Android Wear, the Google-made operating system powering smartwatches
like the Moto 360, the LG Watch Urbane, the Huawei Watch and many more,
is receiving some updates that make it better and easier to use when
you're on the go. Keep reading for a look at the latest hands-free
features, along with information on when to expect this update to make
it to your Android Wear Smartwatch.
New Gestures
In its blog post
on February 4, the Android Wear team explained that navigating the
wearable interface will now be a lot simpler thanks to some new
gestures.
For example, to scroll up and down within an
Android Wear card ("cards" are how the operating system presents bits of
information), you simply have to flick your wrist.
To expand a
card, you complete a pushing motion; to bring up apps you execute a
lifting movement; and to return to your home screen you shake the
device.
The idea with all of these gestures is to make it
easier to use your smartwatch one-handed, and without having to take
your phone out of your pocket or bag to find the information you want.
Several Applications Work with Voice Messaging
While
Android Wear has featured voice commands for some time, it's been
limited to the user asking questions and getting answers from the
software. Now, you can use the voice functionality for messaging within a
variety of apps. These include Google Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram,
Viber, WeChat and WhatsApp.
The formula for using this
functionality should be familiar to most Android Wear users and users of
Google in general. You'd simply say, "OK Google send a Google Hangouts
message to mom: I'll call you back later." This is another way that
Android Wear is becoming more hands-free-friendly, since you won't need
to use both hands to text your message when you can just speak it.
Make Calls from Your Smartwatch
Android Wear
has always let you screen calls from your wrist by displaying incoming
communication, but it's now moving one step beyond by letting you make
and answer calls when you smartwatch is connected to your phone over
Bluetooth. This comes thanks to new speaker support, and while you may
not be completely on board with taking such calls in public, it's a
nice, Dick Tracy-esque, futuristic touch.
The recently added speaker support also means you can listen to
audio and video messages on your Android Wear smartwatch. Of course,
this requires having a watch with a speaker, and not all of them do.
Some examples of compatible devices include the Huawei Watch (available
in some snazzy new designs as of last month) and the ASUS Zenwatch 2.
And, now that Android Wear supports speakers, smartwatches that are yet
to come will probably feature this hardware so they're compatible with
the latest technology.
When Will Your Android Wear Watch Get the Update?
If
you already have an Android Wear device and are anxious to try out
these newest features, note that they should be rolling out within the
next few weeks. According to the Android Wear blog post, the latest
functionality will be coming to brand-new watches like the Casio Smart Outdoor Watch and the Huawei Watch for Ladies in addition to watches that have been on the market for some time.
By Sarah Silbert
Wearables Expert
