Google unveils Android Wear: a version of Android for smartwatches

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Concept video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrqZl2QIz0c
Developer preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xQ3y902DEQ

Most of us are rarely without our smartphones in hand. These powerful supercomputers keep us connected to the world and the people we love. But we're only at the beginning; we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology. That’s why we’re so excited about wearables—they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word.

Android Wear: Information that moves with you
Today we’re announcing Android Wear, a project that extends Android to wearables. And we’re starting with the most familiar wearable—watches. Going well beyond the mere act of just telling you the time, a range of new devices along with an expansive catalogue of apps will give you:

Useful information when you need it most. Android Wear shows you info and suggestions you need, right when you need them. The wide variety of Android applications means you’ll receive the latest posts and updates from your favorite social apps, chats from your preferred messaging apps, notifications from shopping, news and photography apps, and more.

Straight answers to spoken questions. Just say “Ok Google” to ask questions, like how many calories are in an avocado, what time your flight leaves, and the score of the game. Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm.

The ability to better monitor your health and fitness. Hit your exercise goals with reminders and fitness summaries from Android Wear. Your favorite fitness apps can give you real-time speed, distance and time information on your wrist for your run, cycle or walk.

Your key to a multiscreen world. Android Wear lets you access and control other devices from your wrist. Just say “Ok Google” to fire up a music playlist on your phone, or cast your favorite movie to your TV. There’s a lot of possibilities here so we’re eager to see what developers build.



Developer Preview
If you’re a developer, there’s a new section on developer.android.com/wear focused on wearables. Starting today, you can download a Developer Preview so you can tailor your existing app notifications for watches powered by Android Wear. Because Android for wearables works with Android's rich notification system, many apps will already work well. Look out for more developer resources and APIs coming soon. We’re also already working with several consumer electronics manufacturers, including Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung; chip makers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm; and fashion brands like the Fossil Group to bring you watches powered by Android Wear later this year.



We're always seeking new ways for technology to help people live their lives and this is just another step in that journey. Here’s to getting the most out of the many screens you use every day—whether in your car, in your pocket or, very soon, on your wrist.

Posted by Sundar Pichai, SVP, Android, Chrome & Apps
Click to expand...

http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sharing-whats-up-our-sleeve-android.html
 
Now the real war on your wrist begins:

BjBYgD5IUAAKEI0.png


Android Wear: Information that moves with you
Today we’re announcing Android Wear, a project that extends Android to wearables. And we’re starting with the most familiar wearable—watches. Going well beyond the mere act of just telling you the time, a range of new devices along with an expansive catalogue of apps will give you:

Useful information when you need it most. Android Wear shows you info and suggestions you need, right when you need them. The wide variety of Android applications means you’ll receive the latest posts and updates from your favorite social apps, chats from your preferred messaging apps, notifications from shopping, news and photography apps, and more.

Straight answers to spoken questions. Just say “Ok Google” to ask questions, like how many calories are in an avocado, what time your flight leaves, and the score of the game. Or say “Ok Google” to get stuff done, like calling a taxi, sending a text, making a restaurant reservation or setting an alarm.

The ability to better monitor your health and fitness. Hit your exercise goals with reminders and fitness summaries from Android Wear. Your favorite fitness apps can give you real-time speed, distance and time information on your wrist for your run, cycle or walk.

Your key to a multiscreen world. Android Wear lets you access and control other devices from your wrist. Just say “Ok Google” to fire up a music playlist on your phone, or cast your favorite movie to your TV. There’s a lot of possibilities here so we’re eager to see what developers build.
Click to expand...

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/03/sharing-whats-up-our-sleeve-android.html
 
So gaming side has VR wars

And Tech/OT side has Watch wars

Interesting to see when Apple finally jumps in, though I'm never buying any of these
 
Whoever nails round screen, normal size and a week long battery wins. But I imagine that's at least three years into the future.
 
Neat. I'd prefer to have glass over this but I'm sure this, phones and glass will converge in the future.
 
google glass, google wear and google phones. i dont know man. of course i would love to have it all. on the other hand its scary to see how far electronics have come. basically owning the whole body.
 
Guess it will largely depend on how good the voice recognition is. Doesn't seem like you could type a reply in a traditional way.
 
Yeah, watching people talk to their watches is going to be bluetooth earpiece level of annoying on the tram/train,
 
Looks cool but will only be useful if you live in Silicon Valley or something. Good luck using this in Europe or in countries that speak more than one language. At this point, I'd rather just use my phone since the benefits of using this are not good enough for me.
 
There are situations where speaking to it would be useful, and the now cards being the backbone could make it seem not half baked at launch but I prefer my pebble.
 
The 'open garage' at the end is a big hint, in my opinion.

Google Now API to be announced at I/O (or earlier) this year.
 
None of that shit improves your day to day life other than maybe the texting to the watch, but i'm not going to "ok google show me dem floppy titties" while i'm in public.


35 minutes to work? who the fuck doesn't know how long they have till they need to get to work after the first 3 days of driving there.


I guess maybe i just still have issues with google now and its usefulness.
 
Honestly, the best news to come out of this is that Fossil has partnered up. Finally a watch company making watches with tech rather than tech companies trying to make watches.

Kinitari said:
The 'open garage' at the end is a big hint, in my opinion.

Google Now API to be announced at I/O (or earlier) this year.
Click to expand...

Sweet!! I hope you're right.
 
Zeppu said:
Honestly, the best news to come out of this is that Fossil has partnered up. Finally a watch company making watches with tech rather than tech companies trying to make watches.
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Yup. Smart Watches won't become big until they actually look like normal watches.
 
I hope that some of these companies go the route of nesting an LCD inside of a traditional looking watch body (which the rounded watch appears to be emulating).
 
Darkangel said:
I still don't understand the point of smart watches. Why not just use your phone?
Click to expand...

Because it's in your pocket.

I love the concept of Google Now but having to pull it out of my pants to manually check for notifications kind of negates the purpose of a notification. If it's on my wrist, though? That makes alerts actually capable of "alerting" me. I am pretty on board with this, honestly. Especially that round face watch, that shit is sexy as hell.
 
Darkangel said:
I still don't understand the point of smart watches. Why not just use your phone?
Click to expand...

Because your phone is in your pocket, and your watch is on your wrist?

I eagerly await the day I can see my text messages without having to sit up straight and reach into my pocket.
 
I still don't really understand the lifestyle of the person that need this kind of shit... they tried to sell it like it's super useful to have all this info right there, like what mate? Weather? I have a window in my home! Another device for annoying alerts? Got a phone right here mate, it's not like i lose 15 min to check if the last email is useful or not, i am going to have to get the phone to answer anyway... Oh well, I could talk to my watch :\

thecharrr said:
My pebble looks nice, and can do way more things than a watch that's de-facto jewelry. Different markets of watch.
Click to expand...

Which one is it? Because even the steel ones are hideous, but well, that's subjective of course.

Halcyon said:
35 minutes to work? who the fuck doesn't know how long they have till they need to get to work after the first 3 days of driving there.
Click to expand...

Lol, it could be a traffic jam i guess... but yeah, even them can't figure good examples of use for this.
 
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