Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has put on hold its development work of a dual-camera smartwatch and is working on other devices for the wrist, according to a person with information on the matter.
More on the halt of development
The smartwatch has been under development for the past two years and was designed to include features such as music playback, messaging, and an activity tracker. The halted prototype contained dual cameras, a key differentiator from Apple Watch. As per videos and images of the prototype seen by Bloomberg, one Camera was placed below the display and the other in the rear and against the wearer’s wrist.
The cameras caused problems for other features that translated the nerve signals into digital commands from the wrists. For Meta possessing the technical ability or electromyography is their top priority.
Meta Executives have shared the smartwatch’s potential as part of the Metaverse vision. Meta verse is an immersive experience where people can interact as digital avatars. The sensors in the smartwatches would have helped users control their avatar and interact with a pair of AR glasses.
Though Meta has halted its dual-camera device, it works on multiple wrist devices. The Watch, code-named Milan, is no longer on the production schedule. Originally, it was supposed to be released in the 2023 spring with a price tag of around $349.
Cost-cutting also played a crucial role in the company’s decision to suspend the development of the smartwatch. In an earnings call in April, Meta Executives said it expected the expense to decrease by $3 billion in 2022, considering a slowdown in business. They have also impacted hiring, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that cost-cutting meant prioritizing projects over others.
Meta also announced to the employees that it would not be selling the AR glass version, which has been under development for the last three years. The company has now shifted focus on a newer version of AR glasses which it plans to release for commercial sale.
Meta is also shifting its video calling device strategy. The Portal, which initially had consumer tools such as animated stories for children, will now be focused on business customers working out from home offices. Some features developed for the dual camera smartwatch will likely appear in other products in the future.
The prototype had the following feature, as seen by Bloomberg:
- Dual Camera consisting of 5 megapixels in the front and 12 megapixels in the backside
- Gold-colored casing for removable Watch face
- GPS, WiFi, and cellular connectivity via eSIM
- Apps for WhatsApp, Instagram, daily activity tracker, Spotify, photo gallery, calendar, workouts, heart rate monitoring, and breathing.
- Battery life of about 18 hours.
The smartwatch also included a lock screen and notification center. The device does not have an App Store, and users must access them through their Facebook accounts.
