The future of Android Wear: full of challenges and promises – CNET in Spanish

Sarah Tew / CNET

has been nearly a year since Android Wear debuted in a series of forgettable smart watches. Now, a year later, there are a half dozen smartwatches Android Wear, a lot of apps and a few people who actually want to buy a smart watch.

The annual developer conference Google, called I / O, you will start Thursday, May 28, in San Francisco. (CNET in Spanish will cover the event live). The official agenda of the event is still a mystery, but it is almost certain that Android Wear will be part of the conference. At least, that’s what I hope – the operating system for wearables of Google is very promising, but it has to put the batteries and advance to the next level if you want to remain a viable option

. After the arrival of the Apple smart watch Watch – which in itself is a disparate device in terms of its functions – what is the next step to take Google with their smartwatches ? Can a second version of Android Wear take the next step into this category? So far, I have used almost all Android Wear, and then watches I present my opinion of what to do Google for its strategy within the technology industry dress progress towards a promising future.

The Huawei Watch. Sarah Tew / CNET

Watches cheaper

I have noticed a trend. Smart luxury watches I do not like, especially when prices rise exorbitantly The LG Watch Urbane, which costs $ 350, marks the latest price range last year, watches with.. Android Wear had a starting price of US $ 200. The Huawei Watch, which has sapphire, yet priceless, and Tag Heuer watch, priced at $ 1,400, they are setting the direction of the watches with stratospheric prices.

The Apple Watch, meanwhile, is too expensive I would not buy one for over $ 399, and that price seems high to me even Google must follow the path paved Android.. ubiquitous and cheap . This is what I see: an Android Wear clock US $ 99

The watches should work with iO S

So far, Android Wear watches only work with Android phones, the same way that Apple Watch only works with iPhones. But support iPhone Android Wear seems peek over the horizon. We do not know how well Android Wear watches work with iPhones, but that work – if Apple allows it – it is great news. It would be a good start counting with notifications, monitor physical activity, voice commands and even apps Google Now compatible with Android Wear. Smart watches should run as many phones as possible.

Allow clocks are independent of mobile

The latest version of Android Wear It has support for Wi-Fi, but it’s not what you think. The watch itself is still a “dumb terminal” to access your phone, which serves as the bridge to the Internet. They can be connected together, in separate locations, not only by Bluetooth, in the same room. But the phone has to be turned on and have cellular connection or Wi-Fi, and the clock must be connected to a known Wi-Fi network you’ve previously configured.

I want to see that these watches communicate directly with the Web via Wi-Fi without the need for a phone. This is what most people assume that make watches. Well, it’s not. But for these devices become essential and useful gadgets, this is the goal to be achieved. Typically, I take the phone with me, but I also want the watch to be an alternative to replace my phone.

Samsung explored this possibility with the Gear S last year, but the clock required its own SIM card cellular service, and had few good apps. No need cellular connection on my watch, but I would like Wi-Fi access without the need for a phone.

Sarah Tew / CNET

Stop flood my card Google Now

Much of Android Wear is based on Google Now and his way of throwing cards based on what he thinks is the information you care about – or not. The weather, the train schedule, scores of parties These cards reappear no matter how often slips on the screen to get rid of them

To experience Google Now is OK;. give a taste But give me an easier way to disable or find another way to display information on the clock You can do something.. similar to what makes Apple Watch:. simple information that I can see when I want

Make nicest things with round watches

watches Round faces look even be new: Moto 360, the LG G Watch Watch Urbane R and have round screens. These smartwatches Round seem to pay homage to the form of analog watches. However, in these round screens, Android Wear is cut from a rare form, like you’re watching a TV through a round window.

There are many apps Android Wear, but few seem to take advantage Round screen. And this is perhaps because the Android market watches, which has major challenges in the field of sales, has only a small sector of devices that are round. Developers make only attractive apps and for round screens can mean more work than required in other cases.

The watches with round screen will be felt rare until they can have apps look better.

Smart watches have round good, but what about their apps? Sarah Tew / CNET

Create better Apps

Both Android and Apple Watch Wear have a lot of apps, many of which are not so good. In the case of Android Wear, many apps are a bit slow to load ., or are difficult when the interaction Many require that you review your phone

The smart watches, most still lack great apps Google has improved my Android Wear.. Google Fit finally allows monitoring of physical activity and music playback offline ;. even bothered to set up, works But for my taste, no comprehensive features and is not as easy to initialize

.

I want higher quality apps, apps that will watch an excellent device. Otherwise, I will only use the clock to see notifications, which is what we end up doing anyway

The May 28. Android Wear have the opportunity to vindicate

will not have to wait long for Google Android Wear talk again … at least that’s what I hope. But this time, the challenges are greater. Now that people are familiar with smart watches, Google has to convince people that actually need to have a SmartWatch . And that is no easy task.