????蘋果（Apple）真的在開發(fā)iWatch嗎？

????假日期間，整個博客圈都議論紛紛。現(xiàn)在，投資銀行Piper Jaffray的分析師吉恩?蒙斯特勇敢地跳了出來。他在本周早些時候發(fā)布了一篇報告，指出蘋果將在明年或更晚些時候推出一款“可佩戴式計算機”。

????明斯特認為，“可佩戴式計算機”有望成為未來主流的科技趨勢，同時成為蘋果一個重要的全新收入來源。除了手表，還有不少新設備也將可以佩戴。蘋果手表和即將上市的谷歌（Google）增強現(xiàn)實眼鏡Project Glass很像，后者能實現(xiàn)許多智能手機的功能，例如打電話、發(fā)短信、上網沖浪和語音控制等。

????蒙斯特同時指出，由于這些蘋果新設備的功能和iPhone相差無幾，市場對iPhone和平板電腦的需求將日益枯萎。它們可能在10余年后退出市場。“從長遠看，眼鏡或投影儀的屏幕將取代智能手機和平板電腦上的屏幕，”明斯特寫道。他表示，這些新設備的價格有望比iPhone更便宜，它們將成為蘋果切入新興市場的最有力武器。

????有一點可以肯定：各式各樣的可佩戴式計算機終將走向統(tǒng)一。從谷歌頻頻曝光的增強現(xiàn)實眼鏡到耐克（Nike）的Nike+系列產品，再到捷波朗（Jawbone）的UP手環(huán)，我們可從中一窺該技術的前景：有朝一日，我們的一舉一動都能被記錄和圖表化。技術還在不斷進步，電池續(xù)航時間越來越長，感應器越做越小，無線模塊越來越便宜，安謀科技（ARM）、高通（Qualcom）和英特爾（Intel）等公司正推動電子元器件嵌入我們的衣服和配飾中。

????有趣的是，蒙斯特甚至預想，在可佩戴式計算機的流行方面，可能會出現(xiàn)男女有別的趨勢。如果iWatch設計得比較大，那么它肯定更受男性用戶的歡迎。蒙斯特稱：“女性用戶不大可能佩戴這種手表，因為女式手表通常小巧玲瓏、凸顯時尚。”真的是這樣嗎？還是明斯特在搞性別歧視？你自己拿主意吧。

????Could Apple be developing an iWatch?

????The blogosphere speculated over the holidays, and now Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has come right out and said as much, stating in a report out earlier this week that the company will eventually come out with a "wearable computer" next year or later.

????Munster views the "wearable computer" as a major future tech trend and one significant, untapped revenue stream for Apple (AAPL). A watch could be just one of several new products worn on the body. The idea is much like Google's (GOOG) upcoming augmented reality eyewear, Project Glass, that lets users to do things contemporary smartphones already do, like place voice calls, text, search the Web, and navigate via voice control.

????Munster also argues that since these Apple devices would perform closely enough to the iPhone, the need for the iPhone itself or tablet could become null and void. Timeframe for extinction: Over the next 10-plus years. "Longer term, screens in glasses or projectors could replace the necessity of a screen from a smartphone or tablet," writes Munster, who argues they're likely to be cheaper than an iPhone and could ultimately be Apple's best answer to addressing emerging markets.

????One thing is for sure: the disparate strands of wearable computing are finally starting to come together. Aside from Google's much publicized glasses, Nike's (NKE) Nike+ series of productsas well as Jawbone's UP band give a glimpse into a potential future when every movement is tracked and tabulated. Advances like longer-lasting batteries, smaller accelerometers, and cheaper radio components also have firms such as ARM (ARMH), Qualcom (QCOM), and Intel (INTC) driving the push to stitch circuitry into clothing and apparel.

????Interestingly enough, he also envisions a potential gender divide when it comes to the popularity of wearable computers. If an iWatch is designed on the larger side, it could prove more popular with men than women. Says Munster: "It is less likely women will embrace them given women's watches tend to be smaller with a greater emphasis on fashion." Truth or just plain sexist? You decide.