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Go-go Gadget watch? Apple posts job ad for 'flexible display' bod

Recent posting sought 'senior optical engineer'

Apple has pulled a job advert looking for a flexible display expert just a week after it was posted.

The fruity firm placed an advert on its American site on 1 April which said it had a role as a "senior optical engineer" that needed to be filled.

The notoriously secret firm has not revealed why it binned the message, but it is likely to have either found the right candidate or wants to keep its latest product a secret from the world.

Apple's advert is likely to fuel suspicions that Cupertino is trying to develop an iWatch, which would rely heavily on flexible display technology.

The advert said: "Apple Inc is looking for a display specialist to lead the investigation on emerging display technologies such as high optical efficiency LCD, AMOLED and flexible display to improve overall display optical performance."

Rumours that Apple is interested in developing a wearable device have been swirling for several months.

Two patent applications point to Apple's future plans. The first is for an "electronic device with a wrap around display". This would allow Apple fans to view the screen from anywhere on the device.

Another patent is for a "bi-stable spring with flexible display". This patent is for a wristwatch-type device with flexible display which can be "easily worn in a number of convenient locations."

Industry observers see any watch-style device as a potentially game-changing innovation. Apple's cloud expertise is likely to boost the usefulness of any wearable device, as the iCloud is likely to be a crucial factor in syncing data between larger devices and the smaller iWatch.

The fruity firm's arch-rival, Samsung, is rumoured to also be developing a smartwatch, which will be at an automatic disadvantage against the iCloud-enabled offering from Apple. ®

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