Android Wear 2.0 brings standalone apps, tiny keyboard, refreshed UI

Besides detailing new Android N features, Google announced its biggest update to Android Wear platform. Version 2.0 adds material design-themed UI, new touchscreen keyboard, ability for apps to work standalone and more.

The main addition to Android Wear 2.0 is the ability for apps to access internet over Bluetooth, WiFi or built-in LTE. This means you can download apps directly to the smartwatch, reply to texts, make calls, even if your phone is turned off or far away.

As for design changes, notification cards now shows up as light text on a dark background, which is designed to conserve battery life on watches with OLED screens. You will also see a progress bar on the display, when you are swiping notification, as well as swipe through apps by circling the edge of the display.

Android Wear 2.0 comes with a new feature called 'complication' that enable data from any app to be displayed as watch face or widget. It will also let apps better understand your activities. For example, when you work out, the watch should be able to detect you are exercising and automatically launch the dedicated app.After your work out, the fitness stats will be collected by Google Fit and synced with other health app on your device.

There is also a new tiny keyboard, which is swipe-friendly and comes with smart reply and gesture inputs. It also recognizes handwriting as well, when you trace a character. Lastly, Android Wear apps can take advantage of Android N Feature like Data Saver, emojis and Java 8 Lambda support.

Android Wear 2.0 will be available to developer this week, and will roll out to users this fall. 

Via : Ars Technicia