Dear Lifehacker,Is Android Wear any good?
I wasn’t sold onother smartwatches, but Android Wear seems pretty cool.
Can you actually do anything useful with it, though?
I think they look nice, but I’m not sure what the killer new functionality is.
If you could’t find a reason to buy an Android Wear watch right now, that’s okay.
That just means you’re not an early adopter.
The initial promise of Android Wear is that it’s an integrated companion with your Android phone.
Do likeGoogle Now?Voice commands?
Good, because those make an appearance.
The question is whether it’s more useful to have them on your wrist than in your pocket.
After a few days of living with a Moto 360, my personal answer is “Yes.”
Howeverand this is keyyour use cases may vary.
But, in terms of apps that run exclusively on your watch, there’s very little.
Some of these notifications include the occasional Google Now cards.
Voice actions are perhaps the most standout feature (though, again, not a unique one).
you could use voice actions to get basic info like “How tall is Jeff Goldblum?
“, set notes and reminders, send text messages, or get driving directions.
Everything else seems to run on the watch, using the phone’s data connection as a conduit.
The result of all this lack-of-functionality is that you spend very little time staring at your watch.
Speaking on behalf of your wrists, this is a good thing.
I don’t want my wrist to pester me all the time.
What Makes Android Wear Great
Thenotification shadehas become the de facto heads-up display for our digital lives.
When something happens that you gotta know about, it shows up there.
Despite reservations aboutyet another gadget, notifications and watches are actually a perfect fit for each other.
You don’t need to dig through a purse or pull it out of the pocket.
It seems like a minor distinction, but keep in mind thatwatches used to come in pockets, too.
The wrist-mounted approach is almost universally considered better (as well as fashionable).
Once I started using the 360, it started to feel as natural as using a watch would be.
When I’m at the desk, it disappears.
I can glance at the time or my notifications on the screen in front of me.
I can see a text message and determine whether or not it actually needs my attention without being disruptive.
It’s there when I need it and disappears as soon as I drop my hand.
More importantly, I can only reply to so much.
Archiving emails or favoriting a tweet is easy enough.
Outside of that, though, I can’t do too much responding.
This is a blessing more often than it’s a hindrance.
However, I can still see that my package shipped or my girlfriend is on her way home.
If you’re looking for a killer feature of Android Wear, this is it: distraction feels unnatural.
Ironically, adding an extra gadget doesn’t make me feelmorewired in, but less so.
Despite knowing that anything important will go to my wrist, the phantom twitch is still there.
However, I have the assurance that if something needs my attention, I’ll get it.
What I don’t have is the instant gratification of endless feeds of junk content.
In a counterintuitive way, putting the important stuff on my wrist helps set me free from everything else.
Smartphones are (more or less) for everyone by now.
Most people can benefit from having internet access in their pockets.
Not everyone gets a hundred emails a day they need to sift through.
And that’s okay!
Not everyoneneeds a tablet, either.
This form factor is less about necessity and more about convenience.
Somewhat ironically, Android Wear’s limitations make it great for being productive, particularly away from a desk.
If that is worth $200+ to you, take the plunge.
