LG, Motorola, Huawei put a hold on Android Wear plans, won't be releasing new watches this fall

[Shawn Knight]

Several of the largest Android Wear partners aren’t planning to release any new wearables this fall, a troubling sign for an industry that’s struggled to gain traction from the get-go.

LG, Huawei and Motorola have no plans to launch smartwatches in the months leading up to the holidays, the companies have confirmed to CNET. LG put out a wearable earlier this year but there’s been nothing new from Huawei and Motorola over the past several months.

As the publication highlights, all three manufacturers showed off new wearables at IFA 2015. This year, Asus was the only major tech company to showcase a new Android Wear smartwatch at the show.

Of course, none of this should come as a surprise to those who have been following the smartwatch industry. The devices, which many pegged as the next hot thing in technology, haven’t gained a whole lot of traction with consumers. As I’ve said multiple times, smartwatches aren’t really going to become popular until they prove their usefulness and judging by what we’ve seen thus far, that might never happen.

Not everyone is throwing in the towel just yet. Samsung unveiled the Gear S3 smartwatch with a large 46mm face late last month and Apple is on pace to launch its Apple Watch Series 2 this Friday. Ironically enough, however, it’s the traditional watch makers and fashion brands that have been making the most waves as of late. Whether or not their involvement will be enough to keep smartwatches around for much longer remains to be seen (I have my doubts).

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https://www.techspot.com/news/66332-three-major-android-wear-partners-wont-releasing-new.html

 

[christiangeli]

I never wear a watch . so ...

 

[Invizibleyez]

I have a Samsung Gear Live, and I got it for a around $120. I have always been a watch guy, and I figured I should try one of the smart watches out. It's been more useful than I expected. If I have to charge my phone, I can leave my phone charging while walking around with my watch and not worry about missing calls or messages and not knowing. So far, that is the best part. Batteryife is the worst part at the moment. At first, it would last about 30 hours, but has degraded to only about 12 hours now. If battery life was better I would say it is convenient to have. The way it is now, my phone lasts longer than my watch.

 

[Murat K]

"that might never happen."

well, that's wrong. it will happen. one day, everyone will have a smartwatch. when ?

1. when battery will go at least 1 week, whatever the usage is.
2. when you will easily pay with your watch io your CC.

 

[amghwk]

Having to charge a watch everyday is a pain.... goes against the "normal" watches that run for years.

Companies are making gimmicks to stay in business and make more profits as much as they can. It's the mindless customers who spend money needlessly to boost their profits.

 

[mbrowne5061]

The problem with smart watches is they kept trying to make it a 'phone on your wrist' without the actual phone part.

The most I want in any smart watch is a step counter, some kind of haptic notification, and an analog watch face synced to the time picked up from my phone. I don't need, or want, a touch screen on my watch. I don't need, or want, to reply to texts or messages with my watch. I don't need, or want, to 'talk' to my watch. If they do this, they could probably get the battery up to ~1 week, and make the watches both thinner and with a smaller diameter. Right now, it's like having a thick drink coaster on your wrist.