Apple has begun production of its long-anticipated iWatch smartwatch, according to a report emanating from China.
As stated in a recent China Times article, which has been translated by G4Games, Apple’s Chinese supply chain has begun churning out iWatch units in what is being termed as small quantities.
The article claims that this is in preparation for a launch some time in the second half of 2014. It says that up to three million devices will ship in the second quarter of the year, with production ramping up to 14 or 15 million by the end of the third quarter.
That sounds like quite a lot to us for a still unproven class of device, but the report points to earlier rumours of 65 million units to be shipped in 2014.
Interestingly, the report also has something to say on the internal design of Apple’s first smartwatch.
Apparently, the iWatch will be built using system-in-package modules (SiPs) rather than the usual printed circuit boards (PCBs). This means that its various chips will be built into a single module, which will in turn enable Apple to cram in multiple sensors for things like its expected fitness and biometric-tracking capabilities, without having to build an oversized watch.
A recently revealed patent for an Apple wrist watch also suggests that the iWatch will feature a camera and a curved display, as well as mobile network connectivity.
Rumour has it that the iWatch will be launched in September, around the time that the radically redesigned iPhone 6 is expected. Apple’s smartwatch should link up with an all-new large-screen iPhone, with a display that’s said to be 4.7-inches big packed into a super-slim design.
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