Following Google’s Pixel 2 launch event on Wednesday, the tech giant introduced a number of visual changes to the online Google Store where its new products are currently available for pre-orders but it now appears that the company also removed the Android Wear section from the platform without any notice. The Android Wear page can still be accessed with a direct URL, however, it is no longer linked on the storefront and the page no longer contains any items available for purchase. Instead, devices like the LG Watch Style are now labeled as ‘no longer available’ with no additional information regarding new stock or future Android Wear devices being provided.
Google hasn’t mentioned the Android Wear platform at all during the Pixel 2 event and it didn’t reveal any details as to why this category of products was removed from the store. Having said that, the story moving forward may go in one of two ways: either Google will add a reworked Android Wear section again at a later date, or the company may have decided that it’s time to stop promoting the various third-party Android Wear-powered smartwatches previously showcased on its virtual shelves. It could also be that Google is no longer as invested in making Android Wear one of its main product platforms as before and instead, the company might focus on other types of devices and services. That’s not to say that the Android Wear platform is no longer supported as the beta version of Android Wear Oreo was released for the LG Watch Sport just earlier this week, introducing a handful of new features including notification channels and optional background app activity limitations. All things considered, the development of Android Wear continues and not much seems to have changed in this regard.
The first version of Android Wear was released in 2014 and the platform was updated to version 2.0 based on Android Nougat earlier this year, introducing a reworked user interface based on Google’s Material Design, support for standalone applications through a dedicated Google Play Store app, built-in keyboard and handwriting recognition capabilities, and other improvements. Numerous smartwatch manufacturers have updated their previous wearables to Android Wear 2.0 since February and others should follow suit in the near future, though it remains to be seen whether the Mountain View-based tech giant continues promoting such offerings through its own online store.