According to a photograph of the product obtained in one of the internet giant’s iPhone apps, Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook is working on a smartwatch featuring a front camera and a circular screen. A watch with a slightly curved screen and a casing around the edges is shown in the photo. The front camera, which looks like it belongs on a smartphone, is placed at the base of the screen, and the clock is controlled by a button on the right side.
The image was discovered in the company’s programme for controlling its new smart glasses, which were released in collaboration with RayBan. App developer Steve Moser discovered the photograph and shared it with Bloomberg News. Meta’s representative refused to comment.
Facebook has no plans to release its first watch before 2022, but a final decision on the date has yet to be made, and the launch might be delayed.as per a professional in the field According to the individual, the corporation is working on three generations of the product for distinct release dates. The item in the image might be a prototype that will never be produced, but it is the first indication of the company’s involvement in the project.
The Verge reported earlier on Facebook’s surveillance ambitions, speculating that the devices might also feature a heart rate sensor. The existence of the picture in the Facebook View glasses app might signal that the watch will be compatible with iPhones and Android devices that use this app. The software code reveals that the watch can be dubbed “Milan.” According to the code, the camera will be able to take images and films, as well as download them to a phone.
Meta currently offers virtual reality headsets and Portal video chat devices, so a smartwatch would be a big new category of gear for the company. The business announced on Thursday that it is developing “Project Cambria,” a new high-end headgear that combines virtual and augmented reality. A future watch, according to Meta, may be used as an input device or an attachment for its headphones.
When Meta releases the watch next year, it will be in direct opposition to Apple’s next generation of devices. According to Bloomberg, Apple is developing three new Apple Watches for 2022, including a Series 8 with a body temperature sensor, a new low-end Apple Watch SE, and a robust device targeted at sportsmen. Meta and Apple have been at odds with App Store regulations and iPhone OS privacy updates, and a transfer to smartwatches would exacerbate their spat. Apple also aims to release its first mixed reality headset next year, competing with the impending high-end Meta device.
