Aiming to make it easier for other developers to build a smartwatch OS, BLOCKS has kicked off an initiative. Christened as Project OpenWatch, it is a pure open source project.
Currently the market already has three big names in the smartwatch operating system space, Apple’s WatchOS, Google’s Android Wear, and Samsung’s Tizen. Upcoming BLOCKS modular smartwatch developed its own Android-based software to support the plug-and-play modules.
While BLOCKS isn’t the source code for its full operating system, providing this framework will make it easier for third-party developers to create their own custom smartwatch operating systems that can run on MTK6580M watches, including the Blocks Watch.
To begin with, OpenWatch will also support a number of sub $100 watches including the Zeblaze Thor, Lemfo LES1, and Kingwear KW88, KW98, and KW99. BLOCKS plans to make smartwatch ROMs available starting March 15th.
For now the company plans to focus on aftermarket firmware. But it’s possible this could lay the foundation for future watches that could ship with LineageOS, CarbonROM, or other operating systems developed using Project OpenWatch code.
