Apple is testing new charging options for its iWatch, The New York Times reports. The company has reportedly tested a method to charge the wristwatch’s battery using magnetic induction. Apple is also “experimenting” with types of new power-charging methods. Among these experiments is a solar-charging layer over a curved glass screen that could power the device during daylight, and a battery that’s charged by kinetic movement, such as arm swinging during walking. The Times notes some of the methods being tested “are years from becoming a reality,” which means that a first-generation iWatch release this year might not include any of the technologies. “Hoping and betting on new battery technology to me is a fool’s errand,” former Apple SVP and “father of the iPod” Tony Fadell told the Times. “Don’t wait for the battery technology to get there, because it’s incredibly slow to move.”
Apple is also likely developing its upcoming iOS 8 update with iWatch in mind, according to 9to5Mac. iOS 8 will reportedly include a new app with the codename “Healthbook.” The app will be able to monitor a user’s vital signs, in addition to health tracking features, using Passbook-style data cards to organize different results captured by the device and accessories. It’s suggested that “Healthbook” could relay information from the iWatch, as the iWatch has reportedly been “designed to be heavily reliant on the iPhone.”
