Google’s operating system for wearable devices was introduced just a couple of weeks ago, but a glitch is already preventing smartwatch owners from downloading a must-have – paid apps.
It’s an ignominious start for a technology that was received with great fanfare when it was unveiled at the company’s recent developer conference. Clearly, the push to get people to look at a screen on their wrists instead of their phones for all sorts of online information is still a work in progress.
The problem comes when users try to download paid apps – of which there are very few – onto their wearable devices. They are being blocked by encryption software in Google’s Android Wear operating system that keeps the apps from being pirated, as first reported by Android Police.
Watch owners are unable to transfer apps they buy from their phone to the watch via Bluetooth. As a result, users can’t properly sync their devices, causing the error.
Fortune reporter Jason Cipriani, who reviewed Android Wear, confirmed the error as of Tuesday afternoon.
It’s expected that Google (GOOG) will release a patch for Android Wear customers to download, although the company has yet to release any information about a possible solution. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The two watches available using the Android Wear operating system are the Samsung Gear Live and LG’s G Watch. They have a number of capabilities including messaging and calling along with the ability to use voice commands and play music.