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Apple Watch has a Lightning port for development, but won’t when it ships

Apple-Watch-Strap-01

A new report from TechCrunch notes that the upcoming Apple Watch has a port that Apple has yet to show off hidden in one of the two slots where the Watch’s straps connect to its case. The report brings up the possibility of using it to facilitate “smart straps” and other Apple Watch accessories, but 9to5Mac has learned from sources that the port, which is actually a Lightning port being used for testing, will not be included on the product shipping to customers.

The port is currently being used to connect to the Watch for development purposes, but TechCrunch speculated it could be used to bring “smart straps” to the device in the future:

The reason I ask is that the Apple Watch has a port that the company has yet to show off. It’s being used for diagnostics and direct access to the Watch operating system, but it’s feasible that could be used to connect accessories in the future.

A similar platform was announced as part of the recently introduced Pebble Time smart watch to allow bands to interact with the watch’s OS and add additional sensors to the device.

The report from TechCrunch also notes that Apple snuck in its usual “Assembled in China – Designed by Apple in California” marking inside the other strap slot.

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Comments

  1. windlasher - 9 years ago

    Would be nice if they left it there as a battery only port so third parties could develop bands with batteries in them.

    • rogifan - 9 years ago

      What do bands with batteries look like and are they comfortable to wear?

      • Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

        I’m thinking the answers are “ugly as sin” and “no.”

      • windlasher - 9 years ago

        We don’t know yet because no one had made one. Its one possibility. There are flexible batteries though,

    • marcosebastian - 9 years ago

      Dude trying to act like he’s the first one to figure this out. Naw dawg.

    • Don’t batteries get hot as they discharge?

  2. Or maybe Apple will leave it in and be all like “Thanks for the free idea Pebble!”

  3. Navid Hassani (@nvee3) - 9 years ago

    Just to confirm, 9to5 is saying that the port will not be included in the consumer version but TechCrunch is saying that it will be included however it will only be used for diagnostics. Can you please clarify or we just don’t know?

  4. chrisl84 - 9 years ago

    Of course it wont when it ships….and so begins the withheld features for the annual upgrade cycle.

    • PMZanetti - 9 years ago

      Of course it will. Like any other iDevice or iPod you need to be able to restore/recover it should the software/firmware experience issues.

      Even the AppleTV has a port for this. Of course Apple Watch will too. You think Apple wants people making genius bar appointments just to get their Watch restored via iTunes? NO.

      • chrisl84 - 9 years ago

        I’d say 9to5 has been more accurate on their product predictions than you have. But time will tell.

  5. Tim Jr. - 9 years ago

    Not a new idea, but an intriguing one… so much so that the new Pebble Time actually was designed with smart bands in mind and has such a port..

  6. Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

    It would seem more likely to me that they would leave the port there, and leave it for the purpose expressed: diagnostics. It makes sense to me that when something goes wrong with your watch, the Apple tech can slide it into some stand that connects it to diagnostic equipment.

    Without the port, if something goes wrong with the radio software/firmware, you have a dead watch that can no longer be contacted for updates.

    • andreww500 - 9 years ago

      Good point. I doubt there is any way of transferring data via the MagSafe connector.

  7. yojimbo007 - 9 years ago

    I hope they leave it in the production model.. Its adds so much room for creative ideas !

  8. rogifan - 9 years ago

    Seems like a lot of engineering for just employee testing.

    • spiralynth - 9 years ago

      It’s like the OBD port in your car, typically found under the steering wheel area. So it’s used for far more than just “employee testing”.

      Also, there might be a chance that it could be used for sex.

  9. quandmeme - 9 years ago

    Wait doesn’t Apple have a patent on smart straps? I don’t thing Pebble’s idea is a revelation to Apple.

    http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/22/apple-itime-patent-smartwatch/

  10. pounda94 - 9 years ago

    Wouldn’t a lighting port be needed for transferring music and photos to the watch’s internal storage? I doubt Apple expects everyone to transfer music and photos to their watch over WiFi or AirDrop (which doesn’t work 90% of the time). I think the lighting port will be in the shipped product.

    • PMZanetti - 9 years ago

      Of course the port will be on shipping units and no it has nothing to do with music or photos. Syncing those things over a cable hasn’t been necessary for years. Especially not for an iPhone accessory (read: AppleWatch is not a standalone product).

  11. Andy Brooks - 9 years ago

    I like the idea of instantly having a fully charged device by only swapping out the band. Making a flexible battery thin enough underneath the band material is absolutely possible..

  12. Lino (@linopolis) - 9 years ago

    This is all well and good, but does anyone know how long the straps are, my wrists are flipping MASSIVE.

  13. Jerry Cooke - 9 years ago

    “Apple Watch has a lightning port but *MAY NOT* when it ships”

    If you want to convey the contents of TCs original news story.

  14. PMZanetti - 9 years ago

    Won’t when it ships?

    So 9to5…how will you restore it? how will you rescue one that is bricked or needs to be put into recovery mode?

    Of course the port will be on shipping units.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.