Earlier this week, Google has released Developer Preview 4 for Android Wear 2.0, which is slated to have its final release early next year. Developer Preview 4 added a couple of handy features such as One-Click Google Sign-In, and also the good old Swipe to Dismiss gesture from Android Wear 1.0. Google has made a new announcement whereby Android Wear 2.0 will have standalone apps available.
With Android Wear 2.0, users can install, search and use apps independently on their own Android smart watches, without having to refer to or complete further steps on the paired Android device. With the announcement, Google has previewed 3 standalone apps for Android Wear 2.0 – Glide, Foursquare and Lifesum.
First off, Glide enables live broadcasts directly from the watch face. The app will allow you to tap on contact shortcuts, initiating a conversation in an instant, with the assistance of Wear Complications API. Google aims to make the wrist based communication experience to be more effortless and accessible at the same time. Next up is a more familiar app – Foursquare. The app will feature a clean new canvas, providing a more immersive experience for users. Foursquare’s software engineer Kyle Fowler claims the app to be more responsive so that users will spend less time staring at the screen with more time to explore the world around them. The last app focuses on fitness and health. Lifesum is an app that assists users in their food choices and exercise routines to help them achieve personal fitness goals. The standalone app experience of Lifesum will provide users a more simple experience, making it easier for them to track their health and fitness activities.
Android Wear 2.0 Developer Preview 4 has already been made available for testing, and Google has stated that there will be at least one more preview build for Android Wear 2.0 before getting a final release in 2017.
Source: Android
