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You can't get an LG Watch Sport on Verizon after all
We hope you weren't dead set on picking up Verizon's edition of the LG Watch Sport. The carrier has confirmed that it cancelled its take on the Android Wear 2.0 flagship device, yanking the smartwatch from its store. LG has pulled the wristwear from its online shop, too. Verizon didn't have an immediate explanation for the move when we reached out, but it is offering pre-order customers $100 off any connected smartwatch it sells.
What to expect at Google I/O 2017
For the second year running, Google's massive I/O developer event will take place at the storied Shoreline Amphitheater, right around the corner from the company's Mountain View headquarters. Last year's conference had a host of major announcements worthy of such a high-profile venue -- it's where Google Home, the Google Assistant and the Daydream VR headset were all introduced. But this year, things seem like they'll be a little quieter, at least in terms of big consumer-facing hardware. It'll probably be a year of refinement, where big initiatives continue to be polished. We'll be there all three days this year, bringing you breaking news, analysis, interviews, videos and more. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, here's what we think we'll be talking about this week.
Fossil hopes you’ll like one of its 300 smartwatches
Back in March, Fossil revealed its plans to introduce 300 smartwatches in 2017, including a mix of hybrid analogs and others running Android Wear 2.0. The new wearables come from Fossil itself as well as brands like Misfit, Diesel, Emporio Armani and Skagen, all of which are owned by parent company Fossil Group. The firm says the idea here is to offer consumers more choices, since not everyone likes the same style of watch. Pictured above, for one, is Skagen's Hagen Connected Steel-Mesh, a $220 hybrid smartwatch with a traditional design and features such as activity tracking, sleep monitoring and support for phone notifications.
Tag Heuer's 'modular' smartwatch isn't actually modular
Webster's dictionary may define "modular" as "constructed with standardized units," but in tech, that buzzword has a slightly different meaning. A modular device usually has swappable components that bring additional functionality. But Tag Heuer is going with the original definition of the word for its latest high-end Android Wear smartwatch. The Connected Modular 45 is the follow-up to the company's surprisingly successful debut smartwatch that came out last year. The company's sophomore offering is a highly customizable device that lets you swap out the "smart" module for a mechanical timepiece, turning it into just another analog luxury watch with a multi-thousand-dollar price tag. You can change other components of the watch, too. Starting at $1,600, the Tag Heuer Connected Modular 45 is a refinement of the original and, like its predecessor, will appeal to only very select group of people.
Michael Kors taps your Instagram feed to beautify your smartwatch
Last month, Michael Kors announced a "My Social" app that lets you tap into your Instagram feed for watch face backgrounds. Today, the company is sharing a video that shows exactly how you'll do that and why you might want the feature. That is, if you already own one of the Michael Kors Access watches. The app rolls out to the company's Dylan and Bradshaw devices via an over-the-air update on April 25th. By the looks of the trailer, those smartwatches are about to get a lot better-looking.
The ZTE Quartz is an affordable intro to Android Wear 2.0
ZTE has made a name for itself by selling affordable smartphones that are best described as "not bad." Now, the company is extending its "affordable premium" philosophy to Android Wear watches with the Quartz -- a sub-$200 wearable running Google's newest OS. For $192, the Quartz delivers an onboard radio for phone-free calls and texts, as well as a surprisingly big battery. But despite these features, ZTE isn't going after early adopters. Instead, the Quartz is designed for first-time smartwatch buyers, and, for them, it gets the job done.
Verizon's Android Wear 2.0 watch goes on sale May 11th
Verizon's Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch broke from cover back in February with an scheduled launch for March. Well, that didn't happen. Today, the wireless carrier announced that its Wear24 device would go on sale both in stores and online May 11th. If you'll recall, the wearable is priced at $300 with a 2-year activation plus $5 month to tack one on to your data plan. Don't want to be locked in for 24 months? You can pay an extra $50 to buy a Wear24 without the extra paperwork.
Android Wear 2.0 is ready for a bunch of new watches
It's a bit beat up, but my OLED-equipped LG G Watch R is still going strong (and bright) after nearly two years. So it's good news that, after being delayed by glitches, Android Wear 2.0 is rolling out this week to that model, the 2015 LG Watch Urbane and the more recent New Balance RunIQ.
ZTE's first Android Wear watch is also one of the cheapest
Android Wear 2.0's release has been delayed multiple times, and aside from a few watches that have just hit the market, there aren't many affordable ways to get Google's latest wearable OS right now. The good news is, a new option arrives in about two weeks via ZTE, which is making its first-ever Android Wear watch. It's called the Quartz, and it will be available on April 21 via T-Mobile for just $200. You can also get it online starting April 14th.
Android Wear 2.0 is hitting more watches today
Yesterday, Google said that an unspecified bug was delaying the Android Wear 2.0 rollout yet again. It looks like the delay hasn't been too severe, though. The company says that Wear 2.0 is now available for five more watches: the Polar M600, Nixon Mission, Fossil Q Wander, Fossil Q Marshal and Michael Kors Access. That's in addition to the Fossil Q Founder, Casio Smart Outdoor Watch WSD-F10 and TAG Heuer Connected, which Google said were already receiving the update. All told, that's almost half of the 19 older watches that'll get the Wear 2.0 update.
