Whilst we all love the openness of the Android mobile platform, one thing which is an undeniable pain is the fragmentation of the market. Countless different brands on the OS often receive updates months apart. There’s also the trouble with UI’s and bloatware – for every HTC Sense 6.0 there’s… well, HTC Sense 4.0. There’s a reason so many people prefer it when a handset just lets Google do its own thing, and the Nexus range is one of the most popular available.
If you happen to be one of those people, then this news coming out of Mountain View should be music to your ears. The interface for Android Wear, Google’s mobile platform, will be exclusively handled by Google. No third-party skins, no third-party UIs, no nothing – it’s the equivalent of every device being a Google Play Edition.
This means that upon release the LG G Watch will theoretically look almost indistinguishable from the Samsung Gear Live, on-screen at least. Of course manufacturers will be allowed to add their own apps and services, but the ‘core experience’ will remain untouched.
Of course the key result of this will be that that traditionally fragmented update process which we spoke of will be non-existent on this new platform. The consumer should also win out in terms of variety and quality, too, as manufacturers will have to use hardware and design to set themselves apart, rather than relying on software.
The same will also go for Android Auto, Google’s in-car experience, and Android TV, set to hit set-top boxes and smart TVs soon.
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