“Android Wear” is Google’s wearables platform; hardware and SDK announced
// Ars Technica
Google has taken the wraps off its fabled Google Watch platform today, announcing "Android Wear," its new platform for wearable devices. While the system is Android based, it also occupies the same position that Android does in the market—an OEM agnostic platform with a focus on app development, Google integration, and compatibility with many different types of hardware.
Google released two videos of the project showing off interface screens and several pieces of prototype hardware. The demo Android Wear devices are entirely touch- and voice-powered, with "OK Google" hot word detection. Google says one of the focuses of the OS is to "give you information when you need it most," alluding to heavy Google Now integration. Fitness is also an area of focus for Google, with the blog post saying Android Wear will pull down information from fitness apps. Android Wear will also be able to control other devices, with Google mentioning a voice command to start up a music player or to "cast" (read: ChromeCast) a movie to your TV.
The developer preview sign-up is live now, although Google says that getting in might take up to 24 hours. Google says it is working with hardware partners, including "Asus, HTC, LG, Motorola, and Samsung." Motorola has already announced the Moto 360, an Android Wear watch with a round display screen and metal body, due out in summer 2014. We've signed up for the SDK and will start digging through it as soon as we get it. Stay tuned!
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