Google has finally itself entered the booming wearable technology market with a bang by announcing the Android Wear, the platform’s extension to wearables.
The first devices running on this platform, as you would expect, will be smartwatches, announced by Motorola and LG.
The version of the OS which is specifically made for wearables isn’t too similar to the mobile OS, but mainly provides you with all the updates you want wherever you go on your wrist.
The main features of the watch will be as follows:
- Providing useful information just when needed: The watch will provide you with all the latest news and updates. While going to your work or in the morning, it will notify you with the weather, the reminders you have, the routes you’ll take and your updates.
- Integration with Google Now: Android Wear circulates around Google Now. This is how you’ll respond to your notifications and do your input. The watches will also be able to answer your general knowledge questions with a simple search of the web. The watch can also tell you scores, send texts, call people and set alarms using this function.
- Better fitness tracking: The latest breed of smartwatches revolve a lot around this feature and the Android Wear ones will be no exception. With them, you’ll be able to get your real-time speed, fitness summaries, your daily planning and distance/time data right on your wrist.
- A second screen to other devices: Obviously, the watches will be able to tightly integrate with your phone or other devices. They’ll be able to cast stuff to your TV or control the music player on your phone.
For developers, Google has already released the Developer Preview so they can tailor their existing apps to the Android Wear devices. Partners such as Asus, HTC, LG & Samsung; chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Qualcomm and MediaTek; and fashion brands such as the Fossil Group will be working to bring wearables to the market by the end of the year.
Initial watches on Android Wear by Motorola and LG
The first breed of smartwatches running on Android Wear have already been announced.
Motorola’s watch, the Moto 360, is distinct in that unlike competing products which are squarish, it is round like any ordinary watch. (Not that square faces aren’t ordinary but still.) The watch is made of premium quality materials, with the goal to bring you your latest notifications to you in an instant. It is also tightly integrated with Google Now.
LG’s G Watch is a bit lesser captivating in that it has the usual square design. It will come with a 1.65″ 280 x 280 display, with 512 MB RAM and 4 GB memory. Not much else is known of these smartwatches but we’re expecting to get more soon.
Will be helpful in examination hall. :-)