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Wear OS is Google's wearable platform which is designed to run on watches. It's based on a modified version of Android, designed by Google, and used on many third-party smartwatches.

Wear OS is Google’s wearable platform which is designed to run on watches. It’s based on a modified version of Android, designed by Google, and used on smartwatches such as Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch, and more.

The platform was first introduced in 2014 as “Android Wear,” before being modified until it became “Wear OS” in 2018.

As you’d expect, Wear OS is designed to be an extension of your smartphone. Notifications are mirrored to your wrist while condensed apps can be installed, both with their own independent functionality or as an extension of the smartphone app.

Where Wear OS was once found across a variety of smartwatch brands, the market has condensed in recent years. Names such as Fossil, Mobvoi, and others faded away in favor of first-party smartwatches from Google and Samsung, as other names in Android such as OnePlus, Oppo, Xiaomi, and more.

A few key Wear OS smartwatches include:

Google’s Pixel Watch is the poster child of Wear OS, with a heavy focus on Fitbit features and Gemini integration.

You can read the latest news about the platform and its apps below.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: $100 Google Play w/ VZW HTC One M9, Moto 360 $150, Bluetooth selfie stick $14, 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:

Verizon HTC One M9 buyers can get $100 in Google Play credit for a limited time

Motorola’s Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch now starts at $150

Review: At $14, MPOW’s pocketable iStick is the best Bluetooth selfie stick you can buy today

OnePlus giving away Cardboard headsets to 1,000 lucky individuals

 

Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones (multiple colors): $140 shipped (Reg. $200)

Daily Deals: Anker Car Jump Starter & USB Power Bank $60, Samsung 5TB USB 3.0 Desktop HDD $120, more

 

Review: Logitech’s Anywhere 2 Bluetooth mouse shines w/ adaptive scrolling

 

Add creative decorations to your 4th of July picnic and save money w/ these easy do-it-yourself projects

The best lawn games to make your 4th of July cookout a success

Look like a real American hero at your 4th of July BBQ with this over-the-top USA garb

Giveaway: Owen & Fred’s Desk Essentials collection ups your work game while looking good, $250+ value

More new gear from today:

 

Samsung’s new Level U Bluetooth 4.1 in-ear headphones offer athletes another option for workouts

More deals still alive:

 

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones for $110 shipped (Reg. $170)

New products & more:

Enthusiasts create incredibly detailed 14-foot Starcraft II map out of LEGO

Motorola’s Moto 360 Android Wear smartwatch now starts at $150

If you’ve been waiting to buy a Moto 360, now might just be the worst time to do so. As can be seen on both Motorola and Google’s websites, the smartwatch is now starting at $100 less than it was yesterday—as low as $150. You can buy the low-end model directly from the Google Store, or you can head over and make one that’s souped up at the Moto Maker for an additional cost.

We’ve been saying this for a month now, but it seems like the 2nd generation Moto 360 must be imminent. The device has been seeing scattered price drops across all major outlets for quite some time now, and this is the first time that the device has actually seen an official price drop. Amazingly, this puts the device at $200 less than the current “flagship” Android Wear device, the LG Watch Urbane.

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Acer 11-inch Chromebook $110, GoPro HERO3+ Black $262, RAVPower battery $6, 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:

Acer 11-inch Chromebook (refurb): $110 shipped (Orig. $200)

 

GoPro HERO3+ Black 4K Action Camera (refurb) $262 shipped (Reg. $280), 33-piece accessory kit $15

 

RAVPower Portable 3,000mAh Battery: $6 Prime shipped, Lightning cables under $6

The best lawn games to make your 4th of July cookout a success

Look like a real American hero at your 4th of July BBQ with this over-the-top USA garb

Giveaway: Owen & Fred’s Desk Essentials collection ups your work game while looking good, $250+ value

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: XYZprinting Da Vinci 1.0 3D Printer $350, HP x3000 Wireless Optical Mouse $8, more

Home recording bundle: ATH-M50x over-ears, Focusrite Scarlett interface and mic kit $269 shipped ($410+ value)

More deals still alive:

JayBird BlueBuds X Sport Bluetooth Headphones for $110 shipped (Reg. $170)

RAVPower FileHub Travel Router w/ 6000mAh Power bank $35 Prime shipped (Reg. $60)

New products & more:

Bricasso scans any image and then 3D prints it using LEGO bricks as ink

Five bizarre kitchen gadgets you need to add to your cooking arsenal

9to5Toys Lunch Break: Toshiba 13-inch Chromebook $250, Gear Fit $70, Samsung 128GB microSD $73, 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:

Toshiba 13.3-inch Chromebook 2 Intel 16GB SSD: $250 shipped (Reg. $300)

Samsung refurbished Gear Fit Fitness watch: $70 shipped (Reg. $150)

Samsung 128GB MicroSDXC EVO+ Flash Card: $73 shipped (Orig. $130)

M-Audio Studiophile 4-inch Powered Monitor Speakers $80 shipped (Reg. $149)

Quick Review: Eton Scorpion II is a rugged solar electronic survival kit for $50

 

More new gear from today:

 

Daily Deals: Sony Cyber-shot 20MP Camera $600 w/ Free $50 Gift Card, iPhone 6 sweat-proof armband $7, more

More deals still alive:

Free Xbox Gold Games for July: Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag, more

New products & more:

Molson and Google team up on voice activated fridge that dispenses free beer

Amazon’s Treasure Truck brings daily deals to the streets

Pro-tip: Use Android Wear Theater mode to avoid accidental unlocks & watch face screen

Owners of Android Wear watches: Does your device, without your intention, regularly go to menu for choosing a watch face? Maybe you’re crossing your arms and you feel a buzz thinking it might be alerting you to a new text message only to see your watch on that darned menu again? I don’t have a real fix for you, but there’s something you might want to try that may alleviate your frustration.


