A prototype of the original Apple Watch has leaked online, offering a rare look into the development of the now-famous smartwatch, which has sold millions of units worldwide.
AppleDemoYT took to Twitter to show off a prototype unit, which was built so developers could test an early version of watchOS. It’s thought that the Apple Watch (without its straps) is inside of a security case, hence its large form factor, though the final shot shows the Apple Watch outside of its case, sporting the familiar rounded-edge square design we know today.
The shots show off an early version of watchOS, though it’s interesting to note that very little has changed since the development of the device pre-2014. For example, some of the menus look the same as they do in watchOS 7, released in September 2020, demonstrating the staying power of the user interface and the success of the operating system thus far.
Although we don’t know exactly when the watchOS build is from, it’s likely to be 2013. Apple unveiled the Apple Watch in late 2014, and the device then went on sale in 2015 worldwide.
My favourite UI development test screen on the Prototype Apple Watch. The “Springboard zoom” app (located in Lisa Tester) shows an interactive representation of the home screen. #appleinternal pic.twitter.com/qF7Ge9qd8D
— Apple Demo (@AppleDemoYT) December 27, 2020
Although the images offer very little in the way of new or insider information, they offer a nevertheless interesting look at the early stages of the Apple Watch testing phase. Eagle-eyed users will notice the Apple Lisa app, which references the company’s 1980s computer, and it appears that the Lisa app was used for internal debugging on the device.
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