Finally providing us a hands-on look at what the software will be like for users, the new Wear OS is here. Google initially kept coy about which modern smartphones would receive the update. But it did provide some information about what to anticipate from the upcoming iteration of its wearables platform during the Google IO keynote on May 18 and in the months that followed.
The biggest thing that is offered is definitely better battery life. But this is not Google’s only significant advancement. Additionally, customers may anticipate improved performance, a few new features, and an all-around improved experience.
Since the release of Samsung’s new watch, this guide will explain everything there is to know about the new Wear OS platform. We’ll frequently update this post as new information becomes available.
Advertisement A UNIFIED PLATFORM IS THE NEW WEAR OS. If you weren’t able to catch the keynote address at Google IO earlier this year, you can watch a roughly 9-minute summary of the highlights here. However, if you missed the keynote, you might not have known that Google is integrating Wear OS with Samsung’s customization of the software. Although the user interface is referred to as One UI Watch 3, the software’s official name is Wear OS 3.
Users benefit from having the best of both worlds with Google’s wristwatch OS at the helm and Samsung’s user interface layer on top. Google’s extensive library of wristwatch applications and Samsung’s more enjoyable user interface
There aren’t many details about what the new unified platform will offer just yet, but Google has made several points. One UI Watch and Wear OS each offer advantages. That’s precisely what Google and Samsung are attempting to provide. As a result, voice-activated, hands-free devices like Google Assistant and Bixby will be available.
Advertisement While other services, such as Google Maps and Google Pay, are now available for the first time on Samsung’s smartwatches since the Samsung Gear Live.
THE NEW PLATFORM IS OFFICIALLY Called Wear OS 3 by Google. Wear OS 3 is the official name for the software, according to a recent support forum post from Google on the new Wear OS platform. This applies to all watches that are qualified for the software upgrade as well as those that will ship with it pre-installed.
Given that Google and Samsung were creating a new unified platform, it stands to reason that a new name would accompany it. Google, however, has decided to stick with the Wear OS moniker and merely add the new version number.
Advertisement NEW APPS AND TILES WILL BE AVAILABLE
Wear OS 3 will suit your needs if you enjoy using third-party apps on your smartwatches. Even some of the apps and tiles that will be offered once the new OS version is released have been disclosed by Google.
This applies to Google Pay for the apps, Google Maps, and YouTube Music. The picture above contains some screenshots of how these programs seem. Spotify to Google Pay.
In addition to updating the apps, Google is also redesigning many of its most well-liked Tiles. For example, the weather, the alarm clock, the timer for washing your hands, Google News, and Google Calendar are just a few. Additionally, Fitbit’s Active Zone Minutes feature will get its own unique Tile.
Advertisement You may anticipate Tiles in other apps as well. similar to Strava, Spotify, and others. As soon as the new Wear OS is released, Google will make the new Tiles API available to developers from other companies.
The only partners for the new Wear OS platform are Samsung and Fitbit. SO FAR It’s likely that Google will eventually add more partners to this new platform. But it’s just getting started. With Samsung, which is an obvious pick, and Fitbit, which it owns. Given the preference for Samsung’s wearables platform over Wear OS at the moment.
The new software is being used for the first time by Samsung. because it was developed in collaboration with Google. The only smartwatches running Wear OS 3 right now are the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic. Even so, some watches that are now in use will receive an update in 2022.
Advertisement DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE SPOTIFY APP. When this feature becomes available, you will be able to download both music and podcasts to the watch. In other words, you can leave your phone at home and use a pair of Bluetooth earbuds or headphones instead. That way, even if the watch isn’t connected to the internet, you can still take advantage of everything Spotify has to offer.
BETTER PERFORMANCE, LONGER BATTERY LIFE, AND SPEEDIER APP LOAD TIMES For practically the entirety of its existence, Wear OS has struggled with performance and battery life. These two regions have consistently been lacking ever since it has been accessible to consumers. In Google’s opinion.
Therefore, the new Wear OS corrects this with improved performance and battery life. This was the pledge made at Google’s IO announcement this year, and largely, Google has kept its word. The company claims that apps load more quickly as well. Therefore, the total user experience should be more effective and satisfying for the majority of users. That was primarily the case in our experience.
