Google is now officially changing the name of its smartwatch platform from Android Wear to Wear OS. As of now, no other major changes are expected to arrive for the smartwatch platform other than the name change.
Users should begin seeing Wear OS branding on their watches and in the app over the next few weeks. Google has provided a list of watches slated for Wear OS.
Casio PRO TREK Smart WSD-F20
Casio WSD-F10 Smart Outdoor Watch
Diesel Full Guard
Emporio Armani Connected
Fossil Q Control
Fossil Q Explorist
Fossil Q Founder 2.0
Fossil Q Marshal
Fossil Q Venture
Fossil Q Wander
Gc Connect
Guess Connect
Huawei Watch 2 (both cellular & non-cellular versions)
Hugo BOSS BOSS Touch
Kate Spade Scallop
LG Watch Sport
LG Watch Style
Louis Vuitton Tambour
Michael Kors Access Bradshaw
Michael Kors Access Dylan
Michael Kors Access Grayson
Michael Kors Sofie
Misfit Vapor
Mobvoi Ticwatch S & E
Montblanc Summit
Movado Connect
Nixon Mission
Polar M600
Skagen Falster Smartwatch
TAG Heuer Connected Modular 41
TAG Heuer Tag Connected Modular 45
Tommy Hilfiger 24/7 You
ZTE Quartz
Source: Wear OS by Google
Google made a Research Blog post about the Google Camera’s portrait mode. The Google Pixel’s portrait mode only needs a single camera lens, unlike many other OEMs that require a second camera to map out depth to synthesize the bokeh (blur) effect.
Google’s camera uses semantic image segmentation to make this happen. It is able to map out which pixels pertain to the subject and which ones belong to the background. This technology has been released as open source by Google so that any phone maker can implement the technology in its own smartphones or app developers to make include it into their own apps.
The semantic image segmentation model can also be used to label pixels as anything like road, person, dog, and sky. Check out the the source link below for more details on how Google's Semantic Image Segmentation with DeepLab works.
Source: Google Research Blog
A Reddit user took to Reddit, finding a new name and logo for the Android Wear OS while setting up his new smartwatch. The owner of the timepiece did not specify which particular model he purchased.
Instead of using the Android Wear name, the pairing notification referenced "Wear OS" and featured a new logo. Replacing the old image that used a square and two rectangles to portray a smartwatch on a two-toned blue background, the new logo features a blue and yellow rounded search bar combined with some of the Google Assistant dots. Together, it forms the letter "W" for Wear OS.
While Google has not officially make the change, we could see an announcement made at Google I/O 2018.
Source: Reddit
Google announced today the availability of Google Assistant for iPads.
Apple says with iOS 11 iPad owners can multitask pretty well with an Assistant panel open alongside other apps. outside of that, Google Assistant the same Assistant you know and love capable of controlling your smart home, checking weather, calendar events, and everything else.
Need a few examples of things you can do with Google Assistant on your iPad?
Set the mood by having the Assistant “dim the lights”
Cast to your TV by asking the Assistant to “watch the latest news on the living room TV”
Stay in touch by asking the Assistant to “video call mom” or “text Lauren”
Keep up with your chores by asking the Assistant to “remind me to take out the recycling at 8 PM”
Source: Google
Andy Rubin's Essential patents popout camera Essential Phone, when tweeted with a link to the Vivo Apex, Rubin not only mentions that he had in fact already seen the phone, but fired back with a patent (US9736383B2) he and his company had already filed for almost the same exact thing. It was granted back in 2017 maybe we’ll likely never see the Vivo Apex exist outside of a concept device.
The patent description is as follows:
"The technology disclosed here maximizes the size of the display area associated with the mobile device by various camera placement. In one embodiment, the camera is placed inside the mobile device, and can pop outside the mobile device when the camera is activated. When the camera is inactive the camera retracts inside the mobile device, and becomes unnoticeable to the user. In another embodiment, the camera is integrated into the mobile device display as a camera icon. The integrated camera serves two purposes: to record pictures, and to act as a camera icon, that when selected activates the camera. By removing the camera from the front side of the mobile device, or by integrating the camera into the display screen of the mobile device, the size of the mobile device display screen can be increased."
Source: Andy Rubin on Twitter, US patent
Essential announced that it would be skipping a full release of Android 8.0 Oreo, instead going straight to Android 8.1 Oreo. We're about a month in since the first beta build of Android 8.1 Oreo came out for the Essential Phone, the official Android 8.1 Oreo update has been released.
The full Android 8.1 Oreo update comes in at around 276MB, though that'll vary depending on whether you're on the beta or not, it's around 1,015MB if you're coming from Android 7.1 Nougat.
The changelog mentions standard Oreo features such as Instant Apps, picture in picture, smart text selection, and more. Essential is adding the March security update, dynamic calendar and clock icons, and an apparent fix for the slow scrolling jitter.
Source: Essential on Twitter
The Fitbit Versa is a different looking watch compared to the Fitbit Ionic, most people will agree that all of the changes here have been made for the better. Fitbit says the Versa is the "lightest metal smartwatch you can buy in the U.S.".
On the Fitbit Versa you'll find three buttons (one on the left and two on the right), and the screen is taller and less wide compared to the Fitbit Ionic. Fitbit's going for a squircle design.
However, don't let the Fitbit Versa's small size fool you. The watch still tracks your steps, calories burned, your quality of sleep, distance walked, heart-rate, has 50M of water proofing, can store 300 songs for offline listening, offers 4+ days of battery life.
Just like the Fitbit Ionic, FitbitOS powers the Fitbit Versa. However, you'll find a lot more features and polish thanks to the 2.0 update that's live on the Fitbit Versa out of the box. The Fitbit Ionic is set to receive a free update that brings all of the new software features found on the Firbit Versa soon. Pre-orders for the Fitbit Versa begin today for just $199.95 at the source link below.
Source: Fitbit
Android P is now available as a Developer Preview! It’s currently available to the Google Pixel, Google Pixel XL, Google Pixel 2, and Google Pixel 2 XL at this time.
This is the first Android P build and is labeled as an “alpha” release. It’s for developers here, rather than being used as a daily driver.
Remember this is not a beta, so this isn’t available in the Android Beta Program. Follow the source links for install instructions and file downloads.
Source: Instructions and factory images
