Apple On Aggressive Hiring Spree To Get iWatch Ready For Late 2014 [Report]

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Apple is “aggressively” hiring new talent to make the rumored ‘iWatch’ a reality, according to a report today from the Financial Times. The last specific claim we heard regarding the iWatch was when Bloomberg said Apple wanted to launch the product this year after placing a team of around 100 product designers on the project. Engineering issues have caused Apple to seek outside help, and now the Financial Times believes that we won’t see the iWatch until late 2014.

The iWatch has allegedly “progressed from an exploratory phase to having several dozen employees dedicated to its development.” For Apple, buying up small startups and fresh talent “raises questions over the ability of its own engineers to develop wearable technology,” according to the report. One source told the Financial Times that Apple has run into “hard engineering problems that they’ve not been able to solve.”

Apple has been reportedly “seeking out acquisitions of early-stage start-ups working on connected devices.” Apple has also started trademarking the name “iWatch” in multiple countries around the world. The company recently filed a patent that allows for a bendable battery. Several patents related to flexible displays have also been filed.

Just a couple weeks ago, Apple hired Paul Deneve, the former CEO of French fashion house Yves Saint Laurent, to work on “special projects.” Given his background, there has been speculation that he could be involved with developing and marketing the iWatch.

Source: Financial Times

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