Google Close to Finishing Android Wear App for iOS

[AppStoreNerd]

I'm not saying Apple is some superior entity here.

I realize that Apple isn't making the Phone work in more places, but Google is. But that doesn't matter to the consumer, does it? Imagine this conversation at Best Buy.

Customer: 'I'd like to buy a phone'
Employee: 'Okay, we've got a Samsung, an LG, and an Apple phone'
Customer: 'I'd also like to get a watch in the future.'
Employee: 'Ok... we have a Pebble, Moto 360 and an Apple Watch'
Customer: 'I want a phone that will work with any watch I choose'
Employee: 'Only the Apple phone can do that. The Samsung and LG phones are restricted to only the Pebble and Moto 360.'
Customer: 'Thanks! I made up my mind - I'll get the Apple phone'

let me rewrite to fix some issues

Customer: 'I'd like to buy a phone'
Employee: 'Okay, we've got a Samsung, an LG, and an Apple phone'
Customer: 'I'd also like to get a watch in the future.'
Employee: 'Ok... we have a Pebble, Moto 360, Apple Watch and Tizen watches'
Customer: 'I want a phone that will work with any watch I choose'
Employee: 'Only the Android phone has more choice and can run on all watches(tizen,android wear webOS, pebble) - 1 apple watch
Iphone has 1 iwatch + 5 Android wear + pebble - approx 8 Tizen watch - webOS watch by LG
Customer: 'Thanks! I made up my mind - I'll get the Android phone'

 

[bawbac]

Agreed. The Pebble software has been around long enough to mature and it's still limited and finicky.

Can you elaborate on limited and finicky?

 

[spectrumfox]

Imagine this conversation at Best Buy.

Customer: 'I'd like to buy a phone'
Employee: 'Okay, we've got a Samsung, an LG, and an Apple phone'
Customer: 'I'd also like to get a watch in the future.'
Employee: 'Ok... we have a Pebble, Moto 360 and an Apple Watch'
Customer: 'I want a phone that will work with any watch I choose'
Employee: 'Only the Apple phone can do that. The Samsung and LG phones are restricted to only the Pebble and Moto 360.'
Customer: 'Thanks! I made up my mind - I'll get the Apple phone'

Where do you come up with this stuff?

Anyone can make up a hypothetical and imaginary situation to support their own narrative. Doesn't mean it'll ever happen.

 

[laurim]

Personally I'd want the iWatch ui on a moto 360.

Image

That does look good but overall the watch would have to be too big to get the same amount of text info at the same font size as the AppleWatch. I'd rather be able to fully flex my wrist

 

[apple.snapple]

Makes since.

Google Maps came out right when Apple Maps came out and showed just how much further ahead Google was when it came to maps.

The same thing could occur now if Apple Watch doesn't appeal or fails to take off. Personally, if Apple Watch had a $200 version, it would be a day one preorder, but $350 is just too rich for my taste. For $350, you can get literally any Android Wear watch and nearly any band on the market.

 

[laurim]

Why would anyone buy an android wear watch if you can buy the better apple watch? All the negatives with the Apple watch are amplified with the current android watches.

cheaper. that's pretty much it. It won't do all the things the AppleWatch can do in the Apple ecosystem so it's crippled in that regard.

 

[spectrumfox]

cheaper. that's pretty much it. It won't do all the things the AppleWatch can do in the Apple ecosystem so it's crippled in that regard.

It'll still do the basics like allow you to interact with notifications, make and receive phone calls, control media apps, GPS, maps, and web searches, etc. These are most of the things people will use Apple Watch for, short of the fitness stuff.

 

[RamGuy]

Makes since.

Google Maps came out right when Apple Maps came out and showed just how much further ahead Google was when it came to maps.

The same thing could occur now if Apple Watch doesn't appeal or fails to take off. Personally, if Apple Watch had a $200 version, it would be a day one preorder, but $350 is just too rich for my taste. For $350, you can get literally any Android Wear watch and nearly any band on the market.

Google Maps existed in years before Apple Maps...

 

[pdaholic]

Can you elaborate on limited and finicky?

