The retailer updated its app to better serve wrist-shoppers

The Apple Watch, which will be unleashed on the world in early 2015, may be the wearable du jour—but tech’s other big leaguers aren’t exactly conceding defeat when it comes to shilling covetable smartwatches.

To wit, Google’s line of smartwatches, Android Wear, officially kicked off the wrist-top shopping era—with a little help from Amazon.

On Tuesday, Amazon—purveyor of books, rubber-band balls, $300 face serums, and everything in between—updated its Android app to include features that work specifically with Android Wear watches.

A Moto 360 smartwatch designed for Google’s Android Wear—and (presumably) high-speed biking

Users simply need to update the app on their smartphones to start using the app-to-watch features. And once they have the watch Bluetoothed to their phone, firing up those features is as easy as saying “Okay, Google” to launch voice commands, then “Start Amazon.” 

Users search for items with their voices, and the watch comes up with a list of results, which they scroll by swiping. Once an item is chosen, users can buy it directly from the watch—with a single tap—or move the transaction to their phone by hitting an “Open on Phone” tab. 

No word yet if Amazon will update its iOS (Apple) app for easier Amazon-ing on the Apple Watch. But then, this appears to be an alliance erected to temper Apple Fever. 

Emili Vesilind

JCK Senior Editor