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Fossil unveils 7 more wearables, including Android Wear watches
When Fossil teased plans to have over 100 wearable devices on store shelves this year, it wasn't clowning around. On top of the abundance of devices it has unveiled so far, it's announcing seven more today. Leading the pack are two Android Wear smartwatches, the multi-finished Q Wander (above) and the slightly tougher Q Marshal. Both are available with 44mm and 46mm circular cases, wireless charging and choices of strap and body styles. They sell at the same $275 starting price as last year's Q Founder, so they might be viable choices if rivals like the Huawei Watch or Moto 360 aren't your cup of tea.
Expect to see plenty more kid-friendly wearables soon
Qualcomm has signed a deal with three lesser-known tech companies to bring its new Snapdragon for wearables chip to a more niche branch of smartwatches. The most interesting outfit to sign on the dotted line is Infomark, which has no interest in making yet another Android Wear device. The business makes the JooN watch phone for kids, and is looking to produce similar gear that's targeted toward the elderly. Another new partner, Borqs, is similarly investigating "kid watches and elderly watches" for its growing wearables division.
Android Wear update adds new gestures and voice-to-text
Since Android Wear's debut, Google has regularly added new features for the wearable software. Today, those gadgets are getting three more tools -- the stuff we first heard about back in November. First, Android Wear is adding new gestures for navigation through what's on your smartwatch. You can push, lift or shake your wrist to peruse cards, pull up a list of apps or return to the home screen. If you're not exactly sure how the movements work, you can get a tutorial on your Android Wear device from the Settings menu.
Tag Heuer Connected review: $1,500 for a smartwatch?
Smartphone makers have churned out watch after watch in hopes of happening upon something game-changing. If nothing else, they're getting good at making pretty gear. Still, none of them have the clout that horological giant Tag Heuer does, which is why our collective ears perked up when we heard that the Swiss company was making an Android Wear watch. The result is the Tag Heuer Connected, a watch that looks like some of the company's most iconic models ... and works just like every other Android Wear device out there. At $1,500 (£1,050), it's also the most expensive Android Wear watch around, but -- spoiler alert -- it's hardly worth the price.
Swedish TiVos have smartwatch controls
Smartwatch displays might not be big enough to do a whole lot more than pop alerts, but Sweden's Com Hem wants to help wearables replace your living room's Houdini-esque remote controls. The idea here is that your Android watch or Apple... Watch can be used to change the channel, view the program guide or record a show. Dave Zatz notes that these functions appear specific to Com Hem's TiVo devices, at least for now. Oh, and Android Wear devices can use voice commands to choose a channel.
Google debuts designer watch faces for Android Wear
With companies like TAG Heuer and Fossil now investing in Android Wear, Google knows how important it is to keep smartwatches looking stylish. As such, the company has revealed a set of fashion-centric watch faces for Android Wear devices, as part of a partnership with nine different brands. This includes designs from Asics, Harajuku Kawaii!, Mango, Melissa Joy Manning, Nicole Miller, Ted Baker, Vivienne Tam, Y-3 and Zoe Jordan.
Fossil's Android Wear watch goes on sale for $275
A company that specializes in designing watches has released an Android Wear model you might actually wear to dinner. Fossil's Q Founder smartwatch is now available on Google Play for $275 in leather (coming soon), with the stainless steel model priced at $295. Like the Tag Heuer Connected, it's powered by an Intel Atom CPU rather than the Qualcomm chips used in most Android Wear models. Other specs include 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, 24-hour battery life and a 1.5-inch, 360 x 326 display (240 ppi) display. Sensor-wise, it packs an accelerometer, gyroscope and ambient light sensor.
Google Authenticator takes security codes from your smartwatch
It can be annoying to set up two-factor authentication and boost the security of your accounts, but Google may have found a way to ease your pain. It's delivering an update to Authenticator for Android that not only touts a "refreshed" design, but receives codes from Android Wear smartwatches. You're no longer stuck using this solely on your phone. To top things off, Google is rolling in early support (sadly, developer-only) for the FIDO Alliance's NFC Security keys -- in the future, you may only need to tap devices together to sign in. If you can't bear the thought of logging in with a regular password, you'll want to grab this upgrade in short order.
