Android ar’s big 5.1.1 update is arriving now on older watches

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Published 20 May 2015

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Disclosure

The biggest update to Android ar since last year’s launch no longer requires a br-new smartwatch.

Android ar 5.1.1 started rolling out to Asus Zentch owners a few days ago, is now arriving on ’s G tch G tch R, according to Android lice. A post by in the Android ar product forums says the update will roll out to all devices in “the coming days weeks.” eviously, the update was only available on ’s new tch Urbane.

Android ar 5.1.1 is a substantial reworking of ’s smartwatch software. It makes apps contacts much easier to access without voice comms, it lets apps use the same “always-on” mode as watch faces, so users can glance at things like to-do lists maps in a low-power mode. For messaging, users can draw emoji instead of using voice or picking from canned responses. The update also includes adjustable font sizes, an optional lock screen for when the watch loses its phone connection, wrist gestures for flicking through the notification list.

For some smartwatches, the update will activate previously-dormant -Fi chips, letting the watch sync with a smartphone over the Internet even when the devices aren’t connected by Bluetooth. says this feature will work on the tch Urbane, Moto 360, Sony Smartwatch 3, Samsung Gear ve. ile ’s G tch R also has a -Fi chip, it’s not being enabled in this update for some reason.

To get Android ar 5.1.1, users should make sure the Android ar companion app is up to date in the ay Store.

y this matters: though announced the update last month, at the time it wasn’t clear when existing Android ar users would get it. The wait appears to be over for the most part— just in time to make ar a more formidable competitor to the Apple tch bble e.