A new version of Android Wear, 4.4W.2, is rolling out to watches with some extremely subtle tweaks. The new update (software KNX01Q on our LG G Watch) honestly doesn't seem to change much, but there are two user-facing features that are of note — the ability to "dismiss" the top notification from your watch face, and a new "Play Music" command. There are also a couple of back-end changes that hint at future features.
If you're familiar with Android Wear you know that unless you turn off notifications you'll always see a portion of your most recent notification showing up on the bottom of your watch face. In the latest update, you can now swipe down on that card to push it off of your watch face, meaning it won't show up again until you swipe up on the screen to reveal the full cards. It's a small change, but one that's going to make a lot of people happy who want to show off the watch as an actual watch without a notification card taking up space.
Also on the user-facing front is the ability to say "Ok Google, Play Music" — doing so will launch an "I'm Feeling Lucky" radio station on your connected phone, so long as you have Google Play Music installed, and start playing. The option to do this was technically available on the previous firmware, but it seems as though Google is ready to show it off. You can also start the Play Music command from the command list by scrolling down from the OK Google listening screen.
On the back-end side of things, we notice on our own LG G Watch that you can now pair your watch directly with Bluetooth speakers and headphones, though you can't actually do anything with the new technology. Even with connections to both a phone and speaker audio is still coming from just the phone, and considering there's no way to load audio onto the watch itself there's no way to test playback. This seems like more of a "work in progress" feature as much as anything.
The new 4.4W.2 update should be rolling out to all Android Wear users soon, so keep an eye on your watch for that system update notification.
Reader comments
Android Wear version 4.4W.2 rolling out with subtle notification tweak, building blocks for future features
f yeah!!! swipe down is gonna be awesome
Posted via the Android Central App with my Moto X G1
I've wished for this feature!
Tried a forced update and not showing on my G Watch yet in the UK
The_ape on an N9005
This update isn't for the gear 2 neo is it?
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No. The gear 2 neo does not run android wear.
Posted via Android Central App
So, useless for Moto360? I just want the ability to dismiss the Music Player notification card. Grrr...
You can swipe down on the player card so its not popped up on the watch face, though.
Well on mine it's always on. Sure, not full screen, but it's always there. Swiping down or left doesn't make it go away unless I close the music app.
These features are clearly building for the Sony Smartwatch 3 and also for on device music storage and apps.
No, these features are clearly building for all Android Wear smatchwatches like the article says.
Pretty sure the play music feature isn't new. Just checked my g watch and I'm on 4.4W.1. Voice command play some music starts an I'm feeling lucky station. Even more specific commands work like "play some Dave Matthews band" or "play Polly by nirvana" what it actually does is start a radio station with that artist or song
Wish there was a way to force those commands to use locally stored music (on the phone)...
"Play Music" has been hit or miss for me in the past. Half the time it would start the I Am Feeling Lucky radio station, and the other half of the time it would google search "play music" and show me a web page about the service.
Was very annoying, so I am glad to hear this is in the update :)
Can't get any LG software updates For UNLOCKED lg phone....
No smartwatchs for me OR a lot of other people that need updates For the watches to work.,..
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This software update is for the watch not the phone...
Did you even read what you wrote?
I got it on my LG G Watch yesterday. It's pretty nice to not have the notifications on screen all the time.
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Playing Google Play Music on my Chromecast and when I swiped right, I now see forward, back, volume up, and volume down. Much better than just the skip forward option.
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New media controls as well, with skipping and volume on one page. They also change depending on album art colour which is a nice touch.
N5-CM11s, N7-Stock
Time to spam the update option lol
You can't force it. It'll just roll out when it rolls out. Just got mine an hour ago, I tried every trick in the book until it just popped up.
I got the update last night...now I'm noticing that my LG G is losing time and doesn't pick it up until I manually go to my Nexus 5 and wake it up. Anyone else having this problem? Annoying...since at this point I mainly use it as a watch...