Advertisement More importantly, however, is the fact that you won’t need to charge the watch for more than a day’s worth of use. With Wear OS 2, however, you’d be lucky to make it through the day.
THE KEY IS CONVENIENCE With the new Wear OS, using your favorite apps and getting things done are both incredibly simple. The option to quickly switch between your most recently used apps is one of the new features.
No less, from anywhere on the watch. You may therefore quickly return to maps if that’s the last program you used, no matter what screen you’re on.
Advertisement THE NEW WEAR OS PROVIDES HEALTH AND FITNESS FEATURES OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY The new Wear OS will be even more focused on health and fitness than ever before with Fitbit on board. Fitbit’s app on the platform will include features like Active Zone Minutes.
On-wrist festivities will also be a part of it to keep you inspired. Additionally, you’ll be able to quickly and easily monitor your progress throughout the day. The software will probably provide additional functionality as well.
Wear 3100/4100 chips, according to Qualcomm, can support the new software. The new software may technically be supported by smartwatches powered by Qualcomm’s two newest chipsets, the company said back on June 17.
claiming that the Wear 3100 and Wear 4100 chips can do this. Additionally, it stated that it would do everything in its power to see to it that these chips’ connected devices receive the update.
Google is not always as dedicated to providing support for older devices, though. The user experience is the company’s main focus, according to a statement. And it doesn’t sure whether those older CPUs can deliver the kind of user experience it wants to offer.
Some manufacturers, including Fossil, have released statements on the subject, stating that none of their current watches will receive the upgrade. Other companies, like as Mobvoi, appear to be teasing at least the TicWatch Pro 3’s update. It would be a little odd if the watch didn’t get the latest software as it is the only Wear OS device sporting a Snapdragon Wear 4100 CPU.
The first device on this new platform is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 (ad alt=”Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 76″>).
Back in July, Samsung unveiled a few of the new platforms it is developing with Google. The One UI Watch 3 is the official name of the new user interface. This wasn’t the official term for the user experience until the launch of the Galaxy Watch 4, as Samsung simply called it the One UI Watch experience.
The new experience was first introduced by the business on July 23 at its online Mobile World Congress event. Noting that the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, the company’s then-upcoming smartwatches, would be the first devices to run this new software.
This implies that, after Samsung’s most recent Wear OS smartwatch, which only recently hit the market, no other Wear OS smartwatches will feature this software for a while. In reality, Google acknowledged that Wear OS3 will only be available on Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 4 until the latter half of 2022. For the greater part of a year, this will be the only Wear OS 3 watch available.
In the middle to second half of 2022, Google anticipates starting to provide upgrades to supported devices.
The Galaxy Watch 4 does not come with Google Assistant or YouTube Music at launch. Samsung confirmed that the Galaxy Watch 4 would not have access to either Google Assistant or YouTube Music at launch after the Galaxy Watch 4’s introduction. Google Pay is also not present. Though someday it will these.
To get these services up and running on the new watch, Samsung claims to be working closely with Google. Users will still have access to Samsung’s own virtual assistant, Bixby, in the interim. Notable is that, if you own a Galaxy Watch 4, YouTube Music is now accessible on Wear OS. Having been released back on or about August 27.
ARE THERE ANY CURRENT SMARTWATCHES THAT COULD BE UPGRADED TO THE NEW SOFTWARE? Three current smartwatches have been identified as being capable of receiving the Wear OS 3 update. This comprises the TicWatch E3, TicWatch Pro 3 GPS, and TicWatch Pro 3 Cellular/LTE.
Google also affirms that TicWatch successors and the planned smartwatches from Fossil Group later this year will be eligible for the Wear OS 3 upgrade.
UPGRADE ELIGIBLE DEVICES WILL REQUIRE A FACTORY RESET Google has confirmed which watches are compatible with the new software and added that all compatible devices require a factory reset. The eligible watches will need to return to the state they were in when users first received the devices, according to the support forum post that revealed the Wear OS 3 name. This denotes factory defaults.
Google justifies the need for a factory reset by pointing to the software updates.
