When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Gear smartwatch yesterday, it promised that the new accessory would soon be compatible with more devices than just the new Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014).
The fact that only Samsung’s two latest devices work with the Galaxy Gear suggests that Android 4.3 Jelly Bean which added support for Bluetooth 4.0 LE is a requirement. The fact that the Google Play Edition Samsung Galaxy S4 is not on the list despite running the latest version of Android suggests that some additional Samsung-specific functionality is also required.
With that in mind, Samsung has confirmed that both the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S III will be upgraded to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean starting in October. A previous announcement that the Galaxy Note II would also be upgraded to Android 4.3 suggests that it could also eventually be compatible with the Galaxy Gear.
It remains to be seen how much of a delay carrier certifications could add to Samsung’s timelines.
For those disappointed that more devices will not be compatible with the Galaxy Gear, the Qualcomm Toq, also unveiled yesterday, should offer wider support with its requirement for Android 4.0.3.