Google announced the third developer preview of Android Wear 2.0. The big addition? Google Play on Android Wear. Users can now find and install apps directly on the watch, which means developers reach more users than ever before.
With Play Store for Android Wear, users can browse recommended apps in the home view and search for apps using voice, keyboard, handwriting, and recommended queries, so they can find apps more easily. Users can switch between multiple accounts, be part of alpha and beta tests, and update or uninstall apps in the “My apps” view on their watch, so they can manage apps more easily. Perhaps the coolest feature: If users want an app on their watch but not on their phone, they can install only the watch app. In fact, in Android Wear 2.0, phone apps are no longer necessary. You can now build and publish watch-only apps for users to discover on Google Play, according to the Android Developers blog.
“We asked developers like you what you wanted most out of Android Wear, and you told us you wanted to make it easier for users to discover apps,” said Hoi Lam, Developer Advocate. “So we ran studies with users to find out where they expected and wanted to discover apps––and they repeatedly looked for and asked for a way to discover apps right on the watch itself. Along with improvements to app discovery on the phone and web, the Play Store on the watch helps users find apps right where they need them,” he added.
Here’s how you can publish your apps on Play Store for Android Wear.
Learn more about Android Wear 2.0 Developer Preview 3.
