Android Wear.. the Smartwatches!

We’ve seen a handful ofsmartwatches launch in the last year, although none of them have sold in huge numbers. However, the idea is starting to gain some traction with a second generation of Samsung watches and a much more attractive Pebble. Now, Google is throwing its hat into the ring with Android Wear. This is a typically Google approach to a new market — rather than design its own singular device with narrow compatibility like Samsung, Android Wear is a platform for OEMs to innovate and build wearables using the best features of Android. For this reason, Android Wear might finally get smartwatches right.

Android Wear is still Android, but it’s not just a shrunken down version of the smartphone operating system like the original Galaxy Gear. Google’s new wearable platform relies on a subset of features that make sense on a smartwatch. Google Now cards are a big part of Wear, as is voice search.

Google is working with OEMs to get devices powered by Android Wear on the market this year, and there’s no single “right” form factor. Just like with Android phones, OEMs are free to experiment with square and round shapes, as well as a variety of hardware features and styles. Yes, round, like almost every normal watch. That alone might convince some folks to give smartwatches a shot.

Developers are invited to sign up for access to the preview Android Wear SDK and begin adapting their apps to take advantage of smaller displays. This is really the genius of Google’s wearable strategy — it’s leveraging the entire Android ecosystem to make smartwatches work. Samsung restricts the Gear mostly to its devices and services, but Google wants everyone to help make Android Wear a useful platform. At the same time, it still ties into advanced Android features like search and location services. Maybe no one really wants a smartwatch, but Google Wear devices will probably have the best shot at convincing them otherwise.