Google's (NASDAQ: GOOG) much-anticipated smartwatch is about to go into mass production, following some last minute tinkering with features and battery life, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The new wearable computing device, which the newspaper said would be available within “months,” would be Android-based and integrated with Google’s intelligent personal assistant, Google Now.
Linking the new smartwatch to Now is critical to making the device useful. Now integration would enable the watch to answer questions, make suggestions, and help predict what types of information you might need, based on what you are doing now.
This answers one criticism of smartwatches in general, usefulness. After all, a talking wristwatch that tells time and little else is of limited value.
In addition, according to a source who spoke to The Wall Street Journal, Google has been working to reduce power consumption, thereby avoiding one of the chief complaints against Samsung's (OTC: SSNLF) new Galaxy Gear smartwatch.
While price was not discussed, the relatively high cost of existing smartwatch devices – especially given their limited functions – is another major objection that has to be overcome.
If Google does overcome those objections, it could have a real winner. Market-research firm ABI Research said a reasonably priced smartwatch with low power consumption and plenty of applications could help push annual sales to nearly half a million units by 2018.