Android Wear users can now download a new launcher that makes it easier to invoke apps using their wearables. Wear Mini Launcher shows the apps in a smartphone-style menu screen on the wearable device that can be used to launch apps by simply tapping the respective icons.
The Wear Mini Launcher created by Nicolas POMEPUY can be invoked with a simple swipe from the top-left corner, eliminating the need to issue a voice-command each time to launch an app on Android Wear-based devices.
"It's often a pain to open an app on your wear device. You have to remember its name of scroll through different lists to find and launch it. Wear Mini Launcher is designed to allow you to launch any app from anywhere. You have to own a wear device to use this app. This is a first release, so don't hesitate to mail me if you have a suggestion or you find a bug," states the app listing on Google Play.
The app released on Sunday and has already received four updates. The first update (1.01) comes with minor bug fixes and an option to enable the app from the handset device. The second update (1.0.2) fixed a Samsung Gear Live (https://www.gadgets360.com/tags/samsung-gear-live) bug. The third (1.0.3) and fourth (1.0.4) added some feedback options, quick settings for brightness and fixes for some app installation issue.
Sized at 2.7MB, the Wear Mini Launcher app is available as a free download from Google Play.
There has been a lot of activity on new apps and optimisations for Android Wear ever since Google officially launched first devices based on the platform at its developers conference.
Last week, Google pushed out an update to its stock Google Camera app, adding remote shutter control for Android Wear devices, which allows users to invoke the camera of their Android smartphone or tablet via their smartwatch or other Android Wear devices.
Earlier this month, Truecaller also unveiled its own Android Wear app with Live Caller ID feature and Spam Blocking feature.
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