Google has officially confirmed the next major Android Wear release has been pushed back until 2017.
Originally announced at Google I/O way back in June, Android Wear 2.0 is currently in developer beta before it will be pushed to consumers.
In a blog post on Thursday the company announced it has “decided to continue the preview program into early 2017, at which point the first watches will receive Android Wear 2.0.”
Related: Is Android Wear 2.0 coming to your smartwatch?
However, before Android Wear fans start marching on Mountain View with torches and pitch forks, the delay comes with good reason; Google continues to add new features.
Namely, Android 2.0 is getting Play Store support, enabling users to browse and download apps directly from their wrist.
Significantly, the new apps will not require a companion phone app and can be installed on the watch alone.
In a post on the Android developers blog Google wrote: “With Play Store for Android Wear, users can browse recommended apps in the home view and search for apps using voice, keyboard, handwriting, and recommended queries, so they can find apps more easily.
“Perhaps the coolest feature: If users want an app on their watch but not on their phone, they can install only the watch app. In fact, in Android Wear 2.0, phone apps are no longer necessary. You can now build and publish watch-only apps for users to discover on Google Play.”
Does this make Android 2.0 worth the extra few months wait? Share your thoughts below.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
