Where is Android Wear?
On October 4th, 2017 Google has released the new line of Pixel devices. The headphone jack is dead in the eyes of Google (WHY?!), Google assistant is everywhere, and soon even your fridge will talk to you.
However, something was missing.
Apple released its stunning iPhone X but I was impressed by something else — the Apple watch series 3. Apple introduced a watch with cellular capabilities.
Wait a minute; Google has already done that, right? If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?
Google stated that it would be working with big manufacturers to release more watches running Android Wear. However, where are they? If they are making ones, they sure aren’t marketing them.
The lack of marketing is apparent when looking at the global smartwatch distribution:
Samsung, one of the prominent Android manufacturers, is a contender in the smartwatch industry, running Tizen. But even its market share pales in comparison to Apple — controlling over 50% of the market.
Furthermore, a year after Google stepped into the smartphone market with their Pixel phone line, there is no Pixel watch to be seen. A company with a watch operating system and a hardware division not focusing on that operating system does not paint a bright future.
Google started the Pixel line because the current market of smartphones was not how they visioned Android. Their relatively new position in the market shows their belief in Android and their hardware division. Consequently, they marketed the hell out of the Pixel which was unlike Google at the time.
All of these facts show that Google cares about the smartphone industry. Thus, does the absence of a Pixel smartwatch proves the opposite?
Google, you are the only ones that can truly compete with Apple in the smartwatch industry. Please, don’t abandon the market — remember your real fans!
Conclusion
It is apparent that currently, the smartwatch industry is not in the full interest of Google. Could it be that with the new HTC deal Google might step up their game and introduce to the world the Pixel smartwatch? Instead, could Apple be the dark knight to push the smartwatch industry forward, hopefully waking Google up?
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