Apple's iWatch Could Run Full-fledged iOS

Earlier this morning we reported that Apple’s iWatch could ship as early as sometime this year, but what we’re learning now is that the iWatch may run iOS.  Yep, iOS.  The same operating system that runs on the iPhone and iPad, could be coming to a smartwatch on your wrist.  According to a report by The Verge, Apple has prototypes of the device that are running iOS, however, battery life isn’t where the company wants it to be.  Reportedly, Apple is looking for the iWatch to have a battery life of 4-5 days.

The Verge’s source told them that Apple chose to rework the full iOS to run on the watch instead of building up the iPod nano’s proprietary touch operating system — despite the fact the older nano was already watch-sized and seemed like a great starting point for a wrist-sized device.  Instead Apple is betting on iOS across product lines.  I’m not surprised by the move to use full-fledged iOS on the iWatch instead of building up the version of iOS that runs on the iPad nano.  I think it’s a good move.  Apple has always been a company that focuses on user experience across all of their devices, and it wouldn’t make sense for them to stop now.

If you think back a bit, Apple took a similar approach when working on the iPhone, they reworked OS X into what we now know as iOS for the iPhone and iPad, instead of building up the iPod software.  And it seems based on the reports that they have already got the watch running iOS, so now it’s just a matter of optimizing it to get that battery life to where they want it.

How does this make you feel?  There was a lot of speculation that the iWatch may not run iOS because of battery life issues, I’m very excited to see that won’t be the case (hopefully).