11 things we know about the new smartwatch OS from Google and Samsung – The Verge

Yesterday brought the momentous news that Google and Samsung will merge together their Wear OS and Tizen-based smartwatch platforms into a single operating system. The new software is currently being referred to as Wear, but that name could change as we get closer to the first devices that will ship with it.

The unified platform is intended to give Android smartwatches a huge boost and much simpler strategy. It will also allow developers to create apps and widgets for a single OS instead of splitting their efforts between Wear OS and Tizen. A lot of this is spelled out in more detail in the below video, but lets also focus on the big highlights.

Speed and responsiveness were one of the major talking points when Google and Samsung made this announcement during the I/O 2021 keynote. The companies are claiming that apps open up to 30 percent faster than they currently do on Wear OS. Google also promises smooth user interface animations and motion, which hasnt always been a strength of Wear OS.

Samsungs smartwatches were already routinely outlasting Wear OS products, so this doesnt come as a surprise. The company is lending Google some hardware expertise to ensure better stamina. Samsung implemented our best technology to provide optimized performances, and advanced sensor batching and low power display technology to ensure an efficient and long-lasting battery, Samsungs Janghyun Yoon wrote after Tuesdays news. Googles Bjorn Kilburn said customers can expect handy optimizations like the ability to run the heart rate sensor continuously during the day, track your sleep overnight and still have battery for the next day.

Samsung has confirmed that its next smartwatch and all others in the pipeline will run the unified Wear platform. But the company made sure to note that it will bring over some of its popular hardware elements, like the rotating bezel mechanism.

In a report from Wired, we learned that there are plans for a Google Maps app on Wear that features a new user interface that will also work even if your phone is not with you. That hints at cellular data support on the new unified platform.

Spotify already allows owners of Samsung smartwatches to download songs for offline listening, and now that same convenience will be extended to Wear. Thats one thing Spotify for the Apple Watch still doesnt do.

Google also confirmed that YouTube Music will be available on Wear. Like Spotify, itll include full support for offline listening.

Having completed its acquisition of Fitbit at the start of this year, Google will now integrate some of the brands health and activity tracking features into Wear. Future premium Fitbit wearables will also run the unified platform.

Google tried to emphasize on Tuesday that this platform isnt just intended for itself and Samsung. All device makers will be able to add a customized user experience on top of the platform, Kilburn said. Thats going to prove important if Google wants to keep companies like Garmin on board with the new platform. And we cant forget about the many traditional watchmakers Fossil, Citizen, TAG Heuer, and others that have gotten behind Wear OS in recent years in the absence of a flagship smartwatch from Google.

Wears apps will use the latest Android development techniques like Jetpack and Kotlin to help reach the best possible performance. Google is also promising to make life easier for app makers with new APIs that cover Tiles, health services, watchfaces, complications, and more. And an activity indicator will show when certain functions are running in the background.

There arent any firm promises yet, but Google at least didnt outright say existing products wont be updated to the new OS. The company told 9to5Google, we will have more updates to share on timelines once the new version launches later this year.

Samsung will not be updating its Galaxy Watch line to Wear, but says it has no intention of leaving its current customers in the dust once it starts releasing Wear hardware. For customers who already own the Tizen OS based Galaxy smartwatches, we are continuing to provide at least three years of software support after the product launch, the company said Tuesday. However, it seems plausible there will be more than a few features and new Wear tricks that will never make their way to older Galaxy smartwatches.

Some people out there really care about having a good watchface selection on a pricey smartwatch. Google and Samsung are promising a wide mix of styles, and Samsung told Wired its design tool and many of the companys own signature watchfaces will be available on Wear.

Google and Samsung shared a decent chunk of information on day one, but were still left without answers to a few important questions. We should learn more details over the summer as we head into fall hardware season.

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11 things we know about the new smartwatch OS from Google and Samsung - The Verge