Facebook announced today that it is changing its name to Meta, which reflects the company's "Metaverse" strategy for a mixed reality platform that will house all of the company's apps in one place. Meanwhile, an image of Meta's new smartwatch has surfaced online, revealing a device with a built-in camera.
The image, first reported by Bloomberg, was discovered within the company's app for its Ray-Ban Stories smart eyewear. The device, dubbed "Milan" in the code, features a huge display similar to the Apple Watch, although the latter lacks a camera.
Bloomberg says the image seen today may not be the final form that consumers view. It was located by app developer Steve Moser and shared with the publication. Nonetheless, it backs up previous reports concerning Facebook's work.
There will be a second, detachable camera if this is the identical watch that The Verge reported on in June. The front-facing camera, which has a 1080p resolution, can be used for video calls. LTE will be supported by the watch.
According to those acquainted with the matter, Meta intends to debut its first watch "as early as 2022," although no decision has been taken. Mark Zuckerberg's company undoubtedly hopes to compete with the Apple Watch, with compatibility for both iOS and Android phones.
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a bigger display this year, but there are few other improvements in terms of appearance and hardware. According to rumors, the Apple Watch Series 8 will have new health sensors, such as a body temperature sensor, to make the product more appealing to those who haven't upgraded to Series 7.
Garmin, Samsung, Apple, and Google are the market leaders in smartwatches. To set itself apart, Facebook's solution is designed to closely resemble a smartphone.
During Thursday's Connect address, Zuckerberg threw several barbs at what he dubbed "closed platforms," likely referring to Android and iOS.
Facebook Inc. has been renamed and rebranded as Meta as of October 28, 2021. Zuckerberg claims that he has been considering changing the name of his company since acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014, respectively, but that he finally decided to do so in 2021.
