Google just dropped the last Android Wear update before its launch
Google's big Android Wear update is almost ready for primetime.
After months of delays, the company pushed out the final version of the developer preview for the upcoming Android Wear 2.0 update, confirming the official release is coming next month.
The update includes support for one of the most significant changes coming to the platform: iOS support for standalone apps. As we detailed in our preview during Google I/O last year, Android Wear 2.0 has completely untethered apps from your smartphone -- even for iPhone users -- so third-party apps can function even if you don't have a Wi-Fi or data connection.
The update also adds a new look for the entire user interface, including a new app launcher that takes better advantage of round watch faces and a new darker color theme.
Google said Tuesday this latest update would be the final developer preview before the update goes live next month. Though the company didn't reveal an exact date for the launch, that timing is in line with earlier reports that suggested Google plans to launch two new watches with the new software at an event next month.
Both devices will supposedly be made by LG and, if rumors are to be believed, will include support for Google Assistant.
Other manufacturers have also confirmed new devices that will run Android Wear 2.0, though these are expected to launch sometime after Google's formal announcement.
Topics Android Smartwatches
Karissa was Mashable's Senior Tech Reporter, and is based in San Francisco. She covers social media platforms, Silicon Valley, and the many ways technology is changing our lives. Her work has also appeared in Wired, Macworld, Popular Mechanics, and The Wirecutter. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding and watching too many cat videos on Instagram. Follow her on Twitter @karissabe.
