Android Wear changes name to 'Wear OS by Google'
Google announced that it has pivoted its wearables efforts towards "Wear OS by Google," calling it "a wearables operating system for everyone."
Google announced that it has pivoted its wearables efforts towards "Wear OS by Google," calling it "a wearables operating system for everyone."
In time for two new LG smartwatches, the Watch Sport and Watch Style, Google on Wedndesday launched Android Wear 2.0, an updated OS meant to put Android watches on par — or at least closer to par — with the Apple Watch. Here's how the new software compares with Apple's watchOS 3.
For the last developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 before its release next month, Google has reintroduced support for iOS devices, allowing users to pair their wearable devices to an iPhone or iPad.
LG and Google's next-generation Android Wear smartwatch expected in early February is said to be adopting a Digital Crown — similar to the technology Apple pioneered in its wearable Apple Watch.
Taking a page from the simple customization of the Apple Watch, Google on Tuesday announced it is launching a new lineup of Android Wear bands that can be easily replaced to give a wearable device a fresh look.
The wearable smartwatch market will continue to grow for the foreseeable future, research firm IDC believes, with the Apple Watch forecast to continue earning the most sales through the year 2020.
The Apple Watch was far and away the most popular smartwatch during 2015, accounting for about 51.5 percent of shipments, or 8.8 million units, according to a Jupiter Research estimate.
Apple's dominance of the growing wearables market will continue for the foreseeable future, market research firm IDC projected on Thursday, forecasting that the Apple Watch will control the lion's share of the smartwatch market through the year 2019.
In announcing Android Wear for iOS on Monday, Google noted users can track steps, calories and other biometric readings in-app, but failed to confirm HealthKit compatibility. It has since been learned that Google chose not to integrate with Apple's platform, instead opting for its own Google Fit service.
Google on Monday announced Android Wear for iPhone, bringing support for the search giant's wearable device platform, as well as select devices, to Apple's best selling handset.
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.
Presenting Tuesday at the annual Intel Developer Forum, fashion brand Fossil teased its first competitor to the Apple Watch, a device that will run Google's Android Wear platform.
Some rival smartwatches, such as the Android-based Moto 360, saw significant price cuts on Friday in a bid to keep up sales in the wake of Apple opening preorders for the Apple Watch.
Google is almost ready to bring support for Android Wear devices to the iPhone, but public availability will be dependent not only on Apple approval but whether Google decides to release it, a new report claims.
At today's inauguration of the Baselworld 2015 watch and jewelry expo in Switzerland, watchmaker TAG Heuer announced a partnership with Google and Intel on a new luxury smartwatch, due to launch sometime before the end of 2015.
In yet another sign that the forthcoming Apple Watch is poised to shake up the wearables market in a big way, the average smartwatch sold in 2014 for just over half of the Apple Watch's $349 starting price.
Though Google and its manufacturing partners hoped to get the jump on the Apple Watch with the debut of its own wearable platform last year, it didn't translate into blockbuster sales to consumers, according to a new study.
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