Android Wear

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Android Wear is a version of Google's Android operating system designed for smartwatches and other wearables.[8][9] By pairing with mobile phones running Android version 4.3 or newer, or iOS version 8.2 or newer with limited support from Google's pairing application,[10] Android Wear integrates Google Now[11] technology and mobile notifications into a smartwatch form factor. It also adds the ability to download applications from the Google Play Store.

Android Wear supports both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi [12] connectivity, as well as a range of features and applications. Watch face styles include round, square and rectangular. Released devices include Motorola Moto 360,[13] the LG G Watch,[14] and the Samsung Gear Live.[15] Hardware manufacturing partners include ASUS, Broadcom, Fossil, HTC, Intel, LG, MediaTek, Imagination Technologies, Motorola, Qualcomm, Samsung, Huawei and TAG Heuer.[16]

In the first six months of availability, Canalys estimates that over 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches were shipped.[17] As of 15 January 2016, Android Wear had between one and five million application installations.[18] Android Wear was estimated to account for 10% of the smart watch market in 2015.[19]

History and Compatibility

The platform was announced on March 18, 2014, along with the release of a developer preview. At the same time, companies such as Motorola, Samsung, LG, HTC and Asus were announced as partners.[20] On June 25, 2014, at Google I/O, the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch were launched, along with further details about Android Wear. The LG G Watch is the first Android Wear smartwatch to be released and shipped. Motorola's Moto 360 was released on September 5, 2014.

Most smartwatches either require a mobile and require it support and be running a minimum version of a mobile operating system - iOS, Android or Windows - or are entirely incompatible with a given mobile. [21]

On December 10, 2014, an update started to roll out, adding new features including a watch face API and changed the software to be based on Android 5.0 "Lollipop".[22]

The LG G Watch and Gear Live started shipping in July 2014, while the Moto 360 began shipping in September 2014. The next batch of Android Wear devices, which arrived at the end of 2014, included the Asus ZenWatch,[23] the Sony SmartWatch 3,[24] and the LG G Watch R.[25] As of March 2015, the latest Android Wear devices are the LG Watch Urbane,[26] and the Huawei Watch.[27]

On August 31, 2015, Google launched pairing application for iOS version 8.2 or newer, allowing limited support for receiving iOS notifications on smartwatches running Android Wear.[28] As of September 2015, only the LG Watch Urbane and Huawei Watch are supported, but Google announced support for more smartwatch models.[10][29]

Features

You can enable or disable the screen always on feature as well as activate the "tilt to wake screen" setting,[30]to automatically light up the screen when you lifted your arm and turned the screen towards you.[31]

Users can find directions by voice from the phone, choose transport mode, including bike, and start a journey. While traveling, the watch shows directions, and will even use tactile interaction to indicate turns by feel, obviating the need to look at ones phone, or even watch screen.[32]

Via Google Fit, and similar applications such as Moto Body, Android Wear supports ride and run tracking ("OK Google, start a run"), heart activity can be sampled automatically through the day or on demand ("OK Google, what's my heart rate"), step-counting, calorie expenditure etc. are all active. These features work within the Fit ecosystem, allowing integration with companion devices and applications such as Withings Smart Body scales for weight monitoring. The watch reinforces achievements with cards noting goal attainment, when a goal is near, summaries of heart, and body activity.[33]

Users can use their Android Wear Watch to control their phone. Music can be requested (for instance, "OK Google, play the Rolling Stones"). The screen then shows a card for play-control, volume, skip, media images, allowing music to be controlled from the wrist with the user free to move.[32]

Notifications

The vibration engine alerts users about important notifications originating from a user-selectable set of applications. Wear provides multiple options for replying, including Google Voice for dictating responses to email (including third-party email applications like Type), and spoken or drawn emoticons.

Intelligent notifications from Google Now are supported including traffic, flights, hotel check-in, meeting alerts, location- and time-based reminders, weather and sport, stocks, flight status, boarding passes, restaurant bookings, etc.[32]

Users can receive messages sent to them via Google Hangouts, and respond with a voice message.[34] Users can also set the alarm by using 'Okay Google' on Android Wear. Currently new SMS can be initiated from the watch. Wear 5.1.1 supports drawing to reply, which uses AI to interpret the user's sketch as an emoji character. Search by voice is fully supported. Google Now searches such as "How tall is Nicole Kidman" result in Knowledge Graph cards appearing on screen, with options to open the search result on another device.[22]

If the phone's camera app is activated, the screen is relayed to the watch, and the user can control the shutter, and view photos on the watch. Third-party applications support using the phone camera as a streaming device, or more varied camera control.

Events appear as cards on screen. "OK Google, show my agenda" will display the user's agenda. Watch faces also support marking out appointments (for instance with contrasting color to show periods with an appointment, and/or illuminating a lighted "count-down" line for upcoming appointments.[32]

Note taking is fully supported via Google Keep and other note-apps, as is marking-off check lists etc. Via voice commands such as "OK Google, remind me to call Roy at work", or "Remind me to baste the chicken in 25 minutes" the user can create location and time-based reminders, set alarms, timers etc. which appear on the watch at the appropriate time or place.[9]

Many applications has been released, with developers such as Evernote etc. creating new functionality on the watch: for instance, handing-off notes to the watch screen when the user turns off their phone screen. Location-based applications like Foursquare show suitable near-by venues, allow check-in etc.

Version History

Android Wear 1.0

The original version 1.0 was launched 25 June 2014 on Google I/O.

Android Wear 1.3

Version 1.3 was launched 20 August 2015. The main new update was the addition of interactive watch faces.[35] This version of Android Wear, based on Android 5.0 Lollipop, added new features such as Wi-Fi connection (to compliment the Bluetooth on capable models), and introduced improvents in speed and battery life.

Android Wear 1.4

Version 1.4 which is based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, was launched on the 4th of February 2016. The most important new features included more gestures, the ability to send voice messages directly from the watch, and speaker support (for calls, music etc.).[36]

Android Wear 2.0

Version 2.0 was announced at Google I/O 2016 on 18 May 2016.[37] New features include standalone apps, which can be downloaded directly from a watch running Wear 2.0 using the Google Play Store for Watch, handwriting recognition, a keyboard, dark background for OLED watch displays and a new, redefined circular user interface. The Wear 2.0 Preview supports only the LG Watch Urbane Second Edition LTE and Huawei Watch currently. The preview is available now at g.co/Wearpreview [38]

List of Android Wear Devices

See also

References

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External links

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  17. ↑ Just 720,000 Android Wear smartwatches shipped last year. Engadget. Retrieved 11 FEBRUARY 2015.
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  21. ↑ http://smartwatches.org/compatibility/
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  30. ↑ [1]Android Wear tips and tricks: The ultimate guide
  31. ↑ 'Tilt to wake screen' Setting
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  35. ↑ http://officialandroid.blogspot.nl/2015/08/android-wear-stay-connected-with.html
  36. ↑ http://officialandroid.blogspot.nl/2016/02/android-wear-designed-for-your-wrist.html
  37. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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