Confirmed: Google will not release a smartwatch this yearSep 1 (AZINS) This year seems to be reserved for Apple's smartwatch because rival Google is skipping the gadget this time around. In an interview with Tom's Guide, Google's director of engineering for Wear OS, Miles Barr said that the company has no plans to release a smartwatch this year. Instead, Google will be focusing on improving the Wear OS software and work with smartwatch makers such as Fossil and Casio.

Google was long rumoured to be working on bringing its own Pixel Watch this year which would complement its line of Pixel smartphones. However, the company appears to have again put the rumours to rest with the new announcement. Currently, Google works with smartwatch makers who build Wear OS devices to approve their designs and functionalities, but building its own hardware is not on the company's mind at the moment.

Early this year, rumors emerged from various sources that the search giant is planning to launch its first own-brand smartwatch before the end of this year. A number of factors suggest that a Pixel Watch would be a logical move for the group.

A tweet from the generally reliable American blogger Evan Blass has lent credibility to the rumors. He mentions the possible unveiling of a Pixel watch in the fall of 2018. The revamping of the Wear OS and the latest announcements from Qualcomm both suggest that this could actually happen.

The upcoming version of Wear OS, based on Android P, will have greater autonomy, which up until now was one of the system's weak points. Apps will, for example, no longer be able to run in the background unless the watch is on the charger. In addition, a new darker user interface is expected to be installed by default to improve readability and use less power.