Google launches Android Wear operating system for smartwatches

By admin On Mar 18, 2014

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Google has announced a version of Android called Wear that is intended to run on smartwatches. The software focuses on fitness, navigation and offers integration with Now. Motorola and LG have already announced smartwatches with Android Wear.

The new mobile operating system was announced via Google’s blog. It is a modified version of Android optimized for ‘wearables’, with an emphasis on smart watches. According to the internet giant, the software is aimed at fitness, such as tracking speed, time and distance during exercise. In addition, users can communicate by voice by saying “Ok Google”.

Users also receive notifications from apps when they have paired the smartwatch with a smartphone. For example, messages can be forwarded to the watch and updates from social networking sites are passed on. With this, Android Wear seems to offer similar functionality to existing smartwatch models, such as Samsung’s Gear series.

Manufacturers are working with Google to bring smartwatches with Android Wear to the market. Motorola and LG have announced that they will come up with smart watches with the OS. Google has released a demonstration video showing Motorola’s model. The model is round, just like a conventional watch and is called the Moto 360 by the manufacturer. The smartwatch should be available in the summer of this year, with most details about the specifications still missing.

LG announces that it will launch a smartwatch with Android Wear in the second quarter of this year; the LG G Watch. Furthermore, the manufacturer has not yet released anything about the specifications. Information about the hardware used should follow in the coming months, according to LG. Earlier, rumors indicated that it is a model with a 1.65 “screen and a resolution of 320×320 pixels.

In addition to LG and Motorola, Google states that more manufacturers have united behind Android Wear. Asus and Samsung would also work on smartwatches with Android Wear. Samsung recently announced the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo with its own Tizen operating system.

Android Wear is currently available as a developer preview. Developers can download the preview to make their apps suitable for the new operating system. Google will later make APIs available to developers. When the final version of Android Wear will be released has not been announced.