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Google’s iOS App for Android Wear

Google’s iOS App for Android Wear

Jonathan Benito

Google announced this Monday that future Android wear will no longer be limited to the same OS. An app was released to allow iOS owners to use Android smartwatches in Google's effort to carve out a piece of Apple's wearable market share. Apart from the usual notifications and fitness apps that come with Android, iOS users will also get to experience the Google Now integration through their phones.

Currently, the only device able to connect Android to iOS is the LG Watch Urbane, a $350 watch which, coincidentally, also has a 24-carat gold version that costs around $1,200. Google promises that future smartwatches will have the iOS app, hopefully at competitive prices. Making a wearable that crosses different platforms only makes sense if everyone can afford them or atleast be cheaper than the Apple version.

According to Google's official blog, here's what the watch can do:

  • Notifications - it will display important information like phone calls, SMS and alerts from your apps. Always on display means your watch doesn't go idle and you don't have to move to wake it up. (Obviously a poke on Smartwatch 3)
  • Fitness - the user can set fitness goals and monitor weekly progress. It will automatically take note of the distance you cover while walking and running and also, monitor your heart rate.
  • Smart Help - gives you tips on scheduled appointments and flights so you won't be late for any of your listed activities. The Google Now interface will also be available.
  • Reply to email by voice using Gmail.

Some limitations include not being able to reply to your iMessage and Hangouts from your wrists. As with any Android to iOS integration, tech conspiracy theorists would postulate that this amalgamation was only made to give Google a chance to "steal" your information and sell it to the highest bidder. Of course, it's easier to believe that Google wants a bigger piece of the wearable tech pie.

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