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

[Jakexb]

I agree that the Moto360 product shots look great, but the real-life shots I've seen look fairly lame + it's clear that the face of the watch is way too big to look natural.

The LG watch is still a dork-watch design.

Here's hoping Jony Ive can work his magic on the iWatch and make something people will actually want to wear.

 

[Renzatic]

timepiece is a pretentious word for watches IMO.

And really obnoxious people carry around a chronometer set to metric time.

...I wanna hurt those people so bad.

 

[Roessnakhan]

I agree that the Moto360 product shots look great, but the real-life shots I've seen look fairly lame + it's clear that the face of the watch is way too big to look natural.

I don't know, the size looks fine in this video.

 

[Kariya]

Been watching the Google I/O - They really have excelled themselves this year.

I hate to say it, but after watching the I/O, it makes it appear Apple take 1 step forward but then take 3 steps back.

Apple took 1 step forward, but then Google took 5.

By doing what? announcing a car interface ui and a watch?

 

[Parise]

timepiece is a pretentious word for watches IMO.

lol

When you own a 20k+ "watch" it's not a pretentious word. Anyone that "owns" a Patek and still calls them watches is a liar.

----------

By doing what? announcing a car interface ui and a watch?

Yeah... I don't think this IO leapfrogged Apple in any sense of the word. I'm just glad Google didn't spend 20 minutes cracking jokes at Apple's expense :cough cough:: WWDC presenters).

 

[SHNXX]

I don't know, the size looks fine in this video.

46mm diameter is a very large size for watches.
Most sport watches are around 40-44mm diameter.

But because of the lack of lugs, it seems to wear a little better than what a normal 46mm watch might.

 

[Armen]

I didn't... I said most could say that iOS is obsolete compared with Android.

People buy an iPhone because it is an iPhone and it's made by Apple.

People buy an Android phone because:

-they don't want to spend a lot of money

-they prefer a larger screen size (which up until now was not an option for the iphone).

-they are tech geeks who prefer the advanced features that Android offers that iOS does not.


83% of Android phones are sub $200.00 junk phones.

These phones would not be the "go-to" phone for most tech geeks as they prefer the newest, shiniest model. So that would land tech geeks around less than 20% of the Android user population.

So effectively your "most" users would be 20% of the Android user population.

(Ok my head hurts now).

Conclusion: Everything is still subjective but your "most" users should be corrected to "some" users.

 

[SHNXX]

lol

When you own a 20k+ "watch" it's not a pretentious word. Anyone that "owns" a Patek and still calls them watches is a liar.

----------



Yeah... I don't think this IO leapfrogged Apple in any sense of the word. I'm just glad Google didn't spend 20 minutes cracking jokes at Apple's expense :cough cough:: WWDC presenters).

are you accusing me of not owning the watch?
you should check out the rolex forums.
30k watch is on the low-end of things among some groups.

regarding "watch," that's just semantics.
before there were "timepieces," they were called watches.

patek is far from being pretentious.
on someone's wrist, it's hardly noticeable and nobody recognizes it.

 

[Quu]

By doing what? announcing a car interface ui and a watch?

Apple brings out an iOS redesign (iOS 7). Google brings out not only a redesign but an entire web framework for taking that same in-app design to the mobile web. Something people have needed for a long time.

Apple brings out continuity, answer phones/texts on your mac, continue writing emails on your Mac etc. Google does that and also allows you to run Android apps on your laptop. They went a step further with that idea.

Apple does iOS in the car. Google does Android on the Watch, Car and TV.

You see what other posters are getting at now? Apple announced things and then Google took several steps beyond what Apple announced with those same key ideas.

 

[Parise]

are you accusing me of not owning the watch?
you should check out the rolex forums.
30k watch is on the low-end of things among some groups.

regarding "watch," that's just semantics.
before there were "timepieces," they were called watches.

patek is far from being pretentious.
on someone's wrist, it's hardly noticeable and nobody recognizes it.

I am accusing you of that, actually.

 

[apolloa]

Really nice smooth interface that IMO has been ruined by relying on voice control. Because you will look daft talking into your phone, or it won't hear what you're saying if you're in a crowded area for instance.

 

[SHNXX]

I am accusing you of that, actually.

what do you want? a receipt?

 

[Parise]

People buy an iPhone because it is an iPhone and it's made by Apple.

People buy an Android phone because:

-they don't want to spend a lot of money

-they prefer a larger screen size (which up until now was not an option for the iphone).

