I’m starting  to hear some rumors of a Google smartwatch to be released in October, probably at the same time as Android 4.4 and Nexus 5, probably Halloween. It will interface to ANY Android phone that has Google Now and give driving directions and notifications of calls and messages and have, as a generality, a voice interface. This is EXACTLY what I have been predicting for the last few months (by the way)…..  And I’ve been pushing Google NOW since it came out. (Google NOW requires Jelly Bean, Android 4.1.) If this rumor proves out, I will take a bow, even if you didn’t pay any attention to my predictions…

It is rumored to have the code name GEM, and will probably come in a few colors, similar to the Samsung GEAR (which has not taken off because it only works with the Note 3).

We might find out as early as tomorrow, but more likely at the end of the month.

I want to point out that Nexus 5 (and Android 4.4) will have an “always listening” feature that will NOT require to first touch the device (watch or phone) to make it work. Only a statement like “Google, text Doug ‘I’m gonna be late for the general meeting'”. None of that twisting a knob, like it the original Star Trek. Usually they didn’t have to touch the communicatior to talk to one another in Next Generation. This will have to have a noise-cancelling microphone to work well. I’d pick a price around $150.