Google releases latest Android Wear beta starting with LG Watch Sport

Google has announced beta program for the next iteration of Android Wear. The program only supports LG Watch Sport, and allows users to test some upcoming features based on Android Oreo.

This beta build mainly includes technical upgrade to API 26, and the brings two new features: notification channels and enhancements to background limits.

The build will allow users to choose the type of notification they want to receive via an app through the notification channels. This will give users finer-grained control, than muting all notifications from the app. For notifications, generated locally by Android Wear apps, users will be able to customize the notifications channels they want to see on their watch. For notification from the phone, the phone notifications channel settings will dictate what is shown on the watch.

Background limits are increased restriction on background services to improve and extend the watch's battery life. These services will no longer run in the background without a visible notification. 

LG Watch Sport users can enroll for the beta program through the dedicated website, and the factory image will be downloaded automatically to the watch. For those you don't have LG Watch Sport, you can use the Android emulator to test the beta. Since this is a beta built expect to encounter bugs.

At the moment it is not known when Android Wear beta program will extend to more watches.  

Source | Via