The Sony SmartWatch 3 is the latest Android Wear device

Sony's wearable devices line-up has increased from last year with the addition of the Sony SmartBand Talk and the SmartWatch 3. Like the band, the SmartWatch 3 is integrated with the Lifelog app for Android in an effort to go "beyond mere fitness tracking and number crunching", as Sony put it.

Unlike its predecessors, the SmartWatch 3 was designed in close collaboration with Google, resulting in the latest Android Wear device to hit the market. It pairs with a smartphone over Bluetooth, or works in standalone mode, offering apps and integrated microphone, accelerometer, compass, gyro, and GPS sensors.

The SmartWatch 3 has a 1.6-inch 320x320 TFT LCD "transflective" display, which should offer the needed visibility in bright sunlight, and built-in 4GB storage. It's another waterproof smart-watch, but it's also extremely slim, coming in at only 1.4 x 0.39 x 2 inches (36 x 10 x 51 mm), 1.34oz (38g). It has a silicone rubber band, while the back panel is made of stainless steel. The hardware platform is the usual Android Wear set-up, based on a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU with 512MB RAM and a 420mAh battery.

The Sony SmartWatch 3 will be available in Classik (Black) and Sport (Lime). The Classic & Sport versions cost 230 EUR, with the equivalent US price likely being $230. The release date is unknown.

source: Sony

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Asus unveils the ZenWatch, an Android Wear smartwatch with head-turning design

Today at IFA, Asus finally unveiled its first smartwatch - the Android Wear-powered Asus ZenWatch. We had hear quite a lot about this so-called "hero" device, and it's finally here to wrestle against its Android Wear contenders.

Several months ago, the chairman of Asus revealed that the device will rely on its design to lure potential buyers, and it seems that the maker has done so indeed. At first sight, the wearable strikes with its eye-pleasing exterior, which comprises oval angles and premium materials. It comes with slightly arched sides and a moderately curved "2.5D" display. The manufacturer claims that the stitched genuine leather strap of the ZenWatch embellishes "iconic Italian design". The quick-release clasp is another nifty addition to the ZenWatch's bag of features.

“Our design philosophy is Start with People. We want to deliver a seamless digital experience for everyone to enjoy. With our ZenWatch, you will always be connected to everything that matters in your life,” said Mitch Yang with Asus.

Design aside, the Asus ZenWatch is running the company's home-made ZenUI user interface on top of Google's wearable platform and comes with more than 100 watch faces. It also comes with the rumored gesture-based features that we first heard about more than half a year ago. But what are these, exactly?

Well, thanks to the Tap Tap feature, which got showcased during Asus' keynote, its user can easily tap the display and locate the paired smartphone. Another interesting functionality, Cover to Mute, does just what its name suggests - when someone's calling you and your ZenWatch is notifying you about this, you can simply cover the latter and it will mute itself. Some of the other onboard features are Remote Camera, which allows you to take pictures remotely, Presentation Control, Find My Phone, and Watch Unlock.

It also comes with the usual health-centric and fitness-oriented features that we are normally being treated to with each and every new wearable device. The ZenWatch measures the steps you've made, how many calories you've burned, your heart rate, relaxation level, and many more.

Initially, we heard that the device might retail between $99 to $149, but this won't be the case, at least at first. Asus announced that it will be selling the ZenWatch for EUR 199, which translates to roughly $260 (before taxes and subsidies).

Asus ZenWatch

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Android Wear will soon support GPS and Bluetooth headsets