-they are tech geeks who prefer the advanced features that Android offers that iOS does not.


83% of Android phones are sub $200.00 junk phones.

These phones would not be the "go-to" phone for most tech geeks as they prefer the newest, shiniest model. So that would land tech geeks around less than 20% of the Android user population.

So effectively your "most" users would be 20% of the Android user population.

(Ok my head hurts now).

Conclusion: Everything is still subjective but your "most" users should be corrected to "some" users.

"Most" is still subjective. You're assuming that only individuals with computer science or engineering degrees give a damn about "geek" features. My mom wouldn't be included in that group, but on many occasions said to me (pre iOS 7) that it would be convenient if she could turn her WIFI on and off from the home screen or from SIRI. Stop assuming that the line between geek and soccer mom is so wide.

 

[Renzatic]

Really nice smooth interface that IMO has been ruined by relying on voice control. Because you will look daft talking into your phone, or it won't hear what you're saying if you're in a crowded area for instance.

That's one thing I hate about voice controls. While I can appreciate what it offers, and how far it's come over the years, I just can't get past the fact that I feel really stupid every time I pull out my phone and tell it to do something.

The major point of contention is that I seem to have some psychological block that keeps me from talking to it in a normal conversational tone. I can't just say "siri, what's the traffic like on I75 today". It's "SIRI! WHAT! IS! THE! TRAFFIC! LIKE! ON! I75! TODAY".

...and then everyone looks weird at me, and I get escorted out of the funeral home, and...gawd, it's such a pain.

 

[unclevername]

Any links to back up the apparent "user privacy violations".

As a Google company, they will also be included in Googles Privacy Policy which is pretty much the same as Apples.

Umm, this for one. Do you not pay attention?

http://www.zdnet.com/google-pays-17m-to-settle-safari-cookie-privacy-bypass-charge-7000023366/

----------

Google are really hitting their stride.

The biggest thing today wasn't the new Android hardware platforms (wearables/TV/car), but the new "material" design language. The new design is basically what I hoped and expected Apple to do with iOS7.

It's like a mashup of Metro and iOS7. It includes the colourful, bold, intentional nature of Metro with the depth of iOS7. It also includes "palette", which allows you to extract meaningful colours from the user's content in a similar way as iTunes on OS X.

Apple's iOS redesign was not bold enough. Their thinking was clearly constrained too closely to the existing box.

Um, Google is floundering. They announced watches, which haven't been popular in 20 years, and a ugly looking mobile skin for Android. Whoop-di-do. If that's "hitting their stride", then that's pretty pathetic.

This keynote was a bust.

 

[Ryth]

sigh... really with this old and tired saying? i saw plenty that apple copied from android in the past few years, yet you don't see me go around repeating that. and what if apple does come out with an iwatch, and it looks similar to this new android design language? what will your new schtick be?

If you are comparing copying a software feature to copying an actual physical hardware look/design, then I don't know what to say to you.

The history is there already and proven that Google's hardware designs were obsolete when the first iPhone came out and they had to do a 180 just like Samsung and others did to copy Apple's look/hardware.

 

[bozzykid]

Really nice smooth interface that IMO has been ruined by relying on voice control. Because you will look daft talking into your phone, or it won't hear what you're saying if you're in a crowded area for instance.

I hear you. But what is the alternative? Typing on a smartwatch is just as pointless since you might as well use your phone. Voice control is not required btw. That is only for giving it input. I would imagine most people are using these things to get glanceable information and that doesn't require voice control.

 

[Armen]

"Most" is still subjective. You're assuming that only individuals with computer science or engineering degrees give a damn about "geek" features. My mom wouldn't be included in that group, but on many occasions said to me (pre iOS 7) that it would be convenient if she could turn her WIFI on and off from the home screen or from SIRI. Stop assuming that the line between geek and soccer mom is so wide.

What feature(s) does Android offer right now that iOS does not that makes iOS obsolete because of it?

Even custom keyboards are added in iOS 8. The only feature that I can think of is the ability to choose default apps to handle tasks and the average user doesn't really care about that. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they even HAVE a 3rd party browser installed for example.

 

[Parise]

If you are comparing copying a software feature to copying an actual physical hardware look/design, then I don't know what to say to you.

The history is there already and proven that Google's hardware designs were obsolete when the first iPhone came out and they had to do a 180 just like Samsung and others did to copy Apple's look/hardware.

Creating a rounded rectangle with a button isn't exactly the work of Da Vinci. But Apple suing for "slide to unlock" is quite valid, yeah?

