Android Wear video highlights Google's design views

By Harish Jonnalagadda
last updated

Google's Android Wear platform will likely be a major talking point at this year's I/O conference, which will be conducted next week. Ahead of the event, Google is giving a glimpse of what its new platform can do through a series of videos posted to its YouTube dev channel.

The latest video gives an overview of the current state of the Android Wear dev preview, which allows devs to direct notifications from an Android app to a wearable device with a minimal amount of effort. Along with notifications, devs can access and retrieve data from the smartphone to a device like a smartwatch and vice-versa. They can also access information from sensors in real-time, which creates the potential for a more involved user experience.

With Android Wear, Google is looking to simplify the amount of time it takes to interact with something in the digital world. We should have more information on the platform as a whole next week, which is when LG is also scheduled to launch its G Watch, the first wearable running Android Wear.

You guys excited about Android Wear?

Source: YouTube

Harish Jonnalagadda
Harish Jonnalagadda
Senior Editor - Asia

Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia at Android Central. He leads the site's coverage of Chinese phone brands, contributing to reviews, features, and buying guides. He also writes about storage servers, audio products, and the semiconductor industry. Contact him on Twitter at @chunkynerd.

47 Comments
  • Yes, I'm very excited. I want a watch now, but want one that works with both my S4 and nexus 5. Oh yeah, it has to look good too.
    Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm more into the "fitness tracker" form factor... Maybe android wear can be implemented somehow... Nike+ is no more, so there is room for innovation. Posted via the Android Central App on my Nexus 5
  • Nike will probably just release an app for it. Now they don't need to build hardware. Let someone else do it and charge $30 for the service. That's where a lot of this is going. Posted via Android Central App
  • Sounds as this is getting more useful may try one soon. from my old note3 which i had to sell my soul for;)
  • Interesting. I hope this has more functionality than current smart watches Sent from Rooted Galaxy S4
  • I struggled to watch this. The topic is very interesting, but the guy is very annoying.
  • +1 Posted via Android Central App
  • I still don't see the point of this if it's nothing more than a notification OS. Posted via Android Central App
  • I drive all day for work and don't need to be on my phone texting risking an accident or getting pulled over, but would still like to reply to texts (which I get all day long) ... this would be perfect for that situation. Would be amazing to just talk into my watch and not have anything in my hand that might get me a ticket. Posted via Android Central App
  • What's the difference in glancing at your watch vs your phone? Both take your eyes off the road. Albeit using your watch is cooler... Posted via the Android Central App on my Nexus 5
  • The difference, as I stated in my initial comment, is if a cop sees me holding my phone, I'll get pulled over and get a ticket... as far as I know there's no law preventing one from glancing at a watch ;-) (this should have been obvious, btw) Posted via Android Central App
  • It may keep you from getting pulled over, but it's just as irresponsible and potentially dangerous as texting on a smartphone while driving. Voice commands are available on most devices "at a glance" and without a glance on the Moto X or available apps that just use a bit more battery than required on the Moto X so I don't see that changing anything. Obviously that's just my opinion and we'll see how it all shakes out (minus the irresponsible/dangerous part...that's fact). I get wearables for fitness, geocaching, etc. That's what I'm looking forward to advancing.
  • He's not talking about the ticket. He's talking about how taking eyes off the road is dangerous...you know like crash and kill somebody. (This should have been obvious, btw)
  • Also, the video kind of touches on that. It takes much longer to "glance at your phone" (unlock, pull down notification, act on it) than it does your watch.
  • Exactamundo... Posted via Android Central App
  • Not if you use a proper driving app and keep the phone visible on a car mount... A proper driving mode app would have big elements that are easy to read/press, like your existing dashboard, and/or better yet it'd speak stuff out loud. Both approaches are FAR better than having people turn their wrist to look at a text in tiny font (or half a dozen lines) while driving. Don't get me wrong, I think Wear could be awesome for other kinds of activities and daily life in general, driving is a poor usage case for it tho.
  • Moto X with Moto Assist can take care of that for you... You don't even have to look at the phone. Phone reads you the text, you dictate the response.
