Google has announced that Android Wear now supports watch faces with interactive elements. The software update also brings support for Google Translate to Google’s smartwatch software.

Android Wear 1.3 also brings at least one more feature: the LG G Watch R now supports WiFi. That’s a feature that rolled out to a number of other Android Wear devices in an earlier update.

android wear translate

Launch the Google Translate app on your watch, speak in your own language and then flick your wrist to show a translation to the person you’re speaking to.

They can then respond in their language and when you flip your wrist back so that you can view the screen, you should see the translation.

Google says you don’t even need to select which languages to use, since the app can automatically recognize the languages being spoken. The app can recognize 44 different spoken languages, although it supports 90 languages if you’re using text translation.

A watch faces provides information-at-a-glance, letting you quickly see the time, weather, missed call data, or other information. But the new interactive watch faces function more like apps by allowing you to change views or trigger actions by tapping or swiping.

BITS

For example, the Bits watch face lets you tap on weather, mail, step-counter, or other icons to bring different information to the forefront.

UnderArmour

Under Armour’s Android app has a watch face that can show the time as well as fitness tracking stats. A tap will change from step counts to distance traveled, and another tap will show estimated calories burned.

together watch face

Google is also launching its own interactive watch face called Together. This lets you link your Android Wear watch with one other person’s so you can share pictures, emoji, or current activities throughout the day. It lets you let someone know you’re thinking of them without taking the time to write a text message or make a call. Together feels a bit like a slightly more complex version of Yo… for your wrist.

If this all founds familiar, that’s because we had a pretty good idea it was coming. The folks at Android Police noticed code in the latest Android Wear companion app for smartphones pointing to interactive watch faces.

 

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2 replies on “Android Wear adds interactive watch faces, Google Translate”

  1. I’m waiting to buy an Android Wear smartwatch until the Huawei Watch comes out.

    I want a round smartwatch that looks like a very plain, and classic watch look. (see: Rolex Oyster Commander). I also want it to support standard watch straps.

    The Huawei Watch is exactly that.

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