Android Wear update will bring WiFi support and gesture control

[wicked]

Android Wear's next update is going to be a pretty big one according to The Verge. According to them, Google is going to enable WiFi support, Gesture Controls and even faster and easier access to contacts. Looking at the WiFi Support, what this means is that you’ll still be able to get Google Now cards when your smartwatch is not connected to Bluetooth.

Another feature that’s coming is Gesture Control. It appears that users will be able to flick their wrist and be able to scroll through all their notifications without actually touching the device. Android Wear's UI will also get a few tweaks which will make it easier to access applications and contacts on your smartwatch.

Source: The Verge

 

[jstafford1]

Sweet.... Does anyone know if the G watch has a WiFi radio?

 

[Sydman]

I am very pleased on how nicely Android Wear is coming along. Love my Moto 360.

 

[Sajo]

Sounds like an awesome update. Google is moving along nicely with AW.

Sweet.... Does anyone know if the G watch has a WiFi radio?

I can't find WiFi specs on any of the current AW watches (LG G, LG G - R or Moto 360). I didn't think any of them had built in WiFi, only BT LE?

 

[Jonny Kansas]

Add you've all already said, I'm pleased with the moves they're making & look forward to each update.

Sent from my Note 4 via Tapatalk

 

[FoxKat]

Sounds like an awesome update. Google is moving along nicely with AW.


I can't find WiFi specs on any of the current AW watches (LG G, LG G - R or Moto 360). I didn't think any of them had built in WiFi, only BT LE?

OK, so here's the scoop, the Moto 360 aparently contains BOTH Bluetooth AND WIFI antennas, it has the SOC necessary, and apparently was vetted through the FCC for WIFI (Motorola Mobility LLC WRIST-WORN MOBILE INTERFACE FCC ID IHDT6QC1 Test Report).

So, it's a feature that MAY very well be "dormant" and could be brought to life once the new Android Wear is released! Oh BABY!

Further information says the watch apparently has the Texas Instruments WL18xx chip, probably a WL1851, part of the highly integrated, five-radio WL189x solutions TI WiLink 8.0 chip series, a chip five-radio integration. It could possibly support a/b/g/n, but at least b/g/n.



TI Investor Relations - Introducing TI s WiLink 8.0 family Five-in-one wireless connectivity solutions for next-generation mobile experiences

Here's a Youtube video showing one of the developers talking about the watch and at just before 5:30 (start the video at maybe 5:20), he clearly states Bluetooth AND WIFI antennas...

 

[mountainbikermark]

How will Wi-Fi affect your battery life will be a wild card. It's murder on the S when enabled. Hopefully AW incorporates a sleep mode for it as well, something like off when asleep or after so long like on phones. With Samsung it's on or off, no middle ground yet.

 

[FoxKat]

There is talk that a low-power WIFI may be available and that this chip is compatible. The talk is that it would actually consume less power than BT4.0 AND provide faster connectivity and communication while maintaining backward compatibility and consistent connection. In theory, it could effectively either replace Bluetooth for the connection between it and the watch, or possibly supplement it so that BT is left to maintain the harness while WiFi does the heavy lifting.

The obvious other possibility is that WiFi compatibility would give it the ability to communicate with the internet directly, pulling feeds, emails, even possibly remaining tethered to the phone if left home. Imagine, being able to leave the phone home, and STILL being able to make and receive phone calls? The watch could connect to your headset, and the watch would be an extension of the phone WITHOUT 4GLTE but instead using the 4GLTE that's coming from your phone sitting in the charger at home, and connected to your home WIFI network.

 

[FoxKat]

Sounds like an awesome update. Google is moving along nicely with AW.


I can't find WiFi specs on any of the current AW watches (LG G, LG G - R or Moto 360). I didn't think any of them had built in WiFi, only BT LE?

From CNET (Apple Watch specs vs. Moto 360 LG G Watch R Samsung Gear S - CNET );

 

[FoxKat]

The Next Android Wear Update Will Reportedly Include Wi-Fi Support Gesture Control And Easier Access To Apps Contacts

"First up is WiFi support, which most Android Wear watches have the necessary hardware for already. The Snapdragon chips that power most of the watches have a Wifi module that has been dormant thus far, as does the Broadcom ARM chip in the Smartwatch 3. That one also has GPS, which works after a previous update. Even the Moto 360 with its older hardware should have the silicon to support WiFi, but it's not clear if it has the proper antenna setup."

 

[FoxKat]

"The LG G Watch Urbane LTE has a 700 mAh battery, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of storage, and a 1.3 inch, 320 x 320 pixel plastic OLED display."

LG Urbane LTE luxury smartwatch makes phone calls supports mobile payments - Liliputing

 

[Sajo]

From CNET (Apple Watch specs vs. Moto 360 LG G Watch R Samsung Gear S - CNET );

View attachment 74476

Thanks FoxKat. C Net was the one place I didn't look. Looks like the LG watch owners will not see any WiFi goodness from this update. I'm cool with that though, current BT setup works for me.

 

[Gremlin]

A-GPS??? So the 360 has a gps?

 

[tommyz]

A-GPS??? So the 360 has a gps?

Same thing I was thinking...

 

[FoxKat]

Apparently...Again, it is apparently not activated...yet.