Android Wear app hits iOS giving the Apple Watch competition on iPhone
Android is looking to re-coup lost ground in the wearable tech war by launching an Android Wear app on iPhone.
Since the Apple Watch’s launch in April, it (and the crowdfunded Pebble) were only smartwatches compatible with iPhones – an exclusivity they can no longer reap the benefit of. Effectively, the release of the app means that the Apple Watch will be competing with Android tech, limited by Apple's app restrictions, on the iPhone 5, 5c, 5s, 6, or 6 Plus.
As a result, Apple users can now pair their iPhones to select Android Wear watches. The app’s output has been labelled less comprehensive than its Android mobile sister app by users. However, via the iPhone Bluetooth service, wearers of Android watches can receive news notifications, track fitness and manage their calendar.
Android has stressed that all future devices from Huawei, Asus, and Motorola will run with the app, although many older devices will be limited to the Android operating system.
Google-owned Android has a second wave of smartwatches lined up to tackle Apple’s almost absolute market dominance.
Just last month, Samsung teased a video of the Samsung Gear S2, refining a number of issues with the original model thus hoping to snatch up late adopters unimpressed with the Apple Watch.
This will be the first of many third party manufactured devices running on the system.