The point of having a smartwatch, at least in theory, is that you can get to important notifications and actions faster than you would if you had to whip out your smartphone first. Of course, that becomes moot when you have to swipe through half a dozen screens just to get to the parts that you want or the settings that you need. Android Wear‘s latest update tries to address that by putting important or recent actions just a swipe or tap away from your current screen.
Just tap on your watch face and see the most recently used actions you’ve performed right at the top of the list. This is based on the presumption that you are most likely to repeat those actions than start a new one. Swipe down from the top of the screen and you get quick access to commonly used settings. And in case you accidentally dismissed a card, a simple swipe right then and there will bring it back, much like Chrome’s undo close tab feature.
These are just some of the changes coming to Android Wear that have been introduced based on user feedback. The latest update pools together the previous new features we’ve also seen, like increasing outdoor readability via the new Sunlight Mode or turning the screen off and automatically switching to vibrate when you’re in a dark room thanks to the new Theater Mode. On the companion app side, you also get a more detailed look at your smartwatch’s battery and storage usage, similar to how Android presents its own stats.
Together with the new Watch Face API and designs, Android Wear early adopters are definitely in for a treat this week. The updates start rolling out today, so don’t panic if you don’t receive that notification immediately. And for those still on the edge about getting one, there are now at least six official Android Wear smartwatches to choose from, including the LG G Watch, the round LG G Watch R, the Samsung Gear Live, the Moto 360, the Sony SmartWatch 3, and the ASUS ZenWatch, all with their particular quirks and appeal.
