Google rolls out Android Wear Wi-Fi support and artfully burns Apple

In what may well be an offensive move, Google has added Wi-Fi support to Android Wear.

In an official blog post, the company artfully opened with a quote from architect William Morris who once said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

In other words, the company is ready and willing to prove why its Android Wear smartwatches are the most streamlined and convenient devices on the market. This play puts Google on more competitive footing against Apple, whose Apple Watch was enabled with Wi-Fi capabilities right out the gate.

The largest difference between the two now comes down to the fact that an Android Wear smartwatch can be connected to a Wi-Fi network far away (we’re talking thousands of miles) from the one its paired smartphone is connected to. In stark comparison, the Apple Watch and the iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network, which is far more limiting.

Google also announced the expansion of its “always-on screen” to its apps, meaning an app will stay visible as long as you need it, “instead of disappearing when you drop your arm.” (How’s that burn feel, Apple?)

These updates, along with a handful of others, will be rolled out to all seven Android Wear watches over the next few weeks, beginning with the LG Watch Urbane.

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