Smartwatch Google Pixel Wear OS: specifications, price and release date announced

The range of Google smartwatches, formerly known as Android Wear, now known as Wear OS, suffered from similarity and repetition. Many manufacturers, too much mediocrity and none of them really good.

But there are big changes to come this year. Google has confirmed that there will be a redesign of Wear OS watches, starting with at least one product arriving this fall, maybe even up to three. That it will be Google's own Pixel watch to join the Pixel 3 phone and Google's growing line of self-made products like Google Home, Daydream View, Google Clips and the Pixelbook? Or, will it be done by others, as Google tends to do with certain products? (For example: Mirage Solo and VR180 cameras, both made by Lenovo.)

Here's what we know about Google's biggest shot to challenge the Apple Watch 4 expected this fall.

Google can finally make its own watch, finally …

Each previous Android Wear watch was produced by another company, from LG to Samsung to Huawei in Fossil. Pixel's own brand watch from Google has been reported by well-known sources, including blogger Evan Blass.

A watch designed by Google would join Google Home, Google Pixel Buds, the Pixel Phones and Daydream View VR Headsets in Google's expanding hardware range. And that could mean totally unique features that Google wants to debut in its flagship device.

… or will there be three Google watches?

A report in May indicated that there is three Google smartwatches on the way, not one. But this could easily be explained by variations in feature sets. the Apple Watch Series 3 comes with and without cell, and the Google Pixel watch could be the same. Maybe a watch variant is another size.

A brand new Qualcomm chipset will give it a better battery life.

Qualcomm has confirmed that it is designing a new portable chipset with Google that will be the engine to better power the next-gen watches. Qualcomm's Pankaj Kedia, Senior Director of Qualcomm's Smart Wearables Segment, said CNET "Our goal is to know how to significantly improve user experiences, how the Google Assistant works and how it looks, more visually appealing, but less power."

The watch will probably have added power modes, too. Says Kedia, "Today, you have different modes: the interactive mode, then the ambient mode and the low battery. Of course the new architecture will improve all the above. Exactly how it does, I'm dying of 39 want to tell you. "

Wear OS software is already with a focus on better autonomybut some features have been removed from development versions, which may indicate a wait before the arrival of new chips in the fall.

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Google's smartwatches get a smarter wizard

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Expect to receive Google help on your wrist …

I spoke with Kedia from Qualcomm and the new Product Director Wear OS Dennis Troper earlier this year, and both have mentioned several times Google Assistant as a key feature of the next watch. Carry the update of the assistant on the operating system already improves things with added actions and context-sensitive on-screen The new Qualcomm chips will allow more continuous continuous listening, instead of just activating at a wrist increase.

… and more fitness coaching.

The Google Troper also states that more guidance assisted by the wizard on the eve will be focused on shaping. This could mean a more automatic awareness of recent workouts, suggested exercises, or types of information that are typically missing from fitness trackers, but which occasionally appear on Apple Watch and Fitbit trackers.

GPS, VoLTE and improved heart rate with stress detection?

The same German report that claimed there would be three Google smartwatches detailed some possible specs: GPS, LTE and VoLTE support, and some (or all) will have heart rate detection as well as the ability to detect levels of stress. Some of these features already exist on other smartwatches, but many Wear OS watches tend to leave heart rate, GPS, and heart rate off the table. The chipset could be called Snapdragon Wear 3100.

A new design?

Qualcomm's Kedia suggested to CNET that the next redesign of the watch would look better: "What do watch and fitness companies and sports companies want: To look beautiful, more visually appealing. "It could also mean a lighter look: the current Android Wear / Wear OS watches tend to be big enough to accommodate large batteries.

How many other watches will join Wear OS?

Of course, there will not be a single Wear OS next-gen watch. (And as I mentioned above, Google could even do more of its own.) The most surprising rumor is pointing to Samsung spinning its next Gear S4 watch on Wear OS instead of Tizen. Samsung has been on the road Android Wear before with the Samsung Gear Live Back to the launch of Android Wear in 2014, it is not impossible that Samsung could even have two types of watches planned.

A beginning of October, alongside the Pixel 3?

Google next Pixel 3 phone will probably be released in October, because … the Pixel and Pixel 2 arrived in October 2016 and 2017 too. The models can be interrupted, of course, but the October launch strategy seems to have worked well for Google so far, and escapes an iPhone / Apple Watch confrontation direct since Apple usually launches these products in September.

Price: most likely, Apple Watch-range

The Apple Watch Series 3 starts at $ 329, AU $ 329 and AU $ 459. A full Pixel watch would probably cost at least as much. The high-end Android Wear watch from last year with phone calls and GPS, the LG Watch Sport, cost $ 350 and £ 350 (about the equivalent of $ 568 AU).

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