Motorola, LG, ASUS and Huawei reportedly introducing new Android Wear watches at IFA
It has been a bit quiet around the Android Wear realm. Is Apple stealing all the thunder? The Cupertino giant did sell more smart watches in a day than the Android Wear manufacturers shipped in 2014, collectively. In fact, Strategy Analytics’ studies suggest about 75% of all Q2, 2015 smart watches came from the iPhone maker. The Apple Watch is a force to be reckoned with, and the silence among Android Wear manufacturers may simply signify they’re getting ready for a battle to come.
According to sources familiar with upcoming Android Wear launches, multiple companies are planning to take the stage and introduce their new Android-based wearables at IFA 2015. next week. These sources couldn’t tell us much about the upcoming products, but they did give us a few hints on the general plans.
Motorola is said to launch a successor to the Moto 360, which managed to be among the most popular devices during the first Android Wear wave, thanks to its circular screen and enticing design. Meanwhile, LG is said to be planning a device similar to the LG Watch Urbane LTE. And don’t worry, it seems this time around LG is opting to use Android Wear instead of WebOS.
We have already seen the upcoming Huawei and ASUS Android Wear products, so all we can hope for is to see more details in Berlin. The Huawei Watch (yes, that’s the name) is meant to be a “timeless” piece of technology with a classic design. It’s actually quite gorgeous, but some of you will prefer the ASUS ZenWatch 2, which was unveiled at Computex last June.
Will these new Android Wear devices be able to compete against Apple’s mighty watch? Most of us will side with Google’s partners, but the truth is it’s very hard to go against the Apple Watch – those guys have the numbers! And with Samsung possibly getting rid of Google’s software on the Gear S2 in exchange of their own Tizen platform, things are looking pretty tough.
All we can do is wait and see what happens at IFA. You can be sure we will be there catching all the goodies, so keep it tuned to Android Authority for all your wearable coverage!
Android Wear videos
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Deal: buy the ASUS ZenWatch for only $124
The ASUS ZenWatch 2 is on its way to store shelves, so it’s only natural that we are starting to see more deals on the previous iteration. The ASUS ZenWatch has already been available for $129.99 from Google, Amazon and Best Buy, in the recent past. The newest deal comes from Newegg, which is offering the Android Wear smart watch for only $124.
Is there a catch? Well… not quite. It’s not really a catch – it’s just that you do have to take multiple steps to get the price down to this level. For starters, you need to add your device to your cart and add the coupon code “VCO2015BTS”, after inputting your email. This will bring the price down to $139 (from $149).
You will also notice that the purchase already includes a $15 mail-in rebate. The customer will need to fill out and send the included form. This will effectively bring the price down to $124! Yes, it takes some steps and the process may be a bit annoying, but this is one of the best deals we have seen on this product.
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Now, the real question is whether you want to get the ASUS ZenWatch or prefer to wait for the second iteration. This is definitely a great deal, but it’s only for those who feel like the ASUS ZenWatch can really take care of all their wearable needs. Go ahead and read our full ZenWatch review to find out if this product will suit your needs. If it doesn’t, just head to our post on the best Android watches of 2015. One of them will be to your liking!
Is anyone signing up for this ASUS ZenWatch deal?
Batch of Android Wear smartwatches ready for IFA 2015
Despite quickly taking over the top spot for smartwatches, the Apple Watch has not been the roaring success some may have hoped for. Manufacturers of Android-based smartwatches have already discovered this truth, that the wearables market has not yet caught on fire, as shown by poor results for 2014 sales when only 4.6 million units were shipped. Nevertheless, several companies are preparing to introduce a new wave of smartwatches at the IFA 2015 show next week in Berlin, including ASUS, Huawei, LG and Motorola, with a heavy focus on the use of Android Wear for the operating system.
Google’s Android Wear has been on the market since 2014, but it is really only since the Apple Watch launch that the company had something to benchmark against in terms of delivering a superior user experience. The only other alternatives prior to that were solutions like Samsung’s Tizen that ran on their Gear devices or even the WebOS used by LG on the LG Watch Urbane, although these were very similar to what Android Wear was able to offer.
Strategy Analytics’ Neil Mawston has noted that “Apple Watch has clearly raised the bar for the global smartwatch industry. The ball is now in the court of rivals, like Samsung, to respond.”
