Tag: Android Wear OS

Google Wear OS Is Now Official

Wear OS is now officially the moniker that Google will use for its smartwatch OS. The new branding will be available on a select number of smartwatches, which were running Android Wear.

Google and its smartwatch OS has been fighting a losing battle with Apple’s watchOS. Apple Watch and its three iterations have helped Apple become the biggest watchmaker in the world. In the fourth quarter of 2017, Apple shipped more Apple Watches than the entire Swiss watch industry. With such enormous popularity, it feels like it will take more than just rebranding for Google to revive Android smartwatches.

While the rebranding kind of resembles the moniker Apple uses, the features are not similar in any way. Google, so far, has not announced any new features that will hit the market. Prominent non-Apple smartwatch makers like Samsung now use their own OS instead of Wear OS. However, unlike an Apple Watch, a Samsung S Gear watch is compatible with other Android devices.

Apple Watch

The exclusivity of the Apple Watch almost plays into its favour. Apple has built a massively impenetrable ecosystem around its devices. Every iPhone owner who wants a smartwatch is automatically no longer a potential Android smartwatch customer. That is solely because an Apple Watch works more cohesively with an iPhone.

Just like the Android OS market, Android Wear OS market is extremely fragmented. From Samsung, Huawei to Fossil, Android Wear smartwatches are made by a lot of manufacturers. This means that the level of customisation and cohesion that an Apple Watch provides, an Android Wear smartwatch simply cannot.

Google, however, is definitely trying to make it work. The smartwatch industry is well on its path to become similar to the tablet industry. Where its either an iPad or nothing. But, for Google to prevent that, it will take more than just rebranding.

March 16, 2018
Google Might Rebrand Android Wear To Wear OS

Android Wear has long fought a losing battle against Apple’s Watch OS. Smartwatches are the most predominant variant of wearable smart devices and it seems like Google just can’t crack the code. In a bid to reignite the interest and anticipation around Android Wear, the company might be willing to change things up a bit. Google is planning to re-instate Android Wear under a new moniker called, “Wear OS”. In fact, the name resembles Apple’s “Watch OS“, which powers the Apple Watch.

A new screenshot from a Reddit page clearly mentions the name “Wear OS” with a new logo, similar to the Google Assistance. This change was spotted in the Google Play Services Beta 1.25 with the “Nearby” feature.

According to statistics, Android Wear OS holds 18% share in the smartwatch market while Apple dominates with more than 50% of the share. It is also worth noting that even Qualcomm has stopped working on chipsets that power smartwatches. In fact, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 2100 was the last Android Wear chipset, which was announced in April 2017.

Apple Watch Series 3

Apple has created a complete ecosystem, that works seamlessly with the Apple Watch, iPhone, and Mac. However, Google has failed to replicate that user experience of the smartwatch across the devices. However, Google and Android Wear has failed to replicate the same ease of use and fluidity across its devices. The Wear OS is expected to offer seamless integration with a new user interface.

Expected Debut of Wear OS

Google is expected to announce the Wear OS along with Android P at I/O 2018. Similarly, the company is expected to launch Google Pixel Watch along with the Pixel 3 smartphones in late 2018.

March 12, 2018
Google Gives Android Wear a New Look With the Latest Update

The search engine major is geared to update its smartwatch operating system that would bring Android-run watches a step closer to Apple Watch. Lately, Google announced to update Android Wear to bring a slew of new features that are simple, fast and would make Android watches convenient to use.

The foremost significant feature of the new update is the always-on mode that is now extended to the apps. With the update, Android Wear will support a low-power, always-on mode that would allow apps to stay in the background in black and white. The screen will remain on, showing just a minimal amount of data and will save the battery life as well. The feature is helpful especially with shopping lists, map directions, music controls and fitness apps. The screen turns back to full colour when the user is actively looking at it.

Google has reduced the dependability on your smartphone with the latest Android Wear update. The Android smartwatches can now operate independently “as long as your watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and your phone has a data connection.” Yes, the Android Wear now supports Wi-Fi. Users can move the smartwatch beyond the Bluetooth range of their handset, which was the only connecting medium until now. The Android Wear device will now receive notifications, send messages, and use all your favorite apps.

The fresh update will sort of change the way users interact with their smartwatch. Google has added a few gestures to improve usability. Now, one can scroll the screen up just by a flick of the wrist and don’t need to empty your hands to operate the watch.

The basic functionality of the watch has been simplified by bringing ahead the apps and contacts. Just touch the watch face and users can start send messages immediately and start apps.

Also, Google has added hand-drawn emoji support as a mode to communicate with your friends. Android Wear will understand the hundreds of different emojis drawn by you and send it via message or text.

The update will be coming over the next few weeks, starting with the new LG Watch Urbane. All the other Android watches will soon follow.

April 21, 2015
Google to Finally Add That One Important Missing Feature on Android Wear Smartwatches

Google has decided to fill the gap that makes its Android Wear software fall second in the wearables segment. According to a report by The Verge, the search giant is planning to bring Wi-Fi support to Android Wear software running on smartwatches. If the report is to be believed, then the extended support may come with the next software update.

The next update will diminish the fine line between the Apple Watch and Android Wear-powered wearables. Users can turn on Wi-Fi, and the Android Wear-powered smartwatches will get notifications and run Google Now even if the Bluetooth connection is not available. The new update will bring two additional tweaks – gesture control and improved UI.

The former tool allows users to swipe notifications and Google Now cards on the screen of the device without using the other hand. Despite, one can flick their wrist to do the same. The redesigned user interface was much needed in the Android-powered wearables. With the help of the tweaked UI, one can have easier access to applications and contacts. It will also get easier to switch between apps.

