Android Wear 2.0 Update Landing October 15

Android Wear is getting its first update on October 15 to coincide with the launch of the Moto 360

Smartwatches are only just starting to gain traction, and when we say traction we mean more handset manufacturers making them and some enthusiasm from the tech press; we’re not so sure consumers are all that bothered just yet. Anyway, a big part of this momentum has come from Google getting in on the action with Android Wear, and manufacturers making devices that run this software, including the likes of the Moto 360, Samsung Gear Live and LG G Watch.

And now it seems Google is already prepping an update to its wearable software, according to a report from AndroidPolice, citing an “unnamed source” which the publication claims is “very credible” – and to be fair, AP has delivered the goods plenty of times in the past. Not only that, CNET recently caught wind of the update’s existence (though nothing about a release date) in an interview with Google engineering leads David Singleton and Hiroshi Lockheimer.

That update is being quite simply dubbed Android Wear 2.0, but that’s not necessarily going to be its official name when it arrives, however, the source says October 15 is the day to watch out for. It will allegedly hit existing Android Wear smartwatches already on the market.

In terms of what the update does, little has been said, naturally the usual box of optimisations, tweaks, and bugfixes is assumed. AP speculates enhanced Bluetooth and GPS support are possible inclusions, elsewhere improvements to navigation and voice commands have been mentioned – certainly we’ve seen Android Wear devices in the flesh and the voice control remains somewhat squiffy, so there’s definitely room for a bit of fettling there. It’s thought the timing is intended to coincide with the release of the Moto 360 and LG’s G Watch R. As usual, we’ll reveal more as we get it.

Paul Briden 12:00, 5 Sep 2014

HTC

by pbriden via Featured Articles