Apple could be working on a new health-related device
Under CEO Tim Cook, who is a well known health buff, Apple has steadily increased its focus on personal health.
The Apple Watch, HealthKit, ResearchKit and the announcement of CareKit are all pieces in Apple's health-driven future.
A new rumor from Taiwan's Economic Daily News (via Macotara) reports Apple has been working on a standalone health-tracking device for the past two years.
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The purported product can reportedly track heart rates, pulse, blood sugar changes and more accurately. It may also make use of pressure-sensitive technology along the lines of 3D Touch, the pressure-sensitive technology in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus.
According to the report, Apple is looking for appropriate component suppliers and manufacturers to potentially realize the product for launch sometime in 2017 (possibly alongside next year's revamped iPhones).
With so little to go on, it's difficult to guess what kind of form factor Apple might be considering, if the product is actually real.
My immediate guess is it could be a smart scale of some kind.
It would fit perfectly with all the health-tracking features and would jibe with the use of 3D Touch-like tech, too. It's not hard to imagine an Apple smart scale with a pressure-sensitive glass surface.
Apple currently sells Withings' Body Cardio smart scale at its stores, so it's not a completely farfetched idea.
Or maybe I'm way off base and the product will somehow tie in with the rumored Amazon Echo-like device?
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
