The Apple Watch might not be cutting-edge health tracker we originally envisaged, according to sources quoted in the Wall Street Journal. These have thrown doubt on the device as a cutting-edge health monitoring device, with features such as the ability to measure blood pressure, stress levels and heart activity.
It's a surprising revelation so soon after Apple CEO Tim Cook's comment that '... sitting is the new cancer' which noted the health enhancing abilities of the Apple Watch - though only in the respect that it would alert you to stand up and take some activity once an hour.
That's simple stuff, but the WSJ's sources revealsed that more advanced hardware didn't make the cut due to issues with reliability, potential regulatory red tape and the complexity of some features.
The issue has apparently left Apple execs scratching their heads over what exactly the purpose of the Apple Watch is and why consumers should have want or need for it. A few of the things Apple have said it will be used for include seeing nuggets of information more readily than grabbing your phone; making purchases using Apple Pay; communication through remote taps and the tracking of your daily activity. More of a smogasbord of features than a single clear selling point.
Health-sensor technology was something that initially excited consumers. However it is claimed that it didn't meet Apple's standards. Issues with dry skin and hairy arms affecting the consistency of the sensors were in part to blame, say these people, with further inconsistencies depending on how tightly people wore the watch.
Many of the features on the Apple Watch will require it to be close to an iPhone in order to connect wirelessly or gather GPS location information, raising the question of whether it is simply an accessory to something that already works well as a lone device.
One of the sources reported to the Wall Street Journal that the almost four-year long development project was referred to as a 'black hole' internally, sucking in resources. With an eye-watering pricetag which is said to likely stretch beyond $4,000 (just under £2600) for a high-end model of Apple Watch, will you be throwing your money into this 'black hole' along with Apple's?
For all the latest read our Apple watch release date, price & specs.