While Android Wear saw plenty of the spotlight back in June during Google's I/O conference, the details on how the future might look for the platform have been pretty thin as of late. While the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live have been available for some time now, and with watches like ASUS's ZenWatch right around the corner (plus more from other manufacturers), the future is certainly bright for the watch platform.
A new interview published by CNET with Android Engineering Director David Singleton and Vice President of Android Engineering Hiroshi Lockheimer has shed some light on what the future for Android Wear will look like. First and foremost, those third-party watch faces that we heard would get support at some point down the line for Android Wear is still coming, as confirmed in the Q&A session. Unfortunately, it's still up-in-the-air as to when that specific update will be coming, so it looks like it will remain an unofficial movemenet for now.
Two bigger updates to Android Wear include additons to Bluetooth support and GPS. According to Singleton, the Android Wear engineers are developing GPS support for the smart wearables, so that you won't necessarily need your smartphone to come along with you for specific functions. As outlined by Singleton, if you happen to like to go running and track that sort of information, with GPS support in the watch on your wrist, you could leave your phone at home, go for the run, and then have all the information synced to your device when you get back. Of course, this will only be supported by the smartwatches that offer the necessary hardware to make it happen.
What's more, with upcoming support for Bluetooth headsets, you could even be listening to music from your Android Wear smartwatch while you're on that run. Just another reason why these devices are becoming more independent. Not quite there yet, but certainly not from a lack of trying.
Via CNET

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Sony SmartWatch 3 and SmartBand Talk renders appear, as clear as the Hudson River

Sony is expected to introduce the Sony Xperia Z3, Sony Xperia Z3 Compact and the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact this coming week at IFA in Berlin. In addition, it appears that Sony will be introducing a pair of new wearable devices at the same time. Fuzzy looking renders of both the Sony SmartWatch 3 and the Sony SmartBand Talk have appeared, sparking talk that both will also be unveiled at the Sony event on September 4th.

The Sony SmartWatch 3 is powered by Android Wear and will feature a 1.68 inch screen with a 320 x 320 resolution. The timepiece has an IP58 certification, which means that it will withstand a submersion in up to 5 feet of water, for as long as 30 minutes.

The Sony SmartBand Talk is the follow up to the Sony SmartBand line, used by health conscious fitness buffs, to monitor all of their movements over the course of a day. With a curved e-ink display, the SmartBand Talk features Bluetooth connectivity. Use of the word "Talk" at the end of the product's name reveals that this wearable might have some phone capabilities, or perhaps it will notify you about calls to a paired smartphone.

It is a big week coming up with product introductions expected from a number of manufacturers. The excitement is building, and Sony's presentation will be taking place on Thursday.

Fuzzzy renders of two wearables by Sony, both expected to be introduced this coming week at IFA 2014

source: 9to5Google via AndroidCentral

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WhatsApp brings Android Wear support out of beta

It was less than a month ago that WhatsApp brought on support for Android Wear via a side-loaded beta update direct from the company’s website.

Now, the app, as it resides in Google Play, has been updated with the usual “bug fixes and improvements,” messaging reliability, and official Android Wear support.

WhatsApp’s functionality with Android Wear is not outside of what we have already experienced with other messaging features on Android Wear devices like the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. You can tap to view full message contents, navigate among stacked messages, and dismiss notifications with a simple swipe. There are ready-made responses you can choose to use too, and of course, you can voice reply or command the app to open in your phone.

If WhatsApp is your preferred messaging platform, and there is every reason to expect it is, but lack of native support for Android Wear has kept you from taking the plunge to pick up an Android wearable, or, you prefer not to side-load your apps, those obstacles have now been removed.

sources: Google Play via Android Police

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Rumor: HTC Preparing To Launch Two Wearables Devices Next Month

By the time we hit the holidays, we’ll be swimming in so many wearables that we won’t know what to do with ourselves. As the first two Android Wear smartwatches launched earlier this summer, we’re due for a following from Motorola with the Moto 360 here soon as it’s believed to be getting shown off next week. Samsung launched the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo earlier this year in the Spring, and they just unveiled their new smartwatch the Gear S, which was supposed to be shown off at IFA next week as well. LG is also set to launch their new Android Wear smartwatch the G Watch R, which they unveiled recently, and ASUS as well as many others are set to lift the curtain on their wearables.
HTC is included in this grouping of OEMs attempting to get their wearables to market, and the most recent rumor is that HTC is not going to be launching just one wearable next month, but two wearable devices for us to ponder throwing our money at. Smartwatches and wearables are still trying to find their footing in the eye of mass consumers, and perhaps something we see from HTC will be one of the devices to accomplish the task of grabbing the attention of the mainstream market. The news of the rumor comes from Upleaks, a lesser known tipster who leaks tidbits about our favorite electronics via Twitter.
There aren’t a whole lot of details in Upleaks Tweets, but he does seem to mention a few pieces of information that are worth paying attention to. He mentions the alleged names(model numbers?)of the two HTC smartwatches, referring to the HTC CWZ smartwatch, powered by none other than Android Wear according to Upleaks, which he states is coming to multiple regions including the U.S. sometime in September. He also mentions in another tweet, the HTC WWY smartwatch coming in September, which he later follows up with a tweet stating that it might actually be more of a fitness tracker like Samsung did with the Gear Fit. Whether or not any of this information turns out to be true or not remains to be confirmed, but we won’t have to wait long to figure any of that out as IFA is just around the corner and only days away.

