The notification was generated by Google Play services, specifically the
Google has hinted it might be rebranding Android Wear — the operating system (OS) that is designed for smartwatches and other wearables — to simply « Wear OS ».
According to tech website 9to5mac, this new name was first spotted by a Reddit user who received a pairing notification that features the new name and Google Assistant-like logo.
The notification was generated by Google Play services, specifically the « Nearby » functionality that « helps you find and interact with services and devices close to you ».
Developers exploring the latest Android P Developer Preview have also noticed that the usual watch-like logo has been replaced with a distinctive « W » and the announcement suggestively could happen by the time Android P is released — if not by the Google I/O conference in May.
Market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC) estimated that Android Wear was virtually non-existent among the top five wearable manufacturers in the fourth quarter of 2017 — even Chinese electronics company Huawei got to fifth place primarily through its fitness trackers — not its Android wristwear.
Last week, Google released the first developer preview of its next version of the operating system » Android P » which the company said was mostly focused on the changes that will affect developers and might not have significant user interface (UI) adjustments.
