Up close with Google's new Android Wear 2.0 update

Google just showed off the biggest update yet to its smartwatch platform.

Android Wear 2.0, previewed during the company's I/O developer conference, adds standalone apps, more customizable watch faces and new ways of inputting text. Though the update won't be widely available for some time, it's already clear it will be its most important to date.

One of the most immediately noticeable changes is the new darker color scheme, which is present throughout the user interface — the redesigned notifications, settings shade and app launcher all take advantage of the darker theme, which makes the whole watch look much sleeker. (It also helps reduce that glaring blue light many watches emit in dark rooms .) Read more...