Absolutely! I've had a Pebble for several months now. There's a great app that puts weather and my next appointment on the screen at the same time. If that app isn't running in the background on my phone, I get no information. Open another app, like a running app, on my phone, and it kills the first app. All this because of how Pebble is limited with respect to deeper integration with iOS.

Then there's the fact that for some reason, my Pebble just stops getting notifications altogether. I go to the system settings, turn it off then back on, and it starts working again. Happens every few days or so.

A couple of weeks ago I saw a software glitch where the whole screen became garbled. Again, another reset.

I like my Pebble Watch, but looking forward to the Apple Watch.

 

[laurim]

It'll still do the basics like allow you to interact with notifications, make and receive phone calls, control media apps, GPS, maps, and web searches, etc. These are most of the things people will use Apple Watch for, short of the fitness stuff.

It accesses Siri? Won't operate my AppleTV with all the cool stuff that should be coming in September. Will it let me use all the apps people are developing for AppleWatch? Does it handoff to all my Macs? Won't have Apple's awesome customer service. Forces me to learn Google's way of interactions. No ApplePay? How secure is it? I prefer Apple Maps to Google Maps. A lot of reasons to not want it. Besides, remember how bad Microsoft's version of Office for Mac is? Let's learn from that how badly outside companies make our experience with their products, probably to get us to dump Apple.

 

[LordVic]

Why would anyone buy an android wear watch if you can buy the better apple watch? All the negatives with the Apple watch are amplified with the current android watches.

mostly design IMHO.

The Apple watch looks like it was built very nicely.

But it's still fundamentally a square screen with a metal band around it. nicely done. but still not fashionable from a traditionalist watch wearer.

to be fair, even the android wear watch makers still haven't nailed the look yet.

seriously Tech companies, is it really so hard to come up with a traditional watch design, and just replace the internals and display with smartwatch components? Why are they all trying to re-invent what a watch should look like.

watches are more jewellery than anything else. don't mess with that aspect of it if you want success.

 

[apple.snapple]

Google Maps existed in years before Apple Maps...

I'm talking about the stand alone Google Maps app with navigation that came out at the same time as the Apple Maps app...

 

[laurim]

mostly design IMHO.

The Apple watch looks like it was built very nicely.

But it's still fundamentally a square screen with a metal band around it. nicely done. but still not fashionable from a traditionalist watch wearer.

to be fair, even the android wear watch makers still haven't nailed the look yet.

seriously Tech companies, is it really so hard to come up with a traditional watch design, and just replace the internals and display with smartwatch components? Why are they all trying to re-invent what a watch should look like.

watches are more jewellery than anything else. don't mess with that aspect of it if you want success.

There are A LOT of different watch designs, especially in women's watches. There's no way they could choose one with a certain definite style and think that everyone would like that style. That's why they chose a simple style for the physical watch and have the software allow a certain degree of personalization on the face, which I'm sure will expand over time with add ons. I would love a steampunk face style. Then another time I would want a super modern style like this one. Then I might want another. That's what's nice about keeping the actual watch simple, it doesn't clash with anything you want to put on the face.

 

[Roadstar]

It'll still do the basics like allow you to interact with notifications, make and receive phone calls, control media apps, GPS, maps, and web searches, etc. These are most of the things people will use Apple Watch for, short of the fitness stuff.

While Android Wear doesn't do everything the Apple Watch can, it has some capabilities that are missing from the Apple Watch, like the option of having the screen always on so you can check the time without any special gestures and regardless of your arm position.

 

[PowerBook-G5]

Would Apple even allow such an app into the App Store?

 

[2457282]

I definitely prefer the circular watch face too!

I have worn both square and round watches in the past. I even had round and square pocket watches. I don't find there to be too much of a difference, but if pushed (very gently), I would say my preference is round. I still think the Apple Watch is very good looking. But here I REALLY think thin is important. Most of the Smart-watches are too thick, and I think Apple is a bit on the thick side as well. Probably just a personal taste thing, but my favorite watch that i still have is a movado museum watch that is super thin.

