Amongst a plethora of new developments, Google announced the Android Wear at the developer conference in San Francisco this week. The tech giant introduced three Android wearable watches, manufactured by LG, Samsung and Motorola. While LG’s watches are already on sale, Samsung’s watches are on a pre-order, and Motorola will release theirs in a few months from now.
While most smartphone users are looking for large-screen devices, Google seems to look the other way. Bringing the smart computer to be as little as a 1.6-inch display, your wrist watch, is the next thing in mobile communication. Sending and receiving messages, being alerted, making calls and getting directions can all be made from your wristwatch itself. You don’t need to even look at your phone anymore, except if you want to type long messages or answer voice calls.
This mode of usage could now put your smartphone in the backseat, and you can communicate directly from your wristwatch while on the go, while driving, at office or at home. However, in order to use the smartwatch, you need to pair it with a compatible smartphone, else it will just be a fashionable timepiece on your wrist.
So how does it actually work? Let’s take, for example, the Samsung Gear Live. The watch has a powerful processor with a miniature display and a built-in speaker, mic and a vibrator. It pairs with your smartphone via Bluetooth, using which, it synchronizes apps and data. When the smartphone is updates with the Android Wear app, it ports the smartwatch application automatically to the watch. The app on the watch then syncs the respective data (alerts, voice, commands, etc.) with the phone. The processing is done completely on the phone, which then sends it back to the watch to display the output.
However, don’t expect the watch to do everything your smartphone can do, at least for now. Though you can make calls, send and receive messages, get directions and play music from the watch, the actual work is done by the smartphone. All the above is done by the smartphone, and the watch is a mere secondary display and command input. The watch does not have a GSM radio for calls and SMS, no Wi-Fi for the Internet, no compass or GPS for navigation and no speakers or headphone jacks for music and calls. You can say that the smartwatch is just a smart remote control for the smartphone, conveniently placed on your wrist. Whenever you receive an alert, (such as a call, sms or IM alert) the watch will simply vibrate. You need to respond accordingly.
LG and Samsung, both have a square dial/screen on their smartwatches, while Motorola will sport a round dial. App developers would have a bit of a tough time to make sure their apps are properly compatible with the respective device’s display.
Coming back to what the smartwatch can do for you for now. Well, the list is a bit long enough to get you excited. The demonstration on stage at the Google I/O Developer Conference gave us details enough to already be hunting for a piece on our hands. Taking calls or rejecting them, getting alerts or sending and receiving messages, asking for directions or simply ordering a pizza in a few seconds, can all be done from that small 1.6-inch display.
At first, let us tell you that all smartwatches, from LG, Samsung and Motorola, will be dust and waterproof. This makes sure that you can use the Android Wear in any weather conditions, safeguarding your smartphone altogether. However, the battery can last you a maximum 2 days, depending on your use. Sadly, the small form factor limits the build-in battery from giving you more run time. Hopefully, developments in the power segment make a breakthrough for larger power ratings in a smaller package. Furthermore, we could see a potential development for translucent displays, which houses a solar panel behind the display panel so that the phone can charge itself with ambient light.
Let’s get back to what the Android Gear can do for you. Reminder, Appointments, Flight details, Navigation, Voice commands, Voice replies, Voice messaging, and voice queries are some of the main highlights of Android Wear. Here are a few features in brief, using the Samsung Smart Gear as an example.
Just say, “Ok Google”
Respond to texts, instant messages, and emails by voice. Ask questions like “Will it rain this weekend?”, “What time is it in London?”, or “How do I get to the post office?” and get straight answers.
Reach fitness goals
Keep track of your fitness with daily summaries showing your step count and heart rate.
Weather
Glance at the weather forecast when you get up in the morning.
Commute
See how long it will take you to get to work while you’re getting ready in the morning.
Next appointment
The subject, time, and location of your next appointment appear so you don’t have to check your calendar.
Flights
Your flight information appears before you go to the airport.
Fitness
Keep track of your activity with daily summaries showing your step count and heart rate.
Calls, texts, emails, instant messages
See who’s calling, or read texts, instant messages, and emails as soon as they arrive.
Voice search
Just say, “Ok Google” to get the information you need. Ask anything, like “Will it rain this weekend?”, or “What time is it in London?", or “How many calories are there in an avocado?”
Navigation
Just say “Ok Google, navigate to...” and your destination to get turn by turn navigation.
Music control
Just say “Ok Google, play some music” to start listening from your phone, and pause, play, and skip tracks on your watch.
Reminders
Glance and say, “Ok Google” to set location-based or time-based reminders. For example, “Ok Google, remind me to water the plants when I get home.” Alternatively, “Ok Google, remind me to pick up popcorn at 6pm.”
Keep
Just say, “Ok Google take a note paradiso cafe” to create a note with that restaurant recommendation in Google Keep.
Translate
Translate languages in real-time strait from the watch using your voice.
Below is a video on how the watch can benefit you in everyday life. Courtesy: LG
Also read: Google I/O finally wraps an Android around your wrist
Samsung Gear Live:
Specifications:
- OS: Android Wear
- Processor: 1.2GHz
- Display: 1.63-inch, 320x320 pixel Super AMOLED, 278 ppi
- Memory: 4GB storage, 512MB RAM
- Connectivity: Bluetooth v4.0
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope, Heart rate monitor
- Battery: 300 mAh, one day use
- Ports: USB (Pogo pin)
- Weight: 59g
- Dimensions: 37.9 x 56.4 x 8.9mm
- Colour: Black
- Requirements: Android Smartphone, v4.3 and higher
- Bundled accessories: USB cable, charging dock, travel adapter
- Price: Rs 15,900
LG G Watch
Specifications:
- OS: Android Wear
- Processor: 1.2GHz
- Display: 1.65-inch, 280x280 pixels IPS LCD
- Memory: 4GB storage, 512MB RAM
- Connectivity: Bluetooth v4.0
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Compass, Gyroscope
- Battery: 400 mAh
- Ports: USB (Pogo pin)
- Weight: 63g
- Dimensions: 37.9 x 46.5 x 9.95mm
- Colour: Black Titan / White Gold
- Requirements: Android Smartphone, v4.3 and higher
- Bundled accessories: USB cable, charging cradle, travel adapter
- Price: Rs 14,999
