Google kicked off its I/O 2014 conference with exciting announcements, including the new Android Wear OS and its launch vehicles, the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live.
Android Wear is a new platform specifically designed for wearable devices, allowing them to take on much of the load off a smartphone so you don't have to pull your phone out of your pocket every two minutes.
Android Wear
"Most people check their phones more than 150 times a day. Often, it's to read a text, look at a notification, or get some other simple piece of information. That's a lot of time spent unlocking, swiping and entering passwords, when your hands could easily be free handling more important things," Google touted in a blog post on Wednesday, June 25.
"Enter Android Wear, which extends to Android, and its ecosystem of apps, to that most familiar spot for a 'wearable,' your wrist. You get the information you need, quickly at a glance - just like you're used to doing with your watch. Just say 'OK Google' to ask questions or to get stuff done. Get alerted when it's time to leave for dinner. Call a cab to take you there. See traffic on the way. Text a friend once you're seated. It's all right there, on your wrist, easy to see, right where you want it."
Two new Android wearables served as launch vehicles for the new Android Wear: the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live. The smartwatches need to pair with smartphones running Android 4.3 or higher, and will display the most important information on their screens, be it weather info, commute, appointments, reminders, flights, messages, or others. The information will be displayed on Google Now-like cards, allowing users to swipe on the smartwatch's display to see more or dismiss a card.
The LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live sport rectangular screens and are already up for pre-order, while the round-shaped Moto 360 from Motorola will arrive "later this summer."
LG G Watch
The LG G Watch boasts an always-on 1.65-inch IPS display with a resolution of 280 x 280 pixels and comes with a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, paired with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of internal storage capacity. The gadget is dust- and water-resistant with IP67 certification, and has a 400 mAh battery to keep things up and running.
The LG G Watch costs $229 and will make its initial debut in 12 countries including the U.S., the UK, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, South Korea, and Japan. The smartwatch will also be available from retailers soon afterwards, launching in 27 markets including Brazil, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Russia. The LG G Watch comes in Titanium Black and White Gold color options. Head to LG's website here for more information, or to Google Play at this link to pre-order the device.
Samsung Gear Live
The Samsung Gear Live comes with a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED display and a resolution of 320 x 320. Under the hood, the smartwatch packs a 1.2GHz processor paired with 512MB of RAM. Other specs include 4GB of internal storage capacity, a 300 mAh battery, a heart-rate monitor, IP67 rating for dust- and water-resistance, and several sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass.
The Samsung Gear Live comes with a $200 price tag and is available in Black and Wine Red color options. Find more details on Samsung's website at this link, or pre-order the Samsung Gear Live from Google Play here.