There are certain devices that come with built-in wireless, but because of this missing feature, the use of Android Wear-based wearables is limited. The new update will give a new dimension to a broad range of smartwatches like the Moto 360, the Asus ZenWatch, and the Samsung Gear Live.

This makes the upgrade of the Android Wear software much more crucial as users may consider switching to Apple Watch. Meanwhile, there is no information on when the company planning to release an update.

March 11, 2015
ASUS ZenWatch: The Best Smartwatch is Yet to Arrive!

India’s smartwatch shelves are filling up while major companies are releasing their models in the country. ASUS surprised everyone with its latest smartwatch at IFA Berlin this year. The ASUS ZenWatch is touted as the best Android Wear smartwatch in the market currently and it has received some rave reviews. The smartwatch looks real classy and has options for user-replaceable 22 mm watchband. The ZenWatch is expected to arrive soon to the Indian stores.

ASUS ZenWatch comes with a 1.63-inch 320×320 AMOLED display. The screen is curved to give off a 2.5D effect and the watch is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, along with a 512MB RAM.

The ZenWatch is stylish, classy and slim.

The feature that makes it desirable is the user removable 22 mm watchband. You can adjust its size according to your convenience. It is rated IP55 for water and dust-proofing, so it can tolerate accidental splashes. The ZenWatch also has a 9-axis sensor for tracking activities and movements like step counts, heart rate and relaxation levels. In short, it’s a personal wellness manager that helps users keep a close watch at their fitness goals.

ASUS has inducted several gesture controls and pre-loaded features on the device, and they set it apart from its competition. It provides features like unlocking your phone or tablet by tapping on the face of the ZenWatch, auto-opening a function you set with a double-tap. To mute the watch, you can just cover it. The device also helps you to find your phone and operate the camera remotely. However, for these feature to work, you are required to install a separate, ASUS-created Watch Manager app in addition to Android Wear on your companion device. But that won’t be too much trouble, and you’ll get used to its convenience really soon.

Overall, this is one heck of a device that you simply cannot miss. If you were still making up your mind on which smartwatch to buy, then the ZenWatch can be your no-second-thought-needed purchase.

November 5, 2014
Flipkart Launches the First Indian E-Commerce Android Wear App

All the industry giants are pointing towards wearable technology as the next leap in consumer electronics. But the market has given the segment a lukewarm response. It must have to do with the technology being relatively new and in its beginning stages. But Flipkart seems to be confident of the success of this form factor and so, they have launched the first Indian e-commerce app on Google Android Wear.

To get the app on your device; you need to update the latest version of the Flipkart app. Once you have paired the device with your wearable, the app will be available automatically on it.

The Android Wear app can assist you in your shopping by giving you tracking information, one-touch wishlist, notifications about price drop and personalized offers’ notifications. It has also got support for voice-based searches.

Flipkart is the exclusive address for the Moto 360, which has been the best smartwatch yet. It will surely try to target the segment in the future. Introducing an app in a new operating system environment will give Flipkart some first-mover advantages. We’ll wait and see how it works out for this e-commerce giant.

November 3, 2014
Com1 : A Powerful Smartwatch Designed To Take On The Giants

The Smartwatch market is heating up with the big brand such as Samsung, LG, Motorola and Asus bringing their versions of the wearable. Now using the open source awesomeness of the Android Wear operating system an indiegogo campaign is trying to bring its version of a powerful smartwatch. The Com1 has some competitive specs, and it can actually pose some serious challenge to its competition.

The Com1 has a squared clock face and as mentioned earlier is powered by the Android Wear OS. It gets its processing might from a 1GHz XBurst-based Ingenic JZ4775 processor. It has a Dedicated 2D graphics engine and is capable of playing 720p videos at 30 fps.

The Smartwatch also has massive 3GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC internal storage. It also offers a wide array of connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM and NFC.

The display on the device is a LED Backlit, 1.6,” 240 x 240 TFT LCD screen. It also has multiple sensors including 3-axis gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer with pressure, humidity and temperature sensors.It has a thickness of just 8mm.

The Com1 is IP67 certified

Like the Moto 360, Com1 comes with IP67 rating that certifies its water resistance. With this, you can go ahead with your daily tasks without worrying about the complicated electronics on your wrists getting affected by random splashes of water. It is waterproof up to 1m of water.

The Com1 has a 400 mAh Battery that the company claims will last for two days. It can be charged using the USB port on the watch.

There are multiple strap options to choose from.

To make the device more appealing to varied ages the makers also provide a selection of watch straps. The options available are; Black, White Brown Leather and Stainless Steel Strap. This will surely sweeten the deal for a person going on a lookout for a Smartwatch.

Google Now works on the device and so does all the Android Wear apps, after all it has some great RAM under the hood. The usual apps such as Music, Maps, Fitness, Hangouts, Google Keep and Calendar work automatically on the device.

These stylish devices can pose some serious threat to the big brand devices.

Overall this device does deserve a chance. If you are as impressed with the device as we are, you can pledge to the project at Indiegogo. With 28 days left, the company has got 6% of its required pledges. The company’s stretch goals of $80000 would bring Moto 360 like wireless charging on this device. With all the good specs and design features, the smartwatch is one of the cheapest out there. The company is giving out the early bird pledges at $125, and its most expensive watch costs $170 which is fairly cheap for what it offers. It will be shipped out in January 2015.

We hope to see this succeed to see some real competition to the giants. Devices like these will encourage the big name brands to make their devices better, so it will be a win-win for all. In its present state, the Com1 does show the potential of becoming the OnePlus One of the smartwatch market. We’ll know in 28 days if the hard work of the developers is realized.

September 9, 2014