Google’s move into hardware with a Rick Osterloh led hardware division is apparently well under way this year, with a rumour cropping up that Google is working on their own Android Wear watches for release later this year.
According to Android Police, the watches will come in two sizes, with the larger codenamed Angelfish and the smaller device codenamed Swordfish. Both devices will be round but will not come with the ‘flat-tyre’ that some round faced Android Wear devices have included.
The larger Angelfish device is rumoured to be based on a look similar to the Moto 360 and LG’s Urbane 2nd Edition LTE with a sporty look, three buttons on the side and lugs for the watch band. It will be larger too with a 14mm thick profile and 43.5mm diameter face. The watch will come in a matte dark grey finish possibly called “titanium” – other colour options have not been confirmed.
Specs for Angelfish include GPS, LTE, and a heart-rate monitor with LTE giving the watch the ability to operate completely independently of a paired phone.
The smaller Swordfish watch will be similar in design to the Pebble Time Round, though without the bezel. Swordfish will also have a different button layout with a single button used for control.
Swordfish will have only a slightly smaller diameter than Angelfish at 42mm but drops the thickness to 10.6mm. Colour options will apparently include silver, titanium, and rose gold, and specs will be fairly basic with no LTE, GPS and very likely no heart rate monitor.
Android Police also note that Swordfish may not be compatible with Google’s ‘Mode’ watch bands introduced back in April, but given their lack of availability in Australia, that’s not something we’re too concerned about.
The watches would be a great platform for the launch of the Android Nougat based Android Wear 2.0 which was announced at Google I/O in May. The LTE connectivity of Angelfish would make a great platform for standalone apps that Android Wear 2.0 will allow as well – though how the LTE-less Swordfish would fit in there isn’t clear.
It’s shaping up to be an expensive year for Google Hardware fans with two Nexus phones, a Home hardware digital assistant, a consumer level Tango phone, Project ARA potentially being released and now two Android Wear watches – time for this little black duck to do some overtime.
About bloody time!
I’m kind of wondering if google are aiming for a big “spoil apple’s day” hardware launch in September – given how the iphone 7 is considered a likely “meh”. We have probably/potentially : 2 x Nexus/Pixel phones (lots of rumours already on those) Tango phone & possibly tablet (the phone has been talked about, the tablet makes sense) Daydream headset/controller (they probably have to come with the phones) 2 x Smartwatches (as above) Android Home (promised) Probably a new Chromecast (seems sensible in timeline, and the Home dev) Possible a new Android TV box (4K is getting needed) New Pixel… Read more »
Sweet!