This entry was posted in Android Smartwatch News.

SOURCE: Upleaks

VIA: Techno Buffalo

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How to find Android Wear apps in the Play Store

We had a slew of Android Wear apps hit the Play Store yesterday, and it was only the beginning. We are likely to have thousands of apps by the end of the month, and it will only continue to grow. To make things easier, Google added an Android Wear section in the Play Store. You can access it via the link below or from your Android Wear app on your phone. Just tap on “Browse compatible apps” at the bottom of the main screen, and select “Always” for opening with the Play Store.

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Developers need to add appropriate information in order to get their apps to appear in this section, but some might not do it right, so it’s likely there will be a lot of apps that won’t appear in it. You can always type
“Android Wear” in the search box to find every app that has that phrase in it. Unfortunately, you will also get a lot of unrelated stuff, like themed widgets or even apps announcing their future intentions for Android Wear. It’s still worth a try though.
source: Play Store

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Another day, another #YoForMoto fail

As the saying goes, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results. Yesterday, Motorola ran a promotion through Yo to give away twenty Moto 360 smartwatches. The giveaway had troubles with many more than twenty people reportedly receiving a message that they had won, only to be disappointed. In an effort to make amends, Motorola decided to run the promotion again today. 

Unfortunately, the promotion seems to have failed again. Users on Twitter have been reporting a number of problems, including the same issue as yesterday. Others say they never received the Yo message from Motorola, or that the Yo didn't hit their devices until a few minutes after 11AM CT, meaning that they had absolutely no chance of winning the contest. 

No word from Motorola about the contest, nor from Yo, but there appears to be less attention being paid to today's promotion. We wouldn't expect Motorola to try the same promotion again though, even with more troubles today. Anyone out there win a Moto 360?

source: Twitter

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Asus' curved smartwatch is called ZenWatch, teaser video now available

Smartwatches, smartwatches everywhere! - that’s the feeling that we’re getting lately, as more and more companies are either announcing, or getting ready to announce their own smart pieces of wearable tech. Asus is one of the companies that doesn’t sell smartwatches yet, but it will do it in the near future.

As we told you a few days ago, Asus’ first smartwatch may have a slightly curved display. The company today posted a teaser video that seems to confirm this, while also revealing the device’s name: Asus ZenWatch - a name clearly adapted from the ZenFone series of smartphones. 

Unfortunately, we still can’t properly see the watch, though we have a feeling that we’ll be quite pleased with its design, once this is fully unveiled.

The ZenWatch will be officially announced at IFA 2014 next week, on September 3. Details on its features are slim for now, but we know that Asus plans to undercut the competition by selling the device for $149, or even $99. The ZenWatch will almost certainly run Android Wear - since Asus is one of Google’s official Android Wear partners. Check out the upcoming device in the video below, and let us know if you're looking forward to seeing it launched.

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Wearable market grows by almost 700% year over year in first half of 2014

Canalys, an analysis and consulting firm focusing on the mobile market, has released figures for the first half of 2014 showing a 684% increase in wearable shipments compared to the same time frame last year. The worldwide growth is attributed to Fitbit and Jawbone, who were global leaders in shipments of what Canalys calls “basic bands.” In their “smart bands” category, the firm sees Samsung leading on the back of its newly released Gear 2, Gear 2 Note and Gear Fit. Second place went to Pebble, which continues its market and ecosystem growth, while Sony takes third place.

