Samsung Gear Live Smartwatch Available to Order Also LG G Watch Later Today and Android Wear SDK

Google has just announced the Samsung Gear Live smartwatch during their Android Wear demo at Google IO, and while they didn't go too in-depth regarding its features and looks (it looks like a typical square smartwatch, really), they did drop one bit of nice info: it’ll be available to order in the Google Play Store later today. Google also announced that the LG G Watch would be available to order right alongside it.

What we won’t get is the Moto 360, unfortunately — Google announced that it would be available later this summer. We’re still digging for pricing and shipping information so stay tuned!


 Google I/O isn't exactly the coming out party for Android Wear - the company has already demonstrated the wearable platform in a preview form. But for developers, it's the main event: the full Wear software development kit will be available soon, and some of the more esoteric capabilities were elaborated upon. The early parts of the keynote demonstrated the user interface, which we've seen before, but the demonstrated capabilities are nonetheless impressive.


Wear is basically a list of tiny notifications, which can either be static or include synced functionality. Most of these notifications are the same basic stuff you've seen in Google Now: airport alerts, calendar reminders, weather information. These items can be split into multiple pages accessible with a side-swipe, and dismissed in the same way that Android notifications are. When dismissed on the watch, the relevant notification will also be dismissed on your phone.

When you get a call on your phone, you can tap to answer it, or choose from preset SMS replies. If you'd rather not be disturbed at all, there's an easy "mute" mode accessible with a downward swipe, which won't be disabled until you tell it to stop. This will stop all audible and vibrating alerts. There will also be fitness support with a basic pedometer and step history, and in at least some cases, heart rate hardware. Proximity detection will allow smartphones to bypass the Android lockscreen when a recognized Wear device is near.


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