Android-powered smartwatches on the way
As promised, Google has officially announced its wearables strategy. It's called "Android Wear," and it's all about bringing Android to wearable tech, starting with smartwatches. Much like Google Now
on a smartwatch, Android Wear is designed to focus on timely
information, delivered when it's most relevant — Google's announcement
media mentions social updates, chat updates and notifications from
shopping and news apps, for instance.
Naturally the "OK Google"
keyword can also activate voice input, just as it does in the Google Now
Launcher, allowing you to get answers to spoken questions, or perform
other commends like sending text messages or setting alarms. That means
voice commands from Android Wear devices can also link back to your phone and, for example start music or movie playback.
And
as with rival watches from the likes of Samsung, Android Wear also has a
big fitness focus, allowing you to track calories burned, as well as
distance traveled, whether you're walking, running or cycling.
For
developers, there's a new section on the Android Developers site
focusing on getting apps' notifications ready for Android Wear
smartwatches, however Google says because the platform hooks into
Android's existing notifications system, many apps will work as-is.
And
while Google itself hasn't announced a "hero" smartwatch device, it
says it's working with OEMs including Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola and
Samsung to create devices, chipmakers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel,
Mediatek and Qualcomm — and fashion brands such as Fossil Group to
launch Android Wear smartwatches "later this year."
Hot on the heels of the Android Wear announcement, we've also got news of the first Android-powered smartwatches from LG and Motorola
[Source: Google's Android blog.]
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