Apple introduced its first smartwatch after the presentation of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus at its keynote on September 9. apple watch. A connected watch that comes a little later than the others and where the firm focuses most of communication on design, the device is available in three versions, one in 18k gold each available in two sizes.
Other communication line: functions. One point the Apple Watch hears well Compete with Android Wear. But can it really? To answer this question, here is a comparison of the interface of two competing operating systems.
main monitor
Apple Watch offers an interface that can be defined as both the home screen and the launcher, with its launcher consisting of circular icons and the clock in the middle, each of which refers to a separate application. Android Wear doesn’t offer a “real” home screen for its part, but in return, the watch is all part of the interface.
Technically speaking, watches under Google OS integrate a launcher, but instead of being highlighted, it’s hidden at the heart of the settings.
Contact management
If Android Wear doesn’t have its own app dedicated to managing contacts natively, this is done quite naturally as follows: volume control and Google’s chosen solution is just as effective. Apple Watch displays people’s names and photos in the form of a drop-down list that you have to scroll using the wheel.
Weather
The Apple Watch’s Weather app is much more detailed than Android Wear, as it shows temperature, geolocation, and weather forecasts for the next 10 hours.
On the Android Wear side we find temperature, location, wind speed and humidity. The text occupies an important place and the whole is quite organized. Therefore less information, but creating a more aesthetic image interface can be very busy from Apple.
Maps and navigation
If Apple displays more information again, Android Wear favors ergonomics and is limited to location and orientation. So we find ourselves on the one hand with a “smartwatch” version of the Apple Maps app, and on the other hand with minimal but maximum ergonomics and, above all, better readability.
messaging
If Google once again offers something more refined but just as effective, Apple offers real added value. message suggestions This allows you to quickly respond to your interlocutor through predefined small replies and phrases. A significant time saver.
Voice command: Siri and Google Now
If you’ve ever had the opportunity to play with an Android Wear watch, then you already have Google Assistant voice control It is an integral part of the OS because it allows you to do almost everything in a simpler way than with the touchscreen, starting with accessing apps.
Alongside the Apple Watch, Siri, the home voice assistant, also lets you do a lot of things, that said, where Google Assistant is really the cornerstone of Android Wear, Siri is limited to features as we know it. So most of the actions will be performed from the screen and from the wheel.
Physical activity tracking
Each of the two operating systems for wearables physical activity tracking. On the Apple side, the watch has a heart rate monitor and can act as a pedometer using the iPhone’s GPS. However, more watches running Android Wear have a heart rate monitor, and the Sony Smartwatch 3 comes with its own GPS as well as a host of fitness and health-focused apps.
So if the interface naturally differs from one system to the next, the health specs are pretty much the same and no OS really has the advantage in this area.
Solution
With the Apple Watch on already partially conquered ground, Apple sought to expand the functionality of its watch anyway. The interface is less simple and less refined and always tries to provide as much information as possible.
Probably a pretty predictable undertaking, but by constantly loading its interface, the Apple watch sometimes loses readability. We are especially considering maps where it would be almost impossible to read street names without zooming in.
As you can see in the screenshots below, it’s a trend that can be found almost anywhere on the watch.
