Fossil has announced the Emporio Armani Connected smartwatch during Beselworld this week and in total the Fossil Group has announced more than 300 new connected watch styles that are to be launched throughout 2017 by Fossil’s various brands, which includes Emporio Armani’s first smartwatch, which comes running on Android Wear 2.0 software. Google introduced Android Wear 2.0 last month, marking the company’s most advanced wearable software release to date.
Now Emporio Armani is extending its Connected lineup by adding a new smartwatch which runs Google’s latest and greatest wearable OS, as well as a family of hybrid smartwatches which combine analog and smart features. Emporio Armani is part of the Fossil Group’s family of sub-brands and isn’t the only company under the Fossil umbrella launching a new Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch in 2017. Diesel, Michael Kors, Misfit and Fossil itself will also be introducing new smartwatches and connected watches later this year. All these new watches will have a few things in common like a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 processor (just like the one powering the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style) and a one-of-a-kind full AMOLED high-resolution display. More information regarding the specifications of the new Emporio Armani Connected smartwatch has yet to be released.
When it comes to design, the Emporio Armani smartwatch has an extended crown and two physical buttons located on the right side, which give the intelligent timepiece a more analog vibe. Customization is key when it comes to the new product, so customers will have access to millions of branded dial designs developed by the Fossil Group itself, and thanks to Android Wear 2.0, users will be able to customize key information to appear on their watch face and create shortcuts to play music, call an Uber and more. Like the other Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches that the Fossil Group just announced, the Emprorio Armani Connected will boast micro-apps which are said to offer unique functions. Fossil offers an example of one such micro-app which should allow owners of Michael Kors’ new smartwatches to use a photo from their Instagram as the touchscreen smartwatch dial background. For those who prefer analog watches to smartwatches, Emporio Armani also has a new lineup of Connected hybrid smartwatches that include new platforms and colorways. These analog-looking wrist-bound devices are expected to boast slimmer, sleeker bodies and will be able to deliver discreet notifications, as well as advanced fitness tracking features. Emporio Armani’s first Android Wear 2.0 smartwatch should become available for purchase at the beginning of September 2017, while the hybrids will make a debut in retail this fall with pricing information currently unknown.