Let's Talk Tech
Continuing our run of reviews through the Android Wear ecosystem, Asus has delivered one of the more attractive offerings with the ZenWatch. As a fashion piece it looks like it could go toe to toe with the upcoming Apple Watch, but how does it perform? Let’s take a look…
I’m just starting to find my sea legs on Android Wear, and one of the things that puzzled me was the persistent notification on my phone. What the hell does “Connected, running sync loop” mean? Here’s the answer!
Shop Android Wear on Amazon.
Shop Android Wear on Google Play.
Review: Asus ZenWatch
Review: LG G Watch
Review: Moto 360
Review: LG G Watch R
One of the most popular posts we published last year was the announcement for Motorola’s boundary breaking watch the Moto 360.
Now that we’ve spent some time playing with it, has it lived up to the hype? No. It has not, and here’s why…
Shop the Moto 360 on Amazon.
Shop the Moto 360 on Google Play.
Carrier stores have become full service tech retailers. It makes sense that when you front your cash to pick up a new phone, you might also want to make sure you leave well accessorized.
This is pushing into more supplemental devices like wireless speakers and now wearable tech. AT&T is confirming they will carry the upcoming LG G Watch R when it’s released later this year. Of course, like LG, they are remaining tight lipped on what the pricing will be.
In competing against online retailers, this might be another good opportunity for folks to be able to play with one of these things in person.
Full PR Below.
Continue reading “AT&T Confirms LG G Watch R Will Join Its Wearable Portfolio”
Short and sweet.
If you’re concerned that your Android phone might not be compatible with the new Android Wear watches coming out, Google has a simple test link set up.
Head over to g.co/WearCheck with your phone’s browser, and it’ll run a test to see if you’ll be able to sport a Wear watch. Chances are pretty good that if your phone was purchased within the last year or so that you should be good, but it never hurts to get that confirmed right?
Wearable tech will be hot. The smartphone market is maturing and starting to plateau, so manufacturers are pushing into new territories to expand on our relationships with data and services. Google’s Android Wear platform is an excellent step in the right direction to legitimize this new market segment.
It does suffer from one fatal flaw however: Battery life.Â
Playing with several different solutions for wrist computing, my favorite so far are the watches that can best replicate the experience found on traditional time pieces. Namely a screen that can always be referenced for small pieces of information no matter what orientation it’s worn, not depending on any gestures to activate it. I mentioned as much in my last FFC VLOG.
Of course in technology land, compromises have to be made. If you want crazy new features, you have to accept some new limitations. Continue reading “The Problem With Android Wear Watch Screens”
We’ll have to wait another month for the gorgeous circular Moto 360 smartwatch, but if you’re jonesing for some Android Wear action Samsung and LG will have you covered starting today!
Featuring an always-on display which provides contextually aware information relevant in that moment or location, Android Wear will be the backbone OS for a number of manufacturers looking at Smartwatches.
A full developer SDK will also be available today allowing future apps and services to feed info to your wrist. As apps are installed on your phone, if they have a Wear component, your watch will automatically update with an applet and interact with that service on your phone.
We’re waiting for the Google Play store to get updated with the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live, so make sure you melt down Google’s servers by smashing your F5 button.
This is a pretty sexy looking concept piece.
Kairos is showing off a concept watch with a mechanical chronograph and a semi-transparent touch screen. The teaser shows off the newly announced Android Wear smartwatch OS, which is exactly what us watch fans were hoping to see. Now that Google is directly involved in wearables, other companies don’t have to risk as much to enter the smartwatch market, nor do they have to build a watch UI from scratch.
At first glance, you’d only see a precision analog watch face, but as the “smart” features are activated, and as alerts are received, the screen lights up to show off data.
Kairos is confident that they’ll be able to deliver on this mock up, as they’ve launched a pre-order page with four models to shop. They’re trying to entice new customers with early bird pricing up to 50% off what retail will be once the watches are officially released. Starting at $499 and climbing to $1199, you’ll have several options for build material and watch band.
Better get a jump on though as prices will double in about 40 days. You can see their teaser vid below, or hit up https://kairoswatches.com/ for more info.