Samsung’s new smartwatch could hit Apple Watch where it really hurts. Photo: Samsung
Samsung’s new Gear S2 smartwatch is its first to support third-party Android devices, and the South Korean company is reportedly looking extend its reach even further by supporting rival platforms, too.
According to one report, the Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic could soon play nicely with iPhone.
Apple’s HealthKit won’t be available to Android Wear customers any time soon. Photo: Apple
Android Wear made the leap to iOS yesterday, meaning that iPhone owners can now buy and use Android Wear smartwatches should they feel so inclined.
One thing they can’t do, however, is to use Apple’s HealthKit platform to monitor their Android Wear fitness data. According to Apple, data such as step count and heart rate can only be tracked via the Google Fit dashboard — meaning that health-conscious users will want to hang onto their Apple Watches.
And somewhat surprisingly, the decision was entirely Google’s.
The new Moto 360 looks good. Photo:
Motorola is set to announce its second-generation Moto 360 on September 8, according to a teaser image published by parent company Lenovo. We’ve already seen leaked images of the device, which is expected to come in two sizes for the first time.
Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic hope to appeal to traditional watch wearers. Photo: Samsung
After teasing the new Gear S2 smartwatch during its Galaxy Note 5 unveiling earlier this month, Samsung has confirmed all the juicy details we’ve been waiting for.
The new wearable will be available in two flavors — the Gear S2 and Gear S2 classic — both of which have round faces and are aimed at consumers who “prefer more timeless watch design.” But will the devices be good enough to trip up the Apple Watch?
iOS users can now use an iPhone with their Android Wear watch. Photo: Google
Google’s smartwatch platform, Android Wear, has officially gained support for iPhones. The Android Wear for iOS app is currently rolling out and anyone with an iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus can start using the Android Wear app at last. Just make sure you’re running iOS 8.2 or later.
The move comes somewhat randomly but makes total strategic sense for Google.
