It's time for another installment of "This Week In Apple Rumors," where we bring you the latest speculation and gossip about the machinations and iWidgets coming out of the notoriously secretive company in Cupertino, Calif. In this edition, we bring you rumors about Apple's move into the medical sensor field, the "iPhone 6," and more.
iMedicine
Last week, Google unveiled its plans for a contact lens that would monitor the blood glucose level of the wearer, a development that would make the lives of diabetics significantly easier. Not to be outdone by the fellow tech giant, 9to5 Mac reports that Apple has been on a hiring spree for engineers and developers to work on products with medical sensors.
Apple hired Nancy Dougherty from startup Sano Intelligence, a company with developments that include a small, painless, needle-less patch that can analyze a person's blood. 9to5 Mac notes that it seems plausible that Apple could work to integrate this technology into its so-called “iWatch.” Recent rumors have some estimating that 2014 could be the year we finally see Apple's long-speculated smart watch.
Eye Spy
9to5 Mac is also reporting that Apple is actively researching iris-scanning technology, "according to sources." Earlier this month in an interview with Bloomgberg News, Lee Young Hee, executive vice president of Samsung's mobile business, confirmed that the company is experimenting with iris-scanning technologies to unlock phones for potential implementation in the Galaxy S5 this year. In addition, 9to5 Mac writes that Apple is in the process of studying new ways to apply sensors to improve facial recognition, and enhance security, photography and other parts of Apple's mobile devices.
"iPhone 6" x 2
According to research firm Display Search, Apple's next iPhone will give consumers the option to choose between two sizes. One would be the typical iPhone display (4.7 inches), while the other would be a larger, 5.5-inch screen that resembles the bigger displays featured on Samsung's Galaxy phones. Further speculation from MacRumors indicates that based on Apple's use of new alloys from LiquidMetal Technologies, the new iPhone will be thinner and lighter thanks to these new materials.
In July, a 9to5 Mac report said that in the coming years, Apple may work to integrate Touch ID fingerprint technology into the screen of the iPhone and iPad, not just into the home button.