Rumours surrounding Apple's much-hypediwatch continue to appear online, with the latest suggesting the device will use wireless charging in order to cut out the need for a dedicated docking cradle.According to a report from Chinese media outletXueqiu, companies based in Shenzen have sent wireless charging coils to Apple for certification, with a view to providing them in volume for the iWatch as soon as they gain approval. This would imply the iWatch will ship with some kind of charging plate, as no current iPhone or iPad includes wireless charging capabilities.Wireless charging seems like a logical progression for wearables, as currently smart watches like Samsung's Gear 2 have to be docked into a charging cradle every few days to fill it back up with juice. The cradle itself is tiny, fiddly to attach and easily lost - something that wouldn't be an issue with a wireless charging plate.Previous rumours indicated Apple was aiming to be able to charge the iWatch from up to one meter from the charging plate; this would be a major improvement over existing wireless charging systems, which have to maintain physical contact with a charging plate in order to make a circuit. Battery life in general is apparently a sticking point for Apple, with prototype devices lasting between one and two days but company executives demanding up to five days of use on a single charge.The report suggests that Apple is looking to launch the iWatch in the second half of this year, which would line up with the September reveal date long expected for theiPhone 6. When it does arrive, the iWatch is expected to contain multiple sensors to let it track health metrics such as heart rate and sleep quality, which will be stored in iOS 8's Healthbook app.
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