Wearable devices like smart watches and fitness trackers are taking the world of consumer electronics by storm. Whether you want to stay connected with easy-to-access notifications or count your steps and monitor your heart rate, there’s a smartwatch for you, and chances are it’s running Wear OS (formerly Android Wear), the “wearable” operating system. of Google.
Apple, of course, has the Apple Watch (don’t call it iWatch), and Windows Mobile has a handful of devices, but for now, at least, Android has this market cornered. (Plus, you can pair Wear OS devices with the iPhone, so that’s it.) There are also plenty of Wear OS apps to go along with the device of your choice. We are going to explore.
Interface and wear applications
Google
Wear OS lets you use a Wi-Fi-enabled smartwatch independently of your smartphone, which is a big deal, since initially, smartwatches were more of an accessory than a fully functional device. With support for built-in speakers and microphones and LTE, your watch will soon be able to do much of what your smartphone can do.
Google
Wear 2.0 includes a mini keyboard and exercise recognition, so you can easily track cycling, running and walking exercises. You’ll also be able to display information from third-party apps on your watch face, instead of just apps from Google or apps made by their manufacturer. The best part about Wear OS is that it includes an “always on” feature and a “tilt to wake screen” setting that automatically lights up the screen when the watch is picked up or tilted.
Google
Another interesting feature is its integration with Google Assistant. The Assistant can answer your questions and give you smart suggestions using the watch’s speaker or through paired Bluetooth headphones.
Note : Supported features vary by country and language.
What apps can you use with Wear OS?
You can use just about any app you have on your smartphone on your smartwatch, plus there are plenty built specifically for Wear OS. These include weather, fitness, watch faces, games, messages, news, shopping, tools, and productivity apps. Most of your apps should work perfectly with a smartwatch, like a calendar, calculator, and other tools, though some, like the weather and financial apps, will only serve notifications.
How are orders given?
You can use voice commands to control most applications; for example, navigating to a location on Google Maps, sending a message, and adding a task or calendar item. Alternatively, you can use your smartphone to search for a destination and then navigate on your watch. As long as your devices are connected via Bluetooth, what’s happening on one will sync with the other.
What apps can you use with Wear OS?
If you already track your workouts with a smartphone, chances are you already have a favorite app and it’s probably compatible with your smartwatch. There are also a number of games that have been ported for Wear OS, and one, PaperCraft, which is exclusive to the wearable OS.
wear devices
Wear OS requires a phone running at least Android 4.4 (excluding Go edition) or iOS 9.3. With each new version of Android, these requirements change. You can visit g.co/wearcheck on your device to confirm if it’s compatible, but this information should apply no matter who made your Android phone: Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.
- There are about a dozen different wearables running Wear OS, including brands like Moto, Asus, Casio, Fossil Q, Huawei, LG, Sony, and Tag Heuer. They all offer watch-first devices with their own style and features.
Once you choose an Android smartwatch, be sure to add it as a trusted device using Google Smart Lock; in this way, your smartphone will not be unlocked while the two devices are paired.