News & Reviews:   Google Smartwatch

LG have officially confirmed that they are currently working with Google to develop a smartwatch which will be called the LG G Watch. They have also confirmed that it will be powered by a version of Android designed especially for wearables like smartwatches called Android Wear. While they haven't mentioned any tech specs they have also confirmed that the LG G Watch will be mostly driven by voice commands utilizing the now famous "Ok Google" line, hinting that it will be similar to Google Now. Here's what they had to say about it:

“The opportunity to work with Google on LG G Watch was the perfect chance for LG to really pull out all stops in both design and engineering. With the LG G Watch, LG is continuing the milestones we’ve set in wearables following in the footsteps of the world’s first 3G Touch Watch Phone in 2009 and the Prada Link in 2008. We’re confident that a well-designed device has the potential to take the smart wearable market by storm.” Dr. Jong-seok Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.

No news yet on any specific Malaysia release date or pricing but we expect it to come during the Google I/O conference in June 2014 so stay tuned for the latest updates.

While there are still no leaked images (the one above is just a concept render) of the upcoming rumoured Google LG smartwatch, tech specs of the device have been leaked courtesy of @evleaks. According to the master leaker, the smartwatch will have a 1.65-inch IPS display with 280 x 280 pixel resolution 512MB RAM and 4GB storage. While we still don't have any Malaysia release dates or pricing, many are expecting the Google LG smartwatch to make an appearance in June 2014 at the Google I/O event. Rumours also indicate that Google is working on a version of Android designed for a smartwatch (and other smaller devices) which will be used for the Google LG smartwatch.

Reports indicate that Google could finally come out with it's smartwatch. They also say that LG could be the manufacturer in charge of the 'Nexus' smartwatch due to their previous good jobs with the other Nexus devices. It is expected to integrate a lot of voice commands through Google Now and that Google are working on a fork or version of Android designed for smartwatches, perhaps solving the current problem of short battery life. The reports go on further to say that Google could announce this smartwatch in March 2014 with a possible release date in June 2014 at Google I/O. No news on pricing yet, but if Google want it to be a hit, it should be fairly affordable or at least below the $100 (RM327) mark, especially if it is going to be another companion accessory.

Coming from the usual source of parts suppliers, Google has been rumoured to start mass production of their smartwatch device and soon. According to the Wall Street Journal this is because Google have solved the 2 main obstacles involved with smartwatches which is how useful the smartwatch can be and battery life. Supposedly, the Google smartwatch will include a battery saving feature that extends the battery life. There are no details if this better battery life will be past the current 1 week standard smartwatch battery life or past 25 hours which is the battery life of currently the most feature-filled smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy Gear. The Google smartwatch will also use Google Now as the main interface, which could mean many more voice commands and the ability to always be listening, much like the Motorola Moto X.

So far, reports indicate that it would still have to rely on your smartphone as a stand-alone smartwatch would cost too much and be to big to be worn on the wrist (which doesn't seem to be the case for some other smartwatch makers). We're still hoping that Google will offer a stand-alone smartwatch but we should find out soon enough. The Wall Street Journal reports that the Google Watch could come within a matter of months which could mean either the end of 2013 in December or early 2014. No specifics on pricing or Malaysia release dates but we'll keep you posted.

It isn't a new rumour that Google is working on a smartwatch of their own, but it's a new rumour that it may be called the Google Gem Nexus smartwatch. To top this off the Gem Nexus may get it's reveal date alongside Android 4.4 KitKat on 31 October 2013. The rumour comes from Android Police who say that while they don't have any pics to back them up, they are quite confident that both could get revealed on the same date. So far we don't have any tech specs or features apart from another rumour which indicates that it may be related to the Motorola xWatch, but it seems unlikely that Motorola would release a separate smartwatch now that it is owned by Google. Bear in mind too that Google previously bought WIMM Labs, makers of the WIMM One smartwatch about a year ago, so they've had a good amount of time to create a WiFi enabled smartwatch with a robust Android based app platform (which are the 2 main features that the WIMM One had). No specific Malaysia release dates or pricing but we should find out at the end of the month.

Talking more on smartwatches, Google has reportedly been working on it's own smartwatch, but it seems that it hasn't been doing this on it's own as last year in 2012, they quietly bought out smartwatch maker WIMM Labs. The WIMM One smartwatch offered a reasonable amount of potential, doing everything most bluetooth smartwatches can do today, including syncing with smartphones and showing notifications. While reception for it's first smartwatch was good, WIMM Labs suddenly went quiet and stopped producing more smartwatches. Apparently, they did so because Google bought them out, which Google has confirmed recently. What sets the WIMM smartwatch apart from the others is that they also made an Android based micro app platform that offers a widget like based development system. Google and WIMM have both been quiet about what came from this relationship, but we're betting on a smartwatch that could be used in tandem with Google's own Glass wearable computer.

US Patents filed in 2011 and 2000 show that Google have also been working on smart watch devices. While the more recent patent (see drawing above) talks about a dual screen device with touchscreen capabilities, the older patent (see drawing below) shows a smart watch design much along the same lines as the current Pebble watch. Apparently Google's Smart Watch has been under development just as long as Samsung's Smart watch as well, just that we haven't seen any actual hardware come to light.