A patent filed by Meta showing a smartwatch with a detachable display came to light last month, and based on that, an artist has now created some 3D renders showing the watch in its full glory.

While not officially mentioned, it wouldn’t be unsafe to assume that the gadget will be carrying a Meta Band moniker when it goes official. The renders created by Sarang Sheth and posted on Yanko Design show the watch with a very unconventional design, with strings instead of a strap. These should allow it to be worn comfortably for longer periods. The display is imagined to be a fairly large one, with a waterdrop notch atop that houses a selfie camera.

A combination of cameras and Facebook/Meta would raise red flags for many given the company’s track record, but hey, at least the rear camera gets hidden when the display is put back into its frame. The front camera, on the other hand, should make a handy tool for seamless video chatting and vlogging when paired with the display.

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But of course, it’s quite difficult to fit a decent camera sensor into something as tiny as a hole punch on a smartwatch display, so it would make sense for Meta to add another better-quality unit at the back. And that’s exactly what the renders show.

Meta will also likely be going big on Facebook and Instagram integrations, allowing users to quickly convert shots clicked through the Meta Band into social media posts. This will also serve as a great way to swing the user preference from their smartphone cameras to the watch cameras.

Last but not least, the Meta Band could act as another gateway to the ambitious Metaverse, just like the AR display that is currently under development.

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Last year, Facebook(Meta) was reported to be working on its first smartwatch. The smartwatch was touted to go official in the Summer of 2022, however, there wasn’t any explicit info about the smartwatch apart from the late 2021’s leaked image shared by Bloomberg. Now, LetsGoDigital has spilled some beans on the upcoming Facebook Meta smartwatch revealing its models and key features.

The report reveals that the Facebook smartwatch a.k.a Meta watch will arrive in two models – a circular and a squarish model. The display on both watches will be detachable. The circular watch will have two or a max of three cameras. These sensors are touted to be a telephoto lens, an optical zoom or an ultra-wide sensor, and a macro lens.

Interestingly, it will have a rotatable display. Rotating the screen will let users select any one camera out of the three/two. As per the report, while rotating, the camera that is set at 12’o clock will be in use while the rest of the lenses will be turned off.

It will let users take pictures and post them directly to Meta’s own social apps like Instagram and Facebook. The camera can also be used for video calls. Furthermore, it is revealed that Meta could be employing these camera sensors to implement AR/VR and mixed reality.

Apart from the rumored smartwatch, Meta is also expected to launch AR headset and AR glasses soon. The detachable display smartwatch will be a part of Meta’s upcoming ecosystem of devices which the company plans to launch later this year.

As of now, the information about its other devices is unknown. However, we do know that the upcoming AR glasses are codenamed ‘Project Nazare’ and the AR headset is codenamed, ‘Project Cambria’.

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Just a day ago, Facebook announced that it is rebranding the company to Meta as it shifts focus from just being a social media platform to the metaverse. The company has a few AR/VR projects and products and now it seems that it is gearing up to launch a new wearable device — a smartwatch.

An image of the upcoming Meta smartwatch has surfaced online (via Bloomberg), which reveals the design of the wearable product. The product has a rounded square design and also features a front-facing camera on the bottom bezel.

This was leaked through the Facebook View application which is designed by the company to be used with the new Ray-Ban Stores smart glasses launched earlier this month. The code in the app hints that the upcoming smartwatch is codenamed “Milan.”

It seems that there is a control button on the right side edge of the body and the strap for the smartwatch is detachable. It’s safe to assume that the front-facing camera may be capable of allowing users to make video calls — making it stand out from the rest of the smartwatches available in the market.

Previously, Facebook was reported to be working on a smartwatch with multiple cameras and a heart rate sensor. This newly leaked device is likely to be the product that was reported previously.

While the launch date of this Meta smartwatch remains unknown, some reports indicate that the device could go official early next year, but the company hasn’t made a final decision and the launch could get delayed. Once launched, the device will compete against the likes of the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch, among others.

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A report back in February this year first carried by the Information alleged that social media giant Facebook was working on its first smartwatch with a focus on messaging and fitness. Further details of the Facebook smartwatch have now emerged showing the watch will feature a detachable display with two cameras for video recording, as well as a heart rate monitor.

The detachable display will enable users to take photos and record videos that could be assessed or shared with different apps. The design philosophy of the new watch is to enable users to carry out activities like recording videos and several other tasks that their smartphones can do. The Facebook smartwatch project is uncharted territory for the social media giant and could offer several opportunities and setbacks. The company seeks to leverage the expanding market of smart wearables by throwing its hat into the fray.

Privacy concerns are a critical component of the development of smart wearable devices. These smartwatches generate tons of data relating to the user’s daily activities across a broad spectrum. Hence Facebook will have to firm up its processes to assure potential users of the device, of utmost respect for their privacy.

Facebook seems interested in building more consumer-focused hardware to challenge the dominant mobile phone platform creators, Apple and Google. However, it is known that Facebook is collaborating with various companies on further expanding the scope of the revolutionary camera system. If it could be attached to other things like a backpack, then the versatility of this device will be further established.

Inside sources also indicated that the device could be made to function independently of a smartphone, as talks have continued with wireless carriers in the US. The device has also been mentioned as a possible connected device for a VR headset.

Although Facebook has not provided official information on the possible release of its first smartwatch, it could be out by the summer of 2022, according to the source. The price and the expected quantity to be produced for the Facebook smartwatch are still under wraps.

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(source)

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Recently, rumors are swirling around that Facebook is developing a clone version of the popular Voice-based app Clubhouse. Now, a new report by The Information says that the Californian giant is also entering into the world of Smartwatches.

According to the report, Facebook is making a Smartwatch with emphasis on Messaging and Fitness. It may be called the ‘Facebook Watch’ but it’s just a guess and not confirmed yet. We already know that the company isn’t new to the world of Smart devices. In fact, it has launched a VR headset under its subsidiary Oculus VR.

Anyway, the company is said to focus on Message interaction in the Smartwatch. Users will be able to communicate with their friends on platforms like WhatsApp and Messenger. Now, you might wonder if it will require a Smartphone for integration and sync.

For this, Facebook seems to have a solution. The Watch will reportedly come with Cellular connectivity support so you don’t have to barge into your phone every time. This also suggests that the company is going to revamp the social media Apps for the tiny Wearable screens more.

Speaking of which, the report says that although the Watch will run on an Open-source version of Google’s Android, Facebook is working on its own Operating System. And the OS could debut in 2023 along with the Second-Generation of this Watch. In that year, the company is also reported to bring an AR Glass.

That said, apart from Messaging, Facebook is also said to be focussing more on Health features that will be present in the Smartwatch. Some of them are extensive Workout plans/Data, Track workouts, interact with Trainers, and integrate with Fitness services like Peloton.

The wearable segment is said to get a big boon in 2021 and beyond. Just like the report says, Facebook seems to have found the right choice of segment to venture into as Smartwatches are becoming equally important like Smartphones.

Going by the trend, we can also expect other features like Heart rate monitoring(PPG), Blood Oxygen(SpO2) and Stress monitoring, aggressive pricing(maybe around $399 to rival Apple Watch 6).

Facebook’s Smartwatch will reportedly go on sale sometime next year i.e., 2022 so we will have to wait for a few months to start seeing leaks about it.

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(via)

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