I’m dubious that Apple will release a smart ring, but the company continues to be granted patents for an “Apple Ring.” The latest is for a “ring input device with variable rotational resistance.”
About the ‘Apple Ring’
In a June 30 “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says it’s time for the long-rumored ‘Apple Ring” to finally arrive. However, I disagree.
Gurman said the Apple Watch doesn’t offer any real updates anymore. He thinks that a ring device would offer benefits including being more comfortable to wear and being, well, stylish.
My take
As I’ve said before, Apple already has enough products — both hardware and software — without adding another new category. In the past Apple canceled plans for making its own HDTV and an Apple Car (thought the company spent billions on the latter before it came to its senses).
Apple currently makes Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Vision Pros, HomePods/HomePod minis, and the Apple TV set-top box, as well as all the accompanying software and apps. The company also has a plethora of Services such as Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Books, etc.
Apple needs to concentrate on those products/services — and do some much-needed work/updates on, for example, the Apple TV set-top box and Apple Books. The company apparently has long-term plans for the Vision Pro and its follow-up devices. That’s a good thing. And it’s working to get its Apple Intelligence house in order.
Those items are enough on Apple’s agenda. No need to add yet another hardware device to the portfolio.
About the patent
The patent relates to a ring input device, and more particularly to variable rotational resistance mechanisms within the ring input device that modulate the rotational friction of a rotating outer band to improve the user experience.
In the patent Apple notes that many types of electronic devices are presently available that are capable of receiving input to initiate operations. Examples of such devices include desktop, laptop and tablet computing devices, smartphones, media players, wearables such as watches and health monitoring devices, smart home control and entertainment devices, headphones and ear buds, and devices for computer-generated environments such as augmented reality, mixed reality, or virtual reality environments.
Apple says that many of these devices can receive input through the physical touching of buttons or keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, touch panels, touch screens and the like. Some devices can also detect and receive input from objects such as a finger or stylus in close proximity to, but not physically touching, the device. To provide the convenience of being able to receive input at greater distances without having to be in close proximity to an object, many of these devices can also communicate wirelessly with other electronic devices, for example via Bluetooth or WiFi.
However, Apple thinks an Apple Ring would be even more convenient. Why? “Because finger rings are routinely worn and are often small, electronic finger rings can be employed as unobtrusive, everyday communication devices that are readily available to communicate wirelessly with other devices capable of receiving those communications,” the company says in the patent.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “A ring input device, and more particularly to variable rotational resistance mechanisms within the ring input device that modulate the rotational friction of a rotating outer band to improve the user experience, is disclosed.
“Because finger rings are often small and routinely worn, electronic finger rings can be employed as unobtrusive communication devices that are readily available to communicate wirelessly with other devices capable of receiving those communications. Ring input devices according to examples of the disclosure can modulate the rotational friction of its rotating outer band in accordance with an item (e.g., user interface or parameter) being manipulated by the band.”
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