There are quite a few complaints that although Android Wear improves the overall smartwatch experience, it has a long way to go before it can offer some more practical uses. While we do agree for the most part, we have some qualms with this way of thinking. We’ll shed some more light on that when our first two Android Wear device reviews drop later this week. On the way are reviews of the LG G Watch and Samsung Gear Live. Better late than never, right?
Moving on.
Where Android Wear really shines is the private development sector. That is, Google introduced third party app support for smartwatches that allows developers to create their own software offerings for the entire Android smartwatch lineup. The app offering is still a bit behind in terms of what you can do with your smartwatch, but one app in particular shines above the rest. The reason being that it opens up your device and offers a lot of potential in terms of what you can do with it.
Introducing Wearable Widgets
Currently, there are only a handful of apps supported by the Android Wear platform. This has left a bad taste in the mouths of early adopters who are concerned the selection may never pick up. In order to get apps on the platform, developers will have to tweak their existing Android compatible apps. As of yet, few devs have taken the liberty to do that.
Don’t be disheartened by that however. An app called Wearable Widgets almost single-handedly eliminates that problem by making thousands of existing Android widgets available on Android Wear smartwatches.
Previously, Wearable Widgets accomplished the same thing on smartwatches like the Sony SmartWatch and Samsung Galaxy Gear. There’s even a version of the app for Google Glass. Now, it’s come to the Android Wear platform and those who own a compatible smartwatch should rejoice.
How it operates is pretty simple and straightforward. You install Wearable Widgets on your smartphone, which is hopefully already paired with your smartwatch. It works as a companion app, transmitting the necessary data to the watch essentially allowing you to use any widget on your wrist. You can pick and choose which of your phone widgets you want visible on your watch.
It does have limitations, of course. For example, if you leave your phone behind any widgets on your watch will remain stagnant. If they require an active internet connection it just means they won’t be updated until you’re paired up with your phone again. So basically, you can’t check the weather without your phone nearby. Then again, the same thing holds true for most apps and offerings on smartwatches as a whole – unless you have a standalone device like the Neptune Pine.
Technically, the widgets sent to the phone act as an additional watchface. The problem with it is that Google hasn’t yet made that particular API available, although that should be remedied soon.
Why is Wearable Widgets so Noteworthy?
With this app installed – and a paired smartphone – you can essentially add any widget your heart desires to your watch. In short, that means you can add weather, messaging, social, games and tons more apps to your Android Wear smartwatch. That’s a hell of a lot more support than previously offered through the stock setup. You might as well pickup Wearable Widgets for your phone and watch as soon as possible. Seriously, you’re missing out bigtime if you don’t.
Via: Wearable Widgets