NEWS
NEWS
NEWS
Android Wear 5.1.1 update available for all devices, Wi-Fi support for older models
Announced last month, the biggest update to Android Wear since its launch last year has started rolling out to older Android Wear smartwatches. Previously only available on the newly launched LG Watch Urbane, Android Wear 5.1.1 will roll out to all devices in “the comings days and weeks,” according to a post on the official Google product forum for Android Wear.
The Android Wear 5.1.1 update started rolling out to Asus ZenWatch last week, according to 9to5Google and, according to Android Police, LG G Watch and G Watch R devices started receiving the update on Tuesday.
Android Wear 5.1.1 is a significant update of Google’s smartwatch operating system and making it available to older Android Wear devices is ostensibly a move to bolster Google’s position against competition from rivals Samsung and Apple.
New features in Android Wear 5.1.1
Android Wear 5.1.1 includes a host of new features including extending the always-on screen function to include always-on apps, keeping apps available for as long as they are needed, even in low-power mode.
There is a new ‘draw emoji’ function to allow users to respond to messages by drawing the appropriate emoji on-screen and a new app launcher and the ability to switch between Android Wear cards with the flick of a wrist.
With the update installed, the Android Wear companion app will allow users to connect more than one Android Wear smartwatch at a time, making it possible to switch between watches for different occasions.
Users can now also adjust the font size and auto-lock the watch screen when you’re not wearing it or it loses the connection to your phone.
Activate the Wi-Fi chip in your Android Wear smartwatch
Perhaps the most significant new feature available with the update is that Android Wear 5.1.1 activates previously unused Wi-Fi chips in certain older models.
This will allow you to use your Android Wear smartwatch without your smartphone nearby. All that is required is that both devices are connected to a Wi-Fi network.
According to Google, the Wi-Fi chip in the LG Watch Urbane, Moto 360, Sony Smartwatch 3, and Samsung Gear Live are all compatible with Wi-Fi support in Android Wear 5.1.1.
Below are Google’s instructions for updating you Android Wear smartwatch to Android Wear 5.1.1:
To enjoy Wi-Fi support, make sure it is enabled in your Android Wear companion app:
- Open Android Wear app on your phone
- Go to Settings (gear icon in upper-right corner)
- Tap on Cloud sync
- Turn on
In order for you to receive this update on your watch, please make sure you have the latest version of the Android Wear app on your phone, by opening the Play Store, searching for “Android Wear”, and opening the app’s Play Store page. If an [Update] button is visible, make sure to update the app.
Image via LG
Since you’re here …
… We’d like to tell you about our mission and how you can help us fulfill it. SiliconANGLE Media Inc.’s business model is based on the intrinsic value of the content, not advertising. Unlike many online publications, we don’t have a paywall or run banner advertising, because we want to keep our journalism open, without influence or the need to chase traffic.The journalism, reporting and commentary on SiliconANGLE — along with live, unscripted video from our Silicon Valley studio and globe-trotting video teams at theCUBE — take a lot of hard work, time and money. Keeping the quality high requires the support of sponsors who are aligned with our vision of ad-free journalism content.
If you like the reporting, video interviews and other ad-free content here, please take a moment to check out a sample of the video content supported by our sponsors, tweet your support, and keep coming back to SiliconANGLE.
