Wearables were everywhere today at Google I/O, but there was only one truly new product announced: the Gear Live, Samsung's Android Wear-running smartwatch. And we've had a chance to spend a few minutes playing with a demo unit — it's only able to do a few things right now, but we have our best sense yet of what Android Wear hardware and software will look like. This is one of the key devices for Android Wear, one of the watches being given to all attendees of the conference, and at first glance it's quite nice.
The Gear Live is big, as most Android Wear watches seem to be, but it's quite well-made. It has a big, bright display, chrome everywhere, and a big rubbery band — it all looks a lot like the latest Gear 2, and that's certainly no accident. There's only one obvious button, and the only other things except screen and bezel are the heart-rate monitor and pins on the bottom for wireless charging. There's a big bezel around the 1.63-inch display, and the screen itself is a little bit washed out — and it's also hard to read in direct light. There's a slightly complicated clasp on the watch, but once it's on the whole thing feels more or less like a Pebble or any similar smartwatch. This is basically a cleaned-up version of the Gear 2 running Android Wear instead of Tizen.
On the software front, it's hard to say how accurate a demo we've received — the Gear Live was in "retail mode," and could only do a few things. But swipes and taps registered quickly and accurately, and we were moving between weather and messages in no time. And, even in a remarkably crowded room full of Google developers, it heard our "OK Google Now" commands every time.
The Gear Live is available for pre-order today. It'll ship on July 7th, and costs $199. We're intrigued.
Comments
Wow. That looks so much nicer than the Galaxy Gear.
By Fargus on 06.25.14 3:25pm
That doesn’t say much. Also what is this – the 5th watch this year?
By FollowTheMoney on 06.25.14 5:53pm
And probably not the last. For a company that made a huge push for curved smartphones, I’m surprised this doesn’t have a curved screen. I know it’s probably a price issue, but even a subtle curve would drastically improve Samsung’s Gear designs.
By Chevy1981 on 06.25.14 6:42pm
Really? I think it is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. If I saw someone wearing one of them I’d laugh at them.
If you are going to make a wearable device it has to mould to your body, not sit, perched on top of your wrist like it’s been stuck on with blue tak.
By Boringoldchelsea on 06.25.14 6:56pm
It’s as bad as Bluetooth ear pieces.
By slvrsurfer on 06.26.14 12:10am
LOL. No, it doesn’t.
By GITMLB on 06.25.14 7:17pm
Anything will look nice next to Galaxy Gear.
They are both ugly.
By OCtheo on 06.25.14 11:21pm
If it needs that big a bezel, I wonder just how Motorola managed to pull the 360 off.
It is probably why it was it won’t come till later; low initial yield for the first few production batches. Of course, I’m just gesticulating.
By youtube10 on 06.25.14 3:28pm
The 360 is thicker.
Look at all the profile shots (or better yet the lack thereof).
It is not a thin device by any means.
They put everything "under" instead of "under and around" the screen.
By RJohnstone on 06.25.14 3:37pm
This is basically using mostly identical tooling to the Gear 2.
Also, the article says no button. Clearly there’s a button on the side. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if this shares nearly all the same hardware with the Gear 2.
By VorpalK on 06.25.14 4:18pm
no camera no remote control no hardware button
By Alteran on 06.26.14 12:40am
You must have missed this line in the article. There seems to be one button.
By Lynchenstein on 06.26.14 9:20am
I’ll just wait for the Moto 360.
By Fargus on 06.25.14 3:29pm
Meh … Not bad but 360 over all!
By bermy_kid on 06.25.14 3:30pm
If this is $199, 360 is going to be $250 or $300. That’s a hard sell for general consumers.
By fuumuufffuuu on 06.25.14 3:31pm
because? they’re competing devices despite being on the same platform, no reason they can’t hit a similar pricepoint.
By awesomerobot on 06.25.14 3:35pm
The ARV from their contest already pegged it at $250, so it’s pretty likely. Since it’s the most sought after of the crop, they can afford to charge a bit of a premium.
By jeremy.turnley on 06.25.14 6:50pm
A good watch cost more than that.
By nportelli on 06.25.14 3:37pm
A good watch will last longer.
By Captain Megaton on 06.25.14 11:45pm
…and also does a shit ton less than these smart ones. Check.
By ddpacino on 06.26.14 12:38am
This one will be free with a Note 4 so no competition.
By FollowTheMoney on 06.25.14 7:08pm
What does the LG cost? I’ll grab either this (looks nice surprisingly) or the LG. Then see how i feel about the 360 when it comes.
By Good_ole_Pinocchio on 06.25.14 3:32pm
$229, confirmed.
By nXtIak on 06.25.14 5:53pm
Is it an always-on display like the G Watch?
By RobertJP on 06.25.14 3:33pm
i’m curious about this as well, other things being equal the addition of the heart rate sensor might push me to the samsung; but if the lg has better battery or other advantages it gets even tougher!
By youareme7 on 06.25.14 3:38pm