Google has its very first Android powered games console and smart watch in the works, according to the Wall Street Journal.
According to sources familiar with Google’s secret projects, WSJ believes that Google is getting ready to expand beyond just Android software and into hardware. The Mountain View company is also said to be working on a “digital wrist watch”, which to us sounds very much like a smart watch.
Google has been in the hardware game for a while with Nexus phones and tablets, but these are often manufactured on its behalf by other companies such as Samsung, HTC and LG. The console and watch will be made by Google itself, featuring Google branding.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the story is Google’s reasoning for the development of a games console. According to sources, Google is acting on the belief that its main rival Apple will also break into the games area. According to WSJ the company has “expectations that rival Apple will launch a videogame console as part of its next Apple TV product release.”
Until now we’ve not heard anything of Apple’s plans to move into the gaming space, although recent additions to iOS 7 do hint at a much bigger emphasis on gaming with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, with game controller accessories planned. If Apple and Google really do go head to head with gaming we could be seeing some awesome innovation coming our way.
In addition to reports of a games console and smart watch, we’re also hearing that Google has a second generation Nexus Q in the works. This mysterious device was revealed at I/O 2012 as a media streamer, but didn’t get much attention from the public or Google and seemed to disappear off the radar. Now an upgraded model has been spotted going through checks at the FCC and looks set to arrive later in the year.
Google is said to be launching a new version of Android – dubbed Key Lime Pie – later this year, alongside at least one of these products.