With all the hype surrounding the Apple Watch, you may have forgotten that Google has a smartwatch software platform of its own called Android Wear. To remind us of this, Google on Monday took the wraps off a hugely ambitious Android Wear update that adds the more customization (new watch faces and bands), Wi-Fi support, hand gestures and an awesome feature that lets you draw emoji to send to friends.
The most important feature is support for Wi-Fi that will give you one more connectivity option with your Android Wear devices. “As long as your watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and your phone has a data connection (wherever it is), you’ll be able to get notifications, send messages, and use all your favorite apps,” Google writes.
Wi-Fi support isn't everything that's new here. Apps now get the ability to be always-on and keep your watch's display on all the time. Previously such functionality was limited to the screen that shows you what time it is. From this point on, however, developers can take advantage of this feature, so their apps stay visible for as long as needed. Interestingly, the screen of the watch will only be full color when you're actively looking at it, so don't worry about battery drain yet.
And finally, Google has added a number of features designed to make using apps on the watch easier, including the ability to scroll through your app stream by flicking your wrist and the ability to draw emoji on your display using your hands. From now on if you want to send an emoji, you simply have to draw it on your smartwatch. Google will recognize it and send it along to your intended recipient.
For the the Wi-Fi functionality, this means watches that have the necessary hardware will work with your smartphone even when the two aren't paired via Bluetooth. Your watch only needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi network with Internet access, and your handset needs to have an active data connection - and all your notifications will keep showing up on your wrist.
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The most important feature is support for Wi-Fi that will give you one more connectivity option with your Android Wear devices. “As long as your watch is connected to a Wi-Fi network, and your phone has a data connection (wherever it is), you’ll be able to get notifications, send messages, and use all your favorite apps,” Google writes.
Wi-Fi support isn't everything that's new here. Apps now get the ability to be always-on and keep your watch's display on all the time. Previously such functionality was limited to the screen that shows you what time it is. From this point on, however, developers can take advantage of this feature, so their apps stay visible for as long as needed. Interestingly, the screen of the watch will only be full color when you're actively looking at it, so don't worry about battery drain yet.
And finally, Google has added a number of features designed to make using apps on the watch easier, including the ability to scroll through your app stream by flicking your wrist and the ability to draw emoji on your display using your hands. From now on if you want to send an emoji, you simply have to draw it on your smartwatch. Google will recognize it and send it along to your intended recipient.
For the the Wi-Fi functionality, this means watches that have the necessary hardware will work with your smartphone even when the two aren't paired via Bluetooth. Your watch only needs to be connected to a Wi-Fi network with Internet access, and your handset needs to have an active data connection - and all your notifications will keep showing up on your wrist.
Source
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