Now that the epic 3 hour opening Google I/O keynote has come to a close, the big question on the lips of many was all about the free gifts that those in attendance would receive. It's becoming something of a tradition for anyone attending Google I/O to receive at least one expensive toy to come away with, and Google's Sundar Pichair didn't disappoint this time around.
As expected, Google has taken the wraps off the Samsung Gear Live smartwatch running Android Wear smartwatch OS, and will be available to buy later today via the Google Play Store.
With Microsoft's BUILD and Apple's WWDC now done and dusted, Google will be the last of the Big Three to run its annual developer event when I/O kicks off in San Francisco next week, and following on from the recent announcement of its smartwatch-flavored Android Wear software, the search giant's emphasis on the emerging wearables market will likely be atop the agenda. In advance of arguably the biggest date in the company's calendar for this year, an introduction clip of Android Wear has just been released, offering even more of an insight into what smartwatch owners can expect from this extension of the company's traditional mobile software.
The future of technology well and truly lies in wearables. And at the forefront of this race are big names like Pebble, Motorola with their recently announced Moto 360, and LG with their G Watch offering.
It had long since been reckoned that Google would be delving into the smartwatch game this year, and this notion was confirmed with the grand unveiling of Android Wear. With several OEM partners already on board, the search giant's ecosystem for wearables looks set to thrive, and having already given us a taster of the user interface, the Big G has today showcased Android Wear notifications.
Various companies have already shown their willingness to invest heavily in wrist based technology in an attempt to conquer the market that hasn't yet fully emerged. South Korean based LG is the latest company to throw its hat into the ring with the announcement of the LG G Watch, and although the device isn't slated for release until later this month, a new promotional video manages to tease us into guessing some of the features it will ship with.
Last week, Google announced Android Wear, a tailored version of its popular firmware built specifically for the emerging smartwatch market. Following the announcement, which was accompanied by the release of the Android Wear SDK Developer Preview, both Motorola and LG swiftly announced their forthcoming devices to the on-looking tech world. Since then, we've seen much of the former Google-owned Motorola's Moto 360, but haven't been treated to nearly as much coverage of the Korean company's G Watch, and so to stem the tide, LG's UK Twitter page has just shared a new pic of its wrist-worn gadget, as well as a reminder that the device is "coming soon."
This week has been a particularly busy one for the emerging smartwatch market, with Google having finally unveiled its Android Wear OS designed specifically for wrist-mounted gizmos. Straight after the announcement, Motorola teased its Moto 360 smartwatch, and even though we've several other devices to look forward to from partners including LG, HTC and ASUS, the Moto 360 immediately struck a chord. Finally, it seems, we have a smartwatch that oozes style and a sense of being a traditional watch as much as a toy for geeks, and now, we also have what is claimed to be info relating to the device's specifics.
Even though Motorola is no longer a Google subsidiary, it's still very much intertwined with the search giant's products, and having been the first to announce a smartwatch running the Android Wear software, the company then organized a Hangout to run a Q&A on the exciting upcoming gadget. Since the last 24 hours have been particularly busy in the world of tech - thanks largely to Google's announcement - there's a good chance that you missed that Hangout, but if you wish to catch up, you can watch it all on YouTube.
Yesterday, Google announced Android Wear, a modified version of its famed operating system tailored specifically for wearable devices. Having pushed out a Developer Preview of the Android Wear SDK, folks have already been checking out the beta Android Wear software therein, and one in particular - Android enthusiast Dom Esposito - has given us a video walkthrough of the smartwatch-ready OS. Check it out right after the leap!
