The first smartwatches running Google’s Android Wear software began shipping in 2014. But in the grand scheme of things, not all that many of them actually shipped. A report from research firm Canalys finds that about 4.6 million smart wearable wristbands shipped last year, and only about 720 thousand of them ran Android Wear. Of […]
android wear
Android Wear Lollipop brings support for watch faces, new features
Google has begun rolling out and update for Android Wear that lets you use custom watch faces on an Android Wear watch. The new software is based on Android 5.0 Lollipop, and it should roll out to all existing Android Wear devices over the next few weeks. You can download watch faces from the Google […]
Asus ZenWatch, Sony SmartWatch 3 now available
The Android Wear section of the Google Play Store is starting to look a little crowded. When Google launched its platform for wearables earlier this year there were only two Android Wear watches: the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. Now there are 6… including two new models that launched this week. As its […]
Android 5.0 update for Android Wear on the way
Phones, tablets, and TV boxes aren’t the only devices that’ll run on Android 5.0 Lollipop. Google is also preparing to roll out an update to Android Wear, bringing new features to smartwatches like the Motorola Moto 360 and LG G Watch. Phandroid has an early look at some of the new features included in Android […]
Asus ZenWatch launches Nov 9th for $199
The Asus ZenWatch is a smartwatch with Google’s Android Wear software, custom watch faces from Asus, and a design that sort of straddles the line between square and round. Asus unveiled the ZenWatch in September, and now the company plans to begin selling it in the United States. It should be available starting November 9th […]
LG G Watch R hits AT&T Nov 5th
The LG G Watch R is a smartwatch with a round display, Android Wear software, and a dust and water resistant case. It’s the second Android Wear device from LG, and it went on sale in Korea last month. Now AT&T will begin selling the G Watch R in the US. It launches November 5th […]
Sony Smartwatch 3 goes up for pre-order for $250
Sony’s been offering smartwatches for a few years… which is why the latest model is called the Sony Smartwatch 3. But the new model is the company’s first to feature Android Wear software. It’s also the first Android Wear smartwatch with built-in GPS, allowing you to use Google’s new location tracking features even when you don’t […]
Microsoft launches Android apps including lock screen, OK Google replacements
Microsoft’s bread and butter may be the Windows operating system. But the company has a long history of making software for other platforms such as Office for Mac and OneNote and Bing Search for Android. Now the company is launching 4 a series of new Android apps that come from the Microsoft Garage project. These […]
Lilbits (10-15-2014): Android 5.0 SDK arrives Friday
The first phones and tablets with Google Android 5.0 Lollipop software should begin shipping in early November. But ahead of that launch, Google will release the final Android 5.0 software developer kit. It’s coming on Friday, October 17th. That’s when developers will be able to download the latest tools to help polish their apps for […]
Microsoft releases Android Wear “keyboard” for handwriting on smartwatches
Android Wear smartwatches don’t include on-screen keyboards, because it’s easier to enter text using voice recognition than it is to type on a device with a 1.6 inch screen. But what do you do if you’re in a noisy environment where your watch might not recognize your voice? Or how about a quiet space like […]