It’s still the early days for smartwatches. With the first few Android Wear devices on the market and a 3rd one on the horizon we have a pretty good glimpse of what wearables
might be like. Android Wear is exciting and feels generations ahead of
what came before it. But like any burgeoning technology, the hardware
and software are going to grow exponentially with each generation.
As somebody who would want to buy a smartwatch, it might be important
to consider how long they will last before becoming obsolete. After
all, $200 being the low end, it’s hardly an impulse buy for most people.
Just how long will a generation be for smartwatches? That’s a difficult
thing to determine for a new category but the best way might be to look
at other similar markets.
What came before
The most obvious comparison to make is to other existing smartwatches. The original Pebble came out in early 2013 and a year later the Pebble Steel was released with a software update for both.
While Pebble released two devices in one year Samsung has done it at a considerably faster pace. The Galaxy Gear came out in late 2013 and the Gear 2
arrived six months later in conjunction with the Gear 2 Neo and Gear
fit. The Galaxy Gear ran a version of Android while the sequels ran Tizen-based software – only to be usurped by the Gear Live running Android Wear two months later.
While most tech companies make new hardware yearly, the true
generational shifts often come when the latest software doesn’t support
old devices. That’s typically when a product becomes obsolete because
there is no longer a promise of improvement. So while there have been
two Pebble watches, functionally they’re so similar that there hasn’t
really been a true second generation. Contrast this with Samsung and
there have been two generations of Gear watches that have become
obsolete in that same period of time (although Samsung could continue to
support the Tizen software simultaneously with Android Wear).
But not all product life-cycles mimic such short and erratic
schedules. Smartphones are generally replaced every two years because of
contract pricing and early termination fees, both of which are carry
overs from the dumb cell phone era. On the positive side this allows
phone makers to iterate and refine their phones as well as providing
some guarantee of value to customers who would like their brand new
device to be updated over the course of it’s life. In recent years
though, more manufacturers are designing cheaper, off-contract options,
that allow much more flexibility so that, in the future, that model may
well change.
Laptops and desktops tend to have longer life-cycles simply because
of price. Most people spending a grand or more on a computer would
probably want it to work for as long as possible and while future
proofing is impossible, you can reasonably expect to get four or more
years of value from your purchase provided you temper your expectations
over time.
But even beyond strict contracts and up front price, some products
have life-cycles determined by traditional consumer expectations. Video
game consoles tend to last as long as 6 or 7 years, extending well
beyond the hardware’s capability and driven mostly by software sales.
The best part about this system is that consoles also gain more
software improvements than just about any other technology over their
lifetime. Remember the original dashboard of the XBOX 360 with the blade
menus? It’s is almost unrecognizable compared the Windows 8 style tile
interface of the later years. The bad part of the longevity is that
while developers are allowed to squeeze every last ounce of power from
the well known hardware, at some point, the games themselves become
limited by it.
Similarly, what may end up being the most important aspect for
determining Android Wear life-cycles is simply what consumers expect
from their $200 or $300 purchase. The common wisdom is usually to never
buy a first generation device and judging from early feedback about the LG G Watch
and Samsung Gear Live, that might be the smart choice for now. The
market is still in its infancy and we haven’t figured out what is
acceptable functionality from a hardware or software perspective.
Again, this will ultimately be determined by you and me. The
smartwatch is unique because it must straddle the line between two
finicky markets – fashion and technology. Today the Moto 360’s circular
display, leather strap, and metal bezel might look refined and chic, but
trends might dictate a different feeling in two or three years. By the
same token, the colorful display and card interface taken from Google
Now might reflect what is best in today’s hardware and UI design but
could become archaic within a few years.
What is awesome about new gadgets, like smartwatches, is that they
give us a possible glimpse into the very near future. The problem is
that the future is always in motion and what seems like the right
prediction one day could be proven wrong very quickly. Whether or not
the life-cycle of a smartwatch will be one year or five years, Android
Wear has shown us Google’s vision of a wearable-centric future. The only
question is, will you bet $200 on it to make it a reality?
The first round of Android Wear devices shipped to consumers this past week, and in true Android nature, Wear customization
apps are hitting the Google Play Store. This time out, we’re looking at
the Wear Mini Launcher, a custom launcher for your Android Wear powered
hardware.
