Tag: Wear OS 6

  • Save Money and Boost Training with New Pixel Smartwatch Feature

    Save Money and Boost Training with New Pixel Smartwatch Feature

    Key Takeaways

    1. Wear OS 6 update for Pixel Watch introduces new features and tweaks.
    2. The update adds optical heart rate tracking capabilities to the Pixel Watch 2.
    3. The watch can now transmit heart rate data to other devices, functioning as an external monitor.
    4. This feature may reduce the need for users to buy separate heart rate monitors.
    5. It allows users to avoid using built-in heart rate sensors on gym equipment, improving workout comfort.

    We just talked about the Wear OS 6 update for the Pixel Watch, which brings a bunch of new features and some tweaks. However, Google hasn’t focused on all the new capabilities equally. Interestingly, this update adds a feature typically found in more expensive smartwatches to the Google Pixel Watch 2. This feature is related to optical heart rate tracking.

    Heart Rate Measurement Capabilities

    This isn’t directly about how accurate the heart rate readings are, but more about how the data collected by the optical sensors is used. As stated in a piece by Zakwan Oebit, the Google Pixel Watch 2 can now transmit heart rate data to another device. In this way, the Pixel Watch acts like an external heart rate monitor.

    Potential Benefits for Users

    While this feature might not matter to everyone, it could save some users money in certain cases. For instance, it means you might not need to buy a separate heart rate monitor. Additionally, this may help users avoid using the built-in heart rate measuring on gym equipment like treadmills, where you often need to grip electrodes, which can disrupt your running posture.

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  • Google Pixel Watch 2 & 3: Wear OS 6 Update, Battery and Design Upgrades

    Google Pixel Watch 2 & 3: Wear OS 6 Update, Battery and Design Upgrades

    Key Takeaways

    1. Wear OS 6 rollout for Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 has started and will be completed by the end of October.
    2. The first-generation Pixel Watch will receive the update later.
    3. To update, watches must have at least a 50% charge and be connected to a charger; users can manually start the update in settings.
    4. New features include customizable accent colors, redesigned UI components, and optimizations for improved battery life by up to 10%.
    5. Wear OS 6 enhances Google Maps navigation by automatically taking control from the smartphone during walking or biking.

    Google has recently announced in a support document that the rollout of Wear OS 6 for the Pixel Watch 2 and Pixel Watch 3 has started. This process will happen in multiple waves, and it is expected that by the end of October, all users of these two models will have the new software. The first-generation Pixel Watch will receive this update at a later time.

    How to Update Your Watch

    You can manually start the update by tapping on the smartwatch icon multiple times in the settings under System → About. Keep in mind that the update can only be installed if the smartwatch has at least a 50% charge and is connected to a charger. The Pixel Watch 4 already comes with Wear OS 6, making it a little bit ahead of the older models, which are now finally receiving the “Material 3 Expressive” design enhancements.

    New Features and Improvements

    After the update, users will be able to customize the system’s accent color in a more detailed way. Google has also changed the shapes of many buttons and UI components, resulting in a more contemporary appearance for the user interface. Alongside a more rounded font, the update also adds new scroll bars and tile layouts. Additionally, Wear OS 6 introduces useful enhancements beyond just aesthetic changes, including optimizations that are reported to boost battery life by up to 10%.

    Wear OS 6 enables Google Maps to automatically open and take control of navigation from your smartphone when you’re using it for walking or biking. Google also points out various performance enhancements, especially regarding the navigation of the operating system and the display of incoming alerts.

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    Google Pixel Watch 2 & 3: Wear OS 6 Update, Battery and Design Upgrades

     

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  • Wear OS 6: New Features Ahead of Google Pixel Watch 4 Release

    Wear OS 6: New Features Ahead of Google Pixel Watch 4 Release

    Key Takeaways

    1. Google is not planning to launch new smartwatches for a while, following the Pixel Watch 3 release last summer.
    2. Wear OS 6 introduces a feature that automatically locks smartphones when out of range from the Pixel Watch.
    3. A new ‘Water Lock’ feature in Wear OS 6 may disable the touchscreen when water is detected, similar to features in other smartwatch OSs.
    4. Google is expected to announce the Pixel 10 models and possibly the Pixel Watch 4 on August 20.
    5. The Pixel Watch 4 is anticipated to be thicker than previous models and will support inductive charging, but full specifications are not yet available.

    Google is not planning to launch any new smartwatches for some time. Just to remind you, the Pixel Watch 3 (currently priced at $299 on Amazon) was introduced last summer alongside the Pixel 9 series in two different sizes. However, last month, the company unveiled Wear OS 6 during its yearly I/O conference.

    New Features Discovered

    Recently, 9to5Google reported that it found a new feature in Wear OS 6 that was not mentioned during the conference. Based on recent changes in the code, the site displayed a screenshot revealing that users can now lock their smartphones automatically when they are out of range from their Pixel Watch. This new option is set to enhance the existing Watch Unlock feature, which allows users to unlock their phones with their smartwatch while they are close to each other.

