After a number of promises made regarding what Google would be bringing to Android Wear, the search company has finally released the first major Android Wear update.
The update, Android Wear 4.4W2, includes a number of great new features including supporting watches with GPS-sensors, the ability to pair Bluetooth headphones and to play back music offline.
GPS support will allow Wear to track things like distance, routes, elevation and speed without the need for a phone. This is great for the runners, hikers and bicyclists who don't need the extra baggage of a phone while in a workout. Unfortunately, however, most Android Wear devices don't yet have built-in GPS sensors, with the first being the upcoming Sony Smartwatch 3, which is currently available for preorder.
The second feature, however, will be a little more helpful for those who currently using Android devices. Direct Bluetooth connectivity will let users store music right on their watch for playback, even when phone isn't in range. While users won't be able to store much music, given a maximum of 4 GB of storage, they will be able to store at least a few hundred songs.
In order to control those songs, the new version of Android Wear will boast updated music control buttons to reflect the "material" theme. These controls will require users to have the material version of Google Play Music installed on their phone as well as, of course, the Android 4.4W2 update.
Google has not said exactly how many Wear-enabled apps are in the Google Play Store, but it has said it is somewhere in the "tens of thousands" range. It has even taken the time to organize apps into eight collections: Communications, Health and Fitness, Travel, Social, Tools, Productivity, Featured, and miscellaneous.
The Sony Smartwatch 3, which is the first watch with GPS sensors, is available for preorder from Verizon Wireless for $249.99 and comes with new newest version of Android Wear. According to Google, other Android Wear devices such as the Samsung Gear Live, LG G Watch and the Motorola Moto 360 will get the update in the next few weeks.
Smart watch owners will enjoy the new updates, but one feature that many have been waiting for is custom watch faces. Google says this feature would be available before the end of the year, so thankfully users will not have to wait too long for them.
