Report: Google prepping Android smart watch and game console to counter Apple
Google is rumored to be preparing the release of both an Android-based smart watch, as well as a dedicated game console, in moves meant to counter Apple's suspected entrance into wearable computers and gaming.
The new report comes courtesy of The Wall Street Journal, which cites sources familiar with Google's console and watch plans. The sources say Google's move is something of a precautionary measure, as the search giant believes Apple may be working on adding game capabilities to its Apple TV set-top device and to roll out an iOS-compatible watch in the coming year.
Apple has seemed to inch closer to the gaming segment in recent months, and a number of sources speculate that the company could open up the APIs on the Apple TV to allow it to function as a gaming device. Most recently, the company began working with Logitech and Moga on game controllers compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch.
Games on iOS and Android are increasingly popular and profitable, with revenue from the mobile gaming segment now several times that of portable consoles from traditional gaming giants Sony and Nintendo. Google's Android operating system already powers three-quarters of all smartphones shipped worldwide and 56.5 percent of shipped tablets, according to market research firm IDC.
Should Google's console materialize, it would share the Android console gaming space with the Ouya, a $99 console that began shipping this month.
Not much is known about the purported watch beyond the ability to connect to Android smartphones wirelessly. Sources didn't reveal a feature set or possible applications for the rumored device.
Google is said to be developing both the console and the watch device within its own Google X hardware unit, separate from Motorola, which Google acquired last year.
In addition to the console and watch, the search giant is also working on the next version of Android, likely to debut as version 5.0 with the nickname Key Lime Pie. The debut of that version will likely come alongside a revamped version of Google's aborted media streaming device, the Nexus Q. Google unveiled the spherical Nexus Q at last year's Google I/O developer conference, but the device was widely panned for being overpriced in light of its limited capabilities.
The Journal's report also notes that the next build of Android will likely work to mitigate the problem of fragmentation in the Android ecosystem. More than a third of Android's install base currently runs a two-year old version of the software, and Key Lime Pie is said to be designed to allow lower-power machines to run it as well as higher-end devices.
The new report comes courtesy of The Wall Street Journal, which cites sources familiar with Google's console and watch plans. The sources say Google's move is something of a precautionary measure, as the search giant believes Apple may be working on adding game capabilities to its Apple TV set-top device and to roll out an iOS-compatible watch in the coming year.
Apple has seemed to inch closer to the gaming segment in recent months, and a number of sources speculate that the company could open up the APIs on the Apple TV to allow it to function as a gaming device. Most recently, the company began working with Logitech and Moga on game controllers compatible with the iPhone and iPod touch.
Games on iOS and Android are increasingly popular and profitable, with revenue from the mobile gaming segment now several times that of portable consoles from traditional gaming giants Sony and Nintendo. Google's Android operating system already powers three-quarters of all smartphones shipped worldwide and 56.5 percent of shipped tablets, according to market research firm IDC.
Should Google's console materialize, it would share the Android console gaming space with the Ouya, a $99 console that began shipping this month.
Not much is known about the purported watch beyond the ability to connect to Android smartphones wirelessly. Sources didn't reveal a feature set or possible applications for the rumored device.
Google is said to be developing both the console and the watch device within its own Google X hardware unit, separate from Motorola, which Google acquired last year.
In addition to the console and watch, the search giant is also working on the next version of Android, likely to debut as version 5.0 with the nickname Key Lime Pie. The debut of that version will likely come alongside a revamped version of Google's aborted media streaming device, the Nexus Q. Google unveiled the spherical Nexus Q at last year's Google I/O developer conference, but the device was widely panned for being overpriced in light of its limited capabilities.
The Journal's report also notes that the next build of Android will likely work to mitigate the problem of fragmentation in the Android ecosystem. More than a third of Android's install base currently runs a two-year old version of the software, and Key Lime Pie is said to be designed to allow lower-power machines to run it as well as higher-end devices.
Comments
This is where Google falters. Steve Jobs gave them great advice....focus on what you do best, don't take on too many things.
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
...
The Journal's report also notes that the next build of Android will likely work to mitigate the problem of fragmentation in the Android ecosystem. More than a third of Android's install base currently runs a two-year old version of the software, and Key Lime Pie is said to be designed to allow lower-power machines to run it as well as higher-end devices.