Amongst the devices expected to be unveiled or put on greater display next week are the successor to the LG Watch Urbane, the new Huawei smartwatch, the ASUS ZenWatch 2, the next version of the Motorola Moto 360, and the Samsung Gear S2. Other companies will likely have something to offer for the wearables market as well.
source: CNET
Come comment on this article: Batch of Android Wear smartwatches ready for IFA 2015
Podcast 028: Marshmallow and Canadian bacon
Josh and Lanh had the chance to share their thoughts on the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ on episode 27 of the AA Podcast. In their absence this week, Jonathan Feist, Andrew Grush and Joe Hindy share their thoughts on Samsung’s newest large sized phones.
In this grab bag of an episode we also discuss a major Android Wear update, Project Ara, Alphabet and the official name for the next Android release, Android 6.0 Marshmallow. BlackBerry enjoys some airtime for their slide-out keyboard equipped Android phone and we dive into a potential killer of the self proclaimed ‘flagship killer’ – Lenovo may have outdone OnePlus at their own game. In the end, our conversation once again devolves into the topic of food. Spoiler alert: Canadian bacon is a lie!
The Android Authority Podcast – discussing topics in Android every week.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 announcement and hands-on first impressions
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ announcement and hands-on first impressions
Alphabet is the new Google umbrella
Android 6.0 Marshmallow is official
Project Ara delays until next year
Android Wear update with interactive watch faces
Lenovo backed Zuk Z1 smartphone
BlackBerry Venice Android phone
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Recorded on August 21th, 2015 – Hosted and Produced by Jonathan Feist for the vacationing Joshua Vergara
New Moto 360 wanders the streets of Chicago
With the expected launch of the next-generation Moto 360 rapidly approaching, we may have just gotten an early glimpse of the smartwatch in the wild.
Spotted by an eager eyed Reddit user, the second generation Moto 360 was seen around Motorola’s hometown of Chicago.
It’s incredibly early days as of yet so no word on specs, availability, or anything of the good stuff – only a glimpse of what could be the follow-up to the current Moto 360. It has been seen in two different colours: an all-black, as well as a cognac band and rose gold body.
The power button has been moved to the 2 o’clock position and will unfortunately, as confirmed by this sighting, retain the spare tyre, despite being noticeably smaller than the previous model.
Source: DroidLife
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LG G Watch R gets Wi-Fi in new Android Wear update
Google today has begun rolling out the latest Android Wear update to smartwatches bringing with it interactive watch faces and Wi-Fi compatibility with the LG G Watch R.
Android Wear 5.1.1 launched in May of this year with Wi-Fi capabilities in tow, but many were disappointed to see that the G Watch R wasn’t capable of Wi-Fi even after the update. The hardware was there to support it, but LG had disabled it for some reason.
Fortunately, once todays Android Wear update is downloaded on your G Watch R, you should have Wi-Fi capabilities. While this is exciting news, some users will still be left without Wi-Fi for a few days, as updates like these do take some time to fully roll out.
Have you gotten Wi-Fi on your G Watch R yet?
source: Google
Come comment on this article: LG G Watch R gets Wi-Fi in new Android Wear update
Google changes the way we will interact with watchfaces on Android Wear
Android Wear is a constantly evolving platform, with Google constantly adding more and more useful features. Today, Google has announced an update to Android Wear that may completely change how we interact with our Android Wear watches.
BITS
As displayed above, tapping on various parts of a watchface can now do more than just activate voice actions. Based on how the developer implements it, tapping on a part of the watchface can now bring interactions with various features. So instead of a voice action or opening an app on the watch, the user can just interact with a watch face that has the features they’re looking for. Anything from weather, notifications, activity goals, and more.
In order to take advantage of these features on various watchfaces, you’ll need Android Wear version 1.3, which will start rolling out over the next few weeks. Once you have it, you can use any of the watch faces in this collection.
Further, Google has now added Google Translate to this update, allowing you to translate from your wrist. It will start with support for 44 languages, including with offline support. It will work similarly to the phone app, where two people just talk, and the translation will appear on the screen.
Keep a look out for more information on the update to specific Android Wear devices.
SOURCE: Official Android Blog, Google Translate Blog
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Interactive watch faces and new Translate features are coming to Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks
Android Wear is bringing new interactive watch faces and easier translation options. A new update will be rolling out to current Android Wear smartwatches shortly. Google believes the addition of these new features will let users absorb key information in very little time.
