If you own an Android-powered device you have probably noticed a flurry of app updates in the last few weeks. That's because all the app developers are getting ready for Android Wear.
We've said before that wearables are the future; Google's announcements at its I/O developer conference make it clear that the future is now. Android Wear has been around for a few months now, but Google has announced a new vision, of which the wearable operating system is a key part.
Android Everywhere
The search giant's vision is to have Android everywhere so that people have a uniform experience wherever they use the popular operating system.
Conference announcements included
versions of the operating system not just for Google's flagship smart watches, but for home automation, televisions, cars and more.
Imagine running your favorite game from the Google Play store on your 6o-inch TV, or seeing the maps you've downloaded to your smartphone on a bigger in-car screen. That's the kind of experience Google is heading towards.
And then there's Google Now, the smart mobile assistant (scarily smart, sometimes). If you currently own an Android smartphone and a tablet, and use the Chrome browser on your desktop, you're already enjoying some of the uniformity, portability and convenience that Google wants to be known for.
But that's going to be even more appealing when all of Android's power is concentrated on your wrist.
The First Smart Watches
The Samsung Gear Live and the G Watch by LG are among the first two watches to use Android Wear.
Users will be able to handle certain functions by voice, send and receive emails and texts, check out social media notifications and get directions. And if the watches are linked to your phones, you can even answer calls. Voice control reduces the need for swiping too.
Of course, all those notifications synced from your phone might be annoying, but Android Wear is sure to get better. And competition from others involved in wearables will drive additional improvements.
Even though most people can check the time on their cell phones, many still wear watches, so putting this functionality into an everyday device is a smart move by Google. Unlike Google Glass, smart watches are more discreet and it's easy to interact with them without looking silly.
In the future, you will probably be able to do everything you now do on your smartphone on your smartwatch, which is a much neater package. And who knows? The ability to run fitness apps could spell the end of the fit band suite of products (or maybe those products will get even smarter to compete).
An Android Future
It's clear that wearables are here to stay and that means paying attention to
mobile and local. Even if they're not yet perfect, Google's developers are looking for ways to integrate them – and the Android operating system – into every aspect of our lives.
Nearly 150 years after the creation of the first wrist watch, this ultra useful gadget has been reimagined for the 21st century.
We can't wait to see what happens next!
