Qualcomm plans to launch new chip platform for Wear OS smart watch - part 2

Before Google Assistant had more than 1 million Actions, these Actions were finally brought into the Wear OS, so users can use voice to carry out more intelligent control, such as information train arrival time. Preheat the oven and so on.

In addition, Audible Answers is a very intimate feature that allows Google Assistant to read the answer out loud and ask Google Assistant “tell me about my day”. You will hear some very useful information, such as your commuting time and the upcoming agenda. This feature can make up for the use of some unreadable scenes.

Wear OS watch has launched?

It is rumored that LG has pioneered the launch of the original Google Wear OS watch. Google has previously announced that it will change the Android Wear system to Wear OS and has made a number of adjustments and changes to the product features. Although there are already a lot of corporate support no products have officially launched, most of them are based on the original system upgrades.

This product model is LM-W315, originally rumors that it will release with the LG G7 ThinQ mobile phone together, but the time did not catch up, because according to the information shows this product has just passed the FCC certification, I am afraid that we have to wait for some time to see it on sale on the market. The authentication information shows that this smart watch supports Bluetooth and WiFi networks, but it does not seem to support mobile networks, which means that you cannot use SIM or eSIM independently. But you can access the network through WiFi while using Bluetooth to connect mobile apps.

It is reported that this watch is called LG Watch Timepiece, it is not only a native Wear OS watch but also the first Wear OS device under LG. In terms of hardware, it has IP68 waterproof, high-precision quartz movements and physical dial hands, so that it can save electricity as much as possible so that the battery life is increased. Also equipped with a 1.2-inch LCD screen, users can choose a different dial version and strap.

Qualcomm plans to launch new chip platform for Wear OS smart watch - part 1

In February 2016, Qualcomm released the Snapdragon Wear 2100 SoC for wearable devices. But two years later, the Android Wear (later named Wear OS) market performance has been unsatisfactory. Fortunately, in a recent interview with Wearable media, Pankaj Kedia, Qualcomm's senior wearable director, disclosed, “The company has already realized this problem and will release upgraded chips for flagship smart watches this year with multiple partners. Wear OS wearable devices based on new chips will also be introduced during the holiday season."

Kedia said that the third-generation processors will "create an uncompromising smart watch experience from scratch," and are said to make smart watches have better battery life. In addition, Qualcomm is clearly designing chips that will make the always-on display even more energy-efficient. He said, a smart watch, must first do the job of the watch. When I do not look at it, it should not be black and white or still. We had conversations with consumers of Fossil and Michael Kors who did not want to compromise on smart watches. Although Qualcomm is not yet ready to disclose its specifications, Kedia claims that the new hardware platform will “significantly change the Wear OS ecosystem”.

Google upgraded the user experience

At the same time, recently, the upgraded version of Google Assistant has been pushed for Wear OS on a global scale, a number of intelligent functions have been adapted, and the overall operating experience is even close to the Android mobile phone.

The upgraded version of Google Assistant supports the “Smart Responses” feature, which can provide smart responses based on various elements, and can even conduct follow-up question and answer exchanges based on context of communication. For example, when you ask for weather problems, you can get weather information, and then you can click on the recommendation to see the weather this weekend. However, the current experience is not good, and the function needs to be further improved.

Microsoft or plans to launch third-generation Microsoft Band

On May 4, Microsoft recently acquired several new patents for motion tracking devices, including a patent called "ring-shaped skin sensor". This technology can help Microsoft collect data and generate data. With regard to the assessment of the stress level, it uses two different sensors to ensure contact between the skin and the sensor. The second patent, entitled "blood pressure estimation by wearable computing device," which can help monitor blood pressure in wearers, said that it will use machine learning systems to provide more accurate numbers.

Industry insiders speculate that these several patents may be used on devices such as Microsoft's next-generation smart band. These patents may themselves refer to general health equipment, but patent details and drawings specifically mention Microsoft's wristband-like equipment, confirming that it is a Microsoft Band related patent. However, it is still unclear whether Microsoft is only applying for a patent or will eventually launch a new band. In fact, there are already many advanced wearable devices on the market that have all the necessary health monitoring features, such as the upcoming Xiaomi Mi Band 3.

After the two generations of products, the Microsoft Band has quietly stopped production, but the latest few patents indicate that Microsoft has not given up its motion tracking device. Although patents do not represent the final product, it should be noted that these two patents were applied for in November 2017 and January 2018, respectively, and many people believe that Microsoft has given up its continued investment in wearable devices.