Google’s new interactive watch faces make it easier to see key information in a timely manner and help people stay connected. With just a tap on the watch face, a new glance view will show users key information such as the weather, new emails, the day of the week, reminders, your daily step count and more. From the view, users will be able to launch a specific app with just a tap, or change your watch face in 2 easy steps. Google says the new watch faces will help people stay connected with the included feature giving users easy access to sharing emoji’s and photos with their loved ones. This can all be done directly through your home screen for quick and easy navigation. Google says the update will be rolling out in the coming weeks.
Google Translate will also get a major revamp on Android Wear smartwatches. It can now be activated via a twist of the wrist. The update brings support for more languages and will put ease of use first and foremost. The update will be hitting the Play Store shortly and will automatically push the update to your connected smartwatch. All the details on Google’s new enhancements can be seen at the source link(s) below.
Source: Android Blog, Google Translate Blog (1,2)
Come comment on this article: Interactive watch faces and new Translate features are coming to Android Wear smartwatches in the coming weeks
Google announces big Android Wear update that brings support for interactive watch faces
Google has just announced a big update to the Android Wear platform that will make your wearable much more functional. The headline feature of this update is support for interactive watch faces, which will make it easy to change the watch face’s design, get more information or even launch a specific application with just a tap.
Developers will need to utilize the newly-announced Interactive Watch Face API to bring these new features to their applications. Once support has been added, devs can add additional information to their watch faces that can be revealed with just a single tap. For instance, with ustwo’s new Bits watch face (shown below), you’ll be able to choose whatever information you’d like to be displayed by simply tapping on the complication. If you want to see the weather, tap on the weather complication bubble, or if you’d like to just see the time, click on the clock bubble in the center.
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There’s also a new Together watch face that will let you easily connect with someone else throughout the day. Once you’ve paired with your partner’s watch, you can share things like photos and emoji, as well as your activities (like if you’re working out, on the phone, or stuck in traffic).
Google says all Android Wear watches will get the update over the next few weeks, but no specific roll out information has been released yet. While you’re waiting for the update, feel free to check out the new Interactive Watch Faces page in the Play Store.
The last big feature coming in the update is the expansion of Google Translate to all Android Wear devices. Even if you don’t have Translate installed on your phone, you’ll still be able to use the service on your Wear device. To use it, just speak into your watch and the conversation will translate for you right before your eyes. Google elaborates:
Flip your wrist to show the translation to a friend. When they respond in their own language, flip your wrist back, and you’ll see in your language what they’ve just said. Google Translate will automatically recognize which of the two languages is being spoken, so once you tap to start the conversation, all you and your buddy need to do is keep talking naturally.
Quite frankly, we’re really happy to see Translate support making its way to the Wear platform. Are any of you excited for the new update? Let us know what you think!
Fossil shows off Android Wear smartwatch powered by Intel
With the possibility of an impending update to the Moto 360, consumers are getting excited for a new Android Wear device. Well, Fossil took to the stage today at Intel’s Developer Conference to show off three new smartwatches coming this holiday season.
The first is a fitness band type device, and the other two are regular smartwatches. What makes today’s announcement so exciting is that the top-of-the-line smartwatch that we will see from Fossil this Holiday season, will have some Intel internals under the hood.
The specs obviously aren’t known yet, but we do know that the high-dollar item is running Android Wear and is powered by Intel. Battery life, screen density, charging capabilities, and all that jazz were intentionally left out of the presentation today. What wasn’t was that when Fossil showed these off, there was a familiar foe.
Fossil and Intel's smartwatch running Android Wear #idf15 pic.twitter.com/aXHSnAMsdN
— Lexy Savvides (@lexysavvides) August 18, 2015
That oh-so-controversial flat tire at the bottom of the watch face. After the world saw the Moto 360, we all were wondering why in the world would you make a round faced watch with a flat tire, only to learn that was where some of the sensors were housed. So we can only expect that this is the same reason why Fossil has one on their smartwatch.
Fossil and Intel announced that these devices would be officially revealed and announced in time for the holiday season, so we have a few more months to go before we get to dive into these. But from the looks, Fossil may have found a place in the Android Wear world with these one.
Let us know what you think about Fossil’s upcoming lineup of smartwatches that will be running on Intel processors. Also, let us know what smartwatch you are looking forward to the most for the last portion of 2015.
Source: Engadget
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