Hidden in the latest Android Wear update announced today is a long awaited feature for LG G Watch R owners: Wi-Fi connectivity.
The previous update to Android Wear, launched in April, brought Wi-Fi connectivity to a broad range of watches including the original Samsung Gear Live. The feature however was not rolled out to the G Watch R, instead leaving the newly released (and more expensive) G Watch Urbane as the only LG Android Wear watch with Wi-Fi connectivity. LG advised the watch would be updated and today, that day has come.
Hidden in the Android Wear update blog on the Android Developers site is the announcement:
Wi-Fi added to LG G Watch R
This release also brings Wi-Fi support to the LG G Watch R. Wi-Fi support is already available in many Android Wear watches and allows the watch to communicate with the companion phone without requiring a direct Bluetooth connection. So, you can leave your phone at home, and as long as you have Wi-Fi, you can use your watch to receive notifications, send messages, make notes, or ask Google a question.
The update should begin arriving in the near future, though Google has listed a time-frame of ‘in the coming weeks’ so it may take a while to get all the watches up to date.
