Rumors have been floating around for a while now about a smartwatch offering from Microsoft to take on Google's Android Wear, and while we've yet to see anything solid, some new patent applications have turned up that show off what looks to be a new smartwatch. According to the documents, the device itself looks to be sporting an assortment of fitness-tracking features and also a removable body. Much like the long-awaited Kreyos Meteor the watch body seen here could be removed from the band and used in other accessories like a belt clip or lanyard.
Tapping the different icons on the device would in turn display relevant information — running icon for run length, heart icon for heart-rate/pulse or the fire icon to show calories burned. Other apps like messaging, music, alarms and phone would also be expected.
Included in the patent is also a dock for the smartwatch, most likely used for charging and/or synching the device. We've seen a variety of specific charging docks for watches like the Galaxy Gear and Qualcomm Toq before, a dock like this is standard fare at this point.
Of course a patent is just a patent, but it could mean that we're one step closer to seeing an official smartwatch or fitness band offering from Microsoft sometime in the near future.
Source: Patent Bolt; thanks, Kev, for the tip!
