Google is going to be unpacking Android Wear at Google I/O in just a few weeks. Several companies have confirmed devices that will be running Wear, including Motorola with the Moto 360 and LG with the G Watch (gwatch? haha). HTC is working on their own smartwatch with Android Wear, and there are other companies that have already signed on. Samsung is working on one too, and thanks to a full report from Patently Mobile we know all about it.
Samsung’s patent for this watch was filed in the latter half of 2013 and was just approved this year. This is just a patent filing; it’s not a final design schematic. Samsung may change the design or certain elements of it before we arrive at a retail release. Samsung is working on a bunch of watches, including the Galaxy Gear 3 and the Gear Solo, which will have its own SIM card and operate independently of your smartphone. Any of their current smartwatch projects could take advantage of this new patent technology.
Their watch looks quite a bit like the Moto 360. It has a round face and what could be a leather band, but Samsung has added a few things to their design. They added a metal ring around the watch face and users can control the watch functions with the ring, according to the patent filing. Rotating the ring will let you scroll through watch options. When you get to what you want, you click to select the option. The Samsung watch also has swipe and gesture controls built into it.
Like the Galaxy Gear and Gear 2, this new design has a built-in camera. The wristband is detachable and will likely be interchangeable with a whole line of future Samsung accessories. These accessories could include keychains or pocket watch chains, giving you lots of ways to sport your Samsung smartwatch. There may be a possibility of a second camera that is actually in the display of the watch, too. It’s unlikely that Samsung will unveil their next smartwatch at Google I/O, although we do expect to see at least the LG G Watch there.