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Report claims Google nearing Android Wear for iOS release, shows off FaceTime notification on LG Watch

Adding to recent reports that Google is working on iOS support for Android Wear devices, today The Verge reports that the company is “close to finishing the final technical details” on the companion app for iOS. The report cites sources close to the development of the project and also includes the image above showing a FaceTime notification on the LG G Watch R. More from the report:

In its current state of development, Android Wear works along with a companion app on the iPhone and supports basic functions like notifications — as you can see in the photo below. As it does on Android, on the iPhone Android Wear also supports Google Now’s ambient information cards, voice search, and other voice actions. It should also support some more advanced features with Google’s own iOS apps, like replying to Gmail messages.

A previous report noted that Google was developing Android Wear support for iOS and could debut the project as soon as its I/O developer conference in May.

Today’s report brings up the possibility that Google might have a bit of trouble getting through the App Store’s approval process. At the very least it could run into guidelines that prevent it from bringing over all of the features it offers on Android devices to iOS. Pebble and other smart watches have companion apps, but like them Google will be limited to working within the iOS and App Store guidelines, unlike on Android.

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Comments

  1. Meh, now you can clearly see how bad the circle design is.

  2. Graham J - 9 years ago

    If Google Now is as useless on the watch as on iPhone it’s not going to win anyone over.

  3. Bryan Hough - 9 years ago

    Honestly, I had a Moto 360 until I switched to iPhone in February of this year. I am personally not as excited as most about the Apple Watch because I thought the 360 was a superior all around product. I may consider holding off on the Apple Watch after reading this.

  4. MaRico NoHands Spikes - 9 years ago

    i will try for 30 min max to get an Apple watch when 2am/est hits, if not I’m waiting til the 2nd gen couple years from now.
    I’ve been 60/40 all the way til now, so it has came to this type of roulette.
    I’m an Apple fan and I’m still iffy bout putting $400 down on this device.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.