Roger Fingas
A deleted Amazon page for the upcoming Huawei Watch may add to evidence that Google is planning to make the Android Wear platform compatible with iOS devices.
The listing claimed that the Huawei Watch will ship Sept. 2, and be compatible not just with "most devices" running Android 4.3 or later but also iOS 8.2, according to The Verge. The wording leaves open the possibility of pairing with an iPad or iPod touch, although that would be of limited usefulness even on 4G-equipped iPads.
Previous rumors have pointed to Google working on iOS support for many months, but a device shipping with the technology as soon as Sept. 2 would come as a surprise announcement. The Amazon listing was presumably a mistake, whether in terms of its quoted release date, iOS compatibility, or being posted too early.
To bridge the gap between platforms, Google could release a companion iOS app capable of pushing notifications and Google Now cards to a watch, as well as processing voice commands. Some functions might be dependent on having other Google apps installed as well, such as Gmail.
Android Wear devices have sold relatively slowly, especially in light of Apple Watch estimates, but could gain a much larger audience if they were suddenly compatible with both major smartphone platforms. The Apple Watch is so far iPhone-exclusive, with no signs that an Android app is in the works.
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55 Comments
Thant thing is pretty ugly.
The wording leaves open the possibility of pairing with an iPad or iPod touch, although that would be of limited usefulness even on 4G-equipped iPads.
No doubt pairing with an iPad would have limited usefulness to a device like the ?Watch, when contemplating all of its features, but ultimately how useful such a pairing would be depends on the users needs.
The ?Watch can already do a whole bunch of things without an iPhone: Tell Time, provide alarms and reminders, Provide a map and directions, track fitness, play music, ?Pay, and check some notifications at the local Starbucks where you once used your phone. With the addition of Watch OS2, presumably there will be even greater autonomy than at present, especially with native apps.
So what can't the ?Watch do without an iPhone? Make phone calls from it. Receive and respond to notifications everywhere your phone has service. Track a position using GPS? Some people simply don't have a need for that level of connectivity.
I see pairing with an iPad as a positive, since it expands the user base for the watch, especially if it's used primarily around the house or work, where presumably it can always be connected to the internet. If someone works in the field all day then this is obviously not ideal. But for many it would be.
What else are you gonna do? If you're Huawei, there's no money to be made in the phone business.
[quote name="sog35" url="/t/187918/pulled-huawei-watch-listing-may-back-claims-of-android-wear-coming-to-ios#post_2767450"]what iPhone owner would buy an Android Wear watch. [/quote] I think it's very likely. Don't think of a potential Android Wear device as being a direct competitor to the Apple Watch, but something more niche that just happens to run Android. For example, a robust medical device that uses Android as the base OS.
This was to be expected. The fact is, Apple's Watch will provide a better experience.