Prototypes of electronic gadgets are one of a company's best-kept secrets. Sure, some of them get leaked sometimes, but they're still in the company's possession and not anyone else's.
Fortunately (or unfortunately), that doesn't seem for Google this time around.
An unnamed source recently sent images to Android Central of what could be the prototype of Google's Pixel Watch, which was said to be left and found at a restaurant in the U.S.
The source asked the publication not to publish his name as well as the name and location of the restaurant where the prototype was found to protect his anonymity and their job.
How the Prototype Was Found
According to u/tagtech414, who was the one who leaked the Pixel Watch's prototype to Android Central, he decided to send the pictures he took to the publication because they thought Android Central would have "the most reach." They also added that they want to give them an exclusive look like one of their longtime followers.
u/tagtech414 would later open an Ask Me Anything (AMA) open forum at r/GooglePixel to share how he got hold of the prototype and other information following Android Central's publication of his photos.
According to the Reddit user, a friend of theirs — a bartender — found the prototype at the restaurant they were working at. They held it on for some time hoping someone would come back and claim it, but no one did. The bartender decided to give it to u/tagtech414 because he was fascinated by everything tech.
Google Pixel Watch Prototype Details
After looking at the prototype's photos closely, Android Central believes that the Google Pixel Watch could be released alongside the Google Pixel 7 smartphone during the Google I/O next month.
Android Central remarked that the prototype looks almost identical to the images from reliable leaker Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech. It has a minimalist design and has little to no bezels. It also has a rotating crown and potentially two hidden buttons. The Verge theorizes that these two buttons, which are found on either side of the watch's rotating crown, could be used to turn it on or off, return to the home screen, or even as a shortcut to view recently opened apps.
Additionally, the hole next to the crown could be a microphone or an altimeter sensor to track its user's stair climbing.
The watch's band is said to be a proprietary Google band and looks similar to the Apple Watch's sports bands. u/tagtech414 noted that the bands weren't included with the prototype due to their friend forgetting to attach them to it as they were packed separately.
Another thing u/tagtech414 said is that the prototype was dead and that no charger was left to charge it. Although it did have a small amount of charge left, the prototype could only be booted to that screen, which could mean that a full operating system wasn't loaded to the device.
Android Central noted that this kind of ploy is very similar to the event when Gizmodo reported about an iPhone 4 prototype that was lost at a bar.
This prototype was camouflaged to look like an iPhone 3GS.
Whether the Google Pixel Watch's discovery is a marketing scheme or an honest mistake of a Google employee is unclear.
