Android Wear Is Great, But Google's Smartwatches Are Sorely Lacking In The Hardware Department

Google has been able to take the fight to Apple on wearable devices, but will have to work much harder to maintain its position. Apple will or is poised to introduce something big in this segment and as we all wait with bated breath, Google has been dominating discussions on wearables for the moment and Android Wear seems to be the flavor of this season.

Challenge Ahead For Google

Having entered this segment, the challenge is a stiff one for Google. It needs to quickly attract users to Android Wear watches and given the much smaller screen on a watch as opposed to the smart phone, it is easier said than done. Moreover, all smart phone features may not work as well on watches and the key here is to identify what users would want to have on their watches and ensure those are provided without glitches. Initial impressions have been good when Android Wear was unveiled at the June I/O with regard to the software. The issue seems more with the hardware that is not selling as expected as yet.

Smart Watches Concept

Let us first understand the concept of these smart watches. They are devices that enable you to receive your smart phone notifications on your watch display. This means you do not have to keep taking out the handset each time to look at them and can decide based on the notifications which one you need to attend to on priority. It is Google Now that is the interface for Android Wear. You swipe the cards to access what you want to see and click on them to view the information in detail. You use Google Now to send emails, text messages or search without having to type in anything on the keyboard. The smart watch becomes your immediate friend to turn to for any information you are seeking and though the software appears to be slow at the moment, it is bound to improve. As more and more apps get loaded on the Android Wear, users will use these devices much more. As of today, apps that are already popular and doing well are Lyft, Tinder, Trulia and Wunderlist.

Google Needs To Focus On The Hardware

Now that Google has managed to get the software part working well, it needs to ensure that the software working is not restricted to Android gadgets only. That apart, it also needs to focus on getting more hardware choices for the user. Today, you only have the Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch. Both are expensive at $200 and are also square wristbands that may not appeal to everybody. They also appear clunky. Another issue that needs sorting out is the built in pedometer which gets activated even when you wave your arms or type on your keyboard. Battery life is another problem that needs resolution as even with little use, you need to charge every day. It is expected that with the arrival of Apple, many of these glitches will get ironed out and the user will have better Android Wear options down the road.