The idea behind the new Wear Mini Launcher is, as with all of the other Android Launchers,
to provide a different experience to the device. Specifically, Wear
Mini Launcher looks to overcome what the developer calls a pain in the
default Android Wear launcher, the simple act of opening an app on the device.
Wear Mini Launcher is designed to allow you to launch any app from anywhere.There is always voice commands to launch apps on your Android Wear
device through the default launcher, but for those times where speaking
into your watch is not an option, you’re currently forced to do a bunch
of scrolling to get to your installed apps. Wear Mini Launcher looks to
expedite app launching by providing an edge gesture slide over with
links to all of your favorite apps.
Now, keep in mind that this is early software, users are reporting
some difficulties using the app, especially with accidentally triggering
other actions when activating the pop out. It’s nothing major, just be
careful you do not pull down the mute panel or swipe away your active
screen.
Taking a look back at the week in news across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit highlights a number of stories, including Samsung showing signs of losing momentum, Xiaomi is onto a winner with a new tablet, ART is under the microscope, what treasures lie in ‘L’ for the users, why are app permissions back in the news, what is Amazon up to with the Fire, and what apps should be on your wrist.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the very many things that have happened around Android over the last seven days.
Samsung Start To Lose Momentum
Samsung’s second quarter results have caused a stir in the Android market, as the number one Android manufacturer starts to show signs of a slowdown. The Q2 results showed a drop in operating income by 24 percent and in operating profit by 10% (a two-year low). There are a number of historical precedents in the smartphone world as to what happens next, and very few of them are pretty. I’ve taken a look at Tomi Ahonen’s Cliff Theory in light of Samsung’s latest numbers.
…As Xiaomi Builds Up A Solid Reputation With Another Tablet
If you’re looking for the company that is going to step up to the plate as Samsung stumbles, Xiaomi is on deck. Last week’s release of the Mipad saw the entire limited batch of 50,000 units sold in less than four minutes (reports Android Central). Small batches coming to market to create a rush (and headlines) is a technique that Xiaomi has used before to great effect. The Chinese manufacturer has the marketing smarts, the technology, and arguably the software, to be the lead Android manufacturer at home.
At some point Xiaomi will decide to look beyond China and decide to shake up the Android market in the rest of the world. That will be a very interesting day…
As Dalvik Rides Into The Sunset, Anandtech Puts ART Under The Microscope
One of the big changes for Android developers after the reveal of Android ‘L’ at Google’s I/O Developer Conference is the switch-out of the Dalvik runtime for the Android Run Time, ART. Switching from a Just in Time compiler to an Ahead of Time compiler provides more performance gains (after the first run of the app) but does rely on the extra horsepower and storage that Android has gained through Moore’s Law over the years.
Anandtech’s Andrei Frumusanu has taken a closer look at the runtime to discover the strengths and weaknesses of the runtime:
ART patches up many of the Achilles’ heels that comes with running non-native applications and having an automatic memory management system. As a developer, I couldn’t have asked for more, and most performance issues that I needed to work around with clever programming no longer pose such a drastic problem anymore.
This also means that Android is finally able to compete with iOS in terms of application fluidity and performance, a big win for the consumer.
Android on display at Google I/O (image: Google I/O Keynote video)
What Else Is ‘L’ Hiding In Its Pockets?
ART is one of the hidden treasures in Android’s ‘L’ release, according to Wired’s Andrew Cunningham. Hidden might be stretching it just a bit because all of the features will have a direct impact on the user; but they may not be quite sure why their audio is clearer, they have some very large image files, or why the battery life has suddenly increased. Certainly the core operations are hidden, but the effects are very public. Still, this is a nice primer on the difference that the ‘L’ release will have when it reaches consumers later this year.
Android Is Asking For More Permissions At Once
CITEworld’s Chris Nerny looks at the issues around an Android applications use of permission groups, and how the new organisation of permissions into catch-all groups such as ‘identity’ or ‘device & app history’ actually reduces the security of a handset. Once you approve the request for a group, subsequent updates to the app will have access to every permission in that group with checking in with you.
Under “contacts/calendar,” a user who approves “read your contacts” also unknowingly approves “modify your contacts,” “read calendar events plus confidential information,” and “add or modify calendar events and send email to guests” without owners’ knowledge. I bet it doesn’t even feel like your phone anymore!
