Fresh from creating Google Glass, could Google now be turning its attention to a Google watch? We've heard that watches from Microsoft and LG may also be forthcoming, while an Apple iWatch is also widely predicted.
Samsung has already confirmed is is producing the Galaxy Gear, while Sony has the SmartWatch 2.
So what about Google watch? Well here's everything we know so far.
Google watch design
A filing with the US Patent Office from early May 2013 showed a "smart-watch with user interface features" - it sounds pretty clear to us what that might mean.
The watch, displayed in the illustration you can see at the top of this page has two touchpads on either side of the display face.
The patent says that you'll be able to use these to "pinch, stretch and scroll on a platform with limited space available for user input." This could mean it will interact with Google Glass.
It 's possible that the watch will rely on a Google Now-style use of information cards.
The watch has reportedly been seen in a number of Google offices.
Google watch to be Motorola-built?
We've also heard that the Google watch could be manufactured by Google subsidiary Motorola Mobility.
Anonymous tipsters contacted Android Authority and claimed the watch already exists in a physical form and has been seen in its Berlin, Manchester and Google's Mountain View offices.
Motorola already has an exercise watch available, the Motoactiv.
Watch out for the glass
The Motorola aspect is particularly interesting, though not all that surprising now that it's owned by Google รข" and that Motorola released its own smartwatch, the Motoactv, in 2011.
The same sources also state that the watch is "not a standalone device yet", claiming that it needs to be tethered to a smartphone to function properly. This part isn't so surprising given that Google Glass works much the same way.
As for the name of a Google watch, many are predicting that it could use the same name as Google Glass - in other words, it will be a Google Glass watch. We're not so sure about this, since we'd have thought it will be a totally separate and somewhat more consumer-orientated product than Google Glass is. (And yes, we know Google plans to sell Glass to the wider world too).
Rumours also continue to abound that Google will launch its own retail stores, although it will take some time to rival the all-conquering Apple Stores, of course.
The stores would enable consumers to get face-on with Google Glass as well as Android phones and, potentially, the Google watch.
No comments:
Post a Comment