GOOGLE

LetsGoDigital has unearthed a patent filed by Google for a smartwatch with a twist

Filed over two years ago but dated August 27 2019, the design looks like a run-of-the-mill watch with its circular face, but at its centre is something that could disrupt the smartwatch market.
It seems that Google has been working on a smartwatch of sorts for a few years, at least according to a recent United States Patent Office filing spotted by LetsGoDigital. The patent, filed in July 2017 and dated August 27, 2019, is for a camera watch, which would be a different take on what a smartwatch should be.
The patent is for an ornamental design, which only protects Google's design and not the functions of the device. Moreover, the patent does not include the watch hands or watch strap, with these being indicative of the final design rather than an essential element of it.
As the patent design and LetsGoDigital render demonstrate, Google is toying with the idea of bringing a wearable to market with a huge camera at its centre. It has also filed a patent in the US for a spring-loaded watch band that is easily detachable from the watch body. Rumours about a Pixel-branded watch having been circulating since last year, although Google subsequently claimed that it had no plans to release a smartwatch in 2018.

There has been no indication from Google that it plans to release a smartwatch this year either, so this patent filing could come to nothing. However, we would not be surprised if Google had something up its sleeve at its Pixel launch event this Fall, especially considering how candid it has been about the Pixel 4 and the features that it will be including.

by Alex Alderson