TAG Heuer's Android smartwatch is (relatively) popular
TAG Heuer's $1,500 Connected smartwatch may have been a big gamble, but it's paying off... relatively speaking. LVMH watch chief Jean-Claude Biver tells Bloomberg that his company is upping production of the Android Wear timepiece to meet demand from retailers, and it's even freezing online sales until May or June for the sake of giving physical stores a better shot. However, the numbers aren't about to keep established smartwatch makers awake at night. Production is increasing from 1,200 per week to a not-so-whopping 2,000 -- for context, IDC estimates that Apple sold 3.9 million smartwatches in the third quarter, or about 43,000 per day. TAG's device is successful in the luxury world's terms, but numerous smartwatch brands will easily outsell it.
Google Fit gets real-time stats and grabs data from more wearables
Just in time to outfit your holiday workout regimen, Google its updating its Fit app with a few new features. First, the activity-tracking software now provides real-time distance, steps, pace and calorie stats for your running, walking and riding workouts. When you come to a stop for some push-ups, sit-ups or squats, you can use your Android Wear device to keep a tally of your reps before adding the total to your daily activity log. Google Fit also pulls in sleep and nutrition info from other apps and fitness trackers. If you're using MyFitnessPal (and a host of others) to track meals or Sleep as Android, Xiaomi Mi Band, Mi Band 1S, Sony Smartband 2 or the Basis Peak to keep tabs on how well you're resting, you'll be able access those details for a more complete picture of your overall wellness. Looking to give it a shot? You can grab the latest version of the Android app from Google Play right here.
Android Wear can do a whole lot more using your wrist
That big Android Wear update isn't just about allowing cellular data on smartwatches -- it's also really helpful if you don't have a hand free. Google has quietly revealed that Android Wear 1.4 has a ton of new wrist gestures beyond the usual flicks to navigate cards. You can take action on a card by pushing your arm down, for instance, or go back to your watch face by wriggling your wrist. You're probably going to look silly if you use nothing but wrist gestures, but this beats dropping a bag (or freezing your hands) just to touch your watch for a brief moment.
Android Wear can switch to LTE, works without your smartphone
Your next (or first) Android wearable needs not for Bluetooth or Wifi. Android Wear's cellular support has finally arrived, just as the first compatible watch starts to ship. LG's Watch Urbane 2nd Edition crams an LTE radio beneath its circular 480 x 480 screen, with models that'll work on AT&T and Verizon — carriers that are both selling the watch in the US this week.
TAG Heuer's Connected smartwatch looks like an actual watch
TAG Heuer unveiled its first smartwatch called Connected at an event today. The 155-year-old luxury watch company turned to its classic Carrera for inspiration. But for the innards of the watch, it tapped into Google for its Android Wear software and leaned on Intel for its sensors and processing. To make room for the computing capabilities, they went with a large sized watch -- 46.2mm across and 12.8mm thick -- that's currently available only for men. The watchmaker announced that a women's version is in the making, but for now the men's only watch is available at 20 stores across the country for $1,500.
TAG Heuer's Connected is a $1,500 Android Wear watch you can trade in
Before we kitted them out with high-res AMOLED screens and WiFi, luxury watches were the sorts of thing you could wind up and pass down through the ages. With its new Connected smartwatch (seriously, its name is "Connected") TAG Heuer thinks it's captured "eternity in a box" and restored a sense of legacy to an otherwise obsolescing wearable. Erm, we'll see about that. Long story short, it's a $1,500 Android Wear watch that you'll be able to trade in for a mechanical version after two years if the whole connected lifestyle really isn't for you.
