In the week the Apple Watch goes on sale, Google has announced a major update to the Android Wear software that runs on its own range of smartwatches.
The technology giant confirmed that the new LG Watch Urbane, which goes on sale on April 27, will be the first Android Wear smartwatch to carry the updates - which include a new hands-free setting, where users can flick their wrist outwards to dismiss a notification.
Wifi support has also been added, meaning that as long as an Android Wear smartwatch is connected to a wifi network and a user's phone has a data connection, notifications can be received on the watch without the two needing to be directly connected.
"Architect and artist William Morris once said, 'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful'. Turns out that's also good advice for deciding what to wear," Android Wear's director of engineering, David Singleton, said in a blog post on Monday.
"Over the past few months, we've added lots of ways to express your style - from custom watch faces to a rainbow of bands. Today we're making Android Wear more helpful as well - getting you what you need, right on your wrist."
Android-powered smartwatches have been available for some time, with Samsung first launching the Galaxy Gear in 2013. However the biggest competition is set to come from the new Apple Watch, which goes on sale on Friday.
Some analysts are forecasting that Apple has already had more than two million pre-orders for its first wearable device, which is available in three collections and ranges from STG299 ($A572) to more than STG13,000.
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