Google I/O 2016 has seen quite a few big announcements from the Android-maker, although we're yet to see anything about new Nexus hardware. Mostly it has been grand plans and initiatives, such as Google Daydream, the firm's new VR platform, and Google Home; a new approach to smart connected-home devices. Amongst the announcements, Google made it clear that it hasn't given up on the wearable space and revealed a new version of the Android Wear OS, dubbed as Android Wear 2.0.
Despite what many analysts agree has been a disappointing reception of wearables (across software platforms and OEMs, that is) and specifically smartwatches, Google thinks there's life in the concept yet. Front and centre of the new build is a brand new interface and the introduction of standalone applications; that is, applications that don't need a phone running a parent application - that's a bid to address one of the main criticism of smartwatches: the need to tether to a phone. Applications in Android Wear 2.0 will be able to directly connect to the internet via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or mobile data.
KYM has never really got on the smartwatch bandwagon. They just don’t really do it for any of the them. Speaking personally, I’ve tried on several occasions to integrate a smartwatch into my daily life, only to discover after a few days that it is more of a pain than a blessing. I don’t mind checking things on my phone; I don’t need notifications on my wrist; I just don’t see what and where the utility is coming from in this context.
Untethering the platform from a smartphone could be where Android Wear finds its feet. I say, could, because even them I don’t see the watch format ever being more than a medium to rely what the time is -- I like displays I can type on and watch media on. This is why phones exist and are popular with millions of people, while smart watches are worn by just a few. That’s not to discredit wearables completely; fitness trackers are another kettle of fish entirely, and should be viewed accordingly.
The software is currently in a developer preview state and isn't expected to go public until the end of the year - though whether we should expect to see new devices running it at that time remains to be seen. New devices will have some new options too, as well as being able to be fitted with direct networking hardware and modems for data, Android Wear 2.0 allows for a hardware button. Meanwhile the app launcher has been developed with round watch faces in mind (like the Moto 360) to allow for a circular carousel interface which can be scrolled by a swipe around the outer edge.
Other watch face features include the updated "complications" - complications are any kind of watch face which shows information other than the time, but these can now be tweaked to display widget information; things like weather, location data, and more. The new build also introduces a navigation drawer swiped down from the top, and an actions drawer swiped up from the bottom.
Where previously Android Wear users relied on voice commands and a few simple gestures for control input, Android Wear 2.0 is addressing this by adding a custom keyboard and handwriting support, allowing you to actually create and respond to messages directly from your wrist
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق