Android Wear…Information that moves with you!

Google is officially getting into wearables. The company has announced a version of the operating system designed specifically for wearable devices, called Android Wear. To start with, the system is made for smartwatches, and Google is moving aggressively to make itself the key name in wearables.

The company has released two videos that gives a glimpse of what the interface of Android Wear would be. It uses the same feature, used earlier by Motorola Moto X and LG Nexus 5, which enables one to ‘talk’ to its device. You just have to say “OK Google” to wake up the Google Now service and perform voice searches. It isalso your key to a multi-screen world! Android Wear lets you access and control other devices from your wrist. Just say “Ok Google” to fire up a music playlist on your phone, or cast your favourite movie to your TV (using another Google product – Google Chromecast).

Fitness is a key component here. Google says that you’ll be able to get “real-time speed, distance and time information on your wrist for your run, cycle or walk.” It’s not hard to imagine more exciting uses for this technology as Google works to get Android into more hardware around the world, such as the connected smarthomes and cars of the future.

Motorola and LG have already revealed their smartwatches. The latest revelation by Motorola, Moto 360, is the first smartwatch that is round in shape rather than the rectangular shape used by every other smartwatch manufacturer up till now.

The video released by Motorola explains how they wanted to break the rectangle shaped smartwatch convention and go back to the time when watches used to be round in shape, to give it a classy look. And they have almost achieved what they desired for. The smartchwatch looks better than all of the smartwatches we’ve seen till date.

Google says it is already working with current Android partners like Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung on wearables. LG’s first device with Android Wear will be called the G Watch, and it’s being produced in collaboration with Google just like the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 before it. The device will be available later this year (hopefully in India also).Google is also working with various fashion brands for their smartwatches.

Google isn’t offering specific details on when we can expect to see more about Android Wear — or what other devices will use the system in the future — but a preview of the operating system is available now so that developers can make sure their app notifications will work with Wear.

Google also released this on their blog site while making the announcement:

‘Most of us are rarely without our smartphones in hand. These powerful super computers keep us connected to the world and the people we love. But we’re only at the beginning; we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with mobile technology. That’s why we’re so excited about wearables—they understand the context of the world around you, and you can interact with them simply and efficiently, with just a glance or a spoken word.’

I am personally waiting for Moto 360 to launch soon in India.