A startup is planning to make an Apple Watch band that could help keep the upcoming device charged throughout the day, potentially addressing concerns about the smartwatch’s longevity.
According to the product’s website, the so-called Reserve Strap‘s raison d’etre is as follows:
We love Apple devices because they’re not just functional, they’re a delight to play with and we don’t expect the Apple Watch to be any different. The Reserve Strap is the best way to extend the life of the Apple Watch while keeping it on your wrist, where it belongs.
The charging strap will have a silicon band embedded with lithium polymer cells and an “inductive charging cradle” that goes between both watch face and wrist. It’ll charge the device through magnets, similar to how the Apple Watch is expected to be charged, the company told 9to5Mac.
The company is currently taking pre-orders for the Reserve Strap. The device costs $250. “We don’t have a firm release date or price point,” the site adds, along with another caveat: The first run will be “extremely limited.” (It’s also a still unproven concept.)
Although the Apple Watch is much-hyped, it’s unclear how large the third-party accessories market will be when the device launches next month. Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin told Fox Business: “People need to understand more about what this product is, and what it does, and I think that will evolve over time.”
The Apple Watch will reportedly come equipped with a “reserve mode” that’ll help save the battery during the day. When the feature is on, it’ll just show the time.
The Apple Watch is the company's' first entirely new product category since the original iPad. It's a huge gamble for Apple and a test of the still-nascent wearable market.Stephen Lam—Reuters/CorbisThe Watch is the most customizable and varied product Apple has likely ever launched. It'll come in three editions made of different metals and be available with multiple snap-in wrist bands. Prices start at $349.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesThe Watch has a touch interface that can sense the difference between a light touch and hard press. But it also has a "digital crown" that allows users to quickly scroll through lists without obscuring the screen.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesThe Watch must be paired with an iPhone for many of its functions. The device piggybacks on the phone's data and GPS connections to pipe in directions or incoming voice calls and text messages, for instance.Stephen Lam—ReutersThe Watch, like Apple's other iDevices, will have various independent apps. Examples include a Tesla app that shows the status of your electric car when it's charging and a Starwood app that lets the Watch act as your room key.Stephen Lam—ReutersApple's fitness app, one of the device's main selling points, tracks runs, walks and bike rides.Stephen Lam—ReutersThe Watch also can track your heart rate (while resting, while active) throughout the day thanks to these light sensors on the back.Koichi Mitsui—AFLO/CorbisIt also has Apple Pay, the company's digital payments platform. Swipe the Watch in front of a compatible kiosk and it will make an automatic online payment.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesCEO Tim Cook has said the Watch will last about a day before it needs to be recharged. So far, battery life has been the biggest downside of most wearables. The Watch recharges through the magnetic system shown here.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesThe Watch will come with many customizable bands that slip on and click in place at the top and bottom of the device's body.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesIt also comes in two sizes, 38mm and 42mm, to fit on different size wrists.Monica Davey—EPAHigher-end models of the watch could cost several thousands of dollars.Stephen Lam—ReutersApple is significantly expanding it's product reach.Justin Sullivan—Getty ImagesAnd there's one more thing...David Paul Morris—Bloomberg/Getty ImagesIt tells the time.Marcio Jose Sanchez—AP
