It's almost time for the Apple Watch! Mass production to begin in January after firm resolves production problems with $349 timepiece
- $349 Watch had been believed to be facing manufacturing problems with screens and processor delays
- Believed these have been solved – allowing production to begin
- Apple still finalising software for Watch
It may already be the most anticipated product in Apple's history – and for fans eagerly awaiting Apple's $349 Watch, there could be some good news on the way.
A Taiwanese site has claimed that mass production of the watch is to begin in January.
So far Apple has refused to reveal exactly when it will be released, although a statement made to Apple employees suggests the release will be in 'the spring.'
It has previously been claimed that suppliers were struggling to make enough screens and processors.
However, breakthroughs have been made in the number of successful yields for the watch's display and processor, according to Taiwan's United Daily News.
Unveiled on September 9 at Apple's iPhone 6 launch event, the Apple Watch is the company's foray into wearable computers.
Samsung, LG, Motorola and Microsoft have already launched their own smartwatches, but Apple is expected to face unprecedented demand for its watch.
Quanta, which is building the watch, has upped its number of workers from 2,000 to 10,000 and is ultimately aiming for 20,000.
The initial round of shipments will be 3 to 5 million watches.
Apple anticipates a total of 24 million watches to be shipped during 2015, G for Games said.
According to 9to5Mac, Angela Ahrendts, Apple's senior vice president of retail and online stores hinted at the release date when she told staff: 'We’re going into the holidays, we’ll go into Chinese New Year, and then we’ve got a new watch launch coming in the spring.'
Apple's chief executive Tim Cook unveiled the watch at a launch event in September.
He didn't announce exactly when the watch would be available, but said it would go on sale 'early next year.'
A 'source close to Apple' told The Information last month that the firm 'would be lucky to ship [the watch] before Valentine's Day'.
Chinese New Year falls on 19 February next year, so Ms Ahrendts comments push it at least beyond this date.
Despite the range of impressive features unveiled by Mr Cook, there was something he failed to mention: battery life.
The telling omission suggests the watch’s battery life will be the Achilles Heel of the device when it eventually does go on sale.
Apple is said to be unhappy with the watch's battery life, and the long lead time before the $349 (£216) product ships could mean the device will be more functional once it's released early next year…
