CALIFORNIA
\nGoogle is reportedly working on its first in-house smartwatch, which it plans to release in 2022, in a bid to challenge Apple\u2019s dominance in the wearable device segment. The news was first reported by Business Insider, citing sources, as reported by The National. The device, codenamed \u201cRohan\u201d, is being developed by Google\u2019s Pixel hardware unit and not by Fitbit.
\nFitbit was acquired by the technology behemoth for $2.1 billion in January this year amid expectations that it would drive its renewed push into making hardware.
\n\u201cA Google-branded smartwatch would involve the company going toe-to-toe with Apple, whose watch has proved a runaway success and captured control of the smartwatch market,\u201d the report said.
\nThe watch is being called \u201cPixel Watch\u201d, presumably to match Google\u2019s line-up of Pixel smartphones, although executives have used \u201cAndroid Watch\u201d and a variety of other names to address it, the report said. This confirms another report from Jon Prosser, a blogger known for sharing Android product leaks, in April this year. Mr Prosser had confirmed the existence of the device and its Rohan codename.
\nGoogle does not comment on rumours or speculation, the company\u2019s Mena office told The National on Sunday when asked for a comment.
\nThis is not Google\u2019s first attempt at making its own smartwatch: a Google-branded wearable device was cancelled at the last minute in 2016, after the company decided to focus on its software, Wear OS, rather than integrate it into its own hardware.
\nAny attempts by Google to take on Apple Watch would be a tall order, given the head start the iPhone maker has and the market share it commands in the smartwatch segment.
\nA launch in the spring is possible if the latest testing rounds are a success but this would change depending on employees\u2019 feedback. The device will come with its own proprietary bands \u2013 similar to those from Apple \u2013 with Google putting an emphasis on fit for a larger user base.
\n\u201cAn early concept document seen by Insider described Google\u2019s ambitions to build a watch that would be comfortable to wear for at least 90 per cent of the population,\u201d the report said, quoting the document. The document said \u201cinsufficient sizing excludes some users from wearable \u2018wristables\u2019 entirely\u201d. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CALIFORNIA Google is reportedly working on its first in-house smartwatch, which it plans to release in 2022, in a bid to challenge Apple\u2019s dominance in the wearable device segment. The news was first reported by Business Insider, citing sources, as reported by The National. The device, codenamed \u201cRohan\u201d, is being developed by Google\u2019s Pixel hardware […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":231249,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,15],"tags":[1343,1344],"class_list":{"0":"post-231240","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business","8":"category-technology","9":"tag-google","10":"tag-smartwatch"},"yoast_head":"\n