Evidence has been mounting over the last few days and it looks like it’s finally happening: Android 6.0 for Wear is starting to roll out. Googler Wayne Piekarski just announced on his Google+ feed that OTAs have begun and should continue over the next few weeks.
An official blog post by Google lists some of the new features we can expect in the new firmware, including: newly navigation gestures, audio support on speaker-equipped watches, and expanded support for messaging clients.
The update itself seems a bit ‘eh’, but the interesting thing here is that all Android Wear devices will be getting this update to Marshmallow, even the first generation Wear smartwatches.
Goes to show that Google does, in fact, know how to do this – now they just need to apply this to phones and tablets.
I’ve used the “flick” gestures a lot since they rolled out – very useful when I’m driving or holding something.
I admit, I’m excited to try the new “push” and “go back” gestures. If I’m imagining it right, most of the watch interface will be usable without having to free a finger, right?
…on phones is entirely in the hands of manufacturers and carriers. Manufacturers are not using Android and adding a layer/app but all putting their own forks of Android on their phones.
And carriers block everything by default because for them their is no incentive to change anything.
…on tablets…well…nobody, not even Google really cares about Android on tablets. The same manufacturer problem is there in theory but the reality is that tablets are sold as “set it and forget it” units
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think that on Android Wear devices (a) there is little variation in hardware specs and (b) manufacturers do not add their custom UI. So it is far easier to provide universal updates than it is for phones and tablets.
No update yet …
On being your ‘companion’ everywhere, every minute, at some device agent impersonation or another.
That, really “send shivers down my spine”. Thom
Not even Microsoft had that cold blood.