Asus getting out of the Android Wear business?

[wynand32]

So, there are rumors that Asus is getting out of the Android Wear business, maybe the watch business generally (because who knows, maybe they'd come up with their own OS).

Given the delay in pushing Android Wear 2.0, and the dearth of new band options (I think B&H Photo is the only place still to carry the rubber bands on occasion?) I'm feeling a little like the ZW3 could become something of an orphan.

I've never felt comfortable with a product when a manufacturer decides to get out of the business. They no longer have an incentive to provide the best service, because they know there won't be any future repeat business.

Anybody else feel this way? I'm still liking mine, but I still have some time to return mine via Amex's 90-day return coverage, and I'm considering it. Not finding a great replacement, funny enough none of the other watches I'm looking at have built-in sleep tracking, which matters to me. But even so...

 

[anon(661246)]

The ZW3 is one of the best looking watched IMO. Its not big and bulky yet stylish and the screen is sharp and bright.

I was hoping for a ZW4 that carried the same style but was built from the ground up with AW 2.0

Its too bad to see them leave the market but understandable since there isn't a whole lot of money to be made

I suspect we will see AW 2.0 released for both ZW2 and ZW3 then they will bolt

 

[wynand32]

Yep, that's precisely my concern. How much support will the ZW3 get going forward? Definitely a real bummer.

 

[zyad]

I'm thinking of picking up a ZW3 to go with my Galaxy Note 8. Should I be worried about future Asus updates to the 2.0 firmware?

 

[Targatheory]

Any further info on all this?

 

[anon(661246)]

Any further info on all this?

Yup, Asus is done making smartwatches for now and no plans in the foreseeable future on starting back up. Not much money in the smartwatch market especially when you have to sell to a limited audience that has several option to choose from.

 

[Jadaress1]

Don't think we'll be getting any further updates, but im fine with that, still doing its job of notifying me of calls messages etc. That's all I bought it for, i don't need any fancy features on a Smartwatch with a tiny screen.

 

[biotron2000]

It's a shame it has seemingly been abandoned. Mine is almost unusable since AW 2, which the watch was purportedly designed for. The lag is unbearable, and it has days when the battery drains in less than half a day for no reason. It's a beautiful watch, but I regret buying it.