Apple CEO Tim Cook dropped a string hint that Apple is working on a wearable computing device for the wrist. Speaking during an on-stage interview at the D: All Things Digital conference, Cook told Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher that the market was ‘ripe for exploration’ and that ‘There are lots of gadgets in this space right now, but there’s nothing great out there.’
While Cook remained silent on specific plans, the fact that Apple has identified a problem without a solution in a market which is complementary to its existing products strongly suggests that the company is at least evaluating the potential of an Apple wearable device. Whatever form that device takes, it’s unlikely to be a pair of spectacles. Cook was dismissve when asked about Google Glass, saying ‘I wear glasses because I have to. I don’t know a lot of people that wear them that don’t have to… I think from a mainstream point of view [glasses as wearable computing devices] are difficult to see.’ Contrast that with his description of a wrist device. ‘I think the wrist is interesting. The wrist is natural,’ he said.
When the discussion moved on to Apple’s plans for the television space, Cook was equally enigmatic. ‘There is a very grand vision of this,’ he told Swisher and Mossberg. ‘When you look at the TV experience, it’s not an experience that I think very many people love,” Cook said. “It’s not one that has been brought up to date for this decade. It’s still an experience much like 10 years ago or 20 years ago,’ he said.
When asked about the current Apple TV, Cook described it as ‘good from a learning point of view for Apple.’ Learning for what? ‘I’m going to leave that alone,” Cook said. “But it continues to be an area of great interest to us.’
You can see a video of the full interview at AllThingsD.
