Google Launches First Android Wear Devices, Featuring Always-On Displays and Card-Based Interface

[linuxcooldude]

I mean I get what you're trying to say that Google can't be amazing at so many different things but the numbers say differently. Chrome #1 browser in the world. Android most popular mobile operating system. Chromebooks highest satisfaction among amazon customers. They even make the best thermostat now with their Nest purchase.

I can see Chrome browser being the most popular, I use it everyday myself. But I don't necessarily see Android being the most popular based on the default operating system installed on most non-iOS phones.

Consumers make a conscious choice to install Google Chrome rather then the default browser installed on the OS.

The consumer has little choice of operating system used on phones other then the iPhone.

A few may choose because of Android, but many more choose based on many other factors.

 

[Konrad9]

You should read the story behind the iPhone 2007 keynote and all the preparation that went into it.

You are suggesting that Google did nothing to prepare, and that everything was thought of on-the-fly?

That's even more impressive, zero planning and they've already made so much progress. Can't imagine how difficult it was to fabricate those new smartwatches in less than an hour.

 

[SHNXX]

Watches are almost never unisex and I don't think apple will waste their resources designing two separate products.

Fitness trackers on the other hand are always unisex although they usually come with large medium and small.

Hopefully this is what apple does.

 

[fortysomegeek]

fortysomegeek that's very valid points. I don't want to micro manage a watch, being careful with all the stuff you mentioned.

That is why the material components are very important. Stainless steel is corrosive. On cheap watches, they pit because they're on sweaty wrists over time.

Sapphire crystal is an absolute 100% requirement. I have 20-30 year watches with absolute flawless dials even from bumping into the bathroom sink counter every day while brushing my teeth.
None of the smartwatches so far even mentions it. This is an absolute biggest selling point in a watch. You'd figure they would mention it if they had it. And since we hear no-one else BUT apple investing into sapphire, I can assume the Moto360 doesn't have it.

Apple and Ives already knows how to manufacture like Rolex. Carving out solid unibody construction out of a single block of precious materials in their macbooks.

The Moto360, Samsung Gear do not look unibody to me at all.

I am waiting to see who can build a wearable with good fit and finish. Lets see in Q4. Your turn Apple.

 

[zipa]

The consumer has little choice of operating system used on phones other then the iPhone.

What does this mean? A consumer has no choice of operating system on an iPhone, and apart from a few ultra geeky phones, a consumer has no choice on any other phone either.

 

[Quu]

I can see Chrome browser being the most popular, I use it everyday myself. But I don't necessarily see Android being the most popular based on the default operating system installed on most non-iOS phones.

Consumers make a conscious choice to install Google Chrome rather then the default browser installed on the OS.

The consumer has little choice of operating system used on phones other then the iPhone.

A few may choose because of Android, but many more choose based on many other factors.

Consumers make a concious choice to buy an iOS, Android, Blackberry or Windows Phone. They buy a lot more Android phones than they do the other three.

You can argue it's due to the amount of OEM's offering Android phones that flood the market and I wouldn't disagree with you, that is how Windows got its market share in the 90's.

But I will say that for as many people I personally know that love iOS there are just as many who I know that love Android and think iOS is terrible.

Personally I love iOS I think it's a great operating system. I bought several iPhones iPods and iPads all running iOS. I do not and have never owned a single Android device but I'm not blind to seeing that there are literally millions of people out there enjoying their Android devices and buying them again and again.

If you look at just one top end flagship Android phone like the Samsung Galaxy S series. They just released their 5th version of this line and they keep selling 35-40 million units every year. This is a phone that on my own carrier costs the same as an iPhone 5S. It's not cheaper, people aren't forced to buy them, they want to buy them, those are popular phones.

 

[Grolubao]

That is why the material components are very important. Stainless steel is corrosive. On cheap watches, they pit because they're on sweaty wrists over time.

Sapphire crystal is an absolute 100% requirement. I have 20-30 year watches with absolute flawless dials even from bumping into the bathroom sink counter every day while brushing my teeth.
None of the smartwatches so far even mentions it. This is an absolute biggest selling point in a watch. You'd figure they would mention it if they had it. And since we hear no-one else BUT apple investing into sapphire, I can assume the Moto360 doesn't have it.

Apple and Ives already knows how to manufacture like Rolex. Carving out solid unibody construction out of a single block of precious materials in their macbooks.

Image


The Moto360, Samsung Gear do not look unibody to me at all.

I am waiting to see who can build a wearable with good fit and finish. Lets see in Q4. Your turn Apple.

