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Feature Request: Why Android Wear needs Force Touch-like features

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Feature Request is a new regular 9to5Google series where authors offer their opinion on how to improve popular hardware or software products.

I think most of us who have used it are aware that Android Wear isn’t exactly a complete platform yet. It feels a little beta-ish. And that’s okay for now. One of the best things about Google’s software efforts is that we get to go along for the ride as it publicly experiments and launches new features. It’s not a case of waiting for months, or years, for it to secretly ‘perfect’ its product before telling us we’re ready for it.

Android Wear is still young enough that there’s plenty Google could change without upsetting the apple cart too much. One feature I think should be implemented soon (this year if possible) is a Force Touch-like technology. In other words: Android Wear should have a deeply engrained system to take advantage of pressure-sensitive touchscreen displays…


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Instagram for Android (sort of) gets 3D Touch peeks in new update [Video]

Instagram 3D Touch - YouTube 2015-12-08 10-16-24

Update: Just like the multiple account support that disappeared mere hours after it appeared, this awesome 3D Touch feature is now gone.

Instagram for iOS has had 3D Touch features for quite a while, but it looks like the Instagram team wanted to experiment with bringing some of these to Android as well. While the latest version for Android obviously doesn’t take advantage of force sensitive hardware (which doesn’t really exist of this side of the mobile space anyway), it does add a nifty new pop up for quickly liking, commenting, and sharing posts…


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: LG G Watch $127, Pebble smartwatch $80, May the 4th Star Wars deals, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

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Black LG G Watch Android Wear smartwatch brand new: $127 shipped (Reg. $230) (but there is very limited stock left from this third party at $118 with Amazon fulfillment)

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Pebble Smartwatch for your Android phone: $80 (Orig. $100)

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Star Wars Day deals & freebies: Darth Vader and Son Kindle book $2, LEGO kits from $8, much more

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Amazon free app of the day: Royal Escape (Reg. $2)

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Daily Deals: Samsung Xpress Mono Laser Printer $50, Acer 27″ G-SYNC Gaming Monitor $400, Kindles, more

More new gear from today:

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Price Drop: Omaker M4 Splashproof/droppable Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker with NFC: $20 Prime shipped (Orig. $70)

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Canon Refurbished Digital Cameras: SL1 (body only) $300 (Orig. $550), Rebel T5 w/ lens kit $300 (Orig. $440), more

More deals still alive:

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Spotify reboots its popular 3-month $0.99 Premium plan for new subscribers

New products & more:

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Connected Cycle’s smart pedals will track your riding and help you find a lost bicycle

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto X w/ SOL Republic headphones $400, Moto 360 $180, Chromecast $25, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

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Save $300 when you buy a Moto X w/ SOL Republic Tracks AIR headphones

Get $70 off a Moto 360 for Mother’s day, starting at $180 (Reg. $250)

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Google Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player: $25 w/ in-store pickup (Reg. $35)

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Motorola Moto G No-Contract Android 4.4 Smartphone (Verizon) $30 (Orig. $100)

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 32GB new Blossom Pink (unlocked): $420 shipped (Reg. $700)

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LG G3 w/ free $100 Amazon gift card for $0.01 w/ 2-yr contract or $400 w/o (AT&T)

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New Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 4G LTE GSM unlocked 7-inch 16GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200+)

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Spotify reboots its popular 3-month $0.99 Premium plan for new subscribers

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9to5Toys Specials currently has a VPN Unlimited Lifetime Subscription for $39 and ibVPN Total Plan 4 year subscription for $59

More new gear from today:

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Amazon is offering 20% Coins Back on in-game purchases in over 40 titles right now

More deals still alive:

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Ring Wifi Video Doorbell w/ Android app: $189 Shipped (Orig. $229)

New products & more:

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IKAWA’s coffee roaster brings the experience home w/ iOS connectivity and custom recipes

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Connected Cycle’s smart pedals will track your riding and help you find a lost bicycle

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Nexus Player w/ $20 Google Play GC $72, Galaxy Note 4 $420, Beats Tour 2.0 $95, more

Keep up with the best gear and deals on the web by signing up for the 9to5Toys Newsletter. Also, be sure to check us out on: TwitterRSS FeedFacebookGoogle+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

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Get a $20 Google Play credit when you buy a Nexus Player from Amazon: $69.27 shipped (Reg. $100)

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 32GB new Blossom Pink (unlocked): $420 shipped (Reg. $700)

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Headphones: Beats Tour 2.0 in-ears $95 (Orig. $150), AIAIAI TMA-1 on-ears $100 (Orig. $250), more

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LG G3 w/ free $100 Amazon gift card for $0.01 w/ 2-yr contract or $400 w/o (AT&T)

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New Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 4G LTE GSM unlocked 7-inch 16GB: $100 shipped (Reg. $200+)

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Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone 32GB (unlocked) GSM: $630 shipped (Reg. $899)

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Small States Review: Grovemade’s Laptop Stand combines quality craftsmanship & thoughtful design, giveaway

More new gear from today:

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Network: Netgear’s best-selling Wi-Fi extender $30 (Reg. $37), TP-LINK AV200 Powerline kit $20 (Reg. $28+)

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Games/Apps: Select Star Wars titles for Android/iOS drop to lowest prices ever, more

More deals still alive:

 

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Hulu just paid $180 million for Seinfeld, but this deal on the entire series for $65 is real and it’s spectacular

New products & more:

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Give your Android phone a shake to create exciting videos with TomTom’s new Bandit action cam

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Patriot’s USB-C Flash Drives are primed for Chromebook Pixel owners

Opinion: One thing Android Wear desperately needs to take from Apple Watch

I love my Android Wear smartwatch—it’s a great extension to the Nexus 6 I use daily. But not many people I know have an Android Wear device, even fewer have reason to use one every day, and basically no one (outside of my circle of geeky friends) really understands why they’re useful when I try to explain what they do. My LG G Watch R is seen as cool, because I can flip between a couple dozen watch faces and reply to texts with my voice, but these things don’t really make my peers feel like they’re missing out. It’s cool, but that’s about it.

The Apple Watch was shown off again today—this time in a bit more detail—and it’s clear that the device is going to be competition to the half-dozen-or-so Android Wear devices that are on the market. It’s priced a bit higher, and that’s typical when it comes to Apple products, but there are definitely things that this device offers that Google hasn’t yet introduced. The big one—in my opinion—is Digital Touch, which Apple describes as a “fun, spontaneous way to connect with other Apple Watch wearers, wrist to wrist.”


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