Android Wear App Section Launched Alongside Google Play Services 5.0 Update

Google has started rolling out its Google Play Services 5.0 update to all Android devices worldwide. The latest update bumps the version up from 4.4 to 5.0, and brings Android wearable services APIs and more. The Google Play Services 5.0 update is focused on developers and was announced at Google's I/O 2014.

The search giant announced the update via its Android Developers blog, and said, "Google Play services 5.0 is now rolled out to devices worldwide, and it includes a number of features you can use to improve your apps. This release introduces Android wearable services APIs, Dynamic Security Provider and App Indexing, whilst also including updates to the Google Play game services, Cast, Drive, Wallet, Analytics, and Mobile Ads."

There's no doubt that the Google Play Services 5.0 deals with the company's much touted Android Wear platform and brings a set of APIs to allow developers easily connect to apps running on wearable devices running Android. Google notes, "The APIs provide an automatically synchronized, persistent data store and a low-latency messaging interface that let you sync data, exchange control messages, and transfer assets."

Other additions include dynamic security provider, which offers an API that apps can use to install a security provider; Google Play game services now come with a new set of APIs called Quests; App Indexing API; Google Cast SDK brings media tracks that introduce closed caption support for Chromecast; updated Google Drive API, and Google Wallet now comes with a new "Save to Wallet" button with support for offers. Enhanced analytics and a new (default) implementation for purchases using the Google Play in-app billing service in Mobile Ads was also added.

In addition, Google also announced a dedicated section in the Google Play for Android Wear apps. Google Developers said on Twitter, "Apps for Android Wear launching today! A collection of apps for Android Wear is now available on Google Play."

The 'Apps for Android Wear' section in the Google Play comes with apps from Google such as an official Android Wear companion app for Android devices, Google Maps, and Hangouts.

The Android Wear companion app for Android lets users manage their Android Wear device from their Android smartphone. It also provides options for voice commands, notifications, and more. Some of the third party apps in the new section include Banjo, Pinterest and Duolingo among others.