Our original predictions [1] were almost right. At Google's biggest conference of the year, I/O, wearable tech played a big part. Google has good news and bad news for us. First, the good news: two new smartwatches, powered by Android Wear [2], are available for preorder today — the Samsung Gear Live [3] ($199) and LG G Watch [4] ($229). They'll ship July 7, and you can preorder them through Google Play [5] later today.
Now, the bad news. The round-faced, stylish Moto 360 smartwatch [6] won't be available until later this Summer. Sad.
There was a pretty exciting demo at the keynote of how these gadgets can be used. Pinterest Places [7] on Google smartwatches will inform you if you're near a business you've pinned. The food delivery service Eat24 [8] will let users pay and offer an estimated time of arrival from their watch. The ride-share taxi service Lyft [9] also works seamlessly with Android Wear. This news means that Google has beat Apple to the smartwatch. We're anticipating an iWatch [10] this Fall, but it may be too late to attract early adopters who have gone Android.
Scroll down for a preview of Google's newest wrist-bound wearables and the software that powers them, Android Wear.
Woa! Pinterest Places on Android Wear will tell you when you're near a restaurant or biz you pinned #io14 [11]
— POPSUGAR Tech (@POPSUGARTech) June 25, 2014 [12]
Source: Samsung [13]
Samsung Gear Live available later today.
Source: Google [14]
LG G Watch also available later today.
Source: Google [15]
Moto 360 not available until later this Summer. Sad. :(
Source: Motorola [16]
Lyft ride-sharing in Android Wear.
Source: Google [17]
Ordering food with Eat24 in Android Wear.
Source: Google [18]
Takeout's ready! Eat24 developed an app for Android Wear.
Source: Google [19]
Pinterest Places will tell you when you're near a restaurant or biz you've pinned.
Source: Google [20]
From Pinterest, swipe left to start navigation.
Source: Google [21]
What's to come for Android Wear: voice and notification.
Source: Google [22]
Google Maps Navigation in Android Wear.
Source: Google [23]
Flight notifications in Android Wear.
Source: Google [24]
Hangouts notifications in Android Wear.
Source: Google [25]