Google keeps improving its operating system for wearable devices and the latest Android Wear 2.0 beta adds a number of cool new features, including single sign-on.
Until Android Wear 2.0 is ready to reach the general public, Google is releasing developer previews to test the software and iron out any potential kinks before the public release.
The latest developer preview now makes up the fourth beta for Android Wear 2.0, restoring some old functionality found in previous versions and adding a few new features as well.
Android Wear 2.0 Features
The most notable new feature in Android Wear 2.0 is the newly added support for one-click Google sign-in, allowing for seamless authentication without additional hassle.
"To make authentication a seamless experience for both Android phone and iPhone users, we have created new APIs for OAuth and added support for one-click Google Sign-in," Google explains in a new post on its Android Developers Blog.
With the OAuth application programming interface for Android Wear, signing in is now as easy as tapping a button on the smartwatch, which will open an authentication screen on the connected smartphone. The watch app can authenticate with server-side APIs directly, and Google Sign-In facilitates matters even further. Users just need to select the account they want to sign in with and that's it.
Even better, this feature will be available on Android Wear for both Android and iOS.
With the latest Developer Preview 4 for Android Wear Google also added in-app purchase support, which should be a notable bonus for Android Wear app developers. At the same time, the latest beta also allows developers to promote an Android Wear app through Google Play on other devices.
Changes Based On Developer Feedback
The Android Wear 2.0 developer preview program is designed to develop and polish the platform before general release. According to Google, the latest changes included in the new beta are based on the feedback it received from developers.
Based on feedback, for instance, Google reinstated the ability to swipe notifications and apps just like in earlier Android Wear versions, rather than having to press the physical button on the watch to go back.
Lastly, Google has also re-added support for Android Wear 1.0 apps to the latest Android Wear 2.0 developer preview, allowing testers to install legacy apps on their devices.
The new system enables apps to be installed on the watch directly, so Google is encouraging developers to port their apps to Android Wear 2.0 rather than installing apps through a paired smartphone.
Supported Devices
The latest Developer Preview 4 for Android Wear 2.0 is available for the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition LTE and the Huawei Watch. Depending on the beta tests, Google will release Android Wear 2.0 to the general public next year, but it has yet to announce a more specific time frame.
