Look at how great a Google smartwatch could be

[Guest]

With wearable tech a bit of a buzzphrase right now and talk of a possible Apple/Intel smartwatch doing the rounds, this concept for what a Google watch might look like is right on cue.

Using Google?s latest design language, this ?Google Time? concept by Adrian Maciburko is a nice idea for a super-simple take on the kinds of features such a device might have, including voice and touch interfaces.

What strikes me though, is how a smartwatch from Google would be a perfect fit for working with Google Now. A Google Now-equipped watch would be in sync with your Google account, notifying you about upcoming meetings, flight delays, birthdays and more just as Google Now does on recent versions of Android. What do you say, Larry? Make it happen!

See more at the source:

http://thenextweb.com/google/2013/01/05/google-smartwatch-concept/?fromcat=all

[Rohdekill]

all fine and dandy until they force you to start watching ads before displaying the time/weather/search functions.

[torrentthief]

I wish they would work with a lcd manufacturer to try and create a circular screen as square/rectangle will get caught on objects and may dig in your wrist when bending your hand back. Sony already has the Sony smartwatch which was released in April:

[Luc2k]

Watches seem kind of redundant in this age of smartphones, no matter how cool they look.

[LUTZIFER]

Watches seem kind of redundant in this age of smartphones, no matter how cool they look.

Exactly. I haven't worn a watch in many years. I didn't think anyone really did anymore.

I figured they were no longer the fashion trend, and obsolete since everyone is always staring at their cellphones.

Also... the images posted here would be pretty much the same thing if Apple had of added a strap on to the little touch screen Shuffle device.

They showed time/date, played music/radio, all sorts of features.

[ramzorz]

Unless smart watches cost $20 or less and if they can join up with my cellphone's dataplan, I see absolutely no logical function for petty devices like this.

We both know these aren't going to be cheap, do you really need a half-assed smart device for (what I'm guessing) the price of a cheap smartphone?

What is Google's and these corporation's demographic? Seriously...

[The Evil Overlord]

Yup, my Accurist tells me the time and the date, dunno what else I would need from a watch

(Unless it was a Breitling) :p

[torrentthief]

smart watches could actually have some good functions, mp3 player, just plug in your headphones, you can see the time, date, temperature, weather forecast, have meetings/calendar notifications popup on your screen and beep such as birthdays, mothers day etc. If they had a circular screen and the battery life was 2 months and they cost under ?35 i'd contemplate buying one. I haven't used a watch in years but i miss mine, it is annoying having to get your phone out of your pocket, especially if your jean pockets are full. Sometimes your battery dies and you don't know the time too.

[LaP]

Call me old school but i will never wear a watch like this.

Here's some real watches ...

http://www.mydesignerwatches.co.uk/category/watch-brands/seiko

[Nashy]

Watches seem kind of redundant in this age of smartphones, no matter how cool they look.

I wear a watch every day. I like them.

Fossil only though. These smart watches remind me of those ****** kids who had calculator watches in school. They look stupid, the nerd thinks it's cool, but they won't take off and will end up being cheap junk in a few years.

[LUTZIFER]

smart watches could actually have some good functions, mp3 player, just plug in your headphones, you can see the time, date, temperature, weather forecast, have meetings/calendar notifications popup on your screen and beep such as birthdays, mothers day etc. If they had a circular screen and the battery life was 2 months and they cost under ?35 i'd contemplate buying one. I haven't used a watch in years but i miss mine, it is annoying having to get your phone out of your pocket, especially if your jean pockets are full. Sometimes your battery dies and you don't know the time too.

All cellphones are already mp3 players, plus like I already mentioned, you could throw a strap on a touchscreen Apple Shuffle and you'd have every feature you mentioned.

Also, when you mention cellphones dying, if all those features were on a smart watch, there wouldn't be much for battery life on that either.

[firey]

I too wear a watch every day. I would never wear a smart watch though. 100% mechanical no digital.

[dead.cell]

Call me old school but i will never wear a watch like this.

Here's some real watches ...

http://www.mydesigne...ch-brands/seiko

This. I don't particularly care for digital watches either.

[Japlabot]

all fine and dandy until they force you to start watching ads before displaying the time/weather/search functions.

Thats never happened, Never will happen, there is no logical progression for ads to ever become that intrusive unless the user is paid to watch ads.

[LUTZIFER]

Call me old school but i will never wear a watch like this.

Here's some real watches ...

http://www.mydesignerwatches.co.uk/category/watch-brands/seiko

I kinda like the looks of this one...

Seiko Sportura men?s titanium chronograph watch

I guess if I had it I'd wear it, but I wouldn't make a special effort to get one.

[grabageek]

Fit one with a masturbation counter.......

It could embarrass you when your out with your mates with a Stephen Hawkins voice over

"you..........have........... masturbated..............three...........times..............today"

Followed by the AOL "You Have Email"

[ramzorz]

Thats never happened, Never will happen, there is no logical progression for ads to ever become that intrusive unless the user is paid to watch ads.

Although I wouldn't say that watching an ad before checking time is something that I can see happening, but having ads on the clock itself does seem like it could happen... it is Google after all.

[abecedarian paradoxious]

Smart watches have been around since 80's, in one way shape or form.

The closest one alluded to here is Microsoft's Smart Personal Object Technology. Other than not having voice / touch / two-way and color, it did everything else suggested.

It received news blurbs, meeting and birthday notifications, travel itineraries, weather, traffic, instant messages and email notifications and most anything else Outlook and MSN could bundle.

Even TomTom and other GPS / Nav sets used SPOT tech for their purposes.... MSN Direct would've been the name back then.

Someone was ahead of the times, and someone gets to pick up the pieces.

Oh, and there might be some patents involved. Microsoft experimented quite a bit with "push" tech with SPOT.

There was even some work done with custom, "individual" channels that were programmed by the user and pushed to their SPOT devices.

[hooko22]

How about a hybrid smart watch, smart phone, that might be awesome!

[StandingInAlley]

This. I don't particularly care for digital watches either.

+ Infinity

[Japlabot]

Although I wouldn't say that watching an ad before checking time is something that I can see happening, but having ads on the clock itself does seem like it could happen... it is Google after all.

No, you are just being a troll.

[Nashy]

[peacemf]

those watches are what seperate the boys from the men :D

for those going "watches are old school, digital and phones all the way......." let me know how you get on once you're married with kids and expected to dress in something that isnt jeans and unbuttoned shirts

[Luc2k]

those watches are what seperate the boys from the men :D

for those going "watches are old school, digital and phones all the way......." let me know how you get on once you're married with kids and expected to dress in something that isnt jeans and unbuttoned shirts

I don't consider phones or watches as clothes, so I don't see what one has to do with the other, unless you see analog watches as some sort of status symbol or jewellery, then wear as many as you like. I, for one, prefer to carry the minimum amount of devices no matter if I'm wearing jeans/shirt or a suit.

[thommcg]

all fine and dandy until they force you to start watching ads before displaying the time/weather/search functions.

You mean like they do currently? Ohhh.... right... they don't.