GOOGLE quietly dropped Android Wear from its online store during the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL launch event last night – and nobody even noticed.
Google unveiled a slew of new devices during its annual hardware event last night.
The California-based company took the wraps off its new Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL smartphones, wireless Pixel Bud headphones, as well as a £999 ChromeOS notebook, dubbed PixelBook.
However, one device category was noticeably absent from the announcements on-stage – Android Wear.
Worse still, Google appears to have removed all mention of Android Wear smartwatches from its Google Store, which received a fresh coat of paint following the new hardware announcements.
It’s still possible to access the Android Wear section of the online store via a direct link.
However, Google does not list any models currently available to buy.
The LG Watch Style and LG Watch Sport are both appear on the landing page, however, both are listed as “No Longer Available”.
It’s unclear what has lead to this decision – it could simply be that Google wants to focus on its own branded hardware in the Google Store.
But it could also be an indication of low sales figures for Android Wear devices.
Earlier rumours hinted Google might be preparing its own Pixel-branded wearable to launch alongside a new version of its Android Wear operating system.
However, these did not materialise on-stage.
Samsung is tipped to be working on its own next-generation smartwatch, Gear S4.
The smartwatch would replace the Gear S3 Classic and Gear S3 Frontier in the current line-up.
Samsung announced a number of fitness-focused watches during a press conference at the IFA consumer technology tradeshow in Berlin, earlier this year.
Dubbed Samsung Gear Sport, the new watch has a 1.2-inch Circular Super AMOLED always-on display, powered by a Dual Core 1.0 GHz and 300mAh battery.
It’s also completely waterproof – certified 5 ATM1 for water resistance.
Apple also updated its Apple Watch smartwatch in September, bringing cellular data and resting heart rate monitoring to the wearable.