Google Is Next In Line For A New Smartwatch

Because Pebble’s new smartwatch, Apple’s plans for iWatch and Samsung’s announcement of a new Gear watch tells a whole different story.

Moreover, insider sources report that Google is also working on a smartwatch project which is nearing completion. According to TechCrunch, the search giant is putting the final pieces to the puzzle that has a colorful display and Android OS.

Darrel Etherington and Sara Perez reported the following:

The smartwatch prototypes are currently on lockdown in a Google building, under high security, and they’re not able to be taken out for fear that news will leak. (Oops.)
According to people familiar with the matter, an early prototype of the watch had a Pebble Steel-like metal band, square face, and a colorful digital display featuring a gradient background where colors gently fade from one to the next. It also seemed to have a more masculine vibe, also like the Pebble Steel.”

But then again, the report does say that Google decided on a plastic watchbad like the one in Pebble watch. The development is being headed by an insider Google team that also compromises of Android team designers.

What features can you expect?

“The whole idea behind the watch’s concept is that you shouldn’t have to take out your phone for various ambient alerts, like finding out who’s calling you or who just texted, for example.
The watch’s software supports notifications made possible through Bluetooth LE pairing with Android smartphones. It doesn’t sound like it’s yet capable of enabling a range of apps like Pebble’s watch does today. Third-party developers may be able to build for the watch at a later point following future updates.
Interactions with the watch are very gesture-driven. That is, swiping alerts and tapping to select.”

As for a possible release date, the report points out mid-late March, but also notes that few of the team members pointing to a June release.

Apple on the other hand may release the iWatch just before the holiday quarter. From the current stories, the watch is expected to include standout health and fitness data tracking features.

Apple, for its part, is expected to release its so-called iWatch later in the year—possibly just before the holidays. And from what we’ve heard so far, its plan to differentiate the watch from the competition is to include a host of health and fitness-tracking features.

Canalys purports the smart band delivery units to ship up to 23 million by 2015.

So what do you think ?