 

[LordVic]

There are A LOT of different watch designs, especially in women's watches. There's no way they could choose one with a certain definite style and think that everyone would like that style. That's why they chose a simple style for the physical watch and have the software allow a certain degree of personalization on the face, which I'm sure will expand over time with add ons. I would love a steampunk face style. Then another time I would want a super modern style like this one. Then I might want another. That's what's nice about keeping the actual watch simple, it doesn't clash with anything you want to put on the face.

I'm well aware that there are thousands of different designs.

but the majority of them are round.

(yes, there are absolutely square faced watches now, but they are a minority)

you'll never please everyone, but while the device still fundamentally looks like a gadget, and not fashion, it'll still be scoffed by those who are looking for something to replace their existing watches (not everyone, and I am well aware ti's a generalization).

but personalizing the face doesn't replace the fact it's still a square screen on a watchband.

 

[AppStoreNerd]

While Android Wear doesn't do everything the Apple Watch can, it has some capabilities that are missing from the Apple Watch, like the option of having the screen always on so you can check the time without any special gestures and regardless of your arm position.

can you tell me what those things are? only thing i can think off are NFC. apart from that both do the same thing

 

[Roadstar]

can you tell me what those things are? only thing i can think off are NFC. apart from that both do the same thing

Like I said, Android Wears can be configured to keep their screens on all the time so you can check the time without any special gestures and/or latency.

 

[laurim]

I'm well aware that there are thousands of different designs.

but the majority of them are round.

(yes, there are absolutely square faced watches now, but they are a minority)

you'll never please everyone, but while the device still fundamentally looks like a gadget, and not fashion, it'll still be scoffed by those who are looking for something to replace their existing watches (not everyone, and I am well aware ti's a generalization).

but personalizing the face doesn't replace the fact it's still a square screen on a watchband.

I know some people like round watches but I've said a thousand times that a round watch has to be so huge in order to get the same info viewable. You can see in the screen shot how much wasted space there is when it's being used for text. Most textual display devices are rectangular for a reason. The area on our wrist is rectangular so it makes sense. Flexing my hand back won't bump the crown like it might if it's wide to make it round. I don't want a huge watch. The AppleWatch is as big as I would want to go.

 

[UnfetteredMind]

Apple has, historically, prevented direct competition from releasing an app of their own into their ecosystem. Look at all the problems Google went through trying to get Google Voice onto iOS in the past. And Google isn't the only company who had to battle Apple to get their apps accepted.

Apple eventually gives in, but still gives competing developers a hard time with app acceptance at first. Usually until negative press pressures them into conceding.

Apple may give devs a hard time, but generally it's for a reason. A simple Google search found this in regards to the issues with the Google Voice app: https://www.apple.com/hotnews/apple-answers-fcc-questions/

Excerpt (emphasis mine):

Question 1. Why did Apple reject the Google Voice application for iPhone and remove related third-party applications from its App Store? In addition to Google Voice, which related third-party applications were removed or have been rejected? Please provide the specific name of each application and the contact information for the developer.
Contrary to published reports, Apple has not rejected the Google Voice application, and continues to study it. The application has not been approved because, as submitted for review, it appears to alter the iPhone’s distinctive user experience by replacing the iPhone’s core mobile telephone functionality and Apple user interface with its own user interface for telephone calls, text messaging and voicemail. Apple spent a lot of time and effort developing this distinct and innovative way to seamlessly deliver core functionality of the iPhone. For example, on an iPhone, the “Phone” icon that is always shown at the bottom of the Home Screen launches Apple’s mobile telephone application, providing access to Favorites, Recents, Contacts, a Keypad, and Visual Voicemail. The Google Voice application replaces Apple’s Visual Voicemail by routing calls through a separate Google Voice telephone number that stores any voicemail, preventing voicemail from being stored on the iPhone, i.e., disabling Apple’s Visual Voicemail. Similarly, SMS text messages are managed through the Google hub—replacing the iPhone’s text messaging feature. In addition, the iPhone user’s entire Contacts database is transferred to Google’s servers, and we have yet to obtain any assurances from Google that this data will only be used in appropriate ways. These factors present several new issues and questions to us that we are still pondering at this time.