Huawei's first smartwatch finally goes on sale in the UK
It's taken a while, but companies are finally getting better at smartwatch design. Following the original Moto 360, we're starting to see some stylish Android Wear devices, like the long-awaited Huawei Watch. We first clapped eyes on this circular timepiece at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, more than eight months ago. Why it's taken so long to arrive in the UK is anyone's guess, but anyway -- starting today, you can order one from vMall and select Selfridges stores. That premium design will cost you though -- the Huawei Watch starts at £289 for a silver model with a leather band. You'll pay extra for the ceramic black model and the price climbs higher if you prefer a dressier link or mesh strap. Finally, Wareable reports that the rose gold model will set you back an eye-watering £599.
AT&T offers its first smartwatches that share your phone number
If you've wanted a smartwatch that could take its own calls without having to use a separate phone number, relief is in sight... as long as you're willing to subscribe to AT&T, anyway. The carrier has revealed that it will start taking orders for its first two NumberSync-capable smartwatches, the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition (above) and Samsung Gear S2, on November 6th. The LTE-equipped LG watch will ship first, arriving in stores on November 13th for either $15 per month (on a 20-month plan) or $200 on a contract. The 3G-based Gear S2 will cost you the same amount when it arrives a week later, on November 20th. You'll still have to tack on $10 per month to your shared data plan to get either watch online, but that could be worth it if you no longer have to worry about missing conversations when you leave your phone at home.
Amazon's Prime Music stores tracks on an SD card
To help you conserve that limited storage space on your Android device, Amazon is letting you download Prime Music tracks to an SD card. If your go-to device has a slot for extra memory, you'll be able to store music from Amazon's streaming library for offline listening. As you might expect, you can download any purchased albums and songs there, too. In addition to the storage update, you can now control the audio and browse the app from your Android Wear device. The service also gained expanded artist pages and tabs for new and popular music to keep you up to date on what's fresh. The latest version of Prime Music for Android is rolling out now, so if you're not seeing the new features, they should arrive shortly.
Fossil launches its Android Wear watch and a slew of activity trackers
Fossil has taken its sweet time getting its self-branded smart wearables ready, but they're finally here... well, almost. The fashion brand has unveiled Fossil Q, a wristwear series with Intel's connected tech under the hood. The centerpiece is undoubtedly the Q Founder (above), its long-expected Android Wear smartwatch. The circular, stylish accessory looks much as it did when it first appeared this summer. However, it now ties into a special app that both keeps tabs on fitness and promotes "curiosity" -- basically, reminders to shake up your routine. It arrives this holiday for a not-too-pricey $275.
DoubleTwist's CloudPlayer can stream to Android Wear and Auto
DoubleTwist's CloudPlayer can already pull and stream media from Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive accounts, but now it works on AllPlay speakers, Android smartwatches and Auto. Yep, you'll be able to stream your tunes in your car, on your wrist and in your home or office... depending on where you store your non-smartphone Android hardware. With AllPlay support it also means you can now use CloudPlayer on Chromecast Audio, Apple TV or an AllPlay speaker. These are all great reasons to give doubleTwist's media player a shot -- unless you're already busy with one of the (many) other options available.
Moto 360 review (2015): More than just good looks this time around
The Moto 360 made a huge splash when it was introduced alongside Android Wear some 18 months ago. It was by far the most attractive smartwatch the world had seen, and it held its spot near the top of the heap for many months after -- mostly because it looked like an actual watch. Unfortunately, the promise of the device didn't quite live up to the reality, at least at launch. Battery life was terrible; performance was occasionally sluggish; and the device itself was far too large for those with svelte wrists.Fortunately, Motorola improved what it could throughout the year: Android Wear as a platform continued to gain useful new features; software updates helped fix the poor battery life; and Motorola started offering Moto X-style personal customization. But now, an all-new Moto 360 is in the wild, with two case sizes, totally new guts and a host of ways to make it fit your own style. But there are also far more Android Wear watches to choose from now than last year. Is the now-iconic circular Moto 360 still the smartwatch to covet? And, more importantly, does it improve in the areas where last year's model failed?