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9to5Toys Lunch Break: Moto 360 $155-$185, ASUS ZenWatch $150, Monoprice Action Camera $60, 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:

Motorola Moto 360 Android Wear watches: $150$180 + $5 shipping (Reg. $250+) | Woot

Asus ZenWatch silver/rose gold/brown: $150 shipped (Reg. $200) | Best Buy

Monoprice MHD 2.0 1080p Action Camera: $60 shipped (Reg. $90)

Sprint HTC Desire 510 no-contract smartphone: $50 shipped (Reg. $100) | Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy Alpha 32GB unlocked new: $230 shipped (Reg. $300) | eBay

Save $50 on any Dell Outlet Home Chromebook 11 through Sunday, June 28th w/ code “CHROMEBOOK$50

Amazon’s Treasure Truck brings daily deals to the streets

Giveaway: Grovemade’s latest wooden creation provides a luxurious home for your Magic TrackPad

More new gear from today:

Daily Deals: Canon Multifunction Laser Printer $95, Insignia 65-inch LED 1080p HDTV $700, more

More deals still alive:

LG 49-inch 4K 60Hz Smart LED UHDTV: $600 shipped (Reg. $900)

New products & more:

LEGO unveils the highly detailed new Ferrari F40 Creator series set

E3:

Spotify updated with support for Android Wear, here’s how it looks [Gallery]

Spotify told us last month that support for Android Wear was on the way, and now it looks like it’s finally here. With the latest version of the Spotify app, rolling out on the Play Store right now, you’ll be able to access new menus for controlling your music on your Android Wear device…
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Pebble Time now available to pre-order from Best Buy for $200

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Pebble has a long-time friendship with Best Buy, and now the smartwatch maker is launching the first widespread availability of its new Pebble Time through the retailer. Available for $200, the standard 22mm non-steel version of the watch is now available for consumers to put their claim on red, black, and white models.

While the Kickstarter Edition just recently began shipping to those who backed the watch, those just now realizing that they would actually like a smartwatch that has a color e-paper display, more than 5 days of battery life, and cross-platform compatibility are in luck:

We recently reviewed the Pebble Time, saying that while it does have its upsides, it still feels stuck in the past compared to the currently-available Android Wear devices and the Apple Watch. Long battery life is nice, but the lack of a touch screen and sketchy compatibility with iOS hold the device back—especially at this price point.

Looking to buy an Android Wear smartwatch? Check out our comparison and buying guide.

Huawei Watch faces significant delays in China due to block on Google services

We recently reported that the launch of Huawei’s first smartwatch, simply called Huawei Watch, was expected to be delayed until September or October in China and perhaps abroad as well. A new story out from the WSJ speaking with Yang Yong of Huawei, however, has the launch in China pushed back as far as early 2016. The smartwatch is still expected to launch in the US and Europe in the coming months.


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Leaked screenshots show the upcoming Hangouts app for Android Wear

The upcoming Hangouts 4.0 update was shown off by Android Police yesterday, but now the publication is sharing images of its Android Wear counterpart—something that, for some, might be even more exciting than the full app. It’s been a long time coming, but it looks like Google is finally preparing to officially bring its popular messaging platform to the wrist…
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Huawei Watch said to be delayed until September or October

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Speaking to Chinese media, He Gang, the head of Huawei’s mobile division, has said that the launch of the company’s first smartwatch, called Huawei Watch, has been delayed until at least September or October, pushing its launch to the latter half of the year. The Huawei Watch was unveiled back at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona with the company having said at the time that they were planning for a launch sometime “around the middle of the year.”

The delay can largely be attributed to “incompatibility issues with Android Wear,” according to the reports. In other words, Google Play services being unavailable in China due to strains between the Mountain View company and the People’s Republic of China has meant that Huawei has to build its own smartwatch services to match those built and offered by Google.
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Motorola says performance ‘not quite there’ for Moto 360 Android Wear 5.1.1 update

While many Android Wear devices—including my own LG G Watch R—have already gotten the latest Android Wear update, the Moto 360 is lagging behind. Motorola has come out to say that it’s “working with Google to ensure the software works great on Moto 360,” and that “Performance is not quite there yet.”

And while this still leaves things kind of open-ended, we should be seeing the update hit sometime over the next couple of weeks. Google said in April that the update would begin rolling out after a “few weeks” and we’re going on two months since that initial announcement. It looks like Motorola has just hit a little bit of a snag along the way.