Ordering the Amazon Fire phone (image: Amazon.com)
And Then There Is Amazon’s Fire Smartphone
Ahead of its commercial availability at the end of the month, the question of ‘why?’ still lingers around Amazon’s Fire smartphone, with Michael Mace’s examination being one of many potential answers. I’ve taken a closer look at the issues here on Forbes to see what Jeff Bezos’ A to Z store could be up to:
The Fire phone is clearly an exploratory device, to gain understanding and contribute to the next model. Presumably that second model is where Amazon will leverage the Amazon Prime membership, will use the retail opportunities control of the Amazon.com front page offers, and the distribution network that has been built up [around Amazon].
…And Finally, Some Wrist-App Action
Dan Seifert has brought together twelve Android Wear apps that are available right now for those of you with an LG G or Samsung Gear Live, including Evernote, Runkeeper, Trello, and Lyft. I’ll have a review of the LG G smartwatch, and the Android Wear OS, over the weekend here on Forbes.
‘Android Circuit’ will round-up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!
I can’t knock the Tinderservice. I love Tinder. If you don’t know what Tinder is, then think of it asHot or Not. If two people mark each other as Hot, then a connection is made. From there, you can chat, flirt, and set up a date if you so choose.
All of this action took place on your phone, but thanks to an update, you can now Tinder on yourAndroid Wearsmartwatch. Dating on your smartwatch. Welcome to the future, folks.
The Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch (right)Sarah Tew/CNET
Google's Android Wear smartwatches are finally upon us. So you've got a brand new Samsung Gear Live sitting on your wrist, or maybe you opted for the LG G Watch -- now what?
Time to get some apps, of course. Smartwatch apps work a bit differently than the smartphone apps we're all used to. To start, you won't be downloading anything to your watch at all: you'll be pairing your smartwatch to your Android smartphone, where all the apps you'll be using are housed. Once the devices are paired, compatible apps will populate your smartwatch automatically. And you might not be downloading many new apps at all, as developers are updating their existing smartphone apps with smartwatch-friendly features.
Despite being all but tethered to your smartphone, the current crop of Android Wear apps are still generally designed to act independently of it. You'll be using your fingers and your voice to go places, get things done, or just get more information. But make no mistake, if your phone goes missing or its battery dies, your wrist-borne gadget won't be doing all that much.
There aren't all that many apps to choose from yet -- about 35 as of this publication date -- but you can find the full list on the Google Play Store. I've had some time to fuss with these smartwatches and have stumbled upon quite gems -- read on for apps you should definitely check out. And be sure to have a look at our list of Android Wear How-Tos for tips and tricks on getting the most out of your new gear.
Getting things done
Google Keep (free)
Create and edit notes on your wrist with Google Keep.Nate Ralph/CNET
Google Keep has slowly become my go-to app for jotting down simple notes to myself, and it works surprisingly well on Android Wear. I just need to say "take a note," and then say whatever it is I'd like to remember. If you've created notes in Google Keep, you can also browse through the nine notes that sit at the top of your list, though you'll need the phone or Web app if you want to organize or change the color of your notes. I also couldn't create new checklists, though I could add new add new items to existing ones, so I suspect the functionality isn't far off. If you've got multiple Android Wear-compatible productivity apps on your device that can take notes -- in my case that's Keep, Evernote, and Trello -- you'll need to choose one.
Evernote for Android Wear (free)
Create Evernote notes on the fly.Evernote
I'm a huge fan of Evernote, but its smartwatch incarnation will take some getting used to. I have a few hundred meticulously organized notes at any given time -- not a massive collection, but more than I'd ever dream of perusing on my wrist. The app instead gives you a few options for finding notes, including voice search, notes you've modified recently, and notes you've created nearby if you've activated Evernote's location-tracking functionality. You can also search To Dos, which lists any notes that have items with checkboxes. The notes are necessarily limited by the interface: if there's lots of text involved, you'll spend a lot of time scrolling, and you won't be able to open any links. You can also create a note with your voice, if you haven't opted to use Google Keep instead.
IFTTT (free)
Create recipes for your smartwatch from your phone, or the Web.Screenshot by Nate Ralph/CNET
If This Then That is a phenomenal and powerful automation service the utility of which is going to vary wildly from person to person. Most of the action will still happen when your various Internet services interact with one another, but IFTTT adds a new function specifically for smartwatches in the form of a button. Push the button, and stuff happens: maybe it'll adjust appliances like a Nest thermostat or Philips Hue light bulbs, or send a canned email or text message to friends or family. You can create as many IFTTT recipes as you like, with plenty of customization options.
