Google wants to win your wrist and the
Android Wear-powered Moto 360 is still part of the plan.
At Google's I/O 2014 Keynote address Wednesday Google didn't say
much about Motorola's smartwatch, originally revealed in March, and Motorola
hasn't released an official list of features. And unlike for the LG G Watch and the Samsung Gear Live, both of which will be
available July 7, we don't have a Moto 360 release date (or even a price).
So, despite the Moto 360 still being one
of the first watches to arrive running
Android Wear OS, there are still many unanswered questions.
Google did,
however, demonstrate many of the features that will be available to these
devices, including voice commands for sending texts, getting directions, and
music playback. With the smartwatch you'll also be able to receive and dismiss
notifications, accept or decline calls, and dictate notes and reminders.
What makes the
Moto 360 so interesting? For the most part, it's the look.
It's the boldest and most stylish
smartwatch of the bunch. According to
Google, the round design is meant to appeal to both genders while ditching the
sharp corners that can dig into your wrist. Promises aside, the shape is an
improvement over the square designs that we normally see and it makes the Moto
360 look like a regular fashion watch from a distance.
And how does it
look in person? Very nice, but probably bigger than you'd expect. The round
face feels about as large around as a silver dollar, and the steel casing is
about as thick as a Pebble Steel. Svelte this is not.
A leather band attaches cleanly to the
body and buckles up like a standard watchband; it's comfy and even supple. A
single button on the side of the Moto 360 turns the display on and off, but
right now it's hard to see how Android Wear will actually work: the few units
here at Google I/O were running a set demo reel of rotating notification
mock-ups, indicating how they'll look on the screen but not how live
interaction will feel.
There's only one
button that we can see, plus the touch screen and a microphone. The back of the
Moto 360 is mysteriously devoid of standard connectors or charge ports: all
signs point to some sort of contactless charging. And there doesn't appear to
be a heart rate sensor, but who knows if that back could act as some sort of
conductive input.
Southpaws can use it too. The design allows
for left- or right-hand use, but we don't know how yet. It's safe to assume the
screen will flip depending on orientation.
Yes, you'll be
able to change bands. We know of steel
and leather bands so far, but hints have been dropped about more detailed Moto Maker-like
customization.
It's
water-resistant. We don't know how
much, or if it's as waterproof as the Pebble. Sounds like it
won't be good for swimming.
This won't be the
only round Android Wear watch. Android Wear has
two standard screen shapes in its SDK: square, and round. Moto 360 adopts the
round design that Google is already allowing for. That could mean other round
watches, and soon.
There's no camera. According to
Motorola, having a camera like the Samsung Gear 2 does didn't mesh with the idea of the
watch's contextual-information-gathering design.
Does it have
fitness tracking? That hasn't been
mentioned yet. However, Android Wear does have fitness-tracking capabilities,
so it will come down to what the watch supports, not the OS.
You can talk to
it. Google Now will
respond to Moto X-style requests.
You can always
tell time with it. Funny, but true:
you'll always be able to lift your wrist and see the time. Actually, on many
current smartwatches, depending on what app you're in, that's not always the
case.
It works with any Android 4.3 phone. Expect that to be
true for Android Wear devices across the board, most likely.
What's battery
life like? Motorola has been
coy about giving an actual number, but claims that battery life has been
"made a priority." Motorola claims it's learned from its previous
experience with its first watch, the MotoActv, and also the
Moto X.
When is will it
be available? Summer, but no
firm date has been announced.
How much will it
cost? Costlier than all Android Wears ???
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