Google Beefs Up Smartphone Software Before Apple Watch Debut

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Google Inc. is fortifying its software for smartwatches, just days before the Apple Watch goes on sale.

One new feature of Android Wear will be the ability to bring up information with a flick of the wrist, just like Apple Inc.’s new gadget. Google is also touting a new tool that lets users draw and send emojis, as well as an option to keep an application running all the time (for navigation or grocery shopping, for example). Another key update: Android-powered watches will be able to power some apps without being near a paired smartphone, unlike the iPhone-tethered Apple Watch.