Android Wear, an operating system designed for a wide variety of android based smartwatches, proves to be competition for the Apple Watch. Wear currently supports several round and square faced devices, which means there is plenty of choice in style. One of the front running devices supporting Android Wear, the Moto 360 by Motorola, has already released a second generation.

Android Wear is not only the operating system the watch itself runs on, it is an app that connects the device to the phone. The app acts as a bridge for notifications such as texts, phone calls, emails and any other notification a phone can receive. This means that a text is easily readable on your wrist, and replying is made easy with voice commands and quick responses.

In addition, the Android Wear app supports watch settings, such as disabling or enabling the tilt to wake watch screen function. It also allows for easy information about the watch, and allows you to customize everything on a much larger screen. From the app, you can change a watch face, try out various watch notifications and block specific app notifications from showing on your wrist. Watch faces are easily downloadable from the Google Play Store, and with hundreds to choose from, personalization is endless.

Watch faces and other apps are downloaded to your phone storage and then the watch itself through Bluetooth connection. Android Wear also supports connection through Wi-Fi, so the watch can establish its own connection.

Wear also comes with a small amount of preinstalled apps, and most apps that come with an Android phone already have Wear support. Google Maps, for example, allows you to get directions from your watch while walking or driving without always having your phone lit. Various built in apps make it easy to keep a schedule, take notes, record audio, set an alarm or time, and view the weather. There is even a find my phone app that rings a misplaced phone, and vice versa for the watch.

Where Android shines, as always, is in its third party apps. Android Wear supports a multitude of watch faces, with most supporting even further customization, such as color, date format and many others. Some watch faces are completely customizable to the point where the same watch face can become completely unrecognizable compared to the other. These changes are made easy through the Android Wear interface on the phone the watch is paired to.

In terms of apps, Android Wear is quickly catching on. Many apps already have Wear support built in. For example, Pandora, a third party radio app, launches an on screen menu when the app is opened on the phone. This menu allows for complete control of the app without even removing the phone from the user’s pocket. In addition, Google Now, Android’s voice assistant, is nearly full featured on Wear. Other third party apps such as a different quick response option, Wear Calculator and Hold the Wheel, an app that can silence the watch while driving, are also available.

Consumers who are familiar with the interface on their Android phone will have no problem navigating the watch system. A simple swipe down brings convenient things like phone and watch volume, brightness boost and theatre mode (which keeps the screen off unless awoken by a button), are all available. Swiping from the bottom allows you to scroll through your phone’s notifications, and swiping on a card brings up options and controls. Swiping right for an app drawer of the watch’s installed apps, and swiping right again for frequent contacts, and right once more for Google Now. Just like Android phones, you can use Google to call, text, get weather and much more.

Whether someone uses Android Wear as an interesting conversation piece or a utility, it’s sure to turn heads and improve your Android experience. Android Wear is additionally available for IOS products, which means Apple users will be able to enjoy wearable technology with no trouble. As time goes on, smart watches are bound to become more popular. They make things easier, more fun and more interesting.