Apple Looks to Trademark “iWatch” in Japan

Apple is currently trying to trademark the name “iWatch” in Japan, signifying another step forward in the tech giant’s quest for a possible 2013 smart watch release. 

According to Bloomberg, Apple filed a request with the Japan Patent Office to trademark the name “iWatch” on June 3. 

It’s no secret that Apple has a wearable device in the works. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Apple had filed a patent for a “Bi-stable spring with flexible display” in 2011. It described a bi-stable spring that would be made out of thin steel and wrapped in fabric covering, then heat-sealed. The display would be located on one side of the bracelet (overlaid with an adhesive) and the logic board and battery would be placed on the other side. It also showed a universal fit, a plethora of onboard sensors, wireless charging, etc.

In March of this year, reports said that Apple was testing designs for the smart watch and tweaking certain features such as increasing battery life to last four or five days (it had only lasted a couple of days at the time) and working on the iPhone’s iOS so it can support the device.

The iWatch, which is expected to manage some of the same tasks as the iPhone and iPad, is rumored release as soon as this year. 

iPod nano used as a watch
Apple largely led the way for the smartphone explosion with its 2007 iPhone release (though Android has greater market share today), and took the lead in the tablet market as well with its 2010 iPad launch. Apple is hoping that it can do the same with the smart watch and prove that it still has that touch — even without former founder and CEO Steve Jobs. 

Competitors, such as Google and Samsung, are hoping to beat Apple to the punch. In March of this year, Samsung revealed that it had been working on a smart watch for a while, but didn’t give any details on price, features or availability. And Sony recently announced its third generation Smart Watch 2.

“We’ve been preparing the watch product for so long,” said Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung’s mobile business. “We are working very hard to get ready for it. We are preparing products for the future, and the watch is definitely one of them.

“The issue here is who will first commercialize it so consumers can use it meaningfully.”

More recently, reports say Google is working on its own Android-powered smart watch. It will also sync with Android smartphones via Bluetooth.