I really want to see full on waterproof since I'm not going to take my watch to have a shower, or if I forget about it ruin 300$ worth of it

 

[MrX8503]

You are suggesting that Google did nothing to prepare, and that everything was thought of on-the-fly?

That's even more impressive, zero planning and they've already made so much progress. Can't imagine how difficult it was to fabricate those new smartwatches in less than an hour.

Nope I'm not suggesting that. I'm just saying that Apple does a lot of prep too and did the impossible by presenting a super buggy iPhone flawlessly. Google is capable of doing the same so I don't agree with all of your bullet points.

That is why the material components are very important. Stainless steel is corrosive. On cheap watches, they pit because they're on sweaty wrists over time.

Sapphire crystal is an absolute 100% requirement. I have 20-30 year watches with absolute flawless dials even from bumping into the bathroom sink counter every day while brushing my teeth.
None of the smartwatches so far even mentions it. This is an absolute biggest selling point in a watch. You'd figure they would mention it if they had it. And since we hear no-one else BUT apple investing into sapphire, I can assume the Moto360 doesn't have it.

Stainless steel is anti-corrosive. Cheap watches corrode because...they're cheap. I agree on the sapphire bit. Once we get Sapphire in phones and watches competitors will come running.

 

[nickgri]

Accessorize

Getting rid of the phone out our pockets would be very helpful. So why not make lines of say belts or shoes/sneakers that carry the extra hardware needed rather than the phone. If I can call from the watch or check emails simply as well as have some apps for say health and fitness that's all that is needed to start. They get to sell accessory items for more sales and functionality. If the watch could flip open it would be about the size of a phone anyway. A detachable earpiece? or retractable cord? Piezo charging from arm movement like watches of old-wind up spring? Make them stylish not look like a girls hard bracelet. What ever happened to that keyboard that could be displayed on a hard surface by a laser and pick up the keystrokes?

 

[fortysomegeek]

Stainless steel is anti-corrosive. Cheap watches corrode because...they're cheap.

There are different grades of SS steel. They all have a tolerance level for pitting. Pitting = corrosive.

The most common is 316L. 904L is higher grade to due to PRE (Pitting Resistence). Cheap watches use 304 steel. 316 is industry standard. 904L are used in Rolex and high end tactical watches.

Google 316L vs 904L and you can read up on it.

Here are some "hard facts" for using 904L on diver watches:

the unit of measuremant is PRE ( pitting resistance equivalent )

the value for so called saltwater resistant is 32 pre! (or higher)

316L has a value of 24 pre

904L is 35 pre

Sinn Spezialuhren diver watches "U-models" with "German Submariner steel" got
38 pre

source © German Chronos / US watchtime

316 has less tolerance in chloride water. AKA your local swimming pool

http://www.researchgate.net/publica...I_316L_steel_in_chloride_containing_solutions

more
http://www.finishing.com/183/23.shtml

904L has greater amounts of chromium and nickel than the 316L grade. It is typically used in the chemical industry for severe corrosion environments i.e better resistance to pitting, SCC, IGC etc. In terms of matching international standards I am unsure as to why it would not. The only problem I see with this alloy is that it would be a great deal more expensive than a 316L grade stainless steel.

One thing to note is that the Molybdenum content in the 904L is around 1-2% in comparison to the 316L which is typically 2-3%. This may have an impact upon the pitting resistance of the 904L, but I guess an appropriate corrosion test would indicate this.

 

[Fanaticalism]

Sorry they don't.

My friend just got the S5 for free with a renewal on his contract. He wanted the iPhone 5S but it would cost him $200 on AT&T. He got the 4S for his wife for free also. He bought the 5s for his daughter for $200.

But hey, I mean keep on keepin with that wrong information.

Could you show me where the s5 is free on att? Fact of the matter is that all top line phones carry the same MSRP which is 649.99. Many third parties will offer discounted prices on new phones even on release. Look at what Walmart and Target did with the 5s on release, 30-50 dollars off subsidy.

For the record the white iPhone 5c was free almost a month after release with a two year agreement and the 5s has been free with trade in of any working smart phone for almost three months at many different retailers at different times of the month. Depending on carrier and retailer then 5s ranges from 79 to 200 even now.

 

[kdarling]

Sapphire crystal is an absolute 100% requirement. I have 20-30 year watches with absolute flawless dials even from bumping into the bathroom sink counter every day while brushing my teeth.

The chance of anyone using the same smartwatch from today, in ten years from now... much less 20-30 years... is about zero. Even the phone-watch comms will probably have changed.

