And finally: Android Wear set to get iPhone compatibility and more

The rumour round-up from a leaktastic week in wearables
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And finally is the home of all those wearable tech stories we didn't find a place for in our news, features and reviews each week.

It's a one-stop-shop for rumours, murmurs and blips, allowing you to keep up to date with everything that's happening in the wide world of wearables... or about to happen.

And this week's a cracker.

Android Wear gunning for the iPhone

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Google is close to finalising plans to make its Android Wear platform compatible with iOS, as The Verge reports. That doesn't mean Google will actually submit an Android Wear app to Apple or that Apple will approve it, especially as the Apple Watch is all but on sale.

That said, the Pebble Time smartwatch and plenty of fitness trackers are cross platform so we could see a whole new range of options open up for wearable loving iPhone users.

Samsung Gear A to get 3G and calls

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We've heard about Samsung's plans for a circular smartwatch, codenamed Orbis, before but now we have some new details courtesy of SamMobile.

Firstly, there's the name - Orbis will be the Gear A and will actually come in two options: one Bluetooth and one with 3G and calling support. We don't know any pricing details yet but we'd expect the second model to be the more expensive choice.

If the rumours so far have been true, the Gear A will run on Tizen not Android Wear and feature wireless charging.

More Moto 360 2 leaks and pics

And finally: Android Wear set to get iPhone compatibility and more

Speaking of round smartwatches with wireless charging, the original Android Wear poster boy - the Moto 360 - is overdue an update.

A new pic of the so-called Moto 360 2 has leaked showing a fully round 360 x 360 display with no slice of dead pixels as we saw on the original. It also shows one physical button on the edge, as before, and new straps with metal attachable arms.

We can't wait to see the second Motorola smartwatch as it looks to have slimmed down too - the first iteration was very modern looking but still quite chunky on the wrist and the Apple Watch is setting new standards in smartwatch design.

Victorinox to build a smartwatch

And finally: Android Wear set to get iPhone compatibility and more

Kind of. The maker of Swiss Army knives and wristwatches has announced that it will launch its first bit of wearable tech.

The official line from CEO Carl Elsener is that we should expect "something approaching a smartwatch" which would expand the functions of its watch range but also have a long battery life.

There could be a MotionX partnership on the cards but Elsener didn't refer to Philippe Kahn's tech or the MMT Swiss smartwatches. He also didn't mention Android Wear so the OS, looks and features are all still a mystery.


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Sophie was Wareable's associate editor. She joined the team from Stuff magazine where she was an in-house reviewer. For three and a half years, she tested every smartphone, tablet, and robot vacuum that mattered. 

A fan of thoughtful design, innovative apps, and that Spike Jonze film, she is currently wondering how many fitness tracker reviews it will take to get her fit. Current bet: 19.

Sophie has also written for a host of sites, including Metro, the Evening Standard, the Times, the Telegraph, Little White Lies, the Press Association and the Debrief.

She now works for Wired.


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