A former Apple senior mechanical engineer has confirmed to Cult of Mac that, judging by pictures, the iWatch most likely comes with wireless charging.
Earlier today a Reddit user posted schematics supposedly showing various components of the iWatch. One of these refers to BCM coils, meaning Battery Charging Module or Battery Control Module. These components are routinely found in electric cars featuring wireless charging.
“If it has wireless charging then it needs an internal coil and the screen shots look to have a coil,” says Abraham Farag, Apple’s former Senior Mechanical Engineer of Product Design and owner of product development consultancy Sparkfactor Design.
While the Reddit post alluded to wireless charging by noting the lack of ports on the iWatch, it did not explicitly state this to be the case.
Apple holds several patents related to wireless charging, but up until now these have not been utilized. According to reports, the company experimented with solar charging for the iWatch, but the experiments failed to yield positive results.
Farag also suggested that, based on his reading of the images, the “skin contact plate” named in the Reddit leak could refer to “Heartbeat, skin temp, sweat level, or oxygen in the bloodstream.”
There are still other components we’re unsure of from today’s leak, however. If you know what any of the below components refer to, drop your comments in the box below.
P2B (DFX)
Tie-Bar
X207 Pusher
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
11 responses to “Reddit leak shows wireless iWatch charging, says former Apple engineer”
Liquid Metal (Bulk Metallic Glass) and Sapphire rumored to be in this, any evidence of that yet?
I’m not even sure why there’s all the fuss about new Apple products. As usual, the news media and tech pundits will take one look at the new Apple’s products, yawn and say how disappointed they are that Apple’s products are nothing special without Steve Jobs input. I find it amusing how the news media has been pimping off Apple’s event for weeks but have nothing good to say about the company. They simply use Apple as a tool to relieve their angst. Tomorrow’s event will only serve as a bloodbath for Apple shareholders.
I agree. Tomorrow will be nothing special except to the fanboys.
Forgot the s/
troll
There’s fuss because they know people are interested enough to read, hoping to see “the next big thing” from Apple. Also, the more they build the hype beforehand, the more relevant their prognostications of Apple’s imminent demise will seem when Apple “fails to wow.”
yeah, it’s sad. All the “what to expect” and 1000000 different opinions (from same media too?!) is only to get viewers and hype it.. but as per usual, they have set their own, and everyone else’s, expectations way too high for Apple (or anyone) to possible fulfil the expectations. If it stood to e.g. Cult of Mac, Apple should release tablets that could teleport across countries or something insane.. (bad example, but you get the idea.. They set the bar WAY too high for anyone to accomplish it)
you’re an idiot. Samsung is done… Watch AAPL shares hot $150 by Spring.
X-207 is a button. The X-207 pusher is movable portion of said button.
P2B is just the reference code for a prototype model whereas EVT is the “Engineering Verification Test” model.
DFX is an acronym commonly used in reference to concepts or guidelines involving design for manufacturability, test, or production readiness.
Design for Manufacturing (DFX)
Proto to Board (P2B)
Solar charging?
Did they not first ask themselves what happens when you put a solar panel inside a shirt sleeve?