Bug delays Android Wear 2.0 yet again
Google's been talking about Android Wear 2.0 for a long time -- it was first announced almost a year ago, at the I/O 2016 developer event. But it was delayed from a planned fall launch until early 2017. And while a few watches have been released that include the new software (most notably the LG Watch Style and Sport), the release for older Android Wear devices has continued to be delayed. And you'll have to keep on waiting -- Google confirmed today that an unspecified bug was found during final testing that will push back the release again.
Movado's Android Wear device looks like its regular watches
Movado has revealed its first Android Wear watch at Baselworld 2017, a few weeks after it announced its first solo foray into smartwatches. The American watchmaker calls its creation Movado Connect, a timepiece with edge-to-edge, always-on display specifically designed for Wear 2.0. It will come loaded with over 100 watchfaces, but they'll all look familiar if you've ever had one of the company's creations: they're all variations of the brand's iconic single dot design. Not surprising really, since even Movado's collaboration with HP also featured a single dot watchface.
Misfit's Vapor will run Android Wear instead of its own OS
Android Wear smartwatches are saddled with the problem that the tech companies making them suck at fashion design. So it's good news that one of the better-looking smartwatches out there, the Misfit Vapor, will run Android Wear 2.0 instead of the custom software we saw at CES 2017.
Fossil will give you 300 new smartwatch options in 2017
Fossil swore that it would introduce smartwatches across all its brands, and it's definitely making good on that promise... although the result is a tad overwhelming. The company has announced that it's launching 300 (!) hybrid and touchscreen styles in 2017, and that includes brands that are both introducing their very first wearables as well as veterans jumping into the Android Wear arena. When all is said and done, most of Fossil's labels will have at least some kind of smartwatch on store shelves. We won't go into every single model (do you have a few hours?), but there are some definite highlights.
Guess' Android Wear smartwatch is classically styled
Guess, the fashion brand that's perfect for annoying people when they ask what you're wearing, is launching a new smartwatch. This time, however, the company is going all-in on Android Wear 2.0 with the Guess Connect. The timepiece comes packing Qualcomm's Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor and comes in eight styles, five designed for men and three intended for women.
Montblanc's first smartwatch is the luxury Summit
Luxury brand Montblanc has already made a few tentative steps into the smart things space. And just as a simpler stylus preceded a fancier note digitizer, Montblanc is now ready to follow up its e-Strap accessory with a fully fledged Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch. It's called the Summit, and there's nothing too out of the ordinary as far as components go: A 1.39-inch (400 x 400) AMOLED display sits up front, with a Snapdragon Wear 2100 chip, 512MB of RAM and 4 gigs of storage tucked away behind. Other notable elements include a heart-rate sensor and built-in microphone, but Montblanc is under no illusion it's pushing the boundaries of technology here. It's much more concerned with style.
Fossil's smartwatches start receiving Android Wear 2.0
Fossil may have been a bit late to introducing Android Wear watches, but it's one of the fastest out of the gate with the Android Wear 2.0 upgrade. The fashion brand has started rolling out Google's latest software to its Q Founder, Q Marshal and Q Wander watches as of today. There are no surprises if you know what 2.0 brings, for better or worse. You'll get the more intuitive interface, Google Assistant, a new Google Fit app and the option to download apps directly to your wrist. The bigger deal is simply that Fossil's wristwear is getting the update so quickly.
TAG Heuer confirms March 14th debut for its next Android watch
Those rumors of TAG Heuer unveiling its next Android Wear watch this month? They're true. The brand has posted a pair of teasers confirming that it will unveil a future Connected smartwatch on March 14th. There are no major giveaways regarding the design (surprise: it'll likely be familiar), but there is a hint that it'll be better-suited to women's wrists than the chunky original. In a teaser video, TAG chief Jean-Claude Biver says that women had input -- don't be surprised if you see an option for a smaller case, different colors and other features that make the wristwear more accessible.
Huawei's fancy Porsche Design watch is rather ordinary
Huawei's Watch 2 is getting a limited edition version, courtesy of Porsche Design. While we've already strapped on the company's basic Android Wear device, the VIP version was behind glass in a corner of one of several Huawei booths here at MWC. (This company takes Mobile World Congress very seriously.) While there's no price, Huawei's last collaboration with Porsche Design on its Mate 9 smartphone resulted in a limited-run phone that cost four times the price of the muggle version. (The standard Huawei Watch 2 will hit retail for roughly $350, so multiply that a few times.) However much it does eventually cost, you'll get a thick leather strap with red stitching, as well as a specially engraved ceramic chronograph bezel. Other than that, it looks a lot like the original Watch 2, albeit made for Asia's gui zu (one-percenters). If Apple can do it, why not Huawei?
The Huawei Watch 2 is a strong showcase for Android Wear 2
Android Wear 2.0 recently made its debut on a pair of LG-made watches and, as expected, we're starting to see other companies show off devices of their own running the new operating system. At MWC this weekend, Huawei is unveiling its Watch 2, which combines the new Google OS with a sportier design. It will be available in the US in April, and in some European countries in March for €349 (about $350). After my brief time with the new timepiece, which is also available in a "Classic" design, I'm already impressed by how comfortably light and sturdy the two watches are.
