Is HTC planning to take on the Samsung Galaxy Gear?
HTC is making plans to join the burgeoning smartwatch market with its own Android-powered effort, according to one report.
Bloomberg reckons that HTC is looking to launch its smartwatch concept during the second half of 2014, which would place it more than a year behind rival Samsung, with its own Galaxy Gear launching recently.
Indeed, HTC can probably expect to find a Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 on the market by the time of its launch, not to mention the possibility of Apple's own much-rumoured iWatch effort. Recent rumours suggest that the iWatch will also launch some time in 2014 with a 1.5-inch iPod Nano-like screen and a curved design.
HTC's new wrist-mounted smart device will follow the lead of the Samsung Galaxy Gear in featuring a camera, according to the report.
A recent Financial Times interview with HTC CEO Peter Chou revealed that this won't be the first time the struggling Taiwanese manufacturer has looked into smartwatch concepts.
Chou claims that HTC worked with Microsoft on smartwatch concepts several years ago. When pressed on the company's current plans for the emerging market of wearable technology, however, he remained vague while appearing to take a pop at rival efforts.
"It has to meet a need, otherwise if it’s just a gimmick or concept, it’s not for people’s day-to-day lives," Chou said.
HTC has a number of interesting projects in the pipeline, including a smartphone collaboration with Amazon and a brand new "disruptive" tablet concept.
Read More: 5 reasons why smart watches are still a dumb idea
