iWatch Clone in China, Apple Acquires WiFiSLAM

Large companies such as Apple acquire smaller firms all the time. What happens to the technologies they buy is another story. Multiple sources are now reporting that Apple has purchased WiFiSLAM. It is an indoor navigation company that has developed ways for phones to determine users’ location indoors using WiFi signals. Google already offers indoor mapping in select locations, so this move is not a complete surprise. 

It remains to be seen how Apple will integrate this technology with its own offerings. The company did not hit it off the park with its own Maps application. But it is working hard to improve that app. While Apple has not commented on what it will do with WiFiSLAM’s technology, it is safe to say our future phones will more than likely be able to help us more with indoors navigation.

A couple of weeks ago we covered some of the best Bluetooth smartwatches around for those of you who simply can’t wait for the iWatch. It just happens that a company is already selling iWatch clones in China. The K1 iWatch has a 1.8 inch screen with 220×176 resolution and a VGA camera. It has a microSD card slot and is powered by Bluetooth technology.

Fake Apple devices seem to be quite common in China. This is clearly a cheap clone of what Apple iWatch might look like. Apple’s watch will be shiny and more elegant though.