As the name implies, Android Wear is an Android-based initiative, using Google's mobile operating system and a dedicated software development kit to create a number of different wearables.
You can think of Android Wear as an extension of the experience you may have grown to enjoy with Google Now. And just like with our smartphones, Android Wear will have us talking to our watches. You'll be able to speak to request information as well as reply to information you've already received. Weather info. Chats with friends and family. Direct queries. Direct actions.
Android Wear is starting with smartwatches. Motorola and LG were first out of the gate, announcing the Moto 360 and the LG G Watch. But Motorola for whatever reason didn't get its watch out the door until September. Meanwhile, Samsung swooped in at Google I/O with its fourth wearable in less than a year, the Gear Live. Google has said it's also working with other partners in the Android Wear space, including HTC and ASUS, as well as chip manufacturers Broadcom, Imagination, Intel, Mediatek and Qualcomm. So Android Wear isn't solely a Google endeavor. Even fashion brands like Fossil are in on Android Wear, and other fashion and luxury brands are bound to follow.
Latest about Android Wear
Can you use an Apple Watch with your Android phone?
Can you pair your Apple Watch with an Android phone? No, and here's why.
TicWatch Pro vs Apple Watch: Features or polish, because I can't have both
It's arguably the best watch running Google's Wear OS today, and it works with iPhone! How does this experience stack up to what we're used to seeing with the Apple Watch?
Google's Android Wear is changing its name to Wear OS
Google's doing a bit of rebranding to better reflect the company's vision for its line of wearable tech.
Apple Watch vs. Android Wear: Why most all smartwatches suck for small wrists
Why is it so hard for companies other than Apple to release small smartwatches?
Android Wear for iPhone and ... Apple Watch for Android?
While we wait to see what Apple might have up its sleeve for us this year, I decided to see how the Android Wear experience would work for an iPhone owner used to wearing an Apple Watch.