  • This article isn't about the Moto x or Moto assist... it's about android wear. But thanks for chiming in to talk about something we've all known about for quite some time now... Posted via Android Central App
  • But your comment was about how difficult it is to send a text when in your car. You implied that you need a SmartWatch to do this safely, but in fact if you have the Moto X you don't.
  • Right, but for everyone without a Moto X, this is the best feasible option. No one is buying a new Moto X this close to a new one being revealed.
  • Except it isn't the most feasible option, there are dozens of apps that do the same thing the Moto X does. Looking at your wrist while driving is just as hazardous as paying attention to a phone.
  • What do you propose is the safest (for any phone, not just the X), do listen to your notifications while on the road? Also, this isn't the only thing the watch does. Quickly reading notifications while driving, while combined with other features, makes them much more attractive an investment. Especially at the right price point.
  • I wasn't making an argument against the watch or Wear in general, not sure what gave you that impression. My suggestion for driving would be what I already stated in the post you replied: one of the numerous apps that replicate the Moto X's driving functionality (and existed even before the X) plus a solid car mount. I use the top of a Joby phone tripod mount plus an action cam glue on tripod screw, works a lot better than most universal/suction cup mounts I've seen.
  • Seems every android device can do this.
  • Until you try one for yourself, its hard to understand how much nicer it is to be able to glance at your wrist instead of pulling your phone out every time you get a notification. Its also funny to me when people ask me why I need a watch when I can just check my phone for the time. Later those same people always say "hey Lyall, what time is it"? I feel like asking them why they don't just check their phone. Posted via Android Central App
  • I am interested in the Moto 360. Might give me a reason to start wearing a watch again. Posted from my XT1080M
  • Suuuuuper duper excited! Can't wait until next week!
  • I don't really care about the products since I'm not going to get a smart watch, but it's interesting to see from a design perspective. Posted via Android Central App
  • Love the look of the Moto 360. Too bad for us people that aren't allowed to have their phones at work. A smartwatch would be just as big of a violation.
  • Where the hell do you work?
    I'm sorry you're not allowed to have your phone on you, that would make me sad. I feel for ya man.
  • Lots of government agencies are like that. I had a girlfriend years ago that worked at the NSA and she could not take her dumbphone in to work.
  • Oh I guess I didn't think about government jobs. That makes sense.
  • Plenty of non government jobs have similar requirements, others allow you to have a phone but you can only use it in break areas etc. My sister works at a university research and subcontract lab where they can get penalized if caught taking pictures of anything, even if the intention was innocent.
  • HAD? An NSA employee for an ex would SUCK, lol
  • +1000 Posted via my sixth Sense HTC M8
  • They keep showing a display that is perfectly round to the edges of the watch. I will be very interested to see if they can actually achieve that. If I had to guess it will be a small rectangle inside the circle.
  • Then your guess would be wrong Posted via Android Central App
  • Cool, it's nice to hear from someone who is working on the project what the final design will be. Tell me, is it really going to be the size of the prototype floating around?
  • A small rectangle inside a circle would get mocked endlessly, rightfully so, that'd be a waste of space... If I had to guess I'd say it might have more bezel space at the worst, but it'll be a circle within a circle.
  • I mean, they make round LCDs if that's what you mean: http://www.engadget.com/2008/05/14/lg-display-develops-small-elliptical-...
    http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5575095911&t...
  • This video does a nice job explaining what Android Wear is - information when you nerd it most. Plus, being able to say "OK, Google" is awesome! Posted via Android Central App
  • ANDROID 10.4.9!!!! Posted via Android Central App
  • Im very excited!! LG or Motorola hurry and take my money!!
  • Very Excited.
  • Becoming more bummed that I sprung too quickly for the gear 2 neo :( Posted via Android Central App
  • As a person who prefers to have the time on my wrist and keep my phone in my pocket so that I can actually interact with the world, this will be awesome. Now if only I could get me some Glass. ;)
    Actually to be fair Glass basically does this stuff and a little more. Would probably be sorta redundant to have both. Better off to wait and see where Glass goes from here. This is what I want.
    Posted via Android Central App
  • omg, yes, I'm EXCITED! I'm ready to order now. Can't wait for I/O to hear more and hopefully a price and release date for the first product offerings.