    Additional Updates on Wear OS 6

    In the meantime, Android Authority has stated that the Developer Preview of Wear OS 6 includes a feature called ‘Water Lock’. At the moment, the details about what this feature entails are not very clear from the code strings. Nevertheless, both Android Authority and 9to5Google suggest that Water Lock will function similarly to features found in One UI Watch and Apple watchOS, which disable the touchscreen when water is detected and then ejects the water by producing a sound from the device’s speakers.

    Upcoming Pixel Launch

    Currently, Google is expected to announce the Pixel 10 models on August 20, bringing back the Adaptive EQ feature, among other updates. Therefore, it is likely that the Pixel Watch 4 models will also be introduced on the same day, with shipping anticipated to start towards the end of August. Reports indicate that the Pixel Watch 4 will be more than 16% thicker than the existing models and will support inductive charging as well. Full specifications for the Pixel Watch 4 series are still not available at this time.

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    Wear OS 6: New Features Ahead of Google Pixel Watch 4 ReleaseWear OS 6: New Features Ahead of Google Pixel Watch 4 Release
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  • Facer Brings Thousands of Watch Faces to Wear OS 6 This Year

    Facer Brings Thousands of Watch Faces to Wear OS 6 This Year

    Key Takeaways

    1. Facer, a popular app for customizing smartwatch faces, was removed due to changes in Wear OS 5.
    2. The app will return with Wear OS 6 later this year, offering a “revitalized, more powerful” experience.
    3. Facer originally launched in 2016 and has a large library of over 500,000 watch faces.
    4. The new version will include thousands of compatible watch faces and improved syncing with mobile apps.
    5. Facer will also introduce new features, brands, and exclusive discounts at the launch.

    Those who have been using smartwatches for a while already know what Facer is but for those unaware, it was the go-to app for watch face customization. Unfortunately, it was removed from the platform due to changes brought by Wear OS 5. Now, the company has announced Facer will be returning “revitalized, more powerful” with Wear OS 6 later this year.

    A Brief History of Facer

    Facer was launched back in 2016 as a third-party app for smartwatches that brings a massive library of free and paid watch faces. It allowed users to customize their watch face outside of what the default available faces were. With the introduction of Wear OS 5 last year, watches running this OS such as Pixel Watch 3 (Buy on Amazon), Samsung Galaxy Watch7 (Buy on Amazon), and Galaxy Watch Ultra (Buy on Amazon), became incompatible with Facer due to some policy changes. Users were limited to only those watch faces built using Google’s “Watch Face Format”. To overcome this, Facer would have had to manually publish faces in the Google Play Store which was not “logistically feasible” for the massive catalog of over 500,000 faces.

    The Comeback of Facer

    Now, Facer has announced its return with the rollout of Wear OS 6 later this year. The company had been working with Google and it seems to have reached an amicable solution. “With new system-level capabilities coming in Wear OS 6, alongside innovations from Facer — the full Facer experience is set to be reintroduced — revitalized, more powerful, and better than ever,” the announcement on Medium reads.

    Exciting New Features

    Facer will bring thousands of watch faces from its catalog that are compatible with Wear OS 6 and more will be added by this fall that are compliant with Google’s new Watch Face Format. It will bring back seamless face syncing between the mobile app and the smartwatch thanks to Watch Face Push in Wear OS 6. Furthermore, Facer will also bring new features, new brands, and exclusive discounts at launch.

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  • Google Pixel Watch Updates: Fresh Design and Longer Battery Life

    Google Pixel Watch Updates: Fresh Design and Longer Battery Life

    Key Takeaways

    1. Wear OS 6 will improve performance and extend battery life by “up to” 10%.
    2. The user interface features a new Material 3 Expressive design with brighter colors and redesigned animations.
    3. Buttons are now aligned closer to the edge of the screen for better space utilization and easier interaction.
    4. Colors can be synchronized between Android 16 and Wear OS 6 for a cohesive look across devices.
    5. Google’s AI assistant Gemini will be integrated into Wear OS, supporting older versions as well.

    Together with the new Material 3 Expressive design of Android 16, Google has just also announced Wear OS 6, the next major operating system update for the Pixel Watch 6 and other selected smartwatches from third-party providers. Wear OS 6 is due to be released later this year and will improve both performance and battery life.

    Enhanced Battery Life

    Google specifically states that the update to Wear OS 6 will extend battery life by “up to” 10%. The revised design is based on Material 3 Expressive with brighter colours, more playful shapes and significantly redesigned animations. The user interface has been further optimized for the Pixel Watch 3’s round display in many places, ranging from app selection, PIN input to incoming notifications.

    Improved Button Layout

    A completely new element is the buttons that are aligned more closely to the edge of the screen so that the available space is used more effectively. This also makes it easier to touch the button for clearing all notifications. As Google demonstrates in the trailer embedded below, colors can be synchronized between Android 16 and Wear OS 6 to match the look of Pixel smartphones and Pixel Watch.

    AI Assistant Upgrade

    Another new feature is that Google’s AI assistant Gemini will also be available on Google Wear OS in future and will support Google Assistant. Gemini will also be released for older Wear OS versions so that users do not necessarily have to switch to the new operating system version to use this feature.

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    Google Pixel Watch Updates: Fresh Design and Longer Battery Life
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