Google reveals Android Wear, an operating system for smartwatches

 Google’s Sundar Pichai revealed that there would be a new Android software development kit for wearable devices. Unfortunately, at the time, all we knew was that it would launch in two weeks. Today, Android Wear is official, so let’s take a look at everything we know about it.

Instead of just cramming Android to a much-smaller display, Google designed Android Wear with smartwatches in mind. As such, the user interface itself had to go through a metamorphosis in order to become the butterfly that it is.
Google will stick to the card aesthetic first introduced with Google Now in order to provide you with information in a digestible manner. All cards will appear in what Google calls the “context stream,” which is just a vertical list of cards. Cards appear one at a time, though you can swipe from right to left to have additional information presented to you, called “pages.”
Some of these cards are powered by Google Now, which has been baked into Android Wear. While you will see cards for any messages you might have, you will also see cards that tell you about an impending flight you might have, for example, or how the weather is like. While you can swipe the cards away, they will be presented to you automatically when it is deemed appropriate, much like what Google Now in its current incarnation does.
 In addition, Android Wear will incorporate what Google calls the “cue card.” By saying “OK Google,” a list of suggestions automatically open. While you can tap any action shown in the list, you can also use your voice to specifically say what you want.

It will play the multiscreen functionality card

Google also teased multiscreen functionality with Android Wear. For example, you can issue a voice command to cast a movie on your TV through your Chromecast or to play music that is on your phone. However, it seems that Google will allow developers to come up with their own kind of multiscreen functionality and implement it.

It wants you to be healthy and fit

With the increased focus on health that has come about, Android Wear will also help you monitor your health and fitness. It will remind you about exercise goals and give you fitness summaries, though it seems that Google is more keen on letting developers do the majority of work on this front. While Google could prove us wrong when it reveals more about Android Wear, possibly at Google I/O this June, that might not be the case.

Motorola and LG are already working on Android Wear-powered smartwatches

Even though Google said it was in talks with several manufacturers about releasing Android Wear-powered smartwatches, Motorola and LG made it official by announcing their wearables.

 The Moto 360

Starting with Motorola, the Moto 360 has one big differentiator: the circular display. Up until now, smartwatches have taken a blocky approach to the display area, but the Moto 360 is changing things up on that front. Motorola even added some gesture support, such as the twist of your wrist to see who emailed or called you, or when your next meeting is, for example. The Moto 360 will be available sometime this summer in the United States, though no word on when we will see international availability or what it will be priced.

The LG G Watch

LG, meanwhile, sticks to the smartwatch status quo by having a square display on its G Watch. Even so, LG seems pretty confident about the design, with LG CEO and president Dr. Jong-seok Park saying that LG and Google’s partnership on the G Watch “was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering.” LG plans to reveal more details about the G Watch “in the coming months.”

More Android Wear watches coming

Also in talks with Google is HTC, which was rumored to release a smartwatch sometime this year. Samsung is also talking to Google about making a Android Wear-powered smartwatch, which is interesting since its newest line of Gear smartwatches do not run on Android, but rather on Tizen OS.