Apple said to be studying solar, motion charging for iWatch - CNET

iWatch concept.

(Credit: Todd Hamilton)

A report in the New York Times is providing more fodder for iWatch speculation, including the purported use of solar power.

Apple has been testing both solar and wireless and charging for the rumored iWatch, according to a report in Sunday's New York Times.

The wireless charging method would involve magnetic induction, according to the report.

This could conceivably involve the use of a charging plate.

Another method to juice up the watch is to integrate a solar-charging layer in the screen, according to the report.

Yet another, involves "charging the battery through movement, a method that is already used in many modern watches," the Times said.

"A person's arm swinging could operate a tiny charging station that generates and pushes power to the device while walking." Apple filed a patent for the technology in 2009.

The impetus for alternatives to the traditional battery is rooted in the fact that a smart watch powered by a sophisticated processor would run out of juice too soon to entice consumers.

In the story, the Times cited Nest co-founder and "one of the fathers of the iPod" Tony Fadell, saying Apple tried for "many years" to build a smarter battery with, for example, solar charging but failed.

The report also repeated previous rumors of a curved glass display.

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