A few weeks ago, Google unveiled its new SDK for wearable devices (“wearables”). An adapted version of Android for small screens, with new intuitive gestures for smartwatches such as the new Moto 360 or the LG G Watch. These will be the first to launch the new system, and early impressions are quite promising.
The main screen of our Android Wear device will show the time, quick access to voice commands, and a list of notifications and contextual cards with useful information in the style of the Google Now app, all synced with our Android smartphone.
The Android Wear SDK is available along with its corresponding emulator, so developers can build the first test apps. The emulator displays a round or square screen, depending on future devices and the choices made by hardware manufacturers.
That emulator does not include voice recognition functionality.
For now, the system won’t have its own installed apps. Android Wear will let us interact with the notifications and useful information we receive through our Android device.
Notifications will have an “expanded” mode that lets you read full emails without having to look at your phone.
For designers, a design kit compatible with Adobe Photoshop has been created. It contains two files, one square at 280×280 and another round at 320×320 pixels, plus several layers including notifications, contextual cards, and a notification stack. These are the three ways of displaying information.
Version 4.4 of the operating system (KitKat) is what powers the new system for wearable devices. Android is trying to unify the interface across all smartwatches with Android Wear.
Meanwhile, Samsung has dropped the Galaxy (Android) brand from its “Gear” smartwatches, using its own operating system instead — namely, the Tizen project.
At Sozpic we already have the preview and are running our first tests on the emulator. We hope to have a device in our hands soon.