Google's Android Wear 2.0 plays catch-up with Apple's watchOS 3, offers some unique touche...
In time for two new LG smartwatches, the Watch Sport and Watch Style, Google on Wedndesday launched Android Wear 2.0, an updated OS meant to put Android watches on par -- or at least closer to par -- with the Apple Watch. Here's how the new software compares with Apple's watchOS 3.
This matches watchOS 3's complications setup, and indeed Android users can now quickly swipe between watchfaces when customizing them, much like the watchOS 3 carousel.
GPS-enabled Wear 2.0 devices have also gained the ability to track location without a nearby phone, something offered in the Apple Watch Series 2. This can be particarly important to runners, who may want to track a route without carrying their phone in a pocket or armband.
Android owners can now also use Android Pay from an NFC-equipped watch, which operates much like Apple Pay. Notably, Apple Pay has been present in watchOS since the Apple Watch's 2015 debut.
Another catch-up is in support for having different apps on a watch versus a phone. In the past, Android would automatically install any Wear versions of an app without a way of disabling them.
Lastly, Wear 2.0 offers both a tracing keyboard and handwriting recognition. While the former is unique to Android, Apple has the latter in watchOS 3.
Critically, Android watches can make use of LTE, allowing them to operate fully independently of a phone for tasks like messaging, navigation, or streaming music. Apple is thought to be working on cellular support for a future Watch, but that may only arrive in late 2017 at the earliest.
Along those lines, Wear 2.0 even includes its own version of the Google Play Store, which lets people browse, buy, and download apps and watchfaces without a phone. This may finally make it a realistic option to use Android watch alongside an iPhone, since in that scenario it was previously impossible to install third-party apps. Apple Watches can't access the App Store on their own.
Fitness enthusiasts may appreciate automatic workout detection for Google Fit and other health apps, which can even include guidance on technique. While there is some workout detection on the Apple Watch -- that's how Activity rings are filled -- watchOS won't, for example, open the native Workout app.
When messaging Wear 2.0 offers Smart Replies similar to the canned responses in watchOS, but with contextual awareness, for instance showing different options for a reply in Slack versus SMS. These can also adapt based on the time of day.
Apple is likely to close some gaps with Wear 2.0 later this year via a new Apple Watch and/or a "watchOS 4" release, which will likely be previewed at June's Worldwide Developers Conference ahead of a fall release. In the interim Apple is adding features like a Theater Mode and SiriKit in watchOS 3.2.
Similarities
Android Wear 2.0 now allows complications from any app for any watchface, so long as the face supports complications in the first place. In 1.x, only first-party complications were available.This matches watchOS 3's complications setup, and indeed Android users can now quickly swipe between watchfaces when customizing them, much like the watchOS 3 carousel.
GPS-enabled Wear 2.0 devices have also gained the ability to track location without a nearby phone, something offered in the Apple Watch Series 2. This can be particarly important to runners, who may want to track a route without carrying their phone in a pocket or armband.
Android owners can now also use Android Pay from an NFC-equipped watch, which operates much like Apple Pay. Notably, Apple Pay has been present in watchOS since the Apple Watch's 2015 debut.
Another catch-up is in support for having different apps on a watch versus a phone. In the past, Android would automatically install any Wear versions of an app without a way of disabling them.
Lastly, Wear 2.0 offers both a tracing keyboard and handwriting recognition. While the former is unique to Android, Apple has the latter in watchOS 3.
Differences
Wear 2.0 includes a new overall interface design, integrated with Google Assistant, which is often considered more advanced than Apple's Siri. It can for instance recognize context, which enables follow-up questions without repeating all the details of initial ones.Critically, Android watches can make use of LTE, allowing them to operate fully independently of a phone for tasks like messaging, navigation, or streaming music. Apple is thought to be working on cellular support for a future Watch, but that may only arrive in late 2017 at the earliest.
Along those lines, Wear 2.0 even includes its own version of the Google Play Store, which lets people browse, buy, and download apps and watchfaces without a phone. This may finally make it a realistic option to use Android watch alongside an iPhone, since in that scenario it was previously impossible to install third-party apps. Apple Watches can't access the App Store on their own.
Fitness enthusiasts may appreciate automatic workout detection for Google Fit and other health apps, which can even include guidance on technique. While there is some workout detection on the Apple Watch -- that's how Activity rings are filled -- watchOS won't, for example, open the native Workout app.
When messaging Wear 2.0 offers Smart Replies similar to the canned responses in watchOS, but with contextual awareness, for instance showing different options for a reply in Slack versus SMS. These can also adapt based on the time of day.
Apple is likely to close some gaps with Wear 2.0 later this year via a new Apple Watch and/or a "watchOS 4" release, which will likely be previewed at June's Worldwide Developers Conference ahead of a fall release. In the interim Apple is adding features like a Theater Mode and SiriKit in watchOS 3.2.
Comments
But . . . the features of the Google watches really don't matter to me. The most important thing about Apple products generally is that they do what I really need and they do it really, really well. Android stuff has a taint for me that I don't think can be removed (security, IP theft, exploding devices, etc.). But if they managed that, I still wouldn't be interested until they get to the point of really working well.
By the way, I was an early adopter and got my Apple Watch only a few weeks after it was initially released. Back then, hardly anyone had one on. This year, I see them on so many people. Each one with a different type of band...so happy to Apple for gaining market share.
One thing that does concern me is that Apple has made such a great product that people won't want to upgrade often. I mean I have no reason to buy another. My 1st generation works just fine for me. I am only concerned because again people will say YoY decline in Apple Watch sales because no one will want to upgrade like me. This is what happened with their iPad. It is not that the iPad is bad product it is just it is such a good product that hardly anyone needs to buy the latest and greatest.
Apple Watch is not only a personnel computer and fitness device, but also a watch. And a watch is similar to fashion.
This is exactly what Google and the other competitors did not figured out, yet. They offer technical gimmicks. Apple offers fashion. And this is the reason why Apple Watch is a success story, and these Android Wear gimmicks are something else, but definitely not (!) a success story.
It is easy to love your Apple Watch because you easily can arrange to fit to your outfit. From time to time a new band is really nice - for both, Apple Watch owner and Apple.
PS: Right now I have five bands, and it's amazing how easily they can be switched within seconds.
BTW, AI fcked up my account. I couldn't log on no matter how many times I change my password.
That said, on my other wrist I happily wear a miband 1s. It's size and lack of screen makes it as indiscreet as a small wristband, it cost less than £8 delivered and bands less than 50p each, it monitors steps, sleep patterns (quite accurately I might add) and heart rate on demand and continuously when exercising. It's currently still on it's first charge 24 days later and has 7% battery left.