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GOOGLE HAD LONG been linked with smartwatches and wearable tech, thanks to its development of Glass, but now it’s officially entered the wearable tech market with Android Wear.
As the name suggests, Android Wear brings Google’s smartphone OS to wearable devices, starting off with smartwatches.
The interface and style of Android Wear will be familiar to those who use Google Now, showing you information that’s both context sensitive (weather, journey times, cinema times) and notifications from messages and email.
On top of that, the OS is controlled through swipe gestures and voice controls, and also has music and fitness apps designed for watches.
(Video: GoogleMobile/YouTube)
Google says it’s working with a number of companies such as manufacturers, chip makers and fashion brands, to bring smartwatches powered by Android Wear later this year.
Developers will be able to download a preview version so they can tailor their apps notifications for the new service.
(Video: Android Developers/YouTube)
The first smartwatches to be powered by Android Wear will from LG and Motorola, the mobile company Google recently sold to Lenovo for $2.91 billion.
Neither company has revealed any concrete information about the Moto 360 or the LG G watch, apart from the functionality Google has already revealed, but both devices are expected to arrive in the US in the summer.
(Video: motorola/YouTube)
While the idea of smartwatches are growing, the devices have a number of barriers to overcome before they hit the mainstream.
The biggest one would be battery life tends to be poor for most smartwatches, only lasting a day or two before you need to charge again, and Android Wear smartwatches could face the same problems too.
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Now the generation that stopped wearing watches are going to srart wearing watches again. Progress.
Smart watches will never ever be popular… Simply because the screens are too small… A watch equipped with fitness apps maybe would do something but apart from that forget about it!
I’m thinking it’s because there’s nothing you can do with a watch that you cannot do with a phone.
Bit scary in how Google are dominanting IT. They will know everything and where and what we are doing scary stuff. But as usual millions of idiots will fall from it.
Sent from My Android Phone.
Another gimmick
Can you get one that lets you communicate with a self-driving black Trans-Am, that emerges from the trailer of a moving truck, to rescue you from quick sand? No? Not interested.
At this rate of technological advance, we may soon expect a watch that can tell the time 24 hours a day for at least part of a week. Oh brave new world!
I don’t want a smart phone on my wrist! I hardly use the watch on my wrist to tell the time as I look at the clock on the phone usually as someone is texting or emailing etc. I wear a watch cause it looks nice and some are a thing of beauty. There things are just plain ugly.
You probably shouldn’t buy one then!
Useful if I could just shrink my fat stubby fingers…sigh
I hear ya Jarlath, I hear ya
Haha easy to spot all the non visionary bah humbugs on here :) there are millions of useful ideas for smart watches. Some examples…. Reminder to take medication, sat nav, remote control for music on your phone….. I’m not going to give away any of the good ones I have though lol
You might as well get yourself microchipped.
Do we REALLY need this stuff? How many times do you check the weather – not like it helps anyway.
Is there any aspect of our life Google don’t want to know about and control. They can shove their watch up their arse.
Another Google product that won’t be available in Ireland
Watch screens are too small so you still need a phone. Need to develop more advanced tech integrating phone and watch and that won’t be easy.
Lame
Keyless activation to start your car, access your house…
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