14 DAY TRIAL // Google’s wearable-friendly Android Wear OS is bound to get a new important update in the upcoming weeks. It’s high time Google revamped its platform, since the previous major update rolled out back in October.
So in case you are curious what new features are incoming, Google is providing us with a list of improvements we should expect to see implemented soon.
Wrist-bound gestures
The update will bring the possibility to navigate more easily through notifications. You’ll be able to flick your wrist away from you in order to view the next card or notification, or you will be able to flick towards you to go back.
Emoji drawing
If you can’t answer a particular text or phone call right when you receive it and you think the person contacting you will get the message by virtue of a few emojis, then go ahead and draw them. Android Wear will try and understand which emoticons you've been drawing and translate them into something more legible and send them on their merry way.
New interface additions
Launching third-party apps in Android Wear was no easy breeze until now. You could either do it by voice (not very convenient when you are in public) or by frantically looking for them and scrolling through a bunch of menus.
Well, not anymore. Swipe once to the left from your watch screen and you’ll be presented with a list of your apps. Swipe left once again and you’ll be presented with a list of your contacts. Swipe trice and you’ll be able to choose from a list of actions like “Take a note” or “Set a timer.”
Always-on apps
At the moment, the screen of the smartwatch turns off if you don’t interact with it enough or don’t move your wrist enough.
But now you have the option of choosing a particular app and set it to be always-on. Even if you’re not using the smartwatch, the screen will fade to monochrome but will remain active and with the app on top.
Wi-Fi support
Did you know that most Android Wear watches have built-in Wi-Fi chips on the inside? With this update, you will finally be able to take advantage of this buried feature. Even with your phone away from you, if you have a data plan installed for it and your watch is connected to a Wi-Fi spot, you’ll be able to receive your notifications.
Google says the first smartwatch that will receive the new update is the LG Watch Urbane.