That's why sapphire is not important. A smartwatch is not a long term investment.

I really want to see full on waterproof since I'm not going to take my watch to have a shower, or if I forget about it ruin 300$ worth of it

OTOH, waterproofing would be a major selling point to many people, as that would be of immediate importance and usefulness.

 

[MrX8503]

The chance of anyone using the same smartwatch from today, in ten years from now... much less 20-30 years... is about zero. Even the phone-watch comms will probably have changed.

That's why sapphire is not important. A smartwatch is not a long term investment.

Sapphire is important in a watch. Unless you don't care about your smart watch looking like crap in a week.

 

[linuxcooldude]

If this had happened at an Apple event, they would have cut the feed and edited the video to make it appear nothing happened. They also would have told the reporters they weren't allowed to talk about any problems that happened. In short, we never would have known

How ironic, its something Google did when a protester came out. The video skipped to another part.

What does this mean? A consumer has no choice of operating system on an iPhone, and apart from a few ultra geeky phones, a consumer has no choice on any other phone either.

Exactly, the point I was trying to make. I don't think operating system is the major factor in phone selection.

Consumers make a conscious choice to buy an iOS, Android, Blackberry or Windows Phone. They buy a lot more Android phones than they do the other three.

You can argue it's due to the amount of OEM's offering Android phones that flood the market and I wouldn't disagree with you, that is how Windows got its market share in the 90's.

Typical customers don't choose by operating system on buying phones. ( Except the few that need a certain one for work or even by by choice. ) It usually goes to which cellular plan they want, by whatever company. Then they see what phones they offer at what price. Of course now, can buy an unlocked phone is popular and adds more options.

Going back with what I've originally said. Saying Androids more popular just because its offered on more phones free to the manufactures does not make it more popular, but more accessible.

 

[kdarling]

Sapphire is important in a watch. Unless you don't care about your smart watch looking like crap in a week.

All of the touchscreen smart watches that I have used constantly (WiMM, SmartDevices, Gear Fit) had screens that looked fine, even after weeks of wearing and using them.

YMMV, of course. But if you're prone to bashing watches, I don't think anything with a thin sapphire screen is going to be your best choice.

 

[MrX8503]

Google Launches First Android Wear Devices, Featuring Always-On Displays and ...

All of the touchscreen smart watches that I have used constantly (WiMM, SmartDevices, Gear Fit) had screens that looked fine, even after weeks of wearing and using them.

I guarantee you have scratches on the glass if you're not using a screen protector.

YMMV, of course. But if you're prone to bashing watches, I don't think anything with a thin sapphire screen is going to be your best choice.

I have a sapphire watch that I've banged up over the years and the glass is still perfect.

Soon sapphire will be widely available on ALL devices don't you worry.

 

[vvswarup]

Sure, it appears Google is doing a lot more than Apple. But at least some of that can be chalked up to the fact that Google is much less secretive than Apple. Apple previews products when they're ready to be in the hands of a customer. The few times they've relaxed on that has resulted in major disasters such as Maps.

 

[kdarling]

I have a sapphire watch that I've banged up over the years and the glass is still perfect.

Sure, but it's thick, so it can withstand those hits. However, I suppose a smart watch, depending on its shape, could have the same thing.

Soon sapphire will be widely available on ALL devices don't you worry.

If Apple makes it a popular spec point, then I'm sure you'll be right

It also must be making sapphire factory owners happy.

Over the past half decade, the world's sapphire production had grown far more than demand, so sapphire factories were scaling back and shutting down. Now they can all ramp up production again!

 

[fortysomegeek]

If Apple makes it a popular spec point, then I'm sure you'll be right

It also must be making sapphire factory owners happy.

Over the past half decade, the world's sapphire production had grown far more than demand, so sapphire factories were scaling back and shutting down. Now they can all ramp up production again!

This reminds me of how South West Airlines survived the epidemic price crash of oil a few years back. They locked in the prices way in advance as future speculation. This left them un-scathed while all the other airlines suffered badly due to increase in fuel cost. Their cost as locked down for years. Excellent case study for supply chain business students to learn from.

Timothy Cook is a master of supply chain just-in-time manufacturing.

It isn't just sapphire but the manufacturing capabilities of bonding a sapphire protective element over a thicker,cheaper substrate of glass that is touch sensitive for electronic purposes.
Apple has invested million into GTA Sapphire foundries; investing up in tooling of this manufacturing. Not just tooling but allowing GTA to buy up patents and companies with specialize manufacturing of this specific process.