Google Hangouts (free)
Reply by voice or with canned responses.Screenshot by Jason CiprianiIs chatting on your wrist as ludicrous as it seems? Yes. But it's also incredibly convenient: my phone spends most of its time buried in the bowels of a messenger bag, but the world doesn't stop chatting just because I'm not paying attention. A quick buzz of the wrist lets you know that someone's trying to get in touch, and you can swipe over their message to reply with your voice, or send a canned response like "OK, I'm on my way," or even just a frowny face. And if the conversations ever get a little too frantic, you can always mute the app temporarily.
Wear Calc (free)
A calculator -- on a watch!Nate Ralph/CNET
Sometimes you just need to crunch a few numbers -- Wear Calc is here to help. Android Wear can't technically run native apps, but this is near enough: once installed from the Google Play Store, Wear Calc won't appear on your phone, but it can be run on a smartwatch if you say "Open Calculator," or if you open it manually through the "Start..." option. As a calculator, it works well enough in a pinch. But the developer gets eternal kudos for recreating the classic Casio calculator watch for these modern times. If you ever decide to remove the app, just look for "Calculator" in your list of installed apps on your phone.
Making moves
Runtastic (free; Pro: $4.99), and Runkeeper (free; Elite: $9.99/month)
Runkeeper offers detailed stats, right on your wrist.Runkeeper
I've shunned excess physical exertion since graduating college, but that hasn't stopped Runtastic and Runkeeper's apps from piquing my interest. Choosing one will largely be up to personal preference: Runkeeper offers a bit more information on your wrist at a glance, but both scroll through their info cards, and you'll find that apps will serve up plenty of data on your pace, the distance travelled, and the calories you've burned. Both the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch will count your steps without an app, but that's about it -- if you need a bit more, one of these should serve you well.
Google Maps (free)
Google Now knows where you need to be, Google Maps gets you thereNate Ralph/CNET
I get lost. A lot. Thanks to Google Maps, I don't have to get lost quite so much anymore. And thanks to Google Maps on a smartwatch, I can stay the course, unobtrusively. If you've got appointments, Google Now will give you an approximate commute time and will work with Maps to give you text directions at the press of a button. If you're like me, you can just say "How do I get home?" and your wrist will point the way.
Wear Compass (free)
An alternative compass for your smartwatch.Wear Compass
The Samsung Gear Live I've been testing actually has a compass built in, and I suspect many other smartwatches will, too. But if you're looking for an alternative, consider Wear Compass, from the same developer that brought us Wear Calc. It's a compass: if you need to figure out the cardinal directions, it'll have you covered.
1Weather (free with ads; remove ads: $1.99)
1Weather offers detailed weather info.1Weather
I can generally be found in a hoodie and jeans no matter what the weather's like outside, but maybe you like to prepare for the elements. Google does offer some rudimentary weather info, but if you want to glance at detailed forecast info for the day or the week, the 1Weather app is currently your best bet.
Downtime
MusixMatch (free; subscription: $4.99/year)
Conquer Karaoke.MusixMatch
"Tommy used to work on the docks, uhh... Gina works the diner all day... for love? We'll give it a shot!" We've all been there: A classic track comes on the radio and you'd love to sing along with your chums, but you don't remember the words. Struggle no more, as MusixMatch is here to help. MusixMatch will listen in on whatever's playing and display song lyrics right on your phone and smartwatch.You can also play tracks in apps like Spotify and Rdio and get the lyrics sent directly to your wrist, convincing all of your friends you're some kind of lyrical savant who's just really interested in the time. Don't worry, I won't tell.
Pinterest (free)
Visit places you've pinned on Pinterest.Pinterest
Pinterest is a surprising first entry for social networks on Android Wear, but here it is. When you're near a location you've pinned on the Web or through the smartphone app, you'll get a notification on your watch. That's it. It might not seem like the most enterprising use of the technology, but if you've pinned quite a few places -- say, restaurants you'd like to try -- and happen to be make an unscheduled jaunt through the right neighborhood, it could make for a pleasant surprise.
