Aside from the L Developer Preview, Android
Wear was one of the most awaited announcements at Google I/O. The wearable
platform was first announced last March but since then, has remained behind the
shadows with the exception of a few leaks from LG and Motorola. Today, Google
is lifting the curtains off Android Wear and showcasing its features as well as
the hardware that it will power for the world to see.
In terms of software and user interface, Android Wear
conforms to what previous leaks and video teasers have suggested. Navigation is
done through horizontal and vertical swipes from the screen, and certain
actions can be activated using voice control. And just like the L Developer
preview, Android Wear will also utilize
Users will be able to gain access to music controls, set
alarms and view notifications straight from the smartwatch’s display. Devices
with fitness sensors will also allow Android Wear to collect user stats which
can later be integrated with Google
Fit.
In the hardware department, Google introduced two Android
Wear smartwatches from LG and Samsung.
The LG G Watch comes with a 1.65-inch IPS LCD touchscreen
with a resolution of 280 x 280 pixels. The watch will be powered by a Qualcomm
Snapdragon 400 chipset with 4GB of ROM and 512MB of RAM. LG has packed a 400mAh
battery into the G Watch and gives it IP67 certification.
The device boasts 9-axis sensors (which includes a
gyro-sensor, accelerometer and compass) to track your movements and connects to
a smartphone using Bluetooth 4.0. The straps are standard 22mm bands which are
interchangeable with those already available on the market.
The G Watch will be offered starting today at the Google
Play Store for $229 in either white gold or titan black.
On the other hand, Samsung’s Gear Live features a slightly
smaller display at 1.63-inches of the Super AMOLED variety with a resolution of
320 x 320 pixels. There’s a 1.2GHz processor on the device as well as 512MB of
RAM and 4GB of internal storage.
The device also has IP67 certification just like the G Watch
and supports Bluetooth 4.0 and 22mm straps. However, the battery is slightly
smaller at 300mAh battery. In terms of sensors, the Gear Live carries the same
set of sensors as its Tizen-running brothers – the Gear
2 and Gear 2 Neo.
The Samsung Gear Live is now available for pre-order on
Google Play store for $199 in either black or wine red colour options.
Meanwhile, the Motorola Moto 360 won't be available until the next coming months, but it was also showcased in the event as a demo device.
