Android Wear Gets New Hands-Free Features

The new app offers live video, voice and photo messaging on the wrist, and is among the first to harness Android Wear’s new speaker support, which Google announced today. Timepieces like the Huawei Watch and the 49mm Asus ZenWatch 2 each come out of the box with a speaker, allowing users to make or take calls using Bluetooth.

The feature is only available on two watches for now – the Huawai Wtch and the ASUS Zenwatch 2 – but we assume future models will begin making the hardware a priority. Initiating a message through one of these services will be as simple as “Send a (service name) message to…”. Now you can also use your voice to send messages from apps like Google Hangouts, Nextplus, Telegram, Viber, WeChat, and WhatsApp.

For starters, Google is adding new wrist gestures to help you navigate your watch. You can now expand a card, pull up your app list, or return home with a push, lift, or shake.

Again, the update should hit all Android Wear devices within the next few weeks.

Finally, because some Android Wear watches were built with hidden speakers in them that you didn’t know about, this update makes those active. You’ll be able to stay connected to what’s important while keeping your phone (or another hand) in your pocket.

Android Wear is becoming smarter – or at least a better listener.

On top of this, Android Police reports that Google’s own Messenger app (for SMS/MMS) includes a Marshmallow-specific APK for Wear that could be used to send messages from LTE-enabled Wear devices. Running late for lunch? Just say ‘OK Google, Send a WhatsApp message to Nathan: “I’ll be right there, ‘” Higgins wrote.

The biggest feature of course, is being able to make calls right from our watch. An update will be rolling out soon, though, that adds a few extra perks to Google’s smartwatch OS. This means that you can answer a text using your voice or you can replay to a Gmail message quickly. That said, it could be the first to experience the update.