Apple is reportedly looking at alternatives to traditional cord-based charging, such as induction charging and solar power, for its rumored smartwatch. Apple even considered including solar charging as an iPhone feature, but gave up on the idea because users tend to store their phone in a pocket or back when on in use.
Apple is looking at ways to improve battery life so users won't have to worry about getting through the day before their watch battery dies, and options like solar and motion-based charging are in testing as ways to extend the time between recharging. Both could serve to help keep the watch batter from draining so quickly, but for full charging something that works faster is needed, like induction charging.
By using an induction system for fully charging the watch's battery, users could simply set their watch on a surface designed to use electromagnetic fields to transfer electricity instead of relying on cables and plugs. An induction charging system would also save some space on the watch case since there wouldn't need to be external contacts or a charging port.
Finding clever ways to keep the iWatch running all day may be necessary because it'll likely include features that otherwise could leave users looking for a way to juice up their battery in the afternoon. The problem is that battery technology hasn't kept up with the rest of the tech world. With devices getting smaller while packing in more features, batteries are strained to keep up with mobile power needs.
The idea that Apple is looking to solar and kinetic energy to help power the iWatch may not be all that far fetched. The New York Times reported that Apple was hiring engineers with solar energy experience last fall, and the company holds a patent on kinetic, or motion-based, charging. Kinetic charging is a feature that's already found on many watches, too.
Apple also holds a patent for a curved battery that can serve as a platform for a solar panel -- a design that could work well for a wrist top device like a watch.
Assuming the rumors are right, Apple is working hard to come up with new ways to extend battery life in small form factor portable electronics. Considering how closely its competition watches, it's a safe bet we'll be seeing some clever designs -- or copies -- coming from other companies soon.