Tag: android wear

Smartwatch from ASUS based on Android Wear could be here next Wednesday

| August 27, 2014

The brand could be bringing its wearable technology offering to its launch on September 3.

For consumers who have been holding off when it comes to buying a smartwatch, because they have been wanting wearables that come with a lower price tag, there could be some good technology news on the way, as it is believed that ASUS will be launching just such a product on September 3.

This will mean that the wearable technology device will be seen for the first time in Berlin at the IFA conference.

Speculations are saying that this smartwatch will be based on Android Wear and it will be cheaper than other rival wearables. There have been small hints released about the device over official channels. For example, the Twitter page from ASUS has shown a picture of the device which was primarily black with what looks to be a square watch face that has been rounded off. The image was accompanied by a Khalil Gibran quote, which said that “Time has been transformed, and we have changed.” Above the quote were the words “@IFA Berlin Sept 3, 2014.”, which is a rather clear indication that the launch is on its way.

This is being interpreted as all but an official confirmation of the upcoming launch of the ASUS smartwatch.

Smartwatch - coming soonIt also aligns quite well with the previous statement that the brand had made by CEO Jerry Shen at an investors’ conference, when he said that the wearable device would be ready for the IFA event. At that time, he also stated that the offering from ASUS would not only be better looking than those that were available from the competition, but it would also be cheaper. Beyond that, there has not been anything even close to official that has been revealed.

There are already two wearable technology watches that are available and that are based on the Android Wear operating system from Google: Gear Live, from Samsung, and the G Watch, from LG. Their prices are $199 and $229, respectively and they are both designed with square faces. It is expected that Motorola will be releasing its own Moto 360 in September, based on that operating system, but with a round face. The price tag for that mobile device is rumored to be around $250.

It is unclear exactly how much cheaper ASUS plans to make its own smartwatch. Moreover, it has yet to be revealed exactly why that item will be more inexpensive, and if it will mean that the user will need to choose between price and features.

Smartwatches can be used to control a Tesla

| July 30, 2014

Individuals who own both a Model S and the right type of wearable technology will now enjoy added features.

While the number of people to whom this wearable technology news will apply, at the moment, is rather slim, as it will require them to drive Tesla Model S vehicles and wear smartwatches based on the Android Wear platform, it is still a fascinating development.

This use of wearables could represent a look into the future for many vehicle owners and device users.

The hack of the smartwatches was accomplished by Harth Labs, which found that Wear closely reflects the Tesla app that is available for that auto manufacturer’s Model S vehicle. This makes it possible for wearable technology devices to be able to open and close the sunroof, to unlock the doors, and even to make the horn honk. At the moment, those are all of the features that can be controlled by the high tech wristwatches, but it likely won’t be long before devs are able to work their way into climate control, location data, and even charging commands – should Tesla provide them with the tools that they require to do so.

This could be an indication of the types of things that smartwatches will be used to do in the not too distant future.

smartwatches - Tesla Model SFor the moment, this news is limited to a group of specific early adopters who love their tech. The Tesla Model S does happen to be a relatively popular vehicle among members of the technology community. A Bnotion team have now come up with an app compatible with Android Wear that makes it possible for some features to be controlled through wearable technology.

While some may argue that this isn’t all that useful, others feel that being able to remotely control additional vehicle features – such as shutting the sunroof if it suddenly starts to rain – could be quite helpful as it wouldn’t require the vehicle owner to head out in the rain to do it. That said, others feel that, more than anything, owning both of these pieces of technology and being able to use them at the same time is more about bragging rights than anything else.

The app for the smartwatches is not the first to control the Tesla Model S, as there has already been one for Google Glass that controls the same features in the vehicle.