One of the patents is called "ring-shaped skin sensor". This technology can help Microsoft collect data and generate assessment reports on stress levels. Citing the media report, this design uses two different sensors to ensure contact between the skin and the sensor. In this way, the device can always receive information and provide more accurate assessment reports regardless of the position or movement of the band.

The second patent is called "blood pressure estimation by wearable computing device" (evaluating blood pressure by a wearable computing device). This technology can help monitor the wearer's blood pressure, and Microsoft said it will use a machine learning system to provide more accurate numbers.

Samsung Gear S4 smart watch exposure: released in the second half

The global smart watch market has been tepid, but this does not affect some large companies will still research and develop new products for this field every year. For example, Apple relied on the Apple Watch series and successfully won the global market in the fourth quarter of last year. And this seems to have inspired the desire of its old rival Samsung.

According to media SamMobile report, Samsung is now developing a new smart watch - Samsung Gear S4. From the naming point of view, it should be Gear S3 successor. Although it is a brand new smart watch, limited by the decline in the industry's innovation, Samsung's smart watch may only be upgraded on the hardware, or will add some new features, and whether the product has an exclusive selling point is still unknown.

However, on the system side, the Samsung Gear S4 will continue to run its own Tizen operating system, and the time to market may be in the second half of this year. If Apple releases the new Apple Watch in the second half of the year, the two companies in the smart watch market are expected to usher in another competition - white heat battle.

Samsung released its Gear S3 smart watch in 2016. According to the general upgrade plan, Samsung should have released its successor Gear S4 in 2017. In fact, Samsung only released a Gear Sport last year, a product between the Gear S3 Classic and the Gear S3 Frontier, focusing more on fitness functions.

According to SamMobile, Samsung's Gear S4 smart watch is currently under development. The internal codename is Galileo, model SM-R800. In addition to hardware upgrades, Gear S4 will also bring health and fitness features, and is expected to provide deeper sleep tracking. In addition, the Gear S4 smart watch supporting the LTE version was also revealed to be undergoing research and development in the United States and will be launched by the three major operators Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile. In addition, this smart watch product may also provide two different sizes.

SamMobile expects Gear S4 to be released in the fourth quarter of 2018, priced at at least a few hundred dollars.

Puma and Fossil team up to create a professional sports smart watch

Currently, Nike, Adidas, and other famous sportswear brands have cooperated with Apple, Fitbit and other companies. Sports smart watches have become a new choice for sports enthusiasts. From next year, smart watch enthusiasts can buy a smart watch with the sports brand "PUMA" Logo.

PUMA has just announced the cooperation with the Fossil Group to jointly design and manufacture the latest smart watches and ordinary watch products and hopes to be able to bring it to market by 2019. There is no more exposure to the design or functionality of the PUMA smartwatch.

According to media reports, the sports brand PUMA has recently announced its entry into the smartwatch market and signed a 10-year agreement with Fossil. Fossil will manufacture and distribute PUMA branded wearable devices. The first batch of watches will be listed at the end of 2019. Although Fossil had previously built a watch that supports Android, it is still unclear whether PUMA watches will run Android Wear.

“Puma is one of the world's leading sportswear manufacturers and we are very excited to work with them to bring our world-class design and sales channels to PUMA's smart watches,” said Kosta Kartsotis, CEO of Fossil Group. The cooperation between the two companies currently looks very promising. The Fossil Group has designed and manufactured a large number of smart watch products, including Q Commuter, Q Founder, and Q Venture, and the company also licensed many manufacturers to produce different smart watch products.

In the list, there are fashion brands such as Diesel, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Kate Spade New York and Michael Kors. There are also more high-end brands planning to cooperate with Fossil to launch their own smart watch products. The cooperation between Fossil and PUMA once again proved that the company hopes to make a difference in the field of sports smart watches. It is worth noting that Fossil has never launched a sports-type smart watch before. If PUMA will follow a strategy similar to that of other sporting goods companies, then this watch is likely to focus on running while supporting other basic trackings of life and sports.

In addition, the two sides stated that if the cooperation goes smoothly, more than one product will be introduced in the future. The cooperation plans of the two companies will continue until 2028, so we might see many generations of different PUMA smart watches. Of course, we have to wait patiently at least for 8 months for the first generation of products.