Hands-on with the rugged Casio Smart Outdoor Watch [VIDEO]

Back at CES, we had the chance to play with the new Casio Smart Outdoor Watch. The Android Wear ecosystem is getting pretty robust, but there haven’t been any devices for the rugged outdoorsy types. The Casio watch fills that void. This is a smartwatch that can take a beating and keep on ticking.

The Casio Outdoor watch is MILK-STD-810 certified. This means it has been tested to be used by all departments of the US military. In other words, it’s as tough as a $2 steak. The Outdoor Watch is the first smartwatch with a built-in microphone to have water resistance up to 50 meters (164 ft). It can withstand shocks from drops, vibrations, and any other type of rugged use.

Casio has thrown in a few tricks with the display. It’s a dual-layer structure featuring a monochrome LCD and a typical color LCD. The monochrome LCD can be used to drastically extend battery life, but it will only show the time and date. Great battery life is critically important for a device that will be used in outdoor situations.

Speaking of the outdoors, the Casio has a number of sensors for tracking conditions. These sensors relay information to what Casio calls “tools.” The list of tools includes a compass, altitude measurement, air pressure, sunrise/sunset times, tide graphs, and activity graphs. On the right side of the device is a dedicated button for launching tools. Activity is another thing that can be tracked. Trekking, cycling, and even things like fishing can be recorded.

The Casio Outdoor Watch will be available in green, orange, black, and red. The design isn’t the most attractive we’ve seen, but it’s fine for a rugged device. It will be available sometime in April for $500. That makes it one of the more expensive Android Wear watches available, but it’s built to last. What do you think of this rugged watch? Do you plan on picking one up this Spring?

It’s official: Android Wear now supports speakers

Well, that didn’t take long. Just hours after spotting a change to the Huawei Watch on the Google Store to show speaker support, Google today announced a new Android Wear update that brings said speaker support.

You’ll be able to make calls directly using the watch through Bluetooth, and you can also listen to voice and video messages from apps like Glide. It’s a pretty big step to making watches even more independent in their abilities than they already are.

As we guessed, both the Huawei Watch and the ASUS ZenWatch 2 are hooked up and ready to go, and you’ll be able to enjoy the speakers as soon as you pull the update down. Google also confirmedCasio’s forthcoming Android Wear watch and the ladies’ variant of the Huawei Watch will also sport speakers once they’re made available.

Here’s a quick look at the other changes coming in this update:
Navigate your watch with new gestures. Scrolling up and down your card stream is as simple as flicking your wrist. Starting today you can also expand a card, bring up your apps, or return home to your watch face with a push, lift or shake. You’ll be able to stay connected to what’s important, while keeping your phone (or other hand) in your pocket.
Send more messages with just your voice. With Android Wear, you’ve always been able to get answers to spoken questions. Now you can also use your voice to send messages from apps likeGoogle Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, and WhatsApp. Running late for lunch? Just say “OK Google, Send a WhatsApp message to Nathan: I’ll be right there.”

The updates will roll out in stages over the next few weeks, so sit tight and hope that it won’t take too long to reach your wrist!

Google Now’s new, more consolidated look for Android Wear is finally rolling out to everyone

It was about a month ago that Google seemed to be testing refreshed Google Now cards for Android Wear, but it’s only today the update is now finally ready for the masses. Highlighting the newly updated UI is Google’s very own Android social media accounts, showing off the new features in a quick video.

The new Google Now interface is now more like a list, combining all of your cards into one place for easy navigation. Interaction is improved too, with the ability to dive into a card for more info. It’s much more intuitive than having to scroll past all your other Android Wear notifications in order to find a single Google Now card on your smartwatch. Now everything is in one place.

We don’t have the update quite yet on our Moto 360 (2nd Gen), but here’s to hoping it’ll arrive for everyone soon enough.

[Google+]

Android Wear can switch to LTE, works without your smartphone

Your next (or first) Android wearable needs not for Bluetooth or Wifi. Android Wear's cellular support has finally arrived, just as the first compatible watch starts to ship. LG'sWatch Urbane 2nd Edition crams an LTE radio beneath its circular 480 x 480 screen, with models that'll work on AT&T and Verizon — carriers that are both selling the watch in the US this week.


