Friday Apple Rumors: Apple Seeking FDA Approval for iWatch Sensors

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Here are your Apple rumors and AAPL news items for today:

daily apple rumors AAPLTick-Tock: A flurry of new reports are feeding the rumor mill about Apple’s (AAPL) much-anticipated entry into the smartwatch market. A Chinese media outlet claims that iWatch development is completed, but that production has not yet commenced because Apple is awaiting certification of the device by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, GforGames notes. Apple reportedly wants to have the device certified as medical equipment. Previous rumors suggested that Apple met with FDA officials months ago to discuss its HealthKit app and possibly the iWatch. The FDA approval process for medical devices can take some time. The report indicates that the iWatch will feature an array of health-tracking sensors, monitoring blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose — in line with prior reports. However, the new report also says the iWatch will include a sensor that can analyze sweat. Meanwhile, a report in the Wall Street Journal says that Apple has packed more than 10 sensors into the iWatch and plans to launch the device as early as October. A source tells the Journal that Apple wants to make sure the iWatch has “functions significantly different from that of an smartphone.” The iWatch, to be produced by Quanta Computer, will reportedly come in multiple screen sizes and is expected to sell between 10 million and 15 million units this year. Finally, Reuters says that iWatch mass production will begin in July. A source informs Reuters that the iWatch will feature a “slightly rectangular” 2.5-inch screen and wireless charging.

Adjustable: Apple is expanding the range of camera settings that users can manually change in its upcoming iOS 8, AnandTech notes. Third party camera app developers will be able to expand controls to include shutter speed, focus, ISO, white balance, EV bracketing, shutter speed/ISO bracketing and exposure bias settings. While only the exposure bias controls will make it into the stock camera application, all of these new controls exposed through the AVCaptureDevice APIs will enable camera applications similar to Nokia’s Pro Camera or HTC’s Sense 6 camera application,” AnandTech says. A number of recent rumors indicate that Apple is working to enhance the camera on its next-generation iPhones, which are widely expected to launch in September along with iOS 8.

Warning: Cheap, third-party cables and chargers that aren’t certified by Apple may damage your iPhone 5, iMore notes. British repair firm mendmyi reports that it is seeing a surge in iPhone 5 units that refuse to charge past 1% once their battery is drained. The company has traced the problem to damage caused to the U2 IC chip inside the iPhone 5 by uncertified chargers and cables that don’t properly regulate voltage and current. The company says that charging the iPhone 5 from an automobile cigarette lighter can also cause chip damage. Apple has long warned iPhone users to avoid cheap chargers and cables and to stick with authorized Apple products or use third-party accessories that have been certified compatible with Apple products.

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


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2014/06/friday-apple-rumors-apple-seeking-fda-approval-iwatch-sensors/.

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