 

[Ryth]

People buy an iPhone because it is an iPhone and it's made by Apple.

People buy an Android phone because:

-they don't want to spend a lot of money

-they prefer a larger screen size (which up until now was not an option for the iphone).

-they are tech geeks who prefer the advanced features that Android offers that iOS does not.


83% of Android phones are sub $200.00 junk phones.

These phones would not be the "go-to" phone for most tech geeks as they prefer the newest, shiniest model. So that would land tech geeks around less than 20% of the Android user population.

So effectively your "most" users would be 20% of the Android user population.

(Ok my head hurts now).

Conclusion: Everything is still subjective but your "most" users should be corrected to "some" users.

Agreed. The people I know with Android phones fall within the

-too cheap to buy an iPhone and just want the BOGO that comes with their contract

-tech nerd that thinks they can do wonders with some advanced jail-breaking of their Android device when most of the time it's modifying the UI and having some hook up to their home server (which I can do just fine my iPhone).

 

[Parise]

You're comparing turning Wi-Fi on and off from a convenient location to choosing default apps and custom keyboards. Unless my mistaken is there some other feature that makes Android superior?

There was, until Apple decided to implement all of them in iOS.

 

[Kariya]

Apple brings out an iOS redesign (iOS 7). Google brings out not only a redesign but an entire web framework for taking that same in-app design to the mobile web. Something people have needed for a long time.

Apple brings out continuity, answer phones/texts on your mac, continue writing emails on your Mac etc. Google does that and also allows you to run Android apps on your laptop. They went a step further with that idea.

Apple does iOS in the car. Google does Android on the Watch, Car and TV.

You see what other posters are getting at now? Apple announced things and then Google took several steps beyond what Apple announced with those same key ideas.

Comparing iOS 7 to Android L and conveniently sidestepping the Android 4.3-4.4 stall-releases is it?

Also running apps on a browser...ok. I fail to see how that is 5 steps forwards. iCloud.com currently runs 9 iOS apps. Besides Apple to Oranges comparison again here. One is a full desktop OS company and the other's 'desktop' OS is a browser. Priorities and implementations going to differ.

The last point is relatively moot. IOS does Car and TV (Apple TV runs iOS in case you didn't know) and Watch is apparently not far away.

When Apple iterates its catching up, and lack of innovation, and Steve Jobs wouldn't haves, when Google iterates (unless they announced something revolutionary today which i'm unaware of) its 6 steps forward.

Got it.

Don't get me wrong, both companies came out with cool stuff in their individual conferences and i can't wait to play with all their new stuff. But to say one took 5 steps of the other or similar is hyperbole i cannot subscribe to.

Anyhoo, thats enough MR frontpage for me today.

Carry on.

 

[unclevername]

Except the Chromecast is #1 on amazon and the Apple TV and Airport Express (two seperate products which each cost more than the Chromecast) are not.

And same again with the Chromebooks. 10 top highest rated notebooks on Amazon by customer reviews are all chrome books. So Apple doesn't make the most well loved Notebook either?

lol thinking Amazon is any indication of how good something is. It's easy to inflate your numbers when you only release a small amount of something (oh, we sold out of Chromecasts - I mean we only shipped a small number but still!)

And Chromebooks? Lol... seriously? They have, what, a 0.01% marketshare? They're more useless than a speak-and-spell.

 

[Ryth]

Creating a rounded rectangle with a button isn't exactly the work of Da Vinci. But Apple suing for "slide to unlock" is quite valid, yeah?

If it wasn't so innovative, then why didn't these guys do it first and lead the way?

Oh yeah, they are engineering types that said everyone wanted a actual hardware keyboard on their phone. Then a year later they went from slide/flip/keyboards to that rounded rectangle with a button.

I agree with you on slide to unlock, I think most software patents are stupid. Hardware/design on the other hand takes millions to develop and design from prototypes to actual working models.

 

[Parise]

Agreed. The people I know with Android phones fall within the

-too cheap to buy an iPhone and just want the BOGO that comes with their contract

-tech nerd that thinks they can do wonders with some advanced jail-breaking of their Android device when most of the time it's modifying the UI and having some hook up to their home server (which I can do just fine my iPhone).

You do realize that under contract, iPhones for the most part cost the same as nost Android phones right (HTC One literally costs the same as the 5s)? But I mean, keep on keepin on with that tired comparison.

Just checked, hell there are WINDOWS phones just as expensive as 5S'.