As noted before, these LTE-compatible watches will share phone numbers with your phone, but pack all that's necessary to work even when your phone is far, far away. As long as both watch and phone can connect to your carrier, LTE Android Wear devices will be able to send and receive messages, Google things, and run your favorite apps.

Taking calls is also doable if you like talking at your wrist. Google's own announcement highlights marathons and errand-running as examples where you might leave your phone behind, and as smartphones have expanded in size, for those of us that Must Be Connected At All Times, an LTE wearable might fill the gap nicely. AT&T starts selling the LG watch online today and in-store this Friday, while Verizon subscribers will be able to preorder starting today.

TAG Heuer Introduces Connected, the world's first luxury Android Wear smartwatch (VIDEO)

As scheduled, Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer launched its first smartwatch at a dedicated event in New York today. Dubbed Connected, the $1,500 Android Wear-powered intelligent timepiece is inspired by the TAG Heuer Carrera, and has been developed in collaboration with Google and Intel.

Specs-wise, the watch is powered by a 1.6GHz dual core processor from Intel, and sports a 1.5-inch fully circular transflective LTPS LCD display (covered by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal) with a 360 x 360 resolution and pixel density of 240ppi. It comes with 1GB RAM and 4GB internal memory, and packs in a 410mAh battery.

In terms of sensors, it includes gyroscope, tilt detection sensor, microphone, and there's also a haptic engine. The connectivity options include Bluetooth BLE 4.1 and Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz 802.11 B/G/N).

Weighing in at 52gms, the watch is 46mm wide and 12.8mm thick, and is compatible with Android 4.3+ / iOS 8.2+. It is equipped with directional wind and weather monitoring, and also offers IP67 water and dust resistance.

"The TAG Heuer Connected includes a beautiful set of digital watch faces with classic TAG Heuer dials," said David Singleton, VP of Engineering, Android Wear, in a blog post. "You’ll be able to personalize what information you want to see: weather, step count, or calories."



Another thing worth mentioning here is that after two years you'll be able to pay an extra $1,500 and trade-in your Connected smartwatch for a more traditional Carrera watch, which carries a price tag of around $3,000.

As for availability, only the black band bracelet option is available for online purchase, while all other band color options are available in store. And as already revealed, the Connected will land in Europe on November 12.

Android Wear could get watch-to-watch communication with the new update

Reportedly, Google is ready to brings on the Android wear platform a new function: watch-to-watch communication.

It is alleged that the Android Wear this function use to other users able to send doodle, stickers, regular messages and photos. The function is called "Together" and is similar to the Digital Touch function on Apple Watch.

According to the statement, the update will also bring a new, interactive front pages an hour, as well as change the functionality associated with the touch of a screen. Currently, when one pressed the screen, open the menu for different applications, settings and more. With the new update, the pressure on the new interactive website of the screen will allow the switch through the different categories, such as time, weather conditions / forecast and information about sports training. They will be able to be used for the creation of new activities, which will run from the right side of the screen.

YouTube player for Anroid Wear smart watches. (VIDEO)

In case you were looking for more ways to waste the battery of your Android device Wear, I have some good news for you! There is now a YouTube app for your SmartWatch.

Sporting the rather unexciting name Video for Android Wear & YouTube, the app will cater to those who find the screen of their smartphone and then too large. Naturally, you will be able to search for videos via a seriously uncomfortable keyboard.

In case you were bummed about the lack of speakers on your Android device Wear, do not despair! Video for Android Wear & YouTube has support for Android speakers and headphones. You can even cast the clips to a Chromecasts-capable device.

>>Video for Android Wear & YouTube<< 

Manage smart clock fingers, without touching!

Aria is the addition of Pebble Time and Android Wear smart watches that allows you to manage these devices without touching. Simply attach Aria addition to the inside of the smart clock and using gestures fingers manage it.
 With this plugin comes with an application that allows you to perform all settings. You might be wondering what will this supplement if you already watch serves as a shortcut to use the phone? Easy: the other hand is free. To navigate through the interface smart clock you need the other hand, but with the addition of a second hand can be freed and used for something else, for example, to eat, drink, write ...

Aria is connected via Bluetooth Low Energy and does not require additional batteries. In a week because of this addition should be launched on Kickstarter, the price and Developer versions for Android Wear is $ 169.