BLOCKS unveils Android based smartwatch framework

Aiming to make it easier for other developers to build a smartwatch

OS, BLOCKS has kicked off an initiative, christened Project

OpenWatch—a pure open source project.

The project provides a Linux kernel and an Android Oreo board support package for watches that use the MediaTek MTK6580M chipset used in the BLOCKS’ smartwatch. 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. For BLOCKS’ upcoming modular smartwatch, the company has developed its own Android-based software to support the plug-and-play modules.

While BLOCKS doesn’t offer 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 BLOCKS’ watch.