The Guardian (free; premium: $3.99/month)
Headlines from The Guardian, now on your wristNate Ralph/CNET
The Guardian is one of the first news outlets to jump on board with Android, and while it does little more than send alerts for breaking news, it remains one to watch. Once you've signed into the app on your phone, you can save headlines of interest to read later. You can't actually read any stories on your phone, though. There's also a "Share" button, which opens the Share dialog on your phone. That's not entirely useful either, and likely a holdover from the Android notification shade. But as a proof of concept, and a way to save stories you may otherwise have missed while you're on the go, it's an interesting idea.
Eat24 (free)
It's always a good time for pizza.James Martin/CNETYou had pizza on Wednesday, and you had pizza on Thursday. Friday evening's rolling around, what're you gonna do? If you ordered those pizzas through Eat 24, then you could be having pizza again with just a few taps or voice commands. The app lets you easily re-order and pay for meals right from your wrist, so you can feast on the same exact thing one more time. Because you're an adult now, and you've earned it.
DuoLingo (free)
Practice your Portuguese on the go.DuoLingo
DuoLingo is an awesome, free way to learn a new language, and the app is now Android Wear-compatible in a pretty clever way. Open DuoLingo on your smartwatch, and you'll get quick 10-word proficiency quiz. My Spanish quizzes, for example, display an English word to translate. I'm then presented with the answer: swipe up if got it right, swipe down if you got it wrong. Sure, it's working on the honor system, but are you really cheating here anyway? It's incredibly simple, and a great, low-impact way to keep lessons fresh in your mind when you only have a moment's time. I'd like to see the quiz results tie into the full DuoLingo experience a bit better, but it's a great first stab.
Bunting (free)
Tweet with your voice, if you're into that sort of thing.Bunting
If you ever felt the need to send a tweet from your wrist, Bunting has arrived. Sign in with your Twitter account, say "Start writing a tweet," and then share your spoken wisdom with your eager followers. I suspect the novelty of dictating your tweets to your wrist will wear off rather quickly, but "Yo" is a million-dollar thing, so what do I know?
A thimble-like device that sits at the end of your finger and allows you to interact with the virtual world in three dimensions may render the indispensable computer mouse obsolete.
The way in which humans interact with computers has been dominated by the mouse since it was invented in the 1960s.
However, when we use the device, we're limited to two-dimensional movements.
Anh Nguyen and Amy Banic from the University of Wyoming in the US have created an intelligent thimble that can sense its position accurately in three-dimensions and respond to a set of preprogrammed gestures that allow the user to interact with objects in a virtual three-dimensional world.
According to MIT Technology Review, Nguyen and Banic aimed to create a cheap device that works as a universal input for more or less any computing device.
They want to make it as small and unobtrusive as possible so that it can be easily transported.
The 3DTouch sits on the end of a finger, equipped with a 3D accelerometer, a 3D magnetometer and 3D gyroscope.
That allows the data from each sensor to be compared and combined to produce a far more precise estimate of orientation than a single measurement alone.
The 3DTouch also has an optical flow sensor that measures the movement of the device against a two-dimensional surface, exactly like that inside an ordinary mouse.
For now, the device is hooked up by wire to an Arduino controller which combines the data from all the sensors. The fused data is then streamed to a conventional laptop.
"This wired connection later could be replaced by a wireless solution using a pair of XBee modules," researchers said.
Researchers have also built in a number of mouse-like gestures that allow a user to interact with 3-D objects, by selecting and dragging them.
They have tested their new device to measure its pointing accuracy and say that it is reasonably good.
Android Wear apps are here. Thefirst Android Wear devicesare just getting into the hands of early adopters this week, and a number of Android app developers have updated their offerings to support the new wearable platform. For most, the primary purpose ofAndroid Wearwill be to get notifications on their wrists, but the platform is actually capable of doing much more. It can count your steps, perform searches via voice commands, and of course, tell you the time. Third-party Android app makers can extend their smartphone apps with extra functionality to make use of the devices people wear on their wrists.
Getting Android Wear apps on your wrist is as easy as installing the corresponding app on your phone and then syncing your watch with the Android Wear manager app. Once installed, you can open the apps by saying “Okay Google, start [app]”, or by scrolling down to the Start section and manually launching them. In my experience, launching apps by voice is very hit or miss, and having to scroll through menus on your wrist is quite tedious.
It’s important to keep in mind that these are just the first wave of apps for a brand-new platform, and many of them are lacking in functionality or don’t work very well (assuming they work at all). But that doesn’t mean that you should ignore them wholesale; here are 12 apps worth checking out.
