Android Wear have announced that the official Watch Face API is available for developers. They are also rolling out a completely new section to the Play Store, as well as various other improvements. The latest release of Android Wear based on Android 5.0 and implementing API 21, will roll out to users over the next week. Updates to Android 5.0 will happen for all devices via over-the-air updates (OTA).

The main feature of the release is the variety of new watch faces that will be available. Google Inc. collaborated with a variety of brands, designers and artists and have launched with an impressive selection. There is a broad range to choose from; some are just plain beautiful like the version from X-ray artist Hugh Turvey or the version from fashion designer Rebecca Minkoff, while others are more functional, like the version from cycling company, Specialized, which provides important information like  current weather, sun rise and sun set times, and cyclist’s current speed. There are also versions that are just fun, like the Pac-Man version or the Despicable Me version with the minions. You will be able to download any of the new watch faces on the Play Store, just like any other Android app.

Using the Watch Face API, developers are able to integrate a variety of features like weather, altitude, data from sensors on the watch or the phone, calendar data, or data coming from a specific app. For an overview of how to get started, developers can watch the quick overview video below.

Other enhancements on the watch include an undo option. If you accidentally remove a card, you will have five seconds to undo the action and get it back. There are also two new modes: Sunlight mode, which will temporarily boost the brightness of your watch if you are suddenly in bright sunshine and Theater mode, which does the opposite and will completely black out the screen and mute all incoming notifications.

The top-down swipe gesture has also been revamped by Google to include a variety of quick settings including the Sunshine and Theater modes.

This is possibly the biggest update to Android Wear so far, which comes just a few months before the Apple Watch is due to hit the market. The competition is likely to be as stiff as normal between the two brands.