Google delays final Android Wear 2.0 update to early 2017

Google officially released the third developer preview of Android Wear 2.0 yesterday. At the moment, images for the LG Watch Urbane 2nd edition and the Huawei Watch are available for download from Google servers. The major new feature of the third developer preview is Google Play Store support directly on the Watch, allowing users to use the watch more independently from the smartphone. However, introducing a third developer preview into the program also means that the final version, which was supposed to be unveiled this fall will be late and won't be released this year anymore. Instead Google will prolong the beta program by introducing a fourth preview later this year.

The original plan, which Google presented during Google I/O this year, mentioned a final release of Android Wear 2.0 this fall. The delay may be the reason why rumors abound that major smartwatch manufacturers have halted development of Android Wear watches and won't introduce new models this year. Also Google's own smartwatch that was rumored to be released later this year will probably not see the light of day during Google's big hardware event on October 4th. Instead, it too, might be delayed to early 2017.

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