ASUS CEO Jerry Shen has already confirmed what many see as the obvious: The company will release a second generation ZenWatch in the second half of the year. More recently, signs emerged that ASUS was also working on a Windows-powered smartwatch called the ASUS VivoWatch. Speaking at an investor conference yesterday, Shen has confirmed that the company is indeed working on two different smartwatches. He added that ASUS could drop Android Wear in favour of another operating system if it can deliver longer battery life.
“The major concern is about saving power,” explained Shen at the event. “We will continue to work with Google on Android Wear, and we will have another [smartwatch] that is not based on Android Wear and features a longer battery life.”
Whether ASUS continues to use Android Wear will depend on whether battery life can be improved. A decision whether to drop Google’s operating system for wearables will only follow the launch of the second generation ZenWatch this fall but ASUS is committed to longer battery life for its future smartwatches. For now, ASUS will continue to work with Google but it’s clear that ASUS will not hesitate to drop it should a viable alternative present itself.
In fact, ASUS is already exploring its options. Shen revealed that ASUS will unveil a new smartwatch not powered by Android Wear before it launches the second generation ZenWatch. He revealed little about it but did say that it would not use Android Wear and might use a new MediaTek system-on-chip currently in development. He did not say what operating system it would use though.
Battery life may well be the feature that helps a smartwatch distinguish itself from the competition and establish an early lead in a market segment expected to grow rapidly over the next few years.
Would you trade in your Android Wear device for one that gives you better battery life? Let us know below.
Source : WantChinaTimes.com