Tag Archives: Android Wear

Samsung Android Wear Smartwatch Could Be the Surprise of Google I/O 2014

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Samsung Android Wear Smartwatch

Not long ago, it looked like the South Korean tech giant would keep its family of smartwatches Android-free, but according to recent rumors, the company might have a surprise for us in the form of an Android Wear smartwatch, which would be launched at Google I/O 2014.

After launching 3 Tizen OS wearables and leaving the impression that it was severing its relationship with Google, Samsung returned the search giant to the BFF status. The Android Wear smartwatch that Samsung will launch on June 25 and 26 is said to be similar in functionality to the ones running Tizen OS, and the design shouldn’t differ much, either.

In terms of hardware, rumor has it that there will be two versions, one based on Samsung’s own chips (a new version of Exynos, I assume), and another based on Qualcomm. At the time being, it is unknown which of the two will be showcased at Google’s event. If I were to take a guess, I’d say that the Korean company would take more pride in launching a device based on its own chip.

While the Korean company didn’t specifically say that it has an Android Wear smartwatch in the works, it did mention that it’s continuously looking to innovate, and a device based on a version of Google’s mobile operating system that’s specifically tailored for wearables would be a firm proof of that. Moreover, sources close to the company stated in an interview with Cnet that there is a tiny possibility that all the attendants at Google I/O 2014 might receive a Samsung Android Wear smartwatch.

Unlike LG and Motorola, which will also be launching Android Wear smartwatches at Google’s event, Samsung has a lot more experience in this field, so it’s probably not wrong to assume that its product will outrank the others. On top of that, Samsung has made wearables based on more than just Android, so it has a different perspective on how things work.

Google definitely enjoys teasing us. Android Wear, the new version of its mobile OS built with wearables in mind, has been launched in March, but there are still no commercially available devices based on it. Things might change at the end of this week, when we’ll get to see at least to smartwatches running Android Wear. As far as Samsung’s new smartwatch is concerned, it remains to be seen if the rumors are true.

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MobileFun Leaks Moto 360′s Price, Surprises Us Pleasantly

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Moto 360, one of the two watches running Android Wear that will be launched this summer, was shrouded in secrecy until now, but thanks to MobileFun, at least we know how much this smartwatch is going to cost.

Google and its partners conceived the two Android Wear smartwatches with different audiences in mind, or at least that’s what the design lead us to believe. LG G watch comes in a rectangular shape, being more similar in design to Pebble, Galaxy Gear and Sony’s smartwatch (among many others), while Moto 360 maintains the classic lines of conventional watches. Both of them will sport never-seen-before features, as far as wearables are concerned, but Motorola’s device seems to be for the ones who aren’t just ready to give up on wristwatches with round cases.

MobileFun mentioned in a blog post on its UK site some of the features Moto 360 will come with. First of all, this wearable will be able to tell the time (fact that’s definitely unexpected, this being a watch), besides displaying notifications. It will also act as a fitness and sleep tracker. In terms of design, Moto 360 will be quite customizable, and there will be plenty of watch faces and wrist wraps available. Google Now will provide voice control and feedback on this smartwatch, and the only thing left to ask would be the ability to use it without having it connected to a smartphone.

As far as the price is concerned, MobileFun stated that Moto 360 will cost £199, the equivalent of roughly $279, which is lower than previously estimated. As smartwatch prices go, this is a bit on the expensive side of things, since even Pebble Steel is $220, as of yesterday. Still, Moto 360 can’t really be compared to Pebble, as it will sport more functions, and will most probably be compatible with more apps. If the battery life is at least decent, we might have in Moto 360 the winner of the smartwatch wars.

MobileFun is already taking pre-orders for the device, even though the device is not expected to be launch earlier than June 25, when the search giant will host the Google I/O conference. Until then, we can only speculate what the other specs of this smartwatch are.

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Kairos Aims to Create Best Smart Mechanical Watch

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As the popularity of wearables grows, there are still some gaps in current models.  A new startup seeks to add the missing ingredient to smartwatches.

It seems like a new smartwatch is announced or rumored every other day.  Most of these watches are all over the spectrum, from powerhouse computing on your wrist, to minimalist functionality.  All smart watches up to this point fail to provide a substitute for the most basic function of any watch: to tell the time without a regular charge.

This paradox puts most wearables in an awkward place.  A watch is first and foremost a time telling device.  If the battery on your smartwatch dies, it’s just an ugly bracelet.  The only reason to wear a smartwatch is for the functionality.  There has yet to be a smartwatch design that doesn’t sacrifice fashion for size and features.

That’s where Kairos comes in.  Kairos is a new startup that aims to close the canyon between mechanical and smart varieties of watches.  The Kairos smartwatch appears to be modern, reasonably fashionable–albeit, a little thick–mechanical watch, but hidden in the watchface is a transparent OLED display that lights up to provide the “smart” watch features when relevant

This design would be the penultimate of all smartwatches that have been announced yet, but it is important to note that all releases thus far are merely renders.  There is no functioning prototype to speak of, yet Kairos is taking non-refundable pre-orders for various models ranging from $499 to $1,199.  I, for one, will wait until I can get some hands on time, because the promise of this watch appears too good to be true, which likely means it is.

