Meta hasn’t given up on its smartwatch project for the metaverse. While the initiative seemed compromised by the economic crisis, the group developed a second version of the accessory.
Mirroring most tech giants, Meta has gradually been caught up in the economic crisis. Faced with catastrophic financial results, the Californian group was forced to cut costs. The firm has thus separated from 13% of its employees worldwide.
At the same time, Meta preferred cancel several major projects. Among the aborted initiatives are the company’s first augmented reality glasses. Deeming the glasses too expensive, Meta refocused on the second iteration of the product with the help of Ray-Ban and Luxexcel, a company based in the Netherlands.
In the process, the brand’s first connected watch would also have been canceled. Intended to rival the Apple Watch, the accessory was in development until last year. It had to carry a camera for video calls, a case with a detachable photo sensor and technology capable of allowing the wearer to interact with elements in the metaverse. According to a previous Bloomberg report, the development of the watch has been abruptly interrupted in the spring of 2022.
Read also: Sorry, Mark Zuckerberg – half of the French do not know the metaverse
A new version faithful to the old
Several months after the indiscretions of the media, Meta would have started working again on the smartwatch. According to information obtained by leaker Kuba Wojciechowski, “a new version of Meta’s smartwatch is in development”. The informant, who is generally quite reliable, explains that he was contacted by an anonymous source. She provided him with key information about the project and images of the new iteration of the watch.
Leak: A new version of the @Meta smartwatch is in development, new details and photos below? pic.twitter.com/mlEgEQvWp5
— Kuba Wojciechowski ? (@Za_Raczke) January 31, 2023
By comparing these images with the stolen photos that appeared last year, we quickly realize that Meta hasn’t changed his mind. The design of the new watch is very similar to that of the first version. We find indeed the same detachable rounded case, equipped with a photo sensor. It is possible to remove the case, while keeping the bracelet on the wrist, to take a photo or record a video. Similarly, we still see a sensor for selfies on top of the touch screen.
“There seem to be a few changes to the sensor array on the back, as well as minor aesthetic differences, but nothing major. The general detachable design is still the same,” remarks Kuba Wojciechowski.
Despite technical challenges, Meta continues to want integrate two photo sensors to the connected watch. Mark Zuckerberg’s firm may have finally solved the main technical problem of the first version. On this one, the second photo sensor prevented the electromyogram, which interprets the electrical signals of the body, from functioning correctly. However, this sensor is essential for the use of the connected watch in the metaverse. By rearranging the sensors integrated into the back, Meta would have finally found a way to make all these modules work.
On the technical sheet side, the connected watch embeds a SoC designed by Qualcomm. Meta would bet on a software interface based on Android. This is not a surprise, Meta having already relied on Google’s operating system on its virtual reality headsets, the Quests. According to the informant, Meta would deadlock on Wear OSa version of Android designed for smartwatches.
At this point, the leaker cannot comment on Meta’s watch release schedule. At the time of the first version, the firm hoped to launch the marketing of the accessory in the spring of 2023. It can be assumed that the launch date has been postponed, presumably due to budgetary restrictions and technical problems.
