Wall Street Journal Claims Google Now Smartwatch Close to Mass Production Already

[dgstorm]

Above is a Google smart-watch concept render found here.​

For a while now smart-connected wearable computers have been garnering a great deal of media attention. Between the Google Glass project and the various smart-watches from Sony and Samsung, it is a burgeoning new market barely out of its infancy. Of course, if this new market is to grow and thrive, then new products must continuously push the envelope. If this latest report from the Wall Street Journal is any indication, we may see the next phase of the wearable computer rollout come very soon. Supposedly, Google is already nearing mass production on a new Google Now smart-watch. In fact, if the timeline they are suggesting is as accurate as their rumor, then we might see a Google Now connected smart-watch revealed in the first quarter of 2014.

According to the WSJ report, Google is working hard to address the two primary concerns/complaints with a wearable smart-watch, usefulness and battery life. Google is planning to address these issues head on by imbuing their smart-watch with far greater functionality and a deeper integration with Google Now services. Additionally, they have focused a great deal of development on increasing power efficiency for the device so that it can last several days on a charge. Here's a quote with more details,

The new device, which will run on Android, will be integrated with Google Now, the company's intelligent personal assistant that can answer questions, make recommendations and predict what information users need based on what they are doing, a person familiar with the situation said. Google has also been working to reduce power consumption on the smartwatch so it won't require frequent battery charges, the person said.

The smartwatch will be able to communicate with other devices such as a smartphone, and draw information such as travel schedules from a user's email through Google Now, the person said. The device could be ready for mass production within months, the person said.

Whether Google's smart-watch can fire on all cylinders and deliver a compelling experience will have to be judged once it really does come to market. Regardless, it certainly looks like the ball is rolling on the evolution of wearable computing devices, despite not taking off the way smartphones and tablets have.

 

[mountainbikermark]

Smartphones were a niche for years before taking off with the iPhone and Android. The tablet didn't really explode, more like a crackle, until the Fire and Nexus7 brought the prices down.
All they have to do is look at how Samsung is the Galaxy Gear being implemented , go the opposite direction and it'll be a hit. One thing not mentioned in the "wants/needs" that's a big elephant in the room for Samsung is compatibility with other devices. If it'll only be compatible with Nexus devices it'll never mature past niche stage either.

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[xsylus]

When I was 13 or around that age I was totally into this kind of techie, geeky gadgetry. Now, although I think it's cool I'm not as excited by it. While I'd continue to follow the trend to see where it goes I highly doubt I'd ever buy one... at least not anytime soon. The current analog watch I have is so thin, light, comfortable, and stylish that I prefer to wear it. Until smartwatches reach the point of not being bulky or clunky I just don't see a real spike in my interest or desire to own one.

 

[Valvoline]

as long as i can have my bluetooth ear piece and the watch connected at the same time, i may be interested, even though its gimmicky. cool as **** to look at your watch to see who calling and then answer it without digging out your phone, lol