The Apple Watch may be the hottest thing in tech right now, but Google wants to remind us all that whatever the Apple Watch can do, Android Wear has been doing a long time ago.
Google has released an update to Google Keep, one of its first, most useful apps made compatible with Android Wear. Google Keep is a handy note-taking tool known for its clean and simple user interface. Previously, users on Android Wear can only use Keep to read their notes and be done with it. With the software update, however, Android Wear users can do a lot more with Google's note-taking app.
One of the most prominent new features users will find is the ability to take notes on Keep from their smartwatches, even when their Android phones are in their pockets or, with Google's always-connected feature, left at home. Users can simply say, "Ok Google, take a note," and Google Now will automatically launch a new note for users to dictate. They can also tap the plus sign button at the top of the app to add a new note.
To browse notes on Keep, users just need to say, "Ok Google, open Keep." They can then look through all their notes, including their list notes and picture notes, by swiping up their screen and tapping a particular note to view it. Google has also added the ability to add recurring reminders to notes and write labels such as "Inspiration" and "To-Do" on each note. And as users will see, Keep also received an updated interface, with notes appearing in a more compact, summary view.
Google Keep is a useful Android Wear app particularly for instances such as when users are going grocery shopping. They can easily jot down the grocery items they need on their list using their smartwatches, Android smartphones or tablets, or on the web version of Keep, and then access that shopping list on their Android Wear smartwatch while at the grocery store, freeing up one more hand to juggle a shopping cart, a rowdy toddler or two, and reading the labels for canned tuna.
With Apple putting out all the stops to sell its new Apple Watch, Google is trying to keep its own wearable platform relevant as more than a million customers have reportedly snapped up the Apple Watch on its first day. Recently, Google released a software update to Android Wear that adds a trio of new features, including hands-free navigation, an always-on screen, and the ability to draw emojis to send as messages.
