14 DAY TRIAL // WhatsApp has quickly become one of the most popular apps that lets anybody with an Android / iOS smartphone or tablet keep in touch with friends and family, free of charge.
Android Wear smartwatches were released not so long ago, and in this brief period of time, their dedicated app ecosystem has seen some interesting additions. Now, WhatsApp is joining the host of applications that can be simply accessed from your wrist.
Yesterday we talked about Wikipedia, but today the spotlight is taken by the popular messaging app WhatsApp. The application just got an update that adds Android Wear support, but the feature is currently in beta.
However, you can still give it a go without many problems. The nice thing is that you’re not just able to view notifications and messages on the wearable, but you can neatly respond to texts. No smartphone activity included whatsoever.
The “Stacked Notifications” option is available, so you get to choose what message you want to respond to and what messages you reject.
The app isn't currently available for download from the Google Play Store, like you’d normally expect, but you can grab the .apk from the official WhatsApp website and sideload it on your Android Wear watch.
While this is the most important Android Wear app related story of the day, it’s not the only one. As we reported before, the Android Wear app ecosystem is extending at a fast pace.
So TuneIn Radio also added support for Android Wear today, highlighting again the developers’ willingness to jump onboard with Google to create a lofty smartwatch app environment.
TuneIn will let you tap into real radio by letting you discover, follow, and listen to your favorite sports, news, and music-related stations.
The app supports over 100,000 real radio stations and offers around four million podcasts. And this comes free of charge. So, if you’re a radio fan, you’ll certainly appreciate being able to change stations right from your wrist.
Currently, customers interested in penetrating the Android Wear ecosystem have the opportunity to pick up either the Samsung Gear Live or LG G Watch.
A third model is expected to make its way onto the market, in the form of the beautiful round Moto 360, but a plethora of others will slowly start emerging. HTC, OnePlus, and Lenovo will probably soon provide us with more Android Wear smartwatches to choose from, so keep an eye out.