I / O: Google shows innovations for Android Wear

April 28, 2020

Google showed some new features of its Android Wear OS for smartwatches at its developer conference I / O. However, these were not really new – they were announced at the end of April. The corresponding update is currently being distributed, for example, it arrived on my LG's G Watch yesterday. With other Android Wear models, however, it can still take a moment – Google speaks of availability at the latest "in the coming weeks".

One of the innovations shown are always-on apps. While the clock face on Android wear devices has always made use of always-on mode, applications will also support this feature in the future. For example, the user is constantly shown a shopping list or a Google Maps map. After a while of non-use, the screen switches to an energy-saving black and white mode.

Until now it was a bit cumbersome to start programs without an alternative app launcher, Google Android Wear now provides an app list that is at least quicker to reach. After tapping the display, it now appears instead of the "Now Speak" button, which can now be reached by swiping left on the screen.

In the future, Android Wear will allow you to scroll through notifications, lists and more by turning your wrist. Currently, this is – at least on the G Watch after the update to Android 5.1.1 – hardly supported by any app. After the update, the option can be tried out at least using a sample card.

With the possibility of being able to draw emojis with a finger, Google showed on the keynote of the I / O feature announced at the end of April. This worked well in the presentation of the company, but can also be used in practice. After the update, this possibility of fast communication already seems to be supported by most Android Wear apps, which previously offered the option of answering by voice or templates. And the recognition of scribbled ideograms works quite well at first impression.

Source: Google

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