Evernote Wear. Evernote’s
Android Wear app is more advanced than most: in addition to providing
notifications on your wrist and taking down new notes by voice, the app lets
you search for and browse your existing notes. You can look for notes based on
your location, time, or just look at the notes that have to-do items in them
and check them off as they are completed.
Google Keep. If you’re not
an Evernote user, Google’s own note-taking service lets you dictate notes from
your wrist and check off items from your to-do list. Keep doesn’t have the
search functionality of Evernote Wear, but it’s simple and easy to use.
Eat24. Eat24’s
Android Wear functionality was highlighted during Google’s I/O developer
conference, and for good reason: it feels pretty futuristic to order a pizza
from your watch. The app is limited to reordering from your favorite
restaurants with a voice command or a few taps, though, so you’ll have to jump
to your smartphone for any advanced searching or special orders.
RunKeeper and Runtastic.The LG G Watch and
the Samsung Gear Live will count your steps automatically right out of the box
(and the Samsung is even able to measure your heart rate), but neither go
beyond the basics. RunKeeper and Runtastic have stepped up to fill the void:
either app lets you start tracking a run with just a voice action, and you can
see detailed progress and stats during and after. Unfortunately, both apps
require that you carry your smartphone with you on your run, since neither app
has true GPS functionality for detailed distance tracking.
IFTTT. If This Then
That (IFTTT) might be the most powerful Android Wear app released yet. Just
like its web-based and smartphone counterparts, IFTTT for Android Wear lets you
set up various recipes that can be quickly triggered — in this case, by just
pushing a button on your wrist. Some popular recipes include displaying a
picture on your wrist after you take it with your smartphone, a quick button to
mute your phone’s ringer without taking it out of your pocket, and a "find
my phone" function.
Trello. Trello is one
of the first to-do list and project management apps to offer compatibility with
Android Wear. Trello for Android Wear lets you dictate new cards right from
your wrist and reply to comments on existing cards and act on notifications
without using your phone. It’s a bit kludgy, and not really any easier than
just using your phone, but if you need to reply to that Trello comment as
quickly as possible and are double-fisting beers at the bar, the Android Wear
app will let you do it.
Fly Delta. Fly Delta for
Android Wear lets you load your boarding pass right on your watch once you’ve
checked in to a flight, so there’s no need to pull out your phone when boarding
a plane or going through security. (American
Airlines has also updated its app for Android Wear, though it’s
limited to just flight status notifications.) It just doesn’t feel like the
future if you can’t wave your wrist in front of a scanner and get on a plane.
Lyft. Lyft is the
first app of its kind to support Android Wear, letting you call a car to one of
your saved locations without ever touching your phone. It maps to Android
Wear’s built-in car-calling command, so the voice command for "call me a
car" will get a Lyft driver on their way to your location in moments.
Chances are, we’ll soon see similar functionality from Uber, Hailo, and other
car-service apps in the near future if Lyft isn’t your ride of choice. Getting
a ride home from the bar has never been easier.
1Weather. Google
provides basic weather functionality on Android Wear watches via Google Now,
but if you’re looking for something more, 1Weather gives you more detailed
forecasts on your wrists. Like many Android Wear-enhanced apps, 1Weather
doesn’t have a whole lot of functionality outside of notifications, but it is
possible to read severe weather alerts and see multiday forecasts without ever
touching your phone.
Hue Control.Do you own a set of Philips Hue lights and an Android Wear
watch? Well aside from being on the cutting edge of the Internet of Things, you
can use the Hue Control app to turn on and off your lights right from your
wrist. A tap on a button or aStar
Trek-style voice command will turn on all of your Hue lights or just a
specific group or room. You can even adjust the brightness and color
temperature of the lights right from the Android Wear app.
Level Money.Calling the bank to get your account balance is so 20th century
— Level Money lets you do it all right from your wrist. Level Money’s Android
Wear app shows you your last transaction as well as how much spendable money
you have left in your budget. Your excuses for overdrafting are now a thing of
the past.
Duolingo.Popular language-training app
Duolingo is great on your smartphone and even more useful when you have Android
Wear. Duolingo doesn’t take advantage of Android Wear’s voice actions, but you
can create flash cards that display on your wrist for quick practice while on
the go.
