The earlier announced update of Wear OS with smarter controls is rolling out from now on. This has made Google known. The deployment of Wear OS version 2.1 goes in stages, so it can take some time before you receive it on your smartwatch. If your watch has received the update to Android Wear 2.0, you will also receive this update.
Wear OS 2.1
Google has announced that the latest update of Wear OS – previously known as Android Wear – is rolling out from now on. This update saw the light of day on 29 August. The focus is on the new, smarter operation, together with the new look. The changes can be summarized in three points:
> A swipe from right to left takes you to the new proactive Google Assistant
> A swipe from left to right takes you to the Google Fit overview
> A swipe from bottom to top takes you to a new view of notifications
These changes should make the overall use of Wear OS a lot easier. Previously, a swipe from left to right or right to left from the home screen made you switch watch face. Changing a watch face is just the long press on the home screen, as we saw from earlier versions of Android Wear. Some large websites have been allowed to play with the new interface for a week. The whole look a lot tighter with better colors, new font, and better display.
In particular, the viewing of notifications has become easier – instead of having every message one card you have to swipe through, you can now view several reports more easily. Answering notifications has also been made easier, with (English) suggestions for smart answers. In addition, the fast settings have been made more modern – the icons have now been given a circular representation. Here, too, when you play music, you will find the buttons to operate it, instead of a separate card.
By the way, the name of the update is Wear OS 2.1 The previous version was 1.6. Wear OS version 2.0 has never made it to the public. This could have been the internal test version. Do not confuse the name Wear OS 2.1 with the Android Wear 2.0 update, which was officially launched in early 2017. Here independent apps for watches were introduced.
Availability
The update to Wear OS 2.1 is now being rolled out. This will be the case for all watches that have also received Android Wear 2.0. Only the LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live, Moto 360 (2014), Sony Smartwatch 3 and the Asus Zenwatch (1st generation) will not get the update.
The manufacturers decide when they roll out the update. The update comes in as an update of the Wear-OS app via the Play Store on the watch, a Google employee confirmed. I myself have checked my collection of smartwatches, and unfortunately, the update is not yet available on both the Ticwatch E, Fossil Q Explorist 3rd and 4th generation, Huawei Watch 2 or the LG G Watch R.