Starting in the third quarter, Canalys will be tracking Android Wear, as the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live have officially launched the platform for consumers. The real question is whether Apple will join the fray this year, as recent reports suggest its long-rumored smartwatch has hit production snags. If Apple does release a smartwatch in significant quantities, it is very likely that the annual growth of the market will be much larger than Canalys' prediction in 2013 and its current estimates. Previously, Canalys expected a 900% growth in wearables for 2014, but the current numbers suggest a much larger growth. Similarly, the analysts predict a high estimate of just under 2 million smart bands sold for the year. This would include any Android and Apple devices that may be introduced between now and the holidays. However, even with reduced production, well-placed analysts predict at least 30 million units sold this holiday season, if Apple does release a smartwatch before then.

The wearable category is relatively new in the mobile technology realm, so growth numbers like this are not entirely unexpected. As the market expands with a diversity of products, consumers have a higher likelihood of finding a product that fits their personal needs. This drives market growth as more and more consumers buy the products. However, the technology is still in its early days, as Daniel Matte, a Canalys analyst, points out. In his view, there needs to be dramatic improvements to all components and applications associated with these products to satisfy consumer expectations. Currently, people are weary of buying devices that depend on their smartphones too much, have poor battery-life or can't keep up with an active lifestyle that may or may not involve frequent splashes of water or mud.

Given all the talk about Android Wear and the potential Apple smartwatch, it would be interesting to see what comes out this holiday season. In any case, the market will only grow from here and the products will only improve. Soon, you will finally be able to count all your steps from the couch to the fridge and back without worrying your smart band will get tired before you do. Exciting, isn't it?

sources: Canalys, CBSNews

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Samsung boasts that more than 1,000 apps can be downloaded on its older Gear smartwatches

Although Samsung has recently been making a journey into the new-found land of Android Wear with the Gear Live, we shouldn't forget that the tech behemoth also released another batch of smartwatches that were initially powered by Android and currently by Sammy's own Tizen OS. Of course, we are talking about Samsung Galaxy Gear, Samsung Gear 2, and Samsung Gear 2 Neo. The first of the trio saw the light of day back in 2013, whereas its second generation dates back to February, 2014.

Although these gadgets are faced against some ever-increasing and harsh competition, as the market for wearables gradually gets more and more crowded. Still, Samsung says that its family of wrist-worn gadgets has had more than enough time to create a relatively rich ecosystem of apps. In a new infographic, the maker boasts that more than a 1,000 apps are currently available for Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, and Gear 2 Neo gizmos and highlights some of the more popular apps in various categories. Check the infographic right below.

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source: Samsung via SammyHub

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First Asus Android Wear smartwatch might feature a curved display

Asus today revealed a teaser image that provides a glimpse on what we believe to be the company’s very first Android Wear smartwatch. As reported several times before, Asus will most likely announce the wearable device at IFA 2014 on September 3. The new teaser image definitely shows the sketch of a watch, alongside the aforementioned date, and a quote that Asus first used last week: “Time has been transformed and we have changed.”

As you can see above, the Asus smartwatch seems to feature a slightly curved display, a “smooth shell”, and even a “front camera.” The device certainly looks interesting, apparently having a form factor that’s different from what current smartwatches are offering. Back in July, Asus chairman Jonney Shih said that the company’s first smartwatch would have a distinctive design, and it appears that its curved shape is part of what makes it distinct.

Asus may plan to sell this smartwatch for $149, or even $99, thus trying to lure customers who are put off by the prices of current Android Wear smartwatches (starting at $200). Let’s just hope that the lower price won’t affect the device’s overall quality.

source: Asus (Facebook)

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Round 'LG G Watch R' leaked ahead of IFA unveiling

Wearables

By Alex Dobie | Aug 24 2014 | 6:25 am  | 1 Comment

We've heard rumors from the Korean press in the past week that LG may be about to unveil a new wearable at IFA 2014, and now it seems we have conclusive proof. Passed to Engadget by a "trusted source," an official LG teaser below makes it pretty clear that the company will indeed show off a new smartwatch at

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Is Pebble still the best smartwatch around??

2014 is "the year of the wearables" according to many tech pundits. A statement which I both agree, and disagree with. It has potential to be a massive year for wearable technology. Companies have already

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