Truly modern timepiece first, smartwatch second
Building on the announcement by Google of its new wearable device platform, Android Wear, Motorola has announced its first device with the software: Moto 360. Just as we expected based on statements back at MWC, the focus here is primarily on the design, materials and experience of the watch as a piece of jewelry more than just as a technologically “smart” device.
Motorola is using high-quality metals, leather and precision manufacturing to make Moto 360 in a way that it “begs to be worn,” according to the promotional videos. And based on what we can see so far, it looks downright beautiful to us already. Motorola takes a small dig at other smartwatches that are all square or rectangular, explaining that when it went to design Moto 360, it had to go round.
Of course at the core of things it is running Android Wear, with all of the same functions we’re seeing shown off from Google and others — “Ok Google” voice control, Google Now card-style information and messaging functions are all here.
Motorola isn’t spilling too much information right now, naturally, but says that Moto 360 will come “in a variety of styles” around the world — starting in the U.S. — in the Summer. Based on what we see now those styles consist of metal watch faces with leather or metal bands, with a few different colors available.
Source: Motorola; (2)
