Fb simply will not keep idle. After asserting on Thursday that Fb’s father or mother firm will probably be altering its identify to Meta, it appears the tech large could also be planning one other huge transfer that it hasn’t even talked about but. A picture noticed on certainly one of its apps means that the corporate is engaged on a smartwatch to compete with the likes of the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy watches.
As reported by Bloomberg final night time, an app developer named Steve Moser noticed a picture of a smartwatch on Fb View, an app for controlling the Ray-Ban Tales sensible glasses. The publication described the image as exhibiting a smartwatch with rounded corners, a button on the aspect, and a white band that’s reportedly removable. Meta has not commented on the report.
We have heard rumors of a Fb smartwatch earlier than.
On the watch’s face is a notch for an built-in digicam, which might permit assist for video calls. This might be a standout function, as Apple and Samsung smartwatches haven’t got cameras. In June, The Verge mentioned we’ll see a Fb smartwatch with two cameras—one on the entrance for video calls and one on the again for taking pictures and video.
When can we anticipate a Meta smartwatch?
An unnamed “particular person with information of the matter” instructed Bloomberg that there are plans to launch a smartwatch in 2022 or later, however the launch date is tentative. The assertion affirms The Verge’s June report, which claimed the smartwatch would come out in the summertime of 2022. Bloomberg’s supply additionally mentioned Meta is engaged on three generations of smartwatches with various launch dates.
However with none phrase from the corporate, any Meta or Fb smartwatch remains to be only a rumor. As acknowledged by Bloomberg, the picture in query could not even signify an precise product. Nonetheless, a Meta smartwatch is not onerous to think about, and it matches with the model’s curiosity in rising {hardware} classes and tech-driven health.
In fact, there are lots of unanswered questions right here. Chief amongst them, why was there no point out of the product at yesterday’s huge Connect occasion? The corporate overtly mentioned its AR sensible glasses, though Zuckerberg acknowledged there’s “nonetheless a methods to go” till the product is prepared. We additionally heard about Mission Cambria, plans for a high-end VR headset.
Possibly there was an excessive amount of happening yesterday. Or possibly Meta’s simply taking part in it cool, since smartwatches could be a brand new class for the corporate. Solely time will inform.
Itemizing picture by Facebook via Bloomberg
— to arstechnica.com