This is just a form of buying "locked in futures" of supply component. Timothy Cook did this in 2003-2005 when Apple bought up all the DRAM for MP3 players that squeezed out the competition. Again, taking cues from SouthWest Airlines.

LG, Samsung will have to have the same J-I-T ramp-up. Cook has a history of locking in stuff giving Apple scales of economy no other companies have in Supply Chain.

Motorola suffered this first-to-market supply-chain with the first Android Tablet. The Motorola Xoom. That should serve as history lesson on why Timothy Cook deserves to be the CEO.

Apple, according to many trade journals and even Motorola executives, priced everyone else out early on in terms of first dibs on screens and manufacturing time.

They pre-paid FoxConn, Quanta that neither suppliers could service HTC, Motorola, and HP (HP Touchpad) at that time. The factory commitments were locked in 2-3 years in advance.
They booked 23 hours out of 24 hours in the day to manufacture iPads. The last hour of factory time were scraps given to HTC, Motorola, etc to fight over. They got squeezed out.
HTC Flyer tablet couldn't fulfill pre-orders. The Xoom had production difficulties.

This is going to happen again if new form of Sapphire bonded substrate manufacturing comes into play.

This is why Samsung and LG, who previously discounted Sapphire is taken a second look in light of all the Supply/Chain chatter of Apple investment in tooling and manufacturing.

 

[felias013]

Somebody looked at http://www.google.com/design/spec/a...l-transitions-meaningful-transitions-examples ?
I saw yesterday and they changed the second example video LOL.
Yesterday:

(iOS Status Bar?)
Now:

(They changed it!)

 

[MrX8503]

Google Launches First Android Wear Devices, Featuring Always-On Displays and ...

Sure, but it's thick, so it can withstand those hits. However, I suppose a smart watch, depending on its shape, could have the same thing.

Which is why it's important on a watch.

If Apple makes it a popular spec point, then I'm sure you'll be right

They all eventually follow the leader.

 

[hot spare]

There was nothing impressive shown at IO.

Android L is nice, with a cool, Apple rip off UI update. But other than that... nothing interesting.

Android Wear is "meh".

LOL.. Remind me again when did Flat UI came to Apple and when it was for Android and WP.

 

[roadbloc]

Half the demos didnt work, lag in demos, flickering in videos, etc

Because demos are really a true representation of how the product will actually work.

----------

There was nothing impressive shown at IO.

Android L is nice, with a cool, Apple rip off UI update.

I think you'll find it was Apple who 'ripped off' the whole flat trend off the rest of the industry actually.

 

[kdarling]

Which is why it's important on a watch.

If it's shaped like a watch.

Do you think Apple's gizmo will be watch-like as the Moto 360 is, or thin and curved like the Gear Fit, or something else?

They all eventually follow the leader.

They all follow each other. A lot of us would like Apple to catch up with water and dust resistance.

 

[DooDuh]

Why in world would anyone want to further Googles' mass consumption of data collecting by wearing this watch? Google is already dead to me because they have zero respect for consumer privacy!

Google's March 1, 2012 privacy change enables the company to share data across a wide variety of services. This includes embedded services in millions of third-party websites using Adsense and Analytics. The policy was widely criticized as creating an environment that discourages Internet innovation by making Internet users more fearful online.

On December 2009, after privacy concerns were raised, Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, declared: "If you have something that you don't want anyone to know, maybe you shouldn't be doing it in the first place. If you really need that kind of privacy, the reality is that search engines—including Google—do retain this information for some time and it's important, for example, that we are all subject in the United States to the Patriot Act and it is possible that all that information could be made available to the authorities."

Privacy International has raised concerns regarding the dangers and privacy implications of having a centrally located, widely popular data warehouse of millions of Internet users' searches, and how under controversial existing U.S. law, Google can be forced to hand over all such information to the U.S. government. In its 2007 Consultation Report, Privacy International ranked Google as "Hostile to Privacy", its lowest rating on their report, making Google the only company in the list to receive that ranking.

At the Techonomy conference in 2010, Eric Schmidt predicted that "true transparency and no anonymity" is the way forward for the internet: "In a world of asynchronous threats it is too dangerous for there not to be some way to identify you. We need a [verified] name service for people. Governments will demand it." He also said that "If I look at enough of your messaging and your location, and use artificial intelligence, we can predict where you are going to go. Show us 14 photos of yourself and we can identify who you are. You think you don't have 14 photos of yourself on the internet? You've got Facebook photos!"