Samsung declined to confirm the meeting to ZDNet Korea. In 2012, a California jury found that Samsung had infringed on Apple patents and awarded Apple $1 billion in damages. That was reduced to $600 million, but last year a second jury awarded Apple an additional $290 million in damages.

For more about the company, check out our previous Apple Rumors[9] stories.

Source URL: https://investorplace.com/2014/02/friday-apple-rumors-iwatch-feature-optoelectronic-sensors/

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