Kairos is attempting to produce a product that will contain the best of both worlds in its two halves, mechanical and smart.  It’s important to note that this is its first watch model of any type.  Kairos doesn’t have a smart watch or a mechanical watch currently on the market, so the ambition to produce a device that is on par with existing smart watches and mechanical watches may be a bit of a reach.  It would be one thing if this was a partnership with Citizen, Swatch, or Timex, but this is an independent venture, so it wouldn’t be surprising for this first foray to provide a product that is really the worst of both worlds.

However, Kairos may produce a surprise product when the watch is released this coming December.  At the very least, it serves as a great proof of concept.  Even if the device is unusable, somebody had to be the first to market and an improvement on the design will likely be out sometime in the next couple of years.

Source: The Verge

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Read more on Walyou, Startup Technology Could Extend Wearable Battery to a Month, The Quantified and Augmented Self

LG G Watch Comes to France in June for €199, Will Cost $199 in the US

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LG G Watch

LG France spilled the beans to French site Les Numerique regarding the launch and the price of the G Watch.

A few weeks ago, LG showcased the final design of its G Watch, which had only been featured sparingly in the Android Wear promo video. Now, the French subsidiary of the South Korean tech company apparently revealed the price that the G Watch will carry at launch, respectively €199. Judging by how gadgets are usually priced on the two sides of the pond, it’s easy to assume that in the US LG’s smartwatch will cost $199. The difference of about $76 is represented by taxes, and I will take advantage of this opportunity to thank the EU for making our lives easier… NOT!

The Android Wear promo video showed two smartwatches: a rectangular one that ended up being LG’s G Watch, and a round one, Moto 360, which was spotted in a video a couple of days ago. While I do think that a rectangular case makes much more sense when it comes to smartwatches, a round dial could make the transition from a classic design to a smart device. Despite all that, LG claims that it might still consider launching a rounded version of the G Watch, probably just for the sake of variety, since the functionality would not be altered.

Probably one of the best things about LG’s G Watch is the fact that it does not have any buttons. All of its functions are easily accessed via the 240×280 pixel 1.65-inch touchscreen display.

In terms of memory, the G Watch is not exactly impressive, as it comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Still, that is enough for a smartwatch, especially since the CPU isn’t actually built for multitasking.

If the predicted US price turns out to be true, then we’ll assist to a South Korean battle on the American continent, since the Samsung Gear 2 carries the same price tag. Aside from the slightly different technical specs, there is one important aspect that differentiates the two: LG G Watch runs Android Wear, while the Gear 2 is based on Tizen, Samsung’s proprietary mobile operating system.

Once the G Watch gets launched, a new era will begin for smartwatches, and the only sad thing is that Apple is not joining in… NOT!

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LG G Watch Priced at Under $300 Will Be Launched by July

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LG G Watch 01

The South Korean tech company confirmed that it will launch LG G Watch by July in the UK, and that the Android Wear-powered smartwatch will cost less than £180 or roughly $300.

This is not Google’s official smartwatch, but given LG’s recent collaborations with the search giant, one could say that the South Korean manufacturer received the blessing (or the license, if you prefer) for creating such a product. That’s definitely seems to be the case since LG G Watch will be one of the first devices to ever run Google’s newly launched Android Wear, a special version of the mobile OS particularly tailored for wearables. On top of that, when Google launched Android Wear, it claimed that it will work closely with LG, Motorola and Fossil to create smartwatches that will run this version of Android.

By the looks of it, LG representatives talked with Pocket-lint and revealed that the LG G Watch will be launched before July in the UK at a very affordable price, the equivalent of less than $300. Other than that, not much is known about the LG G Watch, except that the straps will be changeable. That’s a huge relief, as it means that people will be able to wear this smartwatch both casually and on more formal occasions.

LG also stated that it will also launch a round version in the future, the one launched by July being rectangular, as you can see in the pictures. In the promotional video for Android Wear showed a round smartwatch running the new version of the OS, but as far as I’m concerned, these wearables look better in a rectangular shape.

One major drawback of the LG G Watch is that it will be basically useless without a smartphone. Google and the manufacturers that will bring Android Wear devices into the world conceived this products as smartphone companions, and not as standalone products. Personally, I would love to see a smartwatch having GPS and various sensors (mostly for fitness), so I can use Endomondo on it even if I forgot my smartphone at home. I don’t care if the GSM features are stripped away (I noticed that some Chinese manufacturers are taking that route), as I only need it for other things than talking.

It remains to be seen how the LG G Watch will look and work when the company launches this product. Since Google will reveal Android Wear at the Google I/O conference in June, it’s quite probable that LG’s smartwatch will also be launched then.

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Sony plans to stick with its own smartwatch OS and avoid Android Wear

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The smartwatch wars are heating up with a number of companies offering smartwatches and several others coming to market soon. One of the companies that is trying to win users on the smartwatch market...

Smart Watch Industry to be Led by Google

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Android wearable devices by Google have been a boon for the smart watch industry. Sony, Samsung, Pebble smart watches are already available in the market. Besides Apple’s iWatch the entry of Google...

Google Announces Android Wear for Wearables, Launches Developer Preview for Smartwatches

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While mobile phones are pretty popular currently, the future lies with wearable technology. Examples of this include glasses and smart watches. They will allow for a seamless virtual environment...