As their competitors continue to take steps into the smartwatch market, according to reports, Microsoft could be set to launch a wearable of their own.

The Apple Watch; you might have heard of it? Apple’s shiny new wrist decoration is preparing to take the wearable market by storm at some point early next year. The problem is, the Apple Watch has yet to prove itself and the only ‘killer’ feature that it has is a navigational dial that lets you zoom in and out of its display. Hardly worthy of a back of the box mention. On the other hand, Android-powered smartwatches the Samsung Galaxy Gear and the Moto 360 boast fitness features and mobile phone interactivity for a much lower price but the awful battery life makes them a hassle. Leave to a Microsoft smartwatch to right their wrongs then as the company is reportedly set to launch a wearable soon.

According to Forbes we’ll see Microsoft’s smartwatch on the market soon and it will be packing some killer features too. Its biggest selling point will likely be its heart-rate sensor. Using technology similar to the Xbox One’s Kinect 2.0 camera add-on, the Microsoft smartwatch will reportedly be able to passively measure your heart-rate. Other than being a really nifty thing to show off to your friends, that sensor could lead to actual health benefits. If your heart rate has been a bit low and you want some tangible proof to show your doctor, if you want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your workouts or if you just like to scare yourself silly by watching it rise and fall during the day, the sensor will allow you to do all of that.

Other key features include the fact that the device will work across many platforms including iOS, Android and Windows Phone. Given that the Apple Watch only works with iOS devices, a Microsoft smartwatch would certainly have a larger target market but it also means that we can sync our data no matter which phone we have. Microsoft’s rumoured device also wins in terms of battery life as it’s said to last for two days without being charged whereas the Apple Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Gear and the Moto 360 can only last for one. All good things to hear so we’ll keep you posted once the device is officially announced.

Source: Forbes

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