Although all eyes in the tech industry are focused on the competing flagship smartphone releases this fall, there’s another interesting battle heating up in wearables. According to the latest rumors, Apple’s iWatch isn’t going to make it to retail in 2014, yet Android Police reports that the next major version of Android Wear is already on its way down the pike.
A trusted source has told Android Police that Android Wear 2.0 will be made available as on over-the-air update on October 15th. The source didn’t share any details regarding new features, but Bluetooth headphone and GPS support are prime candidates for inclusion in the update.
Android Wear 2.0 will likely be a highlight for the wearable OS this fall, but its only one of several updates expected before the end of the year. As Google told CNET in a recent interview, the navigation functionality and voice commands in Android Wear will see an overhaul in an update landing later this week. There are plenty of improvements coming to Android Wear before the end of the year, it’s just a matter of which update they’ll be included in.
If the date revealed by Android Police turns out to be correct, the release of the update will likely coincide with the launch of the Moto 360 and the G Watch R. With some impressive hardware and the addition of significant new features, Android Wear could have a huge head start when Apple finally does unveil its entry into the field.
