Google launches Android Wear Beta based on Android Oreo, LG Watch Sport gets it first

Lo and behold! Many smartwatch makers have barely managed to update their wearable devices to the latest version of Android Wear and Google is already kicking off a beta program for the next iteration of the OS.

The Mountain View company has just announced it has launched the beta of the next Android Wear update, and the first smartwatch to get it will be the LG Watch Sport.



Those who own the LG Watch Sport can enroll in the beta program via a dedicated website. After they sign up, they should receive a factory image directly on their smartwatch.

In fact, even those who don't use an LG Watch Sport can start testing the beta of the next Android Wear OS by downloading the factory image and use the Android emulator instead of the smartwatch.

This first beta build will allow users to choose the types of notifications they receive via an app through notification channels. Also, Google introduced increased restrictions on background services. Basically, services will no longer run in the background without a visible notification.

Additional Android Wear beta builds based on Android Oreo may follow in the coming months, and some of them may be compatible with other smartwatches, but for the time being, the LG Watch Sport is the only one that gets it.