This isn't really news as the manufacturers typically have taken forever to release updates they promised before. I am sure the manufacturers will now rush to get out updates for lower-power machines.
Quote:
Originally Posted by bag of kittens
This is where Google falters. Steve Jobs gave them great advice....focus on what you do best, don't take on too many things.
Google is all about sucking all the oxygen out of the room so no one can make any money at whatever it is they are trying to take over. So, they'll give this stuff away, like Android, with the hopes that it'll shear the industry of any possible profits. They'll fail, just like they've failed with Android, but that's their MO.
Google is fundamentally, in their DNA, a destructive company. Sowing destruction is how they approach everything. In contrast, Apple is about creating. That's the main difference between the two companies.
In what way has Android failed?
Originally Posted by anonymouse
They'll fail, just like they've failed with Android, but that's their MO.
In what way has Android failed?
In the same way they have not suceeded. See?.
Just like your failure to post correctly?
I wonder...
How many punches will Apple hope to avoid against: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Samsung, Blackberry, Dell, Hp, Motorola, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, Toshiba, Sony, HTC, Carriers, Wall Street, etc?
What the f*ck are they doing, always so defensive? When will they start to punch back, again?
F*ck the lawsuits, it doesn't matter and solves nothing. With the corrupt system and the corrupt countries of China and USA, they might even lose more than they thought!
Apple is the enemy number 1 of all those companies... They might avoid most of those punches, but they will suffer, one by one, slowly, more and more... And eventually die. Apple has no future (talking about 10 to 20 years, not the "tomorrow" crap) like this. Apple (and what it represents) is too precious to be lost like a Dell or something. Remember the lack of innovation from the nineties and what we have now, thanks to them?
There's only one way for Apple to win the long term game and became immune to these punches: Fight Back. (and before the other guy from the other thread talks about research, the other's combined are much bigger).
How does ? fight back?
Do everything you can to build a search engine and use it as default on your devices and available cross platform, it will hurt google a lot. Invest a lot, create chaos, risk billions on it. Money on a safe somewhere is nothing. If used, it becomes an opportunity.
Do a "google" with Microsoft and Android, put your services there and profit from those ecosystems. It doesn't have to be everything, but enough to profit and "lock" users (example, itunes ecosystem on android and windows 8/xBox, even port safari).
xCode for Windows and/or Linux. Many devs as possible. How many thousands of young Devs go to android first because they don't have/don't want/cannot afford a Mac?
Global Apple.com with free shipping. Sell every sort of ? stuff from your main site. Global iTunes ecosystem, not "US" or "UK" store, everything global.
Different iPhone lines with different sizes, even if only premium-priced.
Sell at cost (or less) your hardware to schools around the word, the most important thing. Better education, great investment, long-term profit.
Kill Microsoft office and other standards by aggressively competing with them. It doesn't have to be better, it needs to break the monopoly.
More focus on the current software.
Create iBank.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
In what way has Android failed?
How much money has Google made off Android, when you subtract the price of Motorola? How much money have the Android OEMs, other than Samsung made? But, hey, it was free.
But, primarily, they've failed because they failed to make the smartphone business unprofitable for everyone else.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pedromartins
... There's only one way for Apple to win the long term game and became immune to these punches: Fight Back. (and before the other guy talks about research, the other's combined are much bigger). ...
The way for Apple to "be successful" is to just keep doing what they've been doing -- not shooting their mouthes off and just developing great products, one after the other.
You're obviously young and know nothing of Apple's past.
Before purchasing Motorola, Google didn't have a say in the crappy hardware the manufacturers put out. Motorola had a great head start over all the manufacturers but squandered that lead with uninspired hardware, as did HTC. Now is Android a resounding success? No but I wouldn't call it a failure. I think that the next few years will determine that.
People will still be able to go to Google using Safari.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ybfmiami
Apple now a company run by out of touch middle aged white American males, completely out of touch with those not like them. Why else would they hire John Malcovich as a IPhone spokesperson while Samsung has LeBron James. Apple is completely out of touch.
I like John Malcovich.
Then again, I'm a middle aged white American male.
No one but Miami fans like LBJ.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jungmark
No one but Miami fans like LBJ.
I thought LBJ was popular in Texas.
Middle - aged, white, males == $$$