Android Wear

Truly Wearable Tech from LG, Motorola and Samsung

By Erica Rascón on Apr 10, 2014 in Technology

Google Glass definitely had its appeal. Wearers looked as though they came to us from the future, equipped with endless knowledge and insight thanks to a little lens hovering near their eyeball. That little lens caused some discomfort that has prevented the technology from reaching a broader fan base: is the wearer looking at me? Recording me? Ignoring me for his or her own little cyber world?

Intelligent face wear will take much longer to rouse mass support than an amped-up watch, for example. Intelligent watches offer a less confusing alternative to wearable technology since watches don’t place a visual barrier between the user and others. Stepping back from eyewear, Google has made its Android Wear platform available for a variety of companies including LG, Motorola and Samsung. Now, those companies battle to create the next big thing in wearable technology.

LG’s newest venture, the G Watch, will offer a 1.65” screen with a 280×280 pixel resolution, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of storage. Time, weather, calendars, and many of your favorite organizing and entertainment apps will be available in an easy-to-use interface. The G Watch is slated for consumer release this summer.

Motorola isn’t far behind with the Moto 360 (left). Though the smartwatch is also planned for release this summer, Motorola hasn’t released much information in terms of specs. The only confirmed info is that the Moto 360 will have excellent battery life with wireless charging capabilities and users can choose from a variety of eye-catching (yet office appropriate) colors.

Samsung Gear 2 has earned its hype. It’s one of the only products to officially release its specs. Check out the stunning visuals on its 1.63” display with 321 x 320 pixel resolution. Battery-life ranges from 25-150 hours depending on usage but in any case you won’t need to charge it midday (ahem, Sony). Bluetooth 4.0 technology facilitates compatibility across devices while a stellar quality voice command makes it easy to issue demands and make calls on the go. Enjoy several apps that will make staying on top of business and your social life much easier. The downside to releasing Gear 2’s secrets early is that consumers know Gear 2 will lack a keyboard and may hold off buying it until they know what LG and Motorola will offer. The Gear 2 is set for release later this month.

How might a smartwatch make your business operations easier?