Huge Android Wear Update Brings Offline Music Sync and GPS Support

If we had to choose our biggest qualm about wearables today, apart from battery life, it would be the fact that most of them are nearly useless when away from your smartphone.

Now, in its first big update to Android Wear, Google addressed that issue, adding offline music syncing and GPS support.

This means you can now take your GPS-enabled Android Wear device on a run, leave your phone at home, and still listen to music (via Bluetooth headphones) as well as track your route, distance covered and running speed.

Now, you might have paused a second when you read the sentence above, since no Android Wear devices have had a dedicated GPS sensor so far. That changes as of today, now that the GPS-enabled Sony’s SmartWatch 3 is available for pre-order through Verizon. Google says the wearable will also be available through Google Play “soon.”

Google promises other Android Wear devices, including LG G Watch, Samsung Gear Live and Moto 360, will also be updated to include the new features “over the next few days.” This doesn’t mean these devices will magically get a GPS sensor, but it does include other features launched today. Right now, you can get the latest version of Google Play Music for your wearable to be able to enjoy smartphone-free music from your wrist.

Google has also created eight new Android Wear app collections in Google Play, includingtravel, social as well as fitness and health apps.

Author: Stan Schroeder
Source: Mashable