GOOGLE IS REPORTEDLY MAKING TWO ANDROID WEAR SMARTWATCHES INTEGRATED WITH ASSISTANT
Google may release its smartwatches alongside Android Wear 2.0 in Q1 2017
It’s going to be a busy fall this year for Google. In addition to releasing two Nexus devices and the latest version of Android, now known as Nougat — not to mention the developer kit of the first Project Ara modular phone, Google Home, and another Google-built phone.The search giant may also be working on two Android Wear smartwatches.
The latest rumors about the devices give us an idea of when they’ll finally be released. According to well-known leaker Evan Blass, the two devices will be released at some point in the first quarter of 2017, and will feature the new Android Wear 2.0, which has coincidentally also been pushed to 2017.
Previously we received reports from Android Police, but this time it was a rendered image of what the smartwatches may look like. The Android news site attributed the leaked information to a “reliable source” which it did not identify. You know what that means — take this information with a salty dose of skepticism, as nothing can be confirmed until Google’s official announcement. Here’s a look:
Again, the image is a recreation of what Android Police believes the smartwatches will look like, based on the actual primary source material. It’s highly likely that the devices will look different when they’re finally released.
The two smartwatches are code-named Angelfish, left, and Swordfish, right. This does follow the theme of Google devices being code-named after species of fish. The upcoming Nexus devices, for example, are code-named Marlin and Sailfish. The names are surrounded with ambiguity, according to Android Police, which means Google could be using a completely different name altogether. Either way, we’ll stick with the information available so as not to be confusing.
Both smartwatches will have full-circular displays, which likely means that they will not feature the prominent “flat tire” found in circular watches like the Moto 360 and the Casio WSD-F10.
One of the key points about both smartwatches is that they will tout Google Assistant integration with contextual alerts. Google Assistant is the company’s new artificially intelligent assistant, which is set to debut first in Google Home and Allo, a messaging app scheduled for release this summer. We don’t know if this is a feature specific to these watches, or if it will be bundled into Android Wear 2.0.
It’s also unclear if these watches will be branded under the Nexus line, but if Google is manufacturing them, that is unlikely because Nexus devices always feature a collaboration between the search giant and a specific partnered manufacturer. CEO Sundar Pichai did mention that this year’s Nexus devices would feature more proprietary software from Google, and the company would have more input on the design. That could mean the company wants to turn the Nexus line into its own Google brand, and the smartwatches could be the first step.
Angelfish will not support Google’s interchangeable Mode watch bands due to its design and lugs, but Swordfish will be compatible. The Mountain View, California, company is also reportedly working on a “brand-new style of watch faces” for both of these smartwatches that will allow them to gain quicker access to notifications, media controls, and other functions for commonly used apps. This part sounds awfully similar to what Google unveiled in Android Wear 2.0, and its streamlined navigation pattern, so it could be what Android Police is referencing.
Google tells Digital Trends it does not comment on rumors and speculation.
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