Google has now rolled out a new update to its Android Wear platform with version 1.4. The new update primarily adds support for wrist gestures, which allow users newer ways to interact with their Android smartwatch instead of solely relying on flicking through a smartwatch’s touchscreen.
For instance, flicking the wrist away and slowly bringing it back opens up the navigations card. Users can then scroll through all the cards by just snapping their wrist away or towards themselves. Google has published a detailed list of gestures with the release of Android Wear 1.4. To activate wrist-enabled gestures, users need head over to ‘Settings’ and then open Touch Wrist gestures.
Google advises that users can first practice these new gestures that are included with the tutorials directly within the update, which apparently makes sense as one can come across rather fishy or obnoxious practicing these gestures in public places. With that being said, it does give users more ways to interact with their smartwatch and make navigation more easy.
Other notable additions included with the Android Wear 1.4 update are audio feedback for alerts and taking calls, though only a few models are compatible with this feature that include the likes of LG G Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, Huawei Watch and Asus Zenwatch 2. However, all smartwatches that are able to upgrade to the latest Android Wear 1.4 Update will be compatible will be compatible with the new wrist gestures.
In addition, the new update also supports cellular connectivity. Implying that users can sync their phones with their smartwatches to make calls and send messages even in situations when their synced devices are not near the smartwatch. Earlier, users could also sync their smartwatches with their phones, though only through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi only.
It is also worth pointing out that there’s no mention of support for sending messages via other popular instant messaging platforms including the likes of WhatsApp, WeChat or Viber with voice or via touch, though we can expect the functionality to be rolled out in a future update.