It was subsequently accepted and available in the App Store. Yes, the App Store rules have evolved over time. I'm sure if the Android Wear app follows the rules that it will be accepted and made available in the App Store. Do you know of any that followed all the rules and were rejected? I know there have been some (stories published here and elsewhere) where it appeared there was confusion over some of the rules and these are typically worked out with the developers.

 

[laurim]

can you tell me what those things are? only thing i can think off are NFC. apart from that both do the same thing

No one knows what the app will allow a person to do. Basically the app is an emulator and emulators often suck. History shows that an app to make something work with another product by someone else will have a worse experience than two products that are made to work with each other from the start. The app will probably allow the basic functions and nothing else that makes the AppleWatch special. Will it connect with bluetooth AND wifi? No Siri, have to use Google speak. No Taptic engine. No AppleWatch apps. No handoff with Macs. No AppleCare/Genius Bar help. Just a few off the top of my head.

 

[laurim]

I'm talking about the stand alone Google Maps app with navigation that came out at the same time as the Apple Maps app...

I still remember the days before Siri turn by turn with Apple Maps. Print out the directions from Google maps and try to read off the paper while I drive And if I had to deviate from the printed path I was screwed. I never bought a Garmin or anything so getting voice turn-by-turn with Maps on my iPhone was so awesome! I still love it.

 

[deconstruct60]

If Google finishes the project and submits its Android Wear app to the iOS App Store, it is not clear how Apple will react, given that the app would allow Android Wear devices to compete directly with the Apple Watch. Apple allows Pebble and other competing fitness bands to have apps in the App Store, so it may also permit Google to release an Android Wear app, but at the same time, Apple has aggressively cut down on products similar to the Apple Watch in its retail stores.

The other "smartwatch like" products being sold in the Apple stores isn't really material. There are many iOS device accessories and Mac products that are not sold in Apple stores. Apple store can't carry everything possible. ( not enough display space or inventory flow through for all possible products).

The much bigger issue is just how are the notifications being passed through. Posting/handling notifications should be a job that the OS handles; not an app. The example image is that of a Facetime/iMessage notification being redirected to the Android Wear device. That notification was not intended for the Android Wear app...... so how did it get ahold of it???

If there is some 'hack' the app is using to get data intended for other apps, skim it off, and pass it along then that 'hack' is the potential blocking issue. Security/privacy wise not sure why other apps should be able to skim data intended for other apps. [ Kind of goes back to age where any OS X app could grope though contacts/calendar data without permission or warnings. ]

Absolutely! I've had a Pebble for several months now. There's a great app that puts weather and my next appointment on the screen at the same time. If that app isn't running in the background on my phone, I get no information.

From the Pebble does this sounds like this (and perhaps the Google work) is levering a data leakage hack via Notification Center.

Here is how to set up notifications on iOS device so Pebble to skim them:

http://help.getpebble.com/customer/portal/articles/1191239-setting-up-ios-notifications

If it shows up in Notification Center and Pebble App is in the foreground than Pebble App passes them along. If doesn't show up in Notification Center then Pebble App stops seeing them.

One problem is having an active background process. iOS puts limitations on those. But perhaps because the Notification center needs to 'play nice' with the foreground app to present the notification on the screen there is a "hole" though which to sniff what is being presented. If that kind of kind is what Android ( and Pebble) are betting on long term then it wouldn't be surprising for Apple to close it.


Maybe is iOS Extensions is a more principled path long term ( apps sharing data) . If Apple watch is using some more 'private' API to do notification filtering and device shifting not sure they will let other piggyback on that.
Apple may have left the exploit alone as a testing shim with early off phone devices they build, but will close it once real, long term watch interface is in place.


Google Maps was on iOS first but had unwind a bit from a limited set of internal/private APIs when was the built in default Map app.

 

[gavroche]

I didn't jump on you. I asked a question: Why are you biting? I went further by explaining what he said vs what I thought your interpretation was. That's not an attack, at least in my book.

BTW, I read it as a dig at Apple as well, because it was. But nowhere did it say anything about Apple liking competition less than other companies (that was all you). The misinterpretation was my point of contention. Nothing else.

Fair enough...