Thursday, February 9, 2017

Android Wear 2.0 launched, brings support for Google Play, Android Pay, Google Assistant, and more

As expected, Google launched its Android Wear 2.0 OS on Wednesday. To flag off the big update, the tech giant has partnered with LG to introduce two flagship smartwatches that run on Android Wear 2.0 out of the box - LG Watch Style and LG Watch Sport.

Google has announced that these smartwatches are ASUS ZenWatch 2 & 3, Casio Smart Outdoor Watch, Casio PRO TREK Smart, Fossil Q Founder, Fossil Q Marshal, Fossil Q Wander, Huawei Watch, LG G Watch R, LG Watch Urbane & 2nd Edition LTE, Michael Kors Access Smartwatches, Moto 360 2nd Gen, Moto 360 for Women, Moto 360 Sport, New Balance RunIQ, Nixon Mission, Polar M600 and TAG Heuer Connected. These smartwatches will receive the Android Wear 2.0 update in the coming weeks.

Out of these smartwatches, Asus ZenWatch 3, Asus ZenWatch 2, Huawei Watch, Moto 360 2nd Gen, Moto 360 for Women, Moto 360 Sport and Polar M600 Sports Smart Watch are available in India.

Android Wear 2.0: What’s new

Android Wear 2.0 will now allow personalizing one’s always-on watch face with information and actions from preferred apps. One can add information like appointment details, stock performance, tracks on fitness regime, and more. The update will also allow one to book an Uber with a tap on the watch face. You can set different watch faces in accordance to your work, lifestyle and swipe to use the preferred one. The Google Fit app which comes along with most Android Wear watches, now allows one to track their pace, distance, calories burned and calculate heart rate as well while walking, running or even cycling. In addition to this, one can also measure their weight-lifting reps.

Android Wear 2.0 will now allow its users to download apps straight from Google Play Store which has been directly integrated on the watch. The Android Wear watches with cellular connectivity, can be used to make and receive calls, messages. This also extends the options to use many apps like AccuWeather, Android Pay, Google Play Music, Uber and more.

Responding to messages has also become easier with Android Wear 2.0, as one can expand the notification on the watch and tap on it to respond. Here’s where it gets interesting, as responding can be done in different ways like dictating, typing or handwriting the answer or even drawing an emoji. This feature will work on apps like Facebook Messenger, Hangouts and WhatsApp. This also brings the Smart Reply feature which suggests different responses based on the message received. 

Google has finally brought its AI-based Assistant with Android Wear 2.0. One can use Google Assistant in a hands-free mode now, and ask questions like weather updates, set reminders, make hotel reservations or even ask for navigation. One can even update their shopping list straight from their watch. To launch Google Assistant on your smartwatch, long press the power button or simple say ‘Ok Google’. As of now, Google Assistant is available in two languages only which is English and German. Google says that more languages will be available in the coming months.


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