We’ll keep you updated as the update rolls out (hopefully soon), and be sure to check out our roundup of OTA download links if you need to manually update your G Watch, G Watch R, or Asus ZenWatch.

LG G Watch R removed from the Google Store, Watch Urbane now available in India

The LG G Watch R has been seeing scattered availability over the last several weeks, leading many to believe that it was set to be fully replaced by the LG Watch Urbane. Now, Google has officially removed the device from sale on the Google Store, and it looks like the suspicion of many has been confirmed. The device, previously available for $249, is now showing up as “unavailable in your country” for visitors in the United States and Japan…
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Tag Heuer’s upcoming Android Wear watch gets named: Tag Heuer Carrera Wearable 01

We don’t know much about the upcoming Tag Heuer Android Wear watch yet, but now we’ve learned one more little detail: its name. According to Wareable, who recently sat down with Tag’s CEO Jean-Claude Biver to talk about the smartwatch, the device is going to be called the “Tag Heuer Carrera Wearable 01”.

“There is no other choice for Tag Heuer than to have all its DNA, all its watchmaking emotion and flair into the connected watch. Somehow, one should not see from a certain distance the difference between a Carrera Heuer 01 and a Carrera Wearable 01.”


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Dexcom introduces official ‘Follow’ glucose monitoring diabetes app for Android

Dexcom, the company behind one of the leading continuous glucose monitor solutions for diabetes patients, has announced today that their “Follow” mobile app—which has long been available on iOS—is now available for Android devices. There have been many unofficial solutions available in the past, but now Dexcom’s system is officially supported on Google’s mobile OS…
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Adult Swim will send you a free Google Cardboard viewer… if you fax them a form

All of the attendees of Google I/O this year (myself included) got the latest version of the Mountain View company’s Cardboard virtual reality headset for free—and now it looks like you can too. To promote their “Adult Swim Virtual Brainload” app, Adult Swim is trying to put a free Cardboard viewer in the hands of as many people as they can. But there’s only one catch: You have to fax them a form.
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Asus gives us our first look at the ZenWatch 2 – but no specs, price or availability yet (Video)

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Asus confirmed last month that its next-generation ZenWatch was on the way, and would be released in Q3 this year. It has now shown off the Asus ZenWatch 2 for the first time – though not told us very much about it beyond the looks.

It will be available in two sizes, 49mm or 45mm, and offer a total of 18 different looks via three color choices for the watch itself and a range of straps. You can choose between silver, gunmetal and rose gold casings, each with matching stainless steel link bracelets, with leather and rubber strap options too … 
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Spotify unveils its app for Android Wear

 

Spotify users, rejoice. Starting with a gradual rollout next month, the popular music streaming app will be available on Android Wear watches.

According to the company’s blog post, you’ll be able to navigate through and select something to play from all the music you’ve saved to Your Music as well as find new stuff in Browse. We don’t have much information on the Wear app yet as it hasn’t been released and the image above is the only one Spotify provided, but we’ll post more as soon as we get it.

As a big Spotify fan and power user I’m curious to see what the Browse section will look like on such a small screen, as Browse on smartphones contains sections for mood-based playlists, new releases, top charts, and more. Are you excited to get Spotify on your Wear watch?

Google I/O: 4000 Android devices & Wear apps, 17M Chromecasts sold, Android TV/Auto growth, 1B+ users, more

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Google is kicking off its I/O developer conference today with its usual keynote presentation. The focus this year was the future of Android with a lot of stage time dedicated to Android Wear smartwatches, Android M, its new Android Pay service, and much more. Below we’re rounding up some of the stats and numbers shared by Google execs on stage including updates on the user base for its core services and how its new Android platforms have grown over the last year:
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First Look: Hyundai’s BlueLink lets Android Wear/smartphones start, lock + find your car (Video)

Meet BlueLink, a Hyundai cloud-connected service that provides cool remote access features for select vehicles. I recently had a chance to test BlueLink with the 2016 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In, and now I’m convinced that connected cars are the future.

BlueLink links up to your vehicle using its VIN number, using the Internet to relay information to and from the car, wherever you may be. Connected apps for cars, homes, and other smart accessories are cool and all, but what if you could start your car or unlock your doors from an Apple Watch, without taking a step? Welcome to what’s next…


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Shazam has finally made its way to Android Wear

Following the launch of Shazam for Apple Watch just last month, the long-time well-known music recognition app has finally made its way to Android Wear. With the app, you can recognize songs without ever taking your phone out of your pocket, see the list of songs you’ve tagged in My Shazam in the Android app, and watch the lyrics for the song that’s playing right on your Android Wear device.

High five, Shazam is now on Android Wear!

  • Keep your phone in your pocket – see what’s playing with 2 taps
  • Songs are added to My Shazam, and to your My Shazam Tracks playlist for connected Rdio or Spotify users
  • Watch lyrics unfold in real time, right on your wrist

You can grab the app right now by downloading the latest version of the Shazam app for Android, and the Android Wear counterpart on your watch should appear soon after. We’ve tried it out and it doesn’t look like the update has rolled out quite yet, but it will likely pop up very soon.