What do you want from your watch? In an age where millions don’t wear one at
all because they get the time from their mobile phone, it’s becoming harder
than ever to see the point of the original wearable piece of technology.
Not, however, if you’re Google, Samsung, LG and, allegedly, Apple. All these
technology companies, as well as a host of smaller names such as Pebble, are
focusing on the watch as the next frontier. They believe that, while many
have been making watches since 2008 or 2009, the smartwatch’s year will be
2014. The change is two-fold: first, Google is strapping itself to the idea
of a smartwatch with a stripped down version of its world-leading smartphone
software, now dubbed Android Wear. And second, everyone expects Apple to
launch the iWatch in October and they want desperately to own the market
before the world’s biggest technology company can get there.
Time’s right?
The first of the latest generation of smartwatches was Samsung’s Galaxy Gear,
which was criticised by many for not even consistently showing the time. The
new Android Wear models fix that by using a dimmed, always-on display that
shows both the time and, if you want them, some basic notifications. It’s a
huge improvement, albeit one that only puts the device back on the level of
the classic Casio calculator.
Without a connection to a smartphone, the watches are very basic, offering
only time and stopwatch or timer functions, but another improvement over the
Galaxy Gear, or presumably Apple’s iWatch, is that the new Wear models can
connect to any fairly modern Android phone. So you can use a Samsung phone
with an LG watch, for instance. This is the kind of openness that has driven
the mainstream success of Android on phones as a whole.
Battery life
Very few watches in current use need charging at all; there needs to be some
serious, novel utility to justify a smartwatch that does. LG claim the G
Watch can last 36 hours on a single charge, so you should theoretically need
to charge it every other night. In practice, I found that it lasted the day
comfortably, unless you were using for something particularly intense, such
as getting directions.
But what does it do?
In short, the LG G Watch is Google Now on your wrist – that means
notifications about appointments, flights, parcels and more are all within a
swipe of the finger. Tap the screen and scroll up to see what’s new on your
wrist. If it’s an email you can tap, swipe down to see the entire message,
with a picture of the sender in the background, then swipe right to archive,
reply using voice recognition or show it on your phone. With similar Google
Now ‘cards’ such as those that show you directions to home or work, swipe
right to start to see a map then navigate straight there (and demolish the
battery). Most cards are simply a notification and then the option to open
on your phone. The options, in that sense, are limited, but the practical
benefits of not having to get your phone out of your bag are tangible.
The time is Now?
Those benefits, however, are not that great – and Google doesn’t let you
customise what Google Now does to any great extent. Walking around London,
Now will sometimes alert you to relevant pieces of information, and being
able to use your voice to reply to Hangouts, messages, emails and more, as
well as set alarms, is all useful. None of it is innovative per se – it’s
simply putting existing information and functions on your wrist rather than
in your pocket, and managing it can get a bit fussy.
Step forward
Google hints at the next stage with the pedometer built in to the G Watch –
you can see how far you’ve walked against a 10,000 step goal, and the
possibilities that come with a watch rather than a phone become rather
clearer. But none of this is there quite yet. Google Now needs to tell you
more and it needs to interact better. But that evolution will only truly
take place if its simplicity is coupled with greater functionality, which
demands more products, improving through iteration.
Design for life
The actual shape of the G Watch is that of a simple, black rectangle. It
looks slightly too fat, and that’s even without the camera that Samsung
packed into their original Gear. The forthcoming Moto 360 looks more like a
watch, while Samsung’s model looks much like its existing smartwatches. But
all of them will run Android Wear – while the much-anticipated Motorola
model may look round and jewellery-ish, all these models are alpha products.
For early adopters who like to be Google’s guinea pigs, they’re well worth
the £169 price tag. For everyone else, there are years to wait for cheaper,
effortlessly useable products.
Manufacturer's specifications
Display: 1.65-inch LCD IPS (280X280)
OS: Android Wear
Compatibility: All smartphones running Android 4.3 and above
Chipset: 1.2GHz Snapdragon 400 processor
Memory: 512MB
Internal Storage: 4GB
Bluetooth: 4.0
Sensor: 9-Axis (Gyro / Accelerometer / Compass)
Water & Dust Resistance: IP67
Battery: Li-Polymer 400mAh
Strap size: 22mm (Interchangeable with other 22mm straps made of leather,
fabric, or metal)
Dimensions: 37.9 X 46.5 X 9.95mm
Weight: 63g
