Android Wear 2.0 - A work in progress

The long-awaited software up for Android Wear is here! It will be released to most (not all) earlier Android Wear models over the next few weeks, but this release is greeted with two new watches--LG Watch Style(slimmer and feature-limited) and LG Watch Sport(super-thick and ready to take on the world)--that have the software built in.

Left-Slim, Right-Sport

This highly anticipated update attempts to give Android some leverage over the more popular Apple Watch, and has some noteworthy improvements such as:

• Android Pay using NFC
• Android Wear apps can run better away from a phone, or can even run independently with an LTE phone-connected watch or via Wi-Fi
• Much more info can be placed onto watch faces, easier to swap faces and customize.
• Google Fit adds more tracking modes and better workout interfaces
• Google Assistant appears as a voice-activated upgrade to Google Now

While Android Wear still feels as though it's a step below its competitors, this update is pushing Android Wear in the right direction.

Watch-face improvements

When referring to info placed on the face of a watch, such as the battery life or the date, the watch industry uses the term 'complications'.

Added watch-face customizations make accessing info quickly on the fly easier; with Apple already using this via its Apple Watch complications, this is Android playing catchup. In the article used for reference, the tester was able to fit eight bits of information on the watch face, all with quick-access info. These complications can also act as app shortcuts, however currently there aren't many apps that support complications on Android Wear 2.0.

Simple Complications

Wallet on your wrist

Hate grabbing for loose change or reaching into your wallet? Android Wear watches with NFC can now make payments! Simply add a credit card via your phone and cease having to scramble when payment is required. The new watches have three side buttons, the bottom one automatically bring up Android Pay. Older watches that can upgrade to Android Wear 2 and can receive Pay updates won't necessarily have this button, but a Pay shortcut can be added to the watch face.

Grabbing some grub with a flick of the wrist

Fit is...getting better

Google Fit now has more workout types and a new way to display stats on-wrist. The top button on the LG Watch Sport allows one to start a workout and while the workout is happening, the stats appear on the watch. Stats can be customized, allowing one to add heart rate, distance or elapsed time, but not many more than that. The interface can be slow and looks chunky, and looking at daily Fit stats results in a slow "updating" message that is less responsive than other watches. Fit also only displays very basic stats as well as no fitness-goal graphics or easy way to log food intake.

Simple interface, but lacking in features

Better on its own
Wear 2.0 allows the watch to be a lot more independent from your phone, being able to connect to what it needs to function using Wi-Fi or an LTE connection. When offline it's designed to run apps on its own, minimizing the "Check your phone" messages that cluttered up its screen previously.

Google Play has been integrated for Wear 2.0, allowing one to downloads apps straight to the watch without any phone interference, however Play on the wrist is decently hard to navigate.

Even with the watches ability to use apps away from the phone, because of this software being fairly new not many apps support this feature.

Digital Crown-like wheel for better navigation

Wear 2.0 supports a spinning-wheel crown, which on the new watches can be pressed to launch apps or use Assistant, as well as being spun to scroll through messages or choose apps. Clicking in the button brings up an app tray, and flicking the wheel on the watch face brings up notifications and messages. This feature is reminiscent of the Apple Watch, but the app tray makes apps much easier to find than Apple's grid of apps.

Crowns help to rule over your apps

Google Assistant: Better...but similar

Google Now has been replaced with Google Assistant, but really it seems to stay the same. Assistant is tucked away more, so you'll need to press and hold the side button in order to get it going. Wear's version of Assistant is only text based, meaning it can't talk back...which is odd because the LG Watch Sport has a speaker. It does everything it should: ability to look up restaurants, check weather, find appointments, etc. etc. It can also be paired with a Chromecast or Google Home.

Don't worry, Assistant will take care of you

There will be many watches that will be compatible with Wear 2.0, being that it's an update, but it ultimately depends on your model. If your watch is update-ready, brace yourself! Wear 2.0 allows the watches to feel more like watches and less like a clunky, app-heavy wrist-gadget. However, it still isn't ready to dethrone Apple Watches, and even then Samsung Gear S2 or S3 might still be better. Given time, Wear 2.0 will surely come into it's own.