Google Introduces Android Wear, the OS for Smartwatches

Google is entering the wearables market with a…nope.. not another smartwatch, but a smartwatch OS called Android Wear and it has already released the software development kit (SDK) to let developers do their thing. Android Wear will power small devices that can be worn on the body.

It will have Google Now integration, offer multi screen functionality and offer information that you need when you need it. And just like smartwatches you will be able to get daily, weekly or monthly fitness summaries that will even tell you to get active if you’ve been idling for long.

Android Wear is expected to do a host of things:

• Provide you with Info when you need it: Android Wear will support a wide variety of apps, which will provide you with notifications on the latest social updates, chat messages from your preferred chat messengers, calls received or missed, shopping notifications and more. You will also be able to act on those notifications such as call people back, reply to messages, retweet messages and so on.
• Engage with voice commands: Say “OK  Google” and ask a host of questions such as when your flight is taking off, or what’s the score or even if you want to make a hotel reservation, or call for a cab.
• Monitor your health and fitness: Your exercise regime will never go for a toss anymore, as you can wear your favorite fitness apps that will give you the stats such as speed, distance, and time of your cycling or walk.
• Do more with multiscreen options. Android Wear will even let you access and control other devices. With a voice command, you can start a music playlist, cast your favorite movie to your TV and so on.

Android Wear will soon become available on two devices, the LG G Watch and the Motorola Moto 360. The LG G Watch is expected to become available in the second quarter of this year and the Motorola Moto 360, by summer. The LG G Watch will be a rectangular smartwatch while the Moto 360 will be a perfectly round one. In a video interview, Motorola’s head of Consumer Experience Design, Jim Wicks indicated that the device’s face is roughly 46 mm in diameter and has the ability to auto-rotate so you can wear it on either wrist.

Features of Android Wear

• Interface: Circular or rectangular 50.3 x 32 x 8.4 mm
• Fitness and health monitoring
• Water Resistant
• App Friendly
• Voice control via Google Now
• Compatibility: Android 4.3+;
• Marketplace: Google Play
• Price: TBA
• Availability: Spring 2014

We will get to learn more about Android Wear